- No coach is more vocal than secondary coach Raheem Morris, who punctuates each play, it seems, with a tongue lashing of one player or a lot of praise for another. He wasn’t too happy on one play when DeJon Gomes was beaten by Niles Paul on a route. And that’s putting it mildly. But Morris was pleased with corner Josh Wilson on the next play, for how he adjusted on a bootleg.
- Morris wants his players to learn multiple spots in the secondary, so he has DeAngelo Hall and Wilson playing some in the slot. Kevin Barnes said he’s playing two-third of the time at corner and the rest of the time at safety.
- Hall told reporters, via Rich Campbell of the Washington Times, “Just trying to find ways to get some playmakers around the ball. Myself, Josh, KB, we’re all just mixing it up loving a chance to broaden our football knowledge. There’s a lot of things that come up in that slot that really don’t come up out there on that corner. It’s definitely a different world out there, but at the same time it’s a lot of chances to make plays.”
- Barnes said he gained 10 pounds to help in case he needs to play safety. But Barnes said he also gained the weight because “I’m getting older so to do what I used to do in college, as far as hitting, I have to put on weight to hold up through the season. I consider myself a corner, but I’m smart enough to play safety. To play safety all day every day at my frame, I’d have to put on a little bit more.”
- The list of players who did not work Thursday: Defensive end Stephen Bowen (knee), wide receiver Leonard Hankerson (hip), linebacker Jonathan Goff (knee) defensive end Adam Carriker (blisters on foot) and running back Tim Hightower (knee). Nose tackle Barry Cofield and safety Tanard Jackson had excused absences. Kory Lichtensteiger participated in individual drills but sat out team drills as he continues to recover from his ACL surgery. Goff had fluid drained from his knee, but Shanahan said Goff should be ready by the first day of camp.
- As for Jackson, Shanahan said, “He was going to come back today, but he had an excused absence as well. But he was going to practice for the first day today, but over the last couple weeks with his shoulder and his legs, he wasn’t ready to go. But he’s approved to practice and he should be ready for tomorrow or Monday.”
- Lichtensteiger said he’s still on pace to be ready for training camp, with an outside chance to taking part in all drills during the June 12-14 minicamp. “I really wasn’t expecting to do more than [individual] work at this point,” he said. “There’s definitely some stiffness I have to work through. That’ll be there for a while. Not shooting pain, just lingering soreness. That’s the life of a player.”
- Hankerson isn’t sure when he’ll be 100 percent after his hip surgery, but coach Mike Shanahan said the second-year wideout will take part in drills next week. “Hopefully I keep being consistent and keep doing the rehab process and I hope I’ll be there [the first day of training camp],” Hankerson said. But Shanahan said, “The hip is healed. We’ve got to get him back in football shape. We just don’t want to put him out there too quick. He’ll definitely be ready for the season. We just don’t want to overdo it so we don’t set him back.”
- Shanahan said the hit he received in practice last week caused him to forget what he told his players 10 minutes later. But, he said, within 20 minutes he was fine. To refresh: corner Brandyn Thompson plowed into him near midfield at the end of a pass play. Shanahan’s head bounced off the turf. “The guys didn’t think I could take a hit at 59,” Shanahan said. “I proved I can take a hit. … It’s never happened before in 38 years on the field. I’ve been on the sideline a couple of times where you kind of get pushed out at the last second, but never a shot like that.”
- Shanahan said he talked to Brian Banks, who was exonerated in a rape/kidnapping case last week, and a tryout might be held next week. Banks, 26, had verbally committed to USC 10 years ago when charged with the crime. When somebody goes through the situation he went through, he deserves and opportunity,” Shanahan said.
- It’s tough to get a great read on players during workouts when no one’s in pads. But one of the things that is evident: Niles Paul’s speed at tight end is obvious. Yes, he’s working more than Chris Cooley at tight end (at least it appears that way), but keep in mind that they’re not going to have Cooley take all the reps he normally would as he continues recovering from his knee issue. And Paul has a lot to learn at tight end. Now is the time when you get the guy as many extra reps as possible. Shanahan is confident in Paul’s ability to block, but until we see him take on a defensive end we really won’t know how he’ll do. But let’s be honest: Can it be much worse than how Davis fares against them? Paul is ultra- competitive and that will help. However, I’ll wait to see him in a legitimate game at this position before declaring him the next Shannon Sharpe.
- Wrote a story for the paper on Jammal Brown’s Yoga sessions and how they’ve helped him become more flexible. But I have to say: I’m not yet sure I see a huge difference. Be curious to see how he fares once the pads come on.
- Thought Rex Grossman threw pretty well today, hitting Brandon Banks with a pretty pass down the left sideline. Hit him in stride right at the end zone for a 40-yard score (Banks beat Josh Wilson). Grossman then hit Paul on a seam route down the field for another 40 yards. He threw the best of any QB Thursday. Here’s a report on Robert Griffin III‘s day.
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