One year, then-Redskins coach George Allen conducted an open tryout on the same day as the Super Bowl. This, he felt, gave his team an edge over those still playing.
“Look at this,” he told one Redskins employee, “those teams are still thinking about this year and we’re already looking at next year!”
Allen would be giddy about this season: with three games left, the Redskins can start focusing on 2007. That is, if they want to.
“Let me say this,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said, “every one of these games is critical for us. Everybody who can play is going to play. There will be no experiments.
“I’m only inclined to give guys looks who the coaches feel should be playing. It’s a process over the whole year and it’s the guy who earns his way in there.”
The Redskins don’t have many young players who actually figure prominently in their future. Quarterback Jason Campbell is already playing. There’s no young lineman worthy of starting in the future. Fellow rookie Anthony Montgomery, a defensive tackle, gothis chance early. But both players in front of him — Cornelius Griffin and fellow rookie Kedric Golston — figure in Washington’s plans.
But there are a few things they could, and should, do in the final three games:
» Play Rocky more: Linebacker Rocky McIntosh finally played a little in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles. Coaches say he does not yet know the system, which doesn’t bode well. But his development plays a role in the franchise’s future. He doesn’t need to completely bump Warrick Holdman from the lineup, but playing him more would speed his development.
» Use Randle El more: Antwaan Randle El started in place of Brandon Lloyd and did something Lloyd hasn’t done most of the year: he produced, with six catches and one 40-yard pass (to Lloyd). Randle El offers more versatility than Lloyd; he’s more physical and runs underneath routes better.
“He’s our kind of guy,” Gibbs said of Randle El.
It’s clear that Lloyd is not a good No. 2 receiver; give Randle El a sustained chance in that role. Or, for that matter, David Patten.
» Try Reed Doughty: OK, the safety is not fast and probably is nothing more than a career special teamer, if that. But the Redskins have benched Adam Archuleta and it’s hard to imagine him returning. Vernon Fox is too small for full-time duty and Troy Vincent is in his 15th year. Why not at least give Doughty some time?
Week 15 notes
» Joe Gibbs said last week he wasn’t going anywhere. Monday, he said his top assistants weren’t, either. Gibbs said associate head coach/offense Al Saunders and assistant head coach/offense Gregg Williams both will return next season.
“I’m comfortable with our coaches,” Gibbs said.
Later in his press conference, Gibbs was asked directly if the future here included both coaches.
“It does include Gregg and Al,” Gibbs said. “Our peopleare here.”
» Right tackle Jon Jansen can add yet another injury to his resume. Jansen broke his right thumb early in the game Sunday, yet continued to play. He broke the same thumb in 2006, but said it was a different bone. But Jansen still must deal with it for the final three games. However, he said if anything keeps him out of a game this season it would be his right calf.
Meanwhile, center Casey Rabach had three pins inserted into his left hand, but he has not been ruled out for New Orleans.
» Defensive end Phillip Daniels said the high-profile additions last offseason might have lulled teammates into a false sense of what would happen this season.
“I think a lot of guys thought when we added people, we’d go out and win,” Daniels said. “It doesn’t happen like that. … You have to study film and know what’s going on before the game. Guys have to stop getting out of here early and stay around and study.”
