1. The Redskins cleared out lockers, said their goodbyes and tried to paint a positive picture on a dismal season. Yes, they improved in some areas and they’re better off than they were at the end of last season. There is a strong foundation in place on defense though more parts are needed; one is needed on offense, though some parts have been found. But they still have a ways to go before this project is completed.
“We have a lot of things we need to go out and shore up,” corner Josh Wilson said.
Players remain confident in the coaching staff, but there’s little doubt they need to see more results next season.
“I don’t know if there’s a different feel [than last year],” tight end Chris Cooley said. “It’s a losing season… It hasn’t been a fun atmosphere in the locker room. Guys aren’t excited. Guys have worked hard but you can sense when you’re losing it’s disappointing and it’s frustrating and you can see that on a daily basis.”
2. Quarterback Rex Grossman said there are times when interceptions are “acceptable.” But don’t get all riled up. He was mostly talking about interceptions that resulted from a tipped pass or something that really wasn’t the quarterback’s fault. His point was that the coaches will look at all those factors when evaluating his performance.
However, Grossman did say there’s a battle between trying to make the aggressive throw and checking down.
“You might miss a big play checking the ball down on occasion,” he said. “Not to play hesitant at all but there are situations where you don’t have to be 100 percent on making those big plays that are there to be made. If you’re willing to live with a couple of those in a season you’ll cut down on your interception percentage a lot.”
But can he change that mindset that leads to the picks?
“You can still be aggressive,” he said. “But the looks have to be more obvious in this league, there aren’t a ton of obvious clear as day big plays. You’re in the pocket, everything is moving pretty fast and a read immediately shows, you take it. If it’s gray at all somewhere…maybe you take a little bit of your aggressiveness off. But if the read is clear, go ahead and take it and be aggressive.”
Again, no doubt he wants to be aggressive.
3. Linebacker Brian Orakpo suffered a strained left pectoral and underwent an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury. However, coach Mike Shanahan said he did not know the results of the MRI late Monday afternoon.
4. Shanahan said receiver Leonard Hankerson should be fully recovered from the torn labrum in his right hip by April 1, allowing him to participate in offseason workouts. Shanahan said Hankerson only needs “rest and treatment”. Hankerson did not undergo surgery.
5. Safety LaRon Landry still has not made up his mind about having surgery on his Achilles, Shanahan said. A foot specialist recommended to Landry three weeks ago that he undergo surgery, but the pending free agent wanted to get more opinions.
6. Right tackle Sean Locklear received the award for the most surefire way to make sure you don’t return to a team. Shanahan did not address the team Monday, doing so after the game Sunday night. Instead, a small group of Navy Seals and one Marine talked to the players.
Locklear later tweeted: “Worst exit meeting ever! No coaches, no front office, just physical’s and goodbye to teammates! We did just spend 5 [months] together, WOW!”
To which Shanahan said, with strong sarcasm, “I apologize Sean, it’ll never happen again … At least not with me.”
Locklear later deleted the tweet. But it should be noted: This really isn’t the reason he won’t return. His play clearly would have something to do with that decision.
7. Every free agent at the end of the season says he wants to return to his current team. It’s rare when that isn’t the case. So I give you: London Fletcher saying he wants to return; Tim Hightower saying he wants to return; Adam Carriker saying he wants to return. Etc., etc. (Landry did not stop in the locker room).
“I like it here,” Carriker said. “I’d like to stay here if it’s a fair deal. If not, I’ll test free agency and see what happens.”
Hightower said, “It’s very important, very important [to return]. I love this organization. Coming back here I didn’t realize how much it would mean to me coming back, being around your family and going places with the fans. It was special for me. This is somewhere I would like to play for a long time.”
Chances are Hightower, like Landry, will have to sign a one-year deal because he’s coming off a season-ending injury.
We’ve gone over Fletcher’s status a number of times. Once more in a nutshell: He wants to stay; he wants them to do more than talk about wanting him back; Shanahan calls him a priority.
8. Shanahan said he’ll evaluate his coaching staff over the next couple weeks to see if any changes must be made. That’s a change from last season when he said the day after the season ended that there would be no changes. But special teams coach Danny Smith appears to be safe, despite his group having allowed five blocked kicks this season. No other team allowed more than three; 31 kickers attempted at least 20 field goals this season and 17 didn’t have any blocked.
“Danny’s done a great job if you take a look at his body of work,” Shanahan said. “We’re inexperienced [on special teams]. We’ve got to get better in that area.”
8. Cooley said shutting it down was the best option for him.
“It was frustrating because I felt healthy enough to play at the end of the year but to not take the risk was probably the best option for my career,” he said. “I’ll look forward to getting very healthy and having a great year next year.”
9. Shanahan had a different take on Trent Williams and Fred Davis, both of whom had their four-game suspensions ended Monday.
Shanahan on Williams, “He’s got to be smart enough to understand that if you disappoint your football team like he did, you better come back with a passion and show people you’ve got the work ethic and the drive to do what we need him to do, especially being the fourth pick in the draft. We know what type of talent he has. We know he’s a very likeable guy. I was pleased with his work ethic coming into his second year, how he prepared himself, how he was playing. But he’s got to prove that he can do it on a day-to-day basis and set the standard for the rest of our football team and our organization.”
Shanahan on Davis, “You know, Fred made a mistake. We sat down and talked about his mistake. I do feel very good about Fred as a person. I liked the way he worked. I like his attitude. I like his development over the last year and a half since I’ve been here. I think he’s had a complete change in the way he’s handled himself off the field to prepare himself to be a consummate pro with working out. Hopefully the mistake won’t happen again that he made this year.”
To submit a question for Redskins mailbag, click here.
To subscribe to my weekly insider email, click here. It will continue throughout the offseason.
