1. The Redskins worked without any shells or pads today, so this report won’t be as long. However, a few things still stood out:
2. One area that receiver Leonard Hankerson wants to work on? Getting more separation with his body. That’s where talking to the veterans help as Donte Stallworth gave him some pointers about this, showing him how to jump into the defender to create a little more space.
“There are a couple catches where I let the defender stick his hand in there and I have to learn how to shield him off,” Hankerson said.
And that brings me to this: corner Kevin Barnes did exactly that, coming over Hankerson’s shoulder to deflect a pass. For the most part, however, Hankerson is good in this area.
“The one thing I see is he can extend from the defender,” quarterback John Beck said. “Now we can say, I can put it a little further out and there’s less chance of a defender making a play on it and now he can get it.”
3. Oh, but the dropsies plagued Hankerson again. This time he ran a good route to get wide open inside, he separated from corner DeAngelo Hall with a good plant outside. Hall released him inside, but gave him too much room doing so and Hankerson was wide open over the middle. Just dropped it. I talked to him about his hands after practice for a story in Thursday’s Examiner.
4. Hankerson did beat Hall on a later route, a deep post that Beck overthrew by five yards.
5. Rookie Brandyn Thompson hasn’t distinguished himself much in camp. Got beat by fellow rookie Aldrick Robinson on a deep ball. Robinson was even with him, then separated at the end by a few yards.
6. Not ready to say that Brian Orakpo is terrific in coverage, but he is learning. Did a nice job covering Niles Paul on an out route, drawing shouts of praise from a few coaches.
7. Want to know what sort of day it was in practice? The kickers and punters got a lot of work. Fun times. Sav Rocca had a few long punts, at least one appeared to go nearly 60 yards. He drilled a high one that he pinned near the sidelines, too. Had a couple short ones, including one that went around 35 yards and was low. Seen a few of those the past few years here.
8. And then there was the kicking battle. Again: Games will decide. But if one guy consistently looks bad in practice that will decide it too. At this point, Graham Gano has to be in the lead. One kick showed why: Gano drilled a 54-yarder down the middle, showing excellent leg. Shayne Graham then hit a low liner that was short and hooked. Sort of like some of my tee shots. Graham did come back and hit the next one from that distance. But he’s now had two kicks in camp that were just brutal (one that went wide right the other day by a good 10 yards).
9. Have my doubts that Selvish Capers is ready to make the roster. Capers, who has worked a lot at guard this summer, has struggled much of training camp and gets shoved back too easily in one-on-one drills. He also opens his shoulders too much, allowing easy pressure. Kedric Golston got him easily in the one-on-ones. Capers just doesn’t stay square and that presents problems. Capers is listed third on the depth chart at left guard, behind even rookie Maurice Hurt.
10. Barry Cofield got past Chris Chester in the one-on-ones. Didn’t I just say that yesterday? Maybe the day before too? Chester is better on the move than in these drills.
11. DL coach Jacob Burney gave linebacker Rob Jackson an earful after one rush vs. Trent Williams. Jackson started into him, then darted inside. He didn’t have an opening, but Williams leaned a little that way. Burney’s, um, suggestion, “He’s sitting down! Right now, you’ve got to go around him!”
12. Anthony Armstrong ran right past Josh Wilson to haul in a long pass from Rex Grossman.
13. Terrence Austin made a terrific diving catch over the middle. The kid has very nice hands and it’s rare to see him drop a ball. My concern: his ability to get off the line. He has excellent feet which helps. But I’ve seen DBs jam him and once they get their hands onto him, he has a hard time separating. Happened Wednesday with Barnes playing press man coverage. Kept Austin from getting into his route.
14. Barnes made a few nice plays overall. Also went over Austin’s shoulder to deflect a Kellen Clemens pass. Alas, a few plays later Donte Stallworth ran past him and was open (Clemens missed him).
15. Rookie Ryan Kerrigan showed a little life today. Got around Jammal Brown on one occasion and helped chase Clemens to his left. Later, Kerrigan worked against undrafted free agent Willie Smith and got him both times. Yes, he should do that. He showed good speed in doing so, too. Also seemed to get a little lower in his rush, making it harder to slow him. I do think it will take him a lot longer to make an impact than Brian Orakpo did as a rookie.
16. DeJon Gomes had a tough play, completely blowing a coverage. Corner Byron Westbrook was covering Anthony Armstrong, who caught a pass from Grossman. Westbrook was stunned to look up and see no safety around. Safeties coach Steve Jackson then spent the next few minutes talking to Gomes on the sidelines.
17. Finally, Niles Paul has a ways to go with his routes, etc. But he is physical and I saw Hall try to jam him and Paul didn’t budge. Just kept right on running.
