The practices won’t feel much different. The Redskins will be doing what they’ve done for the last few weeks, running plays, perfecting old ones and familiarizing themselves with new ones – especially on offense.
And then they will break for the summer — at least part of it — hopeful the off-season preparation has been productive.
The Redskins will conduct their veteran minicamp this weekend, starting today. They’ll practice without full gear once a day through Sunday; all the sessions are closed to the public.
It’s the final chance for coaches to review their units’ progress until training camp starts in August.
Sunday also marks the end of any organized offseason workouts for the players. Though some will stay in town to work out, Redskins Park will not be busy again until training camp opens.
“This is the final tuneup before training camp so you want your tempo right,” safety Pierson Prioleau said, “and you want your fundamentals and basic knowledge of the defense to be right so you can take that home with you and hit the ground running [in training camp].”
The defense, though, returns with the same scheme — though assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams loves adding new packages. But the offense must learn new coordinator Al Saunders’ system, which contains some similarities — and many differences — to last year’s system.
“Our [organized team activities] has been a minicamp every day for us,” receiver Santana Moss said. “It’s been high intense, flying around. I hope things go as well as they’ve been going and we try to leave out on top.
“The only thing I haven’t seen is how the offense will flow in a game atmosphere. But what I’ve seen thus far, the offense has a lot of upside. As a receiver, you don’t know who will be open, so you’re aware you can get the ball on any given play.”
Among the players who could be limited in camp:
» Right tackle Jon Jansen, who underwent more surgery on his right thumb last month (he still felt pain for weeks after the surgery in January). He’ll likely play with protective device until midway through training camp.
“He’s fed up with being hurt,” director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer said.
» Rookie linebacker Rocky McIntosh will not participate after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
» Middle linebacker Lemar Marshall (shoulder) is limited until training camp.
» Quarterback Mark Brunell (finger).
Gone camping
» The Redskins minicamp practices will be similar to the 12 organized team activity workouts they had through last week.
» Defensive end Renaldo Wynn (forearm) will participate in minicamp, as will right guard Randy Thomas (ankle). Tight end Manuel White (ankle) is expected to participate after missing all of last season.
» The talk of minicamp last year was receiver Antonio Brown, who wound up eventually getting cut and making aminimal impact when he returned, save for one touchdown return.
