1. Mike Shanahan said he hasn’t discussed the potential suspensions with LT Trent Williams and TE Fred Davis. Shanahan also said he couldn’t discuss the situation with the media until he had officially heard from the NFL. He said he anticipates that happening by Tuesday evening.
“There is a strict confidential protocol between the NFL and the Players Association and I have not talked or spoke with the NFL thus far,” Shanahan said. “Until I do, there is not really anything I can say at this point.”
2. Shanahan said he’s not sure yet if strong safety LaRon Landry will return for Sunday’s game vs. the New England Patriots. Landry missed the Jets game with a sore groin. Also, Shanahan said fullback Darrel Young (concussion) felt “pretty good” Monday. Punter Sav Rocca walked around Monday with a boot on his sore left ankle.
3. Not even Shanahan could spin Rex Grossman’s game a positive way. Grossman played one of his worst games of the season. He didn’t throw four interceptions, but based on some of his decisions and throws, he easily could have.
“I thought Rex probably did not play as good as he has played over the last few games. I think as he looks at the film, he’ll be somewhat disappointed in his play,” Shanahan said. “But that’s the nature of the quarterback position. You’ve got to be able to wipe it out and bounce back and concentrate and look for that perfect game… At the end of the day, a quarterback knows if he’s on or off a little bit.”
And yet, the Redskins continued to lean on the passing game in the second half.
4. Shanahan said the play in which Rocca was hurt should have been called differently. The Jets were flagged for running into the kicker. Shanahan said it should have been worse.
“It should have been roughing the kicker, no question about it,” Shanahan said.
5. Rookie Willie Smith, an undrafted free agent who last played in the preseason, spent the first 11 games working his body into one fit for the NFL. He said he got stronger, lost fat and gained muscle mass.
“I did everything I could do,” Smith said.
Now he – or veteran Sean Locklear — might be needed on the field with Williams likely suspended for the rest of the season. Smith said he’s been helped going against linebackers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan in practice.
Smith said Orakpo’s speed has forced him to stay more balanced. He’s learned to finish his blocks and set in protection better, taking better angles and improving his hand placement.
“If I can block those guys, the game is easier,” Smith said.
He said it’s helped that he learned to adjust to Orakpo’s speed, which, in turn, should help him against better rushers.
“That was the biggest thing,” Smith said. “When you have speed like that it makes the offensive lineman off balance and learning how to take the proper steps to be under control and be balanced. It’s all about fundamentals.”
“He does have a lot of athletic ability,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I like his upside.”
6. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe hasn’t been healthy all season and it’s been reflected in his performance. He’s lacked any sort of explosiveness, particularly when he needs to change directions. And it’ll be interesting to see if he even returns. Atogwe has a base salary of $3.4 million next season, a high sum for a safety who will turn 31 in June and is coming off an injury-filled season.
“Early in the year it was hard to be explosive through my plant and drive coming out of breaks,” Atogwe said. “Late in the year it’s getting more comfortable because the pain has subsided so I’m able to do a lot of things I wasn’t able to do. The fact that I missed a lot of technique time and not being able to work in it throughout the season, it’s not as crisp or as sharp as I’d like it.”
7. Think the Redskins will play more younger players down the stretch? Think again.
“I’ll be honest with you, I’m always one to play the best players,” Shanahan said. “If a young person earns the right to play over a veteran because I think he’s playing better or he’s practicing harder, then he gets that opportunity. I’ve always been that way. Young guys, very often, give it everything they have this time of year in practice. And if that person we feel gives us the best chance to win, that’s the direction we’ll go.”
8. Running back Roy Helu bristled when he heard the word “arrived” in a question Monday.
“I don’t like that word at all,” he said. “Comfortable or arrived. Because I don’t feel that way at all. Complacency is one of my enemies and those are synonyms for that.”
Helu has rushed for at least 100 yards in two straight games, something no Redskins rookie has done since Reggie Brooks in 1993. Part of the reason: his ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact.
“It’s definitely a mental thing,” Helu said. “It’s looking across the ball and saying those guys aren’t gonna tackle me and they’ll need multiple people to do it or someone will get hit in the process. There’s that aspect and just driving your feet and pad level.”
Shanahan said, “As the game gets going, he gets more comfortable and you can just see him go for those extra yards. He’s still averaging 4.5 or five yards a carry early. When you give him as many opportunities, you kind of play him into where he’s at right now. He deserves to play a lot. He’s taken advantage of the opportunities over the last couple of games.”
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