“There are times where he easily gets there four steps quicker and gets an interception,” Jackson said.

Which is what the Redskins have been trying to improve this summer, starting with Landry’s footwork. The third-year safety has just two career interceptions, both coming last season. His career started as a strong safety next to the late Sean Taylor. But he’s spent nearly two-and-a-half years as the free safety. Taylor always was considered more of a ballhawk; Landry, when he came to the NFL, was considered the headhunter.

His speed has prevented big plays. And he’s grown in what he can do. Last season, they started using him more like Taylor, with Landry often lining up near the line and dropping into coverage — sometimes on the other side of the field, a rare strategy for safeties.

“Athletically, he has tools the rest of the defensive backs probably don’t have,” said safety Reed Doughty. “With his athletic ability, it will get him to make those big hits. He has such good closing speed, something that none of us have. If he gets there a step sooner he could be taking it the other way.”

The trick is to get there sooner. To make sure that happens, the coaches have worked on his feet, getting him to take a straighter line to the ball. In the past he had a tendency to round off his path.

“It’s coming out of my breaks and being precise,” Landry said, “and coming downhill and breaking fast.”

Jackson said, “He’s doing those things now. He’s making a lot more plays on the ball than last year. It’s discipline. It’s just being able to focus on little parts of the play.”

Landry’s talent suggests Pro Bowl. But until he develops a knack for interceptions — more than two a season that is — then that might not be realized. If they win, Landry might not care anyway.

But in practice, he hasn’t intercepted many passes, though he has caused a fumble.

“People think sometimes a rookie is gonna come in the league and all of a sudden go to a Brian Dawkins level,” corner Fred Smoot said. “You’re not gonna do it. But now I see him using less energy to make plays. They’re coming to him.”

Skins Notes

» Receiver Malcolm Kelly returned to practice after resting his hamstring for two days, as did receiver Devin Thomas. But Thomas was not able to make it through the entire practice, thanks to a hamstring that acted up. Thomas sat out the afternoon session.

“I wouldn’t say that this set me back,” he said. “It gave me an awareness that I could not go ‘full-go’ now.”

He said it’s better than last summer when he strained his hamstring. The Redskins, and Thomas, want to make sure it doesn’t develop into something worse.

“It’s a learning situation for these guys when they’re feeling pain,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “You’ve got to know the difference between an injury and just being sore. That’s something [Kelly and Thomas] are working out. We talk about that a lot.”

Meanwhile, receiver Santana Moss sat out the afternoon session after tweaking his hamstring on a catch along the sidelines during the rainy morning workout.

» Right tackle Stephon Heyer was able to go through individual drills. Zorn said Heyer and right guard Randy Thomas (knee) are close to full speed. Left tackle Chris Samuels and linebacker London Fletcher both rested during the afternoon session. Corner Carlos Rogers (calf) remained sidelined.

» Zorn on the importance of punter Hunter Smith, “It’s huge. When we talk about free agent acquisitions, that was as good as an acquisition potentially as Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall. It directly impacts field position.”

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