Skins training camp notebook, 8/17/10

Published August 17, 2010 4:00am ET



News & notes» Washington defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth had to stop practicing Tuesday morning, about an hour before it ended. He left the field with a towel draped on his head and with a sports drink. But doctors told coach Mike Shanahan it was not heat-related. As he left the field following practice, Haynesworth would only say, “I’m OK.” But he declined to answer any other questions. “He wasn’t feeling good,” Shanahan said. “I really don’t know what it is. I just think he wasn’t feeling good. I’m not exactly sure what it was.” It’s the first time Haynesworth had been limited since beginning practice Aug. 9.» Linebacker London Fletcher had the morning off to rest. Linebacker Curtis Gatewood was out with a heat-related illness.» Shanahan had a top rookie tackle left tackle — Ryan Clady — in his final season with Denver. He knows he has another one in Trent Williams. “Ryan was the best offensive lineman as a rookie I’ve ever been around and Trent so far has that athletic ability,” Shanahan said. “Hopefuly he has that same type of game day expertise and composure because Ryan had that. Trent has a good chance to have that same demeanor.”

Position review » Defensive line

Vonnie Holliday
Holliday, who rested during Tuesday morning’s practice, said he’s still playing after 12 years in part because of a former teammate: Reggie White. From White, he learned how to be a professional. “Watching that guy work day in and day out, seeing his first steps, his reads on offensive linemen,” said Holliday, a first-round pick by Green Bay in 1998. “I was fortunate.” Though he’s about 15 pounds light (288) for an end in a 3-4, Holliday also can still play because his ability to play with good leverage — and he keeps his body square to the line. Plus, he adds speed when he moves inside in some nickel packages..

Kedric Golston
Golston is a slightly smaller version of Adam Carriker. He’ll do what’s asked and he’d rather crash into opposing linemen rather than worry about making plays on his own. Golston gets by more on effort than talent. “What a worker he is,” defensive line coach Jacob Burney said. “He loves the contact. … That’s the kind of defensive end you want.”.

Darrion Scott
Scott was out of football in 2008 because of a foot injury and spent last season in the United Football League (for coach Jim Haslett, now the Redskins’ defensive coordinator). He’s added 20 pounds while adjusting to playing end for the first time in a 3-4. Playing in the UFL helped shake off some of his rust. “The game speed is different than the NFL,” he said. “But it helped me get back with my reads and getting off the ball and all the fundamentals.”

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