Lineman gave up pork, fast food in offseason
ASHBURN — He started skipping the late-night runs to fast-food joints and bypassed pork for healthier meats. And he spent the offseason in Houston, with an occasional trip to Los Angeles, to get in better shape.
Consider Trent Williams’ offseason a success in that regard. He’s only seven pounds lighter than last season, but he appeared to be more chiseled than as a rookie.
As the Redskins report to training camp Thursday, Williams is determined to play better than he did a year ago.
“I made a lot of rookie mistakes,” he said. “I can’t blame it on being a rookie no more. If I’m not playing Pro Bowl football, it will be a letdown for me and my team.
“Some games I can look like a first-round pick, and then another play I look like I’m not even supposed to be out there. Ninety-nine percent of it was probably mental, just overthinking stuff.”
He disappointed some teammates by missing the offseason player-run workouts. Williams said the players’ email list contained his wrong email address. He added that he no longer has an email list.
“I was notified late and I’m halfway around the world, so it’s kind of tough to just get on the plane, and I don’t have a private jet,” he said. “I don’t feel like I missed anything. The nonpadded workouts are mainly for skill guys. For a lineman, if you’re not doing contact, it’s really not that big a deal.”
Meanwhile, his teammates will take their physicals and go through meetings Thursday, with the first practice scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The free agents the Redskins sign Friday won’t be allowed to practice until Aug.?4, per the new labor agreement. One of those, cornerback Josh Wilson, is a former standout at Maryland and DeMatha alum. The Redskins had only two cornerbacks on the roster, and he’ll challenge for the starting job opposite DeAngelo Hall.
Also, Barry Cofield is expected to play nose tackle, particularly in pass-rush situations, and possibly some end. He spent five years as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 with the New York Giants. Several NFL sources called Cofield a good fit in a 3-4, though one evaluator considered him better in a one-gap defensive system. The Redskins ask their defensive lineman to control two gaps.
“He’s relentless, and you don’t hear too much about him complaining,” linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said. “He’s down there doing all the grunt work.”
