1. Chris Neild is strong and it shows when centers or guards try to block him. During one play he got moved a yard back, but was able to anchor and still occupy two blockers (this happened vs. Erik Cook and Maurice Hurt). But his learning curve is noticeable on lateral plays, particularly vs. the Redskins stretch zone. A couple times this morning he tended to lunge at the blocker he thought was coming at him (usually the center). But the center was focused on someone else and this only left Neild off-balance and easy prey for the backside guard. I will say, later in the practice he improved against this look.
2. I’m intrigued by Jarvis Jenkins. Yes, as a second-round pick he should contribute. But I didn’t see him play in college and was unfamiliar with him. But the kid looks like he has a good first step not to mention some power. He used that quickness one time to practically dive inside Trent Williams in an 11-on-11 play, disrupting the play in the backfield. This isn’t happening every time and even in the one-on-one’s he has plays where he gets by and others where he’s stopped. Just makes you want to see more, and in pads.
3. Am I going on too much in these reports on O.J. Atogwe? Granted, he’s not the best safety in the league, I get that. But he brings value in the secondary, especially in his communication skills. That’s something teammates and coaches talk about – and it’s something that the safeties couldn’t provide last season. After a play in which John Beck completed a deep ball to Jabar Gaffney, Atogwe stopped to talk with Chris Horton about what had happened.
4. Leonard Hankerson made a terrific one-handed grab with his right hand on a pass high and behind him from John Beck. He later dropped a pass over the middle; went right through his outstretched hands. But Hankerson later bobbled a ball along the sideline on a deep out, eventually hauling it in. Couldn’t tell if he was in-bounds. Hankerson plays taller than his 6-foot-2 height because of how well he extends his arms.
5. Beck was better today on his deep ball; did not miss by as much as he did the other day and completed a couple on the bootleg rollout and throwback the other way. One went to Niles Paul along the sideline. But Beck was picked off twice by corner DeAngelo Hall; think it was on consecutive plays, too. Hall first jumped in front of Fred Davis on an inside route. Then he jumped in front of Paul on a short route.
6. Selvish Capers was better today in the one-on-one drills. He needed to be. Hands were much more consistent.
7. Another impressive Trent Williams play in the OL vs. DL drills (it was a two-on-two; working on stunts). Williams knocked a new linebacker, Eric McBride, to the ground as he moved to the inside and then stayed wide to prevent Joe Joseph from beating him. OK, both players will eventually be cut, but it was still something nobody else on this line could do.
8. Anthony Bryant looks fine at nose; he and Will Montgomery seem to come out about even when they face one another. Both are strong and if one gains leverage it’s over.
9. Graham Gano made a 37-yard field goal at the end of practice, with an airhorn blowing and teammates crowding around him and shouting. He’s used to such things; in fact, it was worse in Baltimore. “In Baltimore they would pull my pants down and squirt water on me,” he said.
10. Love seeing the players with their kids. Guess it’s the dad in me and maybe I’m getting mushy. But got a kick out of seeing Brian Orakpo with his 1-year-old son, holding him and giving him raspberries as we interviewed a coach.
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