1. Coach Mike Shanahan said suspended players Trent Williams and Fred Davis are, indeed, allowed to be at the facility. Shanahan said he wasn’t sure why there was a delay in getting this situation cleared. He also said both would be limited to conditioning drills only and will not sit in team meetings.
It’s a similar approach to what those on injured reserve take, Shanahan said.
“Everybody’s really focused. It’s really hard to get ready for a game when you’re not going to be part of that game plan,” Shanahan said. “So we’re going to just make sure that we work them pretty hard and get them in shape.”
Shanahan said he encourages those on IR to do what they must to recover. Last year he wanted Malcolm Kelly to stick around, testing how much football meant to him and getting an idea for how much he wanted to play.
But in general it’s often best to get your work done and get home.
“It’s really hard to be part of the football team and all of the sudden, you’re not,” Shanahan said. “Most of the guys that I’ve had through the years that have tried to stick around, it’s been very hard on them because they’re goal-oriented. They want to get back. Once guys do go through an IR season, they do realize that it’s probably better to kind of stay away a little bit. Come around when you want to, get your workouts, get your treatment, but get ready for next season.”
2. Running back Roy Helu (toe/knee), right tackle Jammal Brown (groin), linebacker London Fletcher (ankle) and fullback Mike Sellers (elbow) all were limited in practice Wednesday. All are optimistic about playing Saturday vs. Minnesota.
3. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan didn’t exactly give Rex Grossman a ringing endorsement for his play this season, saying he’s been “decent.” Of course, some might say based on 13 touchdowns and 22 turnovers, that’s a bit kind.
Shanahan would not say whether he thought Grossman should, or would, return. He wants to evaluate the season first. But Shanahan did say he thought Grossman could improve on his turnovers.
“Rex can cut down on those turnovers,” Shanahan said. “Even though you’re saying he should have now by his ninth year, I think Rex could get better with some better [talent] around him. I think he can get better. I still think he can make better decisions and I’m not just going to say, ‘Hey, no matter what he’s going to always throw picks.’.”
OK, here’s the thing: The Redskins have sought to upgrade quarterback each of the past two seasons under Shanahan. Yes, they bypassed a QB in the draft but they scouted them heavily. They will do so again this offseason.
It’s fine if they bring Grossman back. Sure, he’d probably do better with better talent around him. Who wouldn’t? But to think he’ll change would be repeating 2011. That wouldn’t be wise.
4. Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said they hoped to use the last few games to evaluate free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe among others. Atogwe hasn’t had the sort of year anyone had hoped.
“We wanted to take a look at O.J. [last week] to make sure that we feel good about him and to see where he’s at,” Haslett said. “He had a great a play. That was a great interception by him. The one where he stripped the ball out and he made some good tackles. So we felt good about him and he actually felt good about how he played last week, which is more important.”
5. Yes, Haslett disagreed with FOX analyst Troy Aikman who said on the air that Byron Westbrook could have been flagged for pass interference vs. Victor Cruz last week.
“I thought it was excellent coverage. [Aikman] was sitting in the box saying that but I was down there right beside it and I thought it was great coverage.”
6. Haslett said it’s not fair to evaluate linebacker Brian Orakpo simply on his sack total. Orakpo’s seven sacks are less than what many anticipated. Though Orakpo went several games seeing fewer double teams (and better tackles), he saw plenty vs. the Giants. They chipped him or slid the protection to him if he changed sides.
7. “They know where he’s at and they’re going to take care of him. I think the good ones they do that,” Haslett said. “He’s got to find ways to combat that. If they’re going to chip him, then he’s got to go chip the chipper. If they’re going to slide his way, then he’s got to find a way to beat them. So I think his next progression in being a great football player is he knows they’re going to look for him and he knows they’re going to take two guys that work him. He’s got to find ways to overcome those, but he has [and] he’s getting better at it every time.”
8. The Redskins can’t go a day, it seems, without thinking of what their front seven can do next season. They’re definitely excited for Jarvis Jenkins’ return as well as the natural progression of players such as nose tackle Barry Cofield and end Stephen Bowen.
But Haslett also is excited because it’ll be another year in the same system.
“You watch a couple teams that do run this type of scheme you see they play fast,” he said. “They make up for a lot of things because they know where they’re going and what they’re doing and they’ve been together for a while and they just fly around. That’s where we’ve got to get to.”
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