1. Kyle Shanahan emphasized receivers sitting down on their routes and when they go into their break. He wants them to catch the DBs not ready for what’s coming and by doing it this way, they can keep them off-balance. Rookie Leonard Hankerson was working hard on staying low entering his breaks and chopping his feet. He’s more of a long strider, which can make it difficult on some quick change of direction routes.
2. John Beck did a better job Wednesday on bootleg throws rolling to his left. Earlier this week he bounced a couple throws on this play; today, he zipped a nice throw to Jabar Gaffney. Beck was more patient and got his hips around on the throw. Beck really needs to get into a game to face live action again. He’s inconsistent and just when you think one way, he makes a throw to make you think another way. Both good and bad. He missed Aldrick Robinson on a deep out – he was open. And he missed Anthony Armstrong on a deep ball; he was open too. But then he drops a perfect throw to Gaffney over Brian Orakpo down the sideline. Later he hit Robinson in stride on a deep ball down the middle. A very nice pass. Of course, he would have been sacked on the play (a blitz) but that doesn’t take away from the fact that the throw was on target.
3. Later in practice, we saw it again. Beck had to slide in the pocket and his pass to a wide-open Niles Paul missed by five yards (one knock vs. Beck: throws against pressure). Next play: soft pass to Paul for a long completion.
4. Liked watching Roy Helu’s feet on a route vs. Perry Riley. Helu, running about a five-yard route, cut outside, then back inside, then back outside. Alas, he dropped the ball but he created separation. Riley, incidentally, is doing OK at linebacker. You see things you like (coming up vs. the run, decisively) and things to work on (coverage). Riley filled one run well enough, moving to his left that linebackers coach Lou Spanos shouted out, “There you go Perry!”
5. Spanos also yelled to b after a play in which Jackson covered James Davis in the flat. Ball was thrown and we’ll let Spanos finish, “Now break on it! There you go Rob. That’s how you do it!” Yes, he liked it.
6. Hankerson still shows well, mainly because of his strong hands. But he was jammed pretty well on one play by Kevin Barnes. Secondary coach Bob Slowik liked it too, “Way to get your hands on him KB!” Barnes delayed Hankerson from getting into his route. Another time, Hankerson did not finish running his route and a pass from Beck skipped off his outstretched hand. Had he continued, it would have been an easy grab and run. Just the usual learning curve.
7. Fred Davis dropped a ball after getting open vs. Riley. Davis looked upfield before he secured the ball. Evan Royster did the same thing later in practice. By the way, Beck talked about how great Davis looks and how many acrobatic catches he makes. Thinks he’s primed for a big season. But Davis always looks good in training camp.
8. DeAngelo Hall has his flaws as a corner, but I love watching how he uses his instincts. There was a play this morning where Hall lined up across from Anthony Armstrong, split five yards from the inside receiver. Armstrong cut inside and rather than jumping inside immediately, Hall took a lateral step then came on Armstrong’s inside shoulder to break up the play.
9. During one break for special teams, safety O.J. Atogwe and safeties coach Steve Jackson worked on the sidelines. Jackson was showing Atogwe some techniques he could use to get past blockers who were standing up or had their hand in the dirt (presumably on a blitz).
10. One way the kick return blockers learn how to use their feet is to block with their hands behind their back. That’s a drill Danny Smith runs in which they take a step back, turn around and stay in front of their man by using their feet.
11. Jarvis Jenkins. He’s good.
12. Guess I should elaborate in my daily lovefest of Jenkins. Granted, this one came against a second-year guy in Erik Cook who is not a starter. But still. It showed impressive power as Jenkins simply knocked him back and then to the ground. “He’s a big strong powerful kid and once he gets his footwork and technique down he’ll fit into the line,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said of Jenkins. “Scott Campbell did a great job targeting guys that fit this defense. [Jenkins] is ideal for it. He’s a big human being. He’s very coachable. He likes to work. Everything you’re looking for in that position he fits that bill.”
13. Jenkins won’t get a big head. After practice he carried three helmets and a couple of shell pads back to the locker room.
14. Adam Carriker beat Artis Hicks. Then Anthony Bryant beat Will Montgomery and Jenkins beat Kory Lichtensteiger.
15. Markus White. He’s interesting. In one-on-one work White toasted undrafted free agent Willie Smith, lining up as a right tackle. White beat him beat him three times in a row. OK, big deal. Smith will get cut. But later White went against Trent Williams, with Mike Shanahan watching. White beat him wide, staying low. They went again. White beat him again on the corner, leading to praise from DL coach Jacob Burney. Shanahan told them to do it again. This time, Williams shoved – and I mean shoved – White to the ground. “That’s what I’m talking about,” Shanahan told his second year tackle. Yes, that last one was impressive but White did beat him twice.
16. Maurice Hurt was much better working at tackle in the one-on-one. Just looked more comfortable. He wasn’t facing anyone good, but he did a better job sliding and using his arms. Actually, he did have one matchup with White in which he stoned him with his arms.
17. One thing to keep in mind with the one-on-one work; it’s mostly set up for the d-linemen to win. In a game there’s often someone who will be helping, perhaps knocking a rusher off stride. Here, it’s just one-on-one and getting after it. But you also learn a lot; I remember when Jon Jansen started having problems in the one-on-ones and it started translating to games.
18. For the first time in camp, the Redskins were able to simulate a little scrimmage, using time down and distance. The first team offense went against the second defense and then vice versa. The No. 1 offense went three and out on its first possession but drove down the field on the next, helped by a nice seam pass from Beck to the outstretched Davis (beating DeJon Gomes). Shanahan said he hadn’t used this drill yet because of the heat and because he said his players weren’t in football shape. He did not use the word cardiovascular.
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