1. Phillip Buchanon returned from his four-game suspension for taking a performance enhancing drug. And he was more than ready to move forward.
“It was different for me,” he said of being at home the past four weeks. “It was an honest mistake. Things happen….I don’t want to talk about it. It’s a mistake. It’s over with.”
He’ll stay in town during the bye week to get treatment on his shoulder, which he injured in the last preseason game. There’s a chance he would have been unable to play in the first four weeks because of the shoulder.
“I had my bye the first four weeks,” Buchanon said. “It’s upsetting but at the same time I’m looking forward to being back on the field. … It definitely feels good. I don’t have a lot to say. I just want to play. That’s it.”
“He’s going to help us right away,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “I’ve got to check out what type of football shape he’s in and hopefully he can help us out against Philadelphia.”
Corner DeAngelo Hall said, “He made a lot of plays for us last year and he’s a guy who knows what’s going on, a veteran guy and a starter. He’ll definitely add depth. He’ll have a lot of other guys scrambling to keep their positions.”
2. As far as who will be cut, that answer came late Tuesday night when the Redskins cut Brandyn Thompson, which he confirmed via text. The news was first reported by 106.7 The Fan. Thompson also said the Redskins would sign him to the practice squad if he cleared waivers.
It’s a mild surprise that they cut Thompson. Though defensive coordinator Jim Haslett did not like to cut draft picks, it may not have been his decision because if they didn’t cut a corner (they would have had six), it would have fallen to the offense to make a move. Thompson was behind Kevin Barnes and Byron Westbrook on the depth chart (in addition to starters DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson, of course).
3. Shanahan agreed that he’s more relaxed in his second year. That’s been evident in dealing with him this year compared to last. Though he’ll never divulge much information (and likes to stay on message, regardless of the question), he’s more comfortable dealing with the media. But it’s not just with us; far from it. It’s with his coaches, players and the fact that in year 2 he doesn’t have to teach what he wants as much anymore. Now the coaches and players know what to expect.
“That’s always tough about the first year, trying to figure out who you want to be part of your organization,” he said, “and making sure everyone is going in the same direction. The difference between the first year and the second year is a big change.”
4. The players don’t won’t practice again until Monday. But Shanahan wants them to get in at least a couple runs over the next several days.
“I told them, ‘God is watching,’ “ Shanahan said. “We’ll have to go with the honor system. We have guys that understand – we’re four games into the season and we have a lot to get done. I want their bodies to rest and mentally get away from football.”
5. Shanahan said he’ll measure quarterback Rex Grossman by wins and losses and he’s 3-1 this season and 4-3 as a Redskins starter. But to keep winning, Grossman will have to improve his play in the fourth quarter and on third downs. Grossman ranks 31st in the NFL on third down with a 49.0 passer rating (completing 22 of 50 passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions). In the fourth quarter, Grossman ranks 22nd with a 72.4 rating (25-41, 232 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions).
6. Returner Brandon Banks is off to a slow start, averaging 22.2 yards on 13 kickoff returns. He’s averaging 10.4 yards on 14 punt returns, but two of his returns have gained a combined 60 yards. Banks has averaged 3.4 yards on his last seven returns.
Shanahan said teams are playing him with more urgency.
“Some teams are pretty fired up knowing that if there’s a lull he can go the distance,” he said. “We have to get better on the return for sure.”
7. Ryan Torain is not a quote machine. Typically, the most he says is that he’s … excited…focused… and working hard. That’s fine. But he was a little better Tuesday.
“I just sat there and was patient,” Torain said about the first three games. “I knew my time would [come]. I would get an opportunity to get out there and show what I could do.
“Ifeel like we’re in a wonderful situation. We have a lot of backs that can go out there and perform. We all help one-another out, being positive or giving tips on how a linebacker’s blitzing. We’re all going to get in, we’re all going to contribute and we’re just going to better the team.”
8. Then there’s Tim Hightower. Think I’ve written before, but he’s one of the most mature players I’ve covered. It’s easy to forget that he’s 25 years old.
This is what he said about Torain: “He energized the offense. He energized me. I was frustrated with myself. When you see a running back make the plays he did he sparked me and gave the offense a spark. I’m gonna feed off it. It will make all of us better.”
And then: “I told him I have the utmost respect for him. It’s tough to be in that situation where you were the starter and you weren’t even playing. The next thing you know you’re thrown in the fire and told to run the football. … He was prepared and ready to go. Competition should bring out the best in you, but I’ve seen it where it hasn’t always happened. That’s a tribute to him.”
9. Hightower said he first injured his left shoulder a couple weeks ago. He said he tried to treat it; sounds like he was doing that on his own because he said Shanahan didn’t know about the injury.
Why did he keep it quiet?
“I don’t want to come out of the game,” he said.
Eventually, he knew he had to.
10. By the way, this is what he said about the Rams win: “That’s not supposed to be a 17-10 game. We can’t keep killing ourselves. You can squeak by some of these games but deeper in the season those self-inflicted mistakes catch up to you.”
11. Why is Niles Paul playing more? Go back and watch the St. Louis game to find out why. The kid can block. Of his 20 snaps, 18 came on run plays and it’s not a coincidence. I’ll write a little more on this in Studs and Duds on Wednesday. But Paul has made an impression.
“He’s probably one of the better blockers I’ve seen in the game,” receivers coach Keenan McCardell said. “He’s a very aggressive guy, loves contact. He has a body for it. He wants to compete. He loves to compete. He’s an aggressive receiver that wants the ball in his hands and to put punishment on the DBs every time he gets a chance to.”
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