AP: Camp lite: Redskins already done with shortest camp in memory

[bubba9497]

Camp lite: Redskins already done with shortest camp in memory

By JOSEPH WHITE

AP Sports Writer

Sunday, August 21, 2005

ASHBURN, Va. - Patrick Ramsey can now go home for supper with his wife every night. Chris Samuels no longer has bed check. Ray Brown can drive his own car to practice, rather than find a seat somewhere on a bus.

The Washington Redskins are already done with training camp after three weeks and only 15 full practices, the team's shortest and least physically demanding camp in decades _ if not ever.

"It was a short camp," Samuels said. "I'm glad he did it. Sleep in my own bed for a change."

Coach Joe Gibbs had players report on the latest possible date, July 31, and put his charges through just three of the dreaded two-a-days _ two practices on the same day. By comparison, coach Norv Turner's camp 10 years ago had three two-a-days in the first week alone.

"It's not like it was when I came into the league," said the 42-year-old Brown, who just completed his 20th training camps. "You had a month-and-a-half of training camp. You had 120 guys in camp as opposed to 80, 90. Nobody could imagine any camp lasting three weeks. Now they realize the changes and the differences in the business."

Gibbs had two reasons for starting camp late.

First, he offered it as a reward to his players if they worked hard during the offseason conditioning program in the spring. Secondly, he wanted to cut down on the wear and tear the players feel in their bodies in December, when injuries can really take their toll.

The other benefit is that the Redskins didn't have a serious camp injury for the first time in many seasons.

Several players came down the usual strains and sprains, but no one has been put on the shelf with something like a broken limb or ripped knee ligament. The practices were brisk, but there was no live tackling.

"The fewer contacts you have, the fewer injuries," said Bubba Tyer, the team's longtime trainer. "Gibbs wants an up-tempo, fast practice, but also you him them hollering 'Stay off the ground, stay off the ground.' "

Tyer is a library of stories from his decades of Redskins service under numerous coaches, many of whom felt they had to do anything and everything to whip the players into shape. He remembers scrimmages from the 1970s when 15 or so players on each side would be unable to participate because of hamstring injuries.

"With George Allen and Jack Pardee, we'd have 15 two-a-days in a row," Tyer said. "With all them two-a-days in a row, you don't have a chance to recover from soft tissue injuries."

Gibbs put a stop to back-to-back two-a-days in the 1980s, replacing some of the morning practices with weightlifting sessions.

By the 1990s under Turner, the offseason program had evolved to the point that players reported to camp already in shape. Recently, there have been calls for even shorter camps and fewer exhibition games.

"You know what? There shouldn't be any two-a-days," Brown said. "There should probably be two preseason games, and then we should just go play football. Guys are in shape pretty much."

The Redskins no longer go out of town for camp, so Gibbs had the players sequestered in rooms at a local conference center and had them ride buses to practices.

Gibbs had planned to set the players free on Wednesday, but he decided to let them go home early and enjoy this weekend before returning to practice Monday on a schedule the reflects more of a regular season routine.

"It doesn't mean we're going to end camp _ it's the end of bed-check," Gibbs said.

Most of the players don't think of it that way.

"We've still got of lot of work to do," Ramsey said as he walked to his car _ instead of a bus _ at Redskins Park on Saturday. "But it's good to get home and get back in a routine."

This story can be found at: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031784568575&path=%21news%21vaapwire&s=1045855935241

[jimster]

wow, that was short but they still practice every day, so it's not really a big deal.

[bird_1972]

Based on reports from the last 2 preseason games, it looks like the team could use some more camp. :2cents:

[DieselPwr44]

Based on reports from the last 2 preseason games, it looks like the team could use some more camp. :2cents:

"It doesn't mean we're going to end camp _ it's the end of bed-check," Gibbs said.

No worries there........

[SkinsGuy]

That was a fast camp. But you know the practices will be just as rigorous.