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EXTREMESKINS TRAINING CAMP COVERAGE: Day Four (PM Session - UPDATED 11:30 PM)

Tarhog

By Tarhog
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Tarhog

Tarhog

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EXTREME COVERAGE: Redskins Training Camp

Day4b 242.jpg

DAY FOUR - 8/3/06 (PM Session)

AUDIO

Click HERE to hear post-practice comments by Coach Joe Gibbs

:helmet:

PHOTOS

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #1

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #2

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #3

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #4

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #5

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #6

Click HERE to see Day Four (PM Session) Pics #7

:helmet:

QUOTES

Click HERE to read Day Four comments by Coach Joe Gibbs

Click HERE to read Day Four comments by Joe Salave'a

Click HERE to read Day Four comments by newly acquired linebacker Phillippe Gardent

Click HERE to read Day Four comments by Kenny Wright

:helmet:

TARHOG'S TAKE

Although the Ashburn air had cooled off a bit by this evening’s 7 PM practice start, it was thick as pea soup. And when the inevitable thunderstorm broke out overhead, it was met by the players with a mixture of concern (the rain was punctuated with several large lightning strikes nearby) and relief. The team was quickly ushered off the field, and although Coach Gibbs voiced the hope that the storm would pass in time to get some more work done, it was not to be tonight. There was no opportunity for player interviews, although we did get the chance to ask Coach Gibbs some questions.

Following team stretches, the players again went immediately into individual drills. Each QB went to a different corner of the field. Casey Bramlet worked on nothing but handoffs to the backs. Brunell, Collins, and Campbell worked on intermediate passes with the receiving corps. They all looked solid, and with the exception of a few dropped passes (one by a clearly disappointed Taylor Jacobs who I believe knows he can ill-afford any mistakes right now, and another by Santana Moss who shouted in anger at himself as soon as the ball came out of his hands), no one stood out. I have noticed that Todd Collins has a tendency to throw without having his feet set at times, although it doesn't appear to effect his accuracy. Mark Brunell made several nice throws during drills delivering a textbook shovel pass to Ladell Betts.

Although Al Saunders (as you’re probably tiring of hearing by now) always makes his presence felt, tonight he seemed more intense than usual. I couldn’t tell whether it was because he was displeased, or for some other reason. But even the photo’s we captured of him this evening look more intense. He was definitely fired up tonight and delivering quite a bit of ‘advice’ to the offensive unit. He moved constantly back and forth between the wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks. I heard him deliver several nuggets this evening, including screaming repeatedly to the wide receivers to ‘waste no time of the line of scrimmage!’ and ‘you’ve got to be convincing!’ (said to Jimmy Farris after he faked to the inside and cut outside rather sloppily). I also noted tonight that no one is paying more attention to Al Saunders than Mark Brunell. Every time Saunders spoke this evening, Brunell’s eyes were glued to him, and that is good to see.

There was also a drill tonight I hadn’t seen, where a coach dons big padded red arm sleeves, and tries to tie up the wide receivers, whose job it is to shed the blocker and get past him on their route. The tight ends got a lot of work tonight as well, not with pass catching, but working on blocking schemes and technique. They are a sight to see grouped together. I don’t know what’s going on with Christian Fauria, but he was down on one end of the field for an extended period this evening with several coaches speaking with him. I don’t know if he’s banged up or what, but something seemed to be going on with him.

Mike Sellars had the play of the evening, which if you didn’t see you certainly would have heard – for the second time today, Sellars rumbled up the middle, this time lowering his head and laying a wicked hit on safety Reed Doughty. To Doughty’s credit, although the loud ‘CRRRAAACK’ of the collision elicited some ooh’s and aah’s, he kept his feet under him and absorbed the hit that would’ve leveled a lesser player. And Doughty came back the very next play, busting through and catching Clinton Portis in the backfield.

That about wrapped up the action this evening. We hope to have some great stuff to share with you after tomorrow’s open practice. And we encourage everyone who can to come on out. I asked several players today if they enjoyed the fan interaction at the open practices, and they all answered the same way ‘absolutely!’. For those who do come by tomorrow, make sure to say hey to themurf and I. We look forward to seeing some of you out there :cheers:

MURF'S TAKE

Well the afternoon session was completely different than anything else I’d been to. But that’s probably because it was called just over halfway through because of lightning. As soon as lightning was clearly visible the coaches sent everyone inside to safety – although Joe Gibbs did tell them “Stay ready men. It’s supposed to pass.”

After about 15 minutes though everyone gave up and they decided to just call it a day. The players were clearly happy that their workday ended earlier. Gibbs even joked in his post-practice press conference that several players tried to convince him that they saw lightning much earlier during the practice in hopes of tricking him into sending them home early.

Everyone made it inside but poor Buck Ortega. I don’t know if his teammates didn’t like his interview with me this morning or what, but he was taped to a tree and blasted with a shaving cream pie to the face. Hazing may be a dirty word, but pranks still do happen.

The highlight of the day for many of the players was a surprise visit by Ray Brown, who told me he was making his first return to Redskins Park since he retired. His teammates were clearly glad to see him, and everyone swung by to catch up and/or make plans with him.

As far as the actual practice goes, it was pretty uneventful prior to the inclement weather. Those who wrote in asking for information on the punters will be happy to know that they actually did in fact punt the ball this evening. One didn’t really look better than the other, and really if people hadn’t asked about them I probably wouldn’t have paid much attention.

While that was going on the wide receivers broke into a group to work on getting free at the line of scrimmage. They would break past a coach with a big pad on his arm and then spin around to catch a pass. Meanwhile, tight ends were in the near corner of the field working on blocking techniques. On the far other end of the field was Clint Portis and Ernest Byner. They were working on simple pass-catching drills. At one point Byner turned to me and said, “Did you get that? Did you get E.B. throwing those perfect passes?” I let him know I did and they went back to their drill.

I would pay money to spend a day with Bubba Tyer. Just thought I should throw that out there. He’s always in a good mood and he livens up a room as soon as he enters.

The only player who really stood out this evening was Mike Espy during the wide receiver drills. He caught everything thrown his way and really impressed me a couple of times by snagging a less-than-perfect pass once or twice.

On other thing that stood out during some of the offensive drills tonight. At one point, Al Saunders stopped the action to address his receivers. He told them to “run every route like you’re the primary receiver.” He really wanted everyone to know that they’re going to play a part in what could be a high-powered offense, and the guys really seem to hang out his words.

I wish I had more to report, but we had to get inside … John kept complaining about messing up his hair. We’ll try to do better tomorrow.

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Tarhog

Tarhog

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Do you think they will practice longer tomorrow to make up for tonight?

I'm not sure - I wouldn't be surprised if they went a little longer, but its also the hottest time of the day, so I'd imagine if they were going to add some practice time, they might do it at one of the early morning or late afternoon sessions, rather than tomorrow.

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Walking Deadman

Walking Deadman

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I'm not sure - I wouldn't be surprised if they went a little longer, but its also the hottest time of the day, so I'd imagine if they were going to add some practice time, they might do it at one of the early morning or late afternoon sessions, rather than tomorrow.

Longer Scrimmage, maybe? Yay!!!!

(I seriously doubt it)

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Neal

Neal

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Many thanks for the training camp reports containing details we cannot get from any other source. However, to those of us interested in which players will make the final roster, the most useful bits of information you could provide are the depth chart - and who is getting the most special teams assignments. For example, can you keep us informed on the composition of the second and third strings?

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Tarhog

Tarhog

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Many thanks for the training camp reports containing details we cannot get from any other source. However, to those of us interested in which players will make the final roster, the most useful bits of information you could provide are the depth chart - and who is getting the most special teams assignments. For example, can you keep us informed on the composition of the second and third strings?

No one knows the depth chart beyond the coaching staff, and they won't answer those questions. We can give our best guesses, but thats all they are. As much as they rotate in and out at camp, even noting who's working with the apparent starting line-up isn't always reliable, although we'll try and let you know if we see anything unusual.

There are some things we just aren't going to be privy to. I think Joe Gibbs gave some hope to those pulling for a fringe player last evening when he mentioned he thought there would be some 'surprises, maybe more than one'. As to who he was thinking of when he made that remark, I have no more idea than you do.

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Tarhog

Tarhog

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Espy seems to be having a great camp. Can he play Special Teams??? Perhaps, he is eligible for the Practice Squad and will replace Thrash (if Espy can play teams) next year.

They seem to be using just about everyone who's got any speed at all on special teams. Funny you bring up Mike Espy though - I mentioned to murf last evening as we were watching him, that he could be one of the most talented WRs I've seen not to make this team. Not saying he won't, but he's got a lot of competition.

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ChiefPowhatan17

ChiefPowhatan17

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It's amazing that we have so much depth at Reciever and LB. I feel bad for some of these guys trying to make the team at WR, cause we are so stacked. Espy has a chance, especially for the practice squad. Can you be put on the PS, if you made the regular roster last year? Isn't there some rule about veterans of more than 2 years?

I want to hear more about McCune, Is there going to be a spot for him, I hope so I thought that he did pretty good last year, I just think that there has to be an odd man out at LB, unless we carry one extra this year, but I doubt it. How was Havner?

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