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Paul Woody: Washington Redskins training camp


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http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-07-26-0179.html

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Washington Redskins training camp

10 things to watch

Thursday, Jul 26, 2007 - 12:10 AM

By PAUL WOODY

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

1. Quarterback Jason Campbell's performance

Nothing is more critical to the team's success than Campbell's success.

He gained valuable experience in his seven starts last season. He has looked excellent in offseason workouts. He'll have some quizzes during the preseason. The major tests and exams will come when the regular season begins.

2. Running back Clinton Portis' pursuit angles after turnovers in preseason games

Last year, in the Redskins' first preseason game, Portis made a bone-jarring tackle following an interception thrown by quarterback Mark Brunell. Unfortunately for Portis, the bones that were jarred were his. He suffered a broken collarbone and never regained form the rest of the season.

If Portis is in a preseason game for more than a series or two, it will be a surprise. If he goes after any defensive players who have intercepted a pass or recovered a fumble, it will be shocking.

3. Brandon Lloyd's effort

Lloyd was supposed to be so good at wide receiver that he opened up the field for Santana Moss.

Instead, it never was clear that Lloyd wanted to be in Washington. The Redskins have gushed about Lloyd's outstanding attitude during the offseason. We'll see.

4. Santana Moss' hamstring

Moss is among the most dangerous receivers in the NFL when he's healthy. He had hamstring problems in June, which he dismissed as nothing important.

But when you have a history of hamstring issues, the smallest tweak is important. With a healthy Moss, the Redskins' offense is potent. Without Moss, the Redskins' offense will struggle.

5. Sean Taylor's maturity

Opposing coaches never fail to mention the intimidating presence of "No. 21" in the secondary. They never mention, however, that "No. 21" gives up several big plays each season when he bites on play fakes or attempts to behead an opponent instead of merely stopping him.

The Redskins have declared that Taylor is a more mature, responsible player now. They have altered their defense to accommodate him. Their safeties no longer are interchangeable. Taylor will be strictly a free safety. That limits some of the coverages the defense can disguise before the snap. The payoff is supposed to be that Taylor will make fewer mistakes and make more big plays.

6. Gregg Williams' back-bencher approach to defense

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On the safeties, I think the return of PP and Stoutmire should help with any deficiencies we had last year. My understanding is that until the first play last year we intended to use a combo of PP and Arch, having to use Arch full time ruined him here.

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On the safeties, I think the return of PP and Stoutmire should help with any deficiencies we had last year. My understanding is that until the first play last year we intended to use a combo of PP and Arch, having to use Arch full time ruined him here.

AA ruined HIMSELF here.

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On the safeties, I think the return of PP and Stoutmire should help with any deficiencies we had last year. My understanding is that until the first play last year we intended to use a combo of PP and Arch, having to use Arch full time ruined him here.

Uhhh, no. Arch did not fit our defense. If anything, he ruined our secondary.

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Since when did Portis break his collarbone? Reporters really need to get their fats straight before writing.

Portis had a slight subluxation of his shoulder joint (partial dislocation)

Portis broke his hand.

Portis bruised his calf.

I clearly do not remember anything about a broken collarbone.

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What does that mean? What is a back-bencher? I've heard of a back breaker, but never a back-bencher.

I'm wondering that too, my first guess was it has something to do with making the opposing back look bad so the opposing team starts passing?

EDIT: Actually, after reading that section I guess it has to do with the opposing QB playing badly because of he defensive back play? :(

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Since when did Portis break his collarbone?

He didn't.

I don't understand how making Taylor a full-time Free Safety limits the coverages or ways to disguise the Defense pre-snap, either. Does anyone honestly think Williams will never use Taylor as anything other than FS?

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Coach Williams and company need to get this Defense back to playing as a unit. You look back at 06' the gang tackling was relentless and you could see the communication there. We all witnessed last year the lacking in both categories. The other point he made with Gibbs feeling more confident in Saunders offense is huge. If Gibbs and Saunders arent on teh same boat as far as playcalling then thats is a problem. As he stated waiting 10 games into the season last year when the team is already 3-7 didn't help things. If Saunders and Gibbs can put there two schemes together then i think everything will open. I really think Saunders should use the power running game to start off to allow opposing defenses in the box and then light them up with JC big arm and play action potential. I have all the faith in Al and Coach Gibbs getting this offense to really be an impressive unit this season.

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Coach Williams and company need to get this Defense back to playing as a unit. You look back at 06' the gang tackling was relentless and you could see the communication there. We all witnessed last year the lacking in both categories.
I could not agree more, everyone wasnt flying to the ball like the past years and it didnt look like anyone was having fun. If we see that return this year they will be near the top 10 for sure.
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I'm wondering that too, my first guess was it has something to do with making the opposing back look bad so the opposing team starts passing?

EDIT: Actually, after reading that section I guess it has to do with the opposing QB playing badly because of he defensive back play? :(

You were hot the first time around. Back bencher is when your run defense is so good that the first string runningback gets benched because of his lack of production against your squad.

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the defense was reacting way too much to the offenses they were facing, they need to be the aggressors and cause the opposing offense to react to their schemes. They need to dictate where the pressure will come from and keep those QB's guessing.

i think a good field general will help with that. I think Lemar Marshall did o.k. at MLB, but he is not the vocal leader that A.Pierce was or that Fletcher will be. We now have a legit defensive QB who understands what is going on schematically. Here's to hoping this ship gets turned around!

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9. Victories in preseason games

Deep in his heart, Joe Gibbs knows the outcome of preseason games is meaningless. Winning them is a matter of playing your starters longer than the other team's starters.

But Gibbs also knows his team went 0-4 in the 2006 preseason, and he doesn't want anyone to think 2007 will be a repeat of 2006. Look for at least a 2-2 preseason record this year.

Come on. He should know better. It is never the wins and losses in preseason. The final score means absolutely nothing. It's how the starters play and look against the opposition's starters. If you go 0-4 in the preseason and the starters look good, you may have to question your depth, but you don't necessarily have to question your team.

Last year the starters looked bad. They weren't ready to compete against anyone. That's what needs to change, not the final score. Vanilla offense and defense excuses are just excuses. The starters have to come out and show they're ready to play. If the second team looks good also, that would be even more encouraging.

If the starters look good this year and the team still goes 0-4, that would not be a repeat of last year's preseason.

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What does that mean? What is a back-bencher? I've heard of a back breaker, but never a back-bencher.

If you click on the link and read Woody's description, he's referering to Williams working on improving the back seven, rather than the front four...

6. Gregg Williams' back-bencher approach to defense The Redskins had just 19 sacks last season and established a record for fewest forced turnovers (12) in a 16-game season last year. Williams, the Redskins' assistant head coach defense, ignored bolstering the defensive line and instead rebuilt the back seven.

Williams' theory is that if the coverage is better, quarterbacks will have to hold the ball longer, giving the defensive linemen more time to create pressure.

That's not how the Purple People Eaters (Minnesota) or the Steel Curtain (Pittsburgh) did it. But Williams got results in Washington in 2004 and 2005 without a great pass rush. He thinks he can do it again.

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A "Back-bencher" is a term used in British politics for the mps (members of Parliament) who sit on the back benches. IE In the House of Commons they sit at the rear of the discussion. I believe he has used the term here to describe the DBs as opposed to the Linebackers or Linemen.

However Taylorcoreskin offered a different take so who really knows. I guess its a matter of opinion.

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A "Back-bencher" is a term used in British politics for the mps (members of Parliament) who sit on the back benches. IE In the House of Commons they sit at the rear of the discussion. I believe he has used the term here to describe the DBs as opposed to the Linebackers or Linemen.

However Taylorcoreskin offered a different take so who really knows. I guess its a matter of opinion.

That makes more sense particularly in context. Interesting that Woody would be familiar with the phrase though.

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