ESPN Sports Nation: 9-5 Redskin Tidbits- Mort

[bubba9497]

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Oz (DC): Chris, What are your thoughts on the Skins going into the year? Can the defense get gack to it's '04 form when Antonio Pierce was roaming the middle?

SportsNation Chris Mortensen: The Redskins have a little cat-swallowed-the-canary demeanor right now, which means they think they're a lot better than most people think. So, yes, with London Fletcher at MLB, and rookie safety Laron Landry combined with a freak-athlete safety in Sean Taylor, plus Fred Smoot back at corner, they should be more competitive. Maybe a sleeper.

Waheed (Columbia): Mort, how good is Laron Landry? Is he a strictly "in the box" safety or can he cover downfield as well?

SportsNation Chris Mortensen: He can do both - really good athlete. He just has to get adapted to the NFL game, which can make a rookie safety's head spin.

[Truant]

Fair assessments. I enjoy Mort's takes as they usually aren't outlandish and actually take into account things like the off-season.

Injuries, like any other team, can derail this team. But if we stay healthy, we've added enough personnel on defense to keep us in any game. If we're close, Campbell, Moss, Portis, Betts, Lloyd, El and Cooley should give us a fair chance to win (not to mention a pretty great offensive line).

[Aston]

Fair assessments. I enjoy Mort's takes as they usually aren't outlandish and actually take into account things like the off-season.

They most certainly do. Mort & Clayton both seem to actually do their homework before reporting, a concept seemingly lost in a world of crappy journalism.

However, the one significant thing he failed to mention is that Gregg Williams has come out publically and raved about his ability to quickly adapt to the NFL game.

This is the same Gregg Williams who kept Rocky McIntosh benched all of his rookie year and even needed 3 weeks to start the "freak-athlete" himself, has virtually given Landry the starting spot. That in itself is the most impressive thing Landry's done so far. Besides taking a shot in the nuts, anyway.

Sure, it hasn't been formally announced yet, and out of respect for the 'alpha-dog' aspect of being a coach, Landry probably won't start. But you can bet your bottom dollar he'll play for the majority of this game.