Swinging Gate is covering Training Camp 2011 with observations, analysis and player features. Tune in all month for news and updates.
The heat at Redskins Park this week is expected to be in the nineties all week, but that didn’t stop the team from wearing shells during this morning’s practice.
John Beck again received the bulk of the snaps at quarterback and Jammal Brown was watching from the sidelines after re-signing with the Redskins on Sunday night. Like the team’s other free agent signings, he will start practicing with the team on Thursday.
Kicker Shayne Graham will also be joining the team today according to Mike Shanahan. He’ll provide some competition for Graham Gano who had the worst conversion percentage among fulltime kickers in the league last year at 69 percent.
Some observations:
-Brown told reporters he was “feeling good health wise.” The Redskins were without a quality right tackle heading into the weekend, but now Brown can fill that void provided he continues to recover from the hip surgery he underwent in 2009. Last season, his play got better as the year progressed and after another offseason of rehab, the expectation is he’ll bookend nicely with Trent Williams for at least a few seasons.
-Speaking of Williams he appears to be better shape and admitted he’s more prepared this year. What’s even more impressive is the way he assessed his rookie campaign.
Williams has made it clear he wasn’t satisfied with his performance in 2010. However, he hasn’t let it affect his mentality. Overall, it’s a positive sign to see a player in second year take such pride in his development while not allowing it to negatively affect his play.
-Beck didn’t blow anyone away today. He made several very good throws downfield, but he held the ball too long on several occasions in seven-on-sevens. It’s strange to see a guy considered by most to be a career backup playing in camp with absolutely zero competition. But here we are in August and Beck is the frontrunner.
-Leonard Hankerson has a prime opportunity to seize control of not only a roster spot but also a key role in the offense. None of the other receivers has his combination of size, hands and ball skills and he made a nifty one-handed grab over the middle today. He did juggle a deep ball and gained possession out of bounds, but he could eventually develop into the big receiver the Redskins need.
The biggest concerns are his mental lapses and how quickly he can learn to beat press coverage. In the few times I’ve watched him live, he’s dropped several catchable balls and today he struggled to get off the line against Dante Barnes.
-Fred Davis continues his annual dominance of training camp by making a nice catch over DeJon Gomes. Davis has the talent, but he failed to make the most of his chances last season especially in the red zone where Washington needed him most.
-DeAngelo Hall broke on a Beck pass and picked it off. He showed his usual playmaking skills.
-Anthony Armstrong got behind the defense and Beck hit him in stride. Armstrong dropped it. Not what he needs with a pack of hungry receivers behind him.
-Didn’t watch rookie guard Maurice Hurt today, but Williams spoke highly of him:
“He has a chance to be one the best guards to come through here. I like his work ethic. He is a huge learner of the game. He is always looking for advice and correcting his mistakes right then as opposed to two or three weeks down the line. You do not have to tell him anything twice. He has good, quick feet and good hands. I love him.”
You asked me to speak my mind, so for what it’s worth, I still don’t get a warm fuzzy from the QB core that our coach seems to be hanging his hat on. I was not all that impressed with Rex Grossman, honestly don’t know that much about Beck, except for the minimal number of snaps he’s had since 2007, and the same goes for Kellen Clemens. Why would we not take the option of a QB (Vince Young) with a 2010 passer rating of 98.6%, 10 TDs and over 1200 Yds., to say nothing that he’s 6’5″, 232 Lbs, 28 Yrs young and can scramble with the best of them, released by his former team, while allowing him to go to a division rival? I hope this doesn’t come back to bite us, but with an arsenal of good Wide Outs, we need good QBs that can deliver the goods. By the way, Marc Bulger remains unsigned. Two other unsigned “TOP” Free Agents woth looking at are Aubrayo Franklin (NT) and most recently Osi Umenyiora (especially that he played for a team in our division) and is one hell of a DE, he’s a human sack machine, that can draw the double team. That’s my two cents for now and I appreciate you allowing me the time to vent. Thank you. Charles
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