RB Roy Helu asked if it was hard to get up for last 3 #Redskins games this season: “No, not if you’re a competitor.”

— Redskins.com (@Redskins) December 14, 2011

London Fletcher’s value to Redskins can’t be overlooked dlvr.it/10TMWq #Redskins — FanMag – Redskins (@FanMag_Redskins) December 14, 2011

Jammal Brown is unlikely to play this Sunday against the #Giants. The #Redskins are preparing to be without him in NY this weekend. — Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 14, 2011

CSNWashington >> Talking Points: Playing for their jobs buzztap.com/-ntmdQI — Washington Redskins (@redskinsbuzztap) December 14, 2011

Stat of the day. RT @RickMaese: Redskins have just 3 winnings seasons in Dan Snyder’s 13 seasons as owner.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 11, 2011

#Redskins, join me & @RyanKerrigan91 for MNF Party- Monday 12/19 at 7pm @ Green Turtle in Leesburg, VA — Brian Orakpo (@rak98) December 13, 2011

All six active #Redskins WRs played at least 11 snaps, led by Gaffney’s 61 and Moss’ 60. — Ryan O’Halloran (@ryanohalloran) December 13, 2011

Kerrigan, Riley, Fletcher, Hall, Wilson, Doughty played all 60 snaps due to Patriots going no-huddle and same personnel grouping. — Ryan O’Halloran (@ryanohalloran) December 13, 2011

If you like to gamble like the Redskins did on defense against the Patriots because they knew they couldn’t stop them, then you should check out PartyPoker Italy

5. Helu first rookie #Redskins RB with three straight 100-yard games.

— Ryan O’Halloran (@ryanohalloran) December 11, 2011

#Redskins quickees. 1. It sounds like Shanahan woujld have given strong consideration to going for 2 had they scored TD.

— Ryan O’Halloran (@ryanohalloran) December 11, 2011

If Grossman starts against the Panthers, look for him to turn it around next week against a very below average Carolina defense.  If you are interested in sports betting, I expect the Redskins to win outright on the road.

This year, the team highest profile 3-4 pupil will be first round draft pick Ryan Kerrigan, as the dominant defensive end from Purdue will look to start opposite of the Redskin’ best pass rusher, Brian Orakpo. But it’s been another rookie who’s shown well so far in his transition from end to outside linebacker.

Seventh rounder Markus White out of Florida State has emerged as one of the first year players who has started camp off well. Through the first week of camp, White is working primarily with the second team, but is already showing the motor that helped him have his best season with the Seminoles last year. He finished his senior season with a career high in sacks and tackles for loss with 8.5 and 12.5, respectively.

However one of the struggles for White, much like his first round counterpart in Kerrigan, is that he has to simultaneously learn the speed of the NFL game while also learning a position that’s completely foreign to him.

“It’s a faster game,  [and] I’m playing a different position,” White said. “I’ve got a lot of learning to do.”

White has especially stood out so far during one-on-one drills, showcasing his power, speed and relentless motor when going against opposing offensive lineman. He has mostly relied so far on his speed rush, being able to beat those trying to block him to the edge and getting good leverage to find his way past them and get in the backfield.

He’s the type of player the Redskins would love to have pan out: A will over skill guy that can come in during nickel downs and create an additional problem for opposing offensive lines, similar the Chris Wilson’s role over the past few seasons. But according to White, the coaches could wind playing him at a few different spots.

“We’re doing a little of everything” White said. “I’m playing the Sam (strong-side) and the Will (weak-side), so we do both. It’s the best of both worlds in my opinion.”

White is another example of the young, hungry and most importantly, open minded type of player that the team has sought after this entire offseason. Many have criticized Mike Shanahan’s decision to essentially force a 3-4 defense down a 4-3 team’s throat, as most believed the defense in Washington was not the problem. If Shanahan is to be vindicated in year two of this scheme, he’ll need players like White to catch on quickly to help establish depth among the team’s linebacker corps.

Luckily for Shanahan, White just might have the right combination of athletic ability and eagerness to learn to give him a chance to not only make the roster, but contribute in 2011.

That is, of course, when White doesn’t have to think as much when he’s on the field.

“To be a player in the NFL you’ve got to use your mind.”, White said. “[It’s] 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical.”

And if learning is a bigger obstacle for White this preseason than the lineman that will be opposite of him, then the Redskins might have found themselves a diamond in the rough in what could be a very deep draft class.

Needless to say, Barnes has experienced his fair share of adverse circumstances. He knows his moment to break out could be close, but for the bulk of his first two years, he’s had to watch from the sidelines.

“Even when I saw Carlos [Rogers] and DeAngelo [Hall] out there making plays, it makes me want to be out there more because I’m out here battling in practice and I know what I’m capable of,” Barnes said. “But I mean it’s all about paying your dues and I think I’m on my way to doing that.”

Barnes isn’t a cocky player, but he certainly emanates a quiet, self-assurance. He admitted there have been times when he’s wondered why he isn’t on the field. And that’s not a bad mindset to possess.

“You have to have that mentality being a corner, especially a young corner,” he said.

Despite the slow start to his career, Barnes hasn’t stopped maintaining a positive outlook on his future in football. With his solid 6’1”, 185-pound frame and willingness to help in run support, it’s easy to see why he’s confident.

He started the final two games of the 2010 season and intercepted a David Garrard pass in overtime to setup a Graham Gano field goal, giving the Redskins a victory over the Jaguars. The interception was the first of Barnes’ career and with Mike Shanahan keeping an eye out for young talent during the final weeks of a lost season it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Coaches saw what I could do when I had my opportunity last year,” he said. “The thing is, I’ve been buried on the depth chart since I’ve been here so now I’m a little bit older, a little bit wiser, coaches are putting a little bit more responsibility on me to go out there and do what I’m capable of doing.”

Barnes has been grateful for the quiet start to the season. His rookie campaign was during the end of the disastrous Jim Zorn era, which hampered his development. Last year was more structured under Shanahan, but with higher expectations and the drama surrounding Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb, younger players like Barnes were afterthoughts.

However, the focus has shifted to building a foundation that makes football priority number one and Barnes has already embraced the newfound stability at Redskins Park.

“I think coach Shanahan and Mr. [Bruce] Allen—they’re doing a great [job] of sculpting the team the way they want it,” he said. “I was talking to guys yesterday about the locker room, the atmosphere and it’s completely different from the last few years. There’s just no negativity, it’s all positive and everybody’s really coming together faster.”

Barnes, Byron Westbrook and Brandyn Thompson will be fighting for two roster spots unless the Redskins decide to have six corners on their roster, which is unlikely. Barnes’ ability to play both corner and safety is attractive, but Westbrook was re-signed this offseason and can play special teams. Thompson was one of this year’s seventh-round draft picks, meaning Shanahan might prefer him instead of Barnes who was selected by Vinny Cerrato.

Even though the odds might be stacked against him, Barnes firmly believes he is in control of his fate with the team.

“Regardless of whoever comes back or who’s here, I mean it’s still in my hands,” he said. “Coach Shanahan promotes competition at every position so it’s going to be a battle throughout the season.”

As the final stages of the CBA agreement were being put into place, Rex Grossman, Barry Cofield and the rest of the Redskins offseason acquisitions waited on the sidelines in uniform to get the go ahead to begin practicing with their teammates.

The CBA was not approved until the afternoon session was about 45 minutes underway, but once the 11-on-11s started, Tim Hightower led the charge with a dash off the left side, netting big yards.

With the new players fully on board, it was one of the more spirited sessions of camp. Here are some observations:

-Grossman was his usual erratic self, forcing some throws and displaying the high-risk, high-reward tendencies he showed us last year.

On one hand he connected several times with Terrence Austin over the middle and threw a dart to Fred Davis in the seam. However, he also threw an out route right to Chris Horton who had cut right underneath the receiver. Horton dropped the ball, but it wasn’t a smart decision by Grossman.

-Malcolm Kelly didn’t practice today because of what Shanahan said was an issue with his groin or hamstring. Kelly cannot afford to miss much after injuries have derailed the first chapter of his short playing career.

The Redskins want Kelly to succeed. He has the size, hands and frame to be a much-needed red zone threat and possession receiver, but so far durability has been his downfall. He must participate in every preseason game if he wants an opportunity to make the final roster.

-Ryan Torain broke his hand in Wednesday’s practice Shanahan said he’ll miss a week to ten days. Like Kelly, durability is the primary reason Torain’s future with the team could be in doubt.

The difference is that Torain, when healthy, was a very productive back last season. However, that hasn’t stopped Washington from adding three running backs to the roster after a lack of depth at the position hurt them the past two seasons.

-Hightower and Roy Helu both ran the ball well in spots today. The offensive line appears to be more organized thus far and they have given the backs more holes than in last year’s training camp.

-Kevin Barnes was beaten in coverage several times and struggled to stop the run. There were several points where he was pulled off the field and talked to by a member of the coaching staff.

It’s not a good time for Barnes to be looking lost. This is his third season and with Phillip Buchanon missing the first four weeks of the season due to suspension, Barnes has the opportunity for more playing time. He won’t if he’s beaten out for a roster spot by Byron Westbrook and Brandyn Thompson.

-Chris Cooley left the field without talking to reporters. There have been murmurs that he isn’t 100 percent at the moment and Shanahan mentioned there has been fluid in his knee and he will “monitor him day-by-day.”

-Watched most of the one-on-one drills between the offensive and defensive lines. Will Montgomery seemed to have trouble holding up at the line of scrimmage. He’ll be closely evaluated in the first preseason game I’m sure. Erik Cook and Kory Lichtensteiger are the other options at center although the Redskins did sign center/guard Donovan Raiola on Thursday. He has one game of NFL experience.

Ryan Kerrigan only went through the walkthrough portion of the morning session due to an injured knee. Mike Shanahan told reporters he would likely be able to practice fully in two or three days. Brandon Banks was on the sidelines nursing what Shanahan said was a swollen knee and Ryan Torain injured his hand.

Shanahan was unsure as to the extent of Torain’s injury, but indicated it could be a sprained hand. Though it doesn’t seem to be a serious concern, it does bear watching given Torain’s inability to remain healthy. Shanahan said he would probably have the hand X-rayed Wednesday afternoon.

Some observations:

-Malcolm Kelly had a strong day. He looks completely healthy and was running smoothly through every route. He made a nice catch downfield after getting behind the defense and several nice grabs along the sideline and over the middle in traffic. There hasn’t been any one receiver putting on a clinic, but Kelly was very solid today.

-The receiver drawing a lot of buzz is the newly acquired Jabar Gaffney. He caught a John Beck longball today and has shown reliable hands. However, it’s tough seeing him starting this year. He is coming off a 65-catch season, but that was the only time in his nine-year career he’s had over 60 receptions.

-Watched Trent Williams match up against Brian Orakpo and Williams’ footwork has really improved. He kept Orakpo in front of him as the linebacker tried a speed rush and a cutback to the inside. Shanahan has raved about Williams’ athleticism and we’ve seen it so far in camp.

-Beck’s arm strength is going to be a weakness. He doesn’t throw with much zip and anything he threw towards the sideline wasn’t crisp. He did connect on some deep throws, but he doesn’t have a quick release and has been indecisive at times.

Shanahan said that Beck and Grossman would split reps with the first team offense, but the coach would elaborate on how was going to divide the preseason games.

-Adam Carriker blew up the offensive line on several run plays. He emerged down the stretch last year and will be fighting for a starting job with Jarvis Jenkins and Stephen Bowen.

After practice he told me he expects to be a starter on the defensive line this year. Bowen can’t practice until Thursday and Jenkins is a rookie so the odds are in Carriker’s favor.

“A lot of these guys, like you said, they haven’t practiced yet or they’re going to practice for their first time tomorrow in this defense,” he said. “In the cool of a room, you know what you’re supposed to do, but as you get out here—you’re tired, it’s hot— it’s all about what you’ve done a million times before and so for me it’s like bam, bam, bam. I’m not even thinking anymore.”

-Kevin Barnes has a make or break year ahead of him. Phillip Buchanon won’t be playing in the first four games of the year, meaning Barnes have an opportunity to seize a more prominent role in the secondary.

“I’ve been buried on the depth chart since I’ve been here so now, I’m a little bit older, a little bit wiser,” he said. “Coaches are putting a little bit more responsibility on me to go out there do what I’m capable of doing.”

-Beck spoke glowingly of Fred Davis who almost looks like a receiver with all the weight he’s lost.

“Fred has been playing awesome,” Beck said. “He has made some great diving catches. I think he’s primed for a great year.”

Beck said Davis had come out to San Diego to practice with him over the offseason. Davis himself has mentioned he needs to become a student of the game and finally he seems to be ready for the commitments that come with being an NFL player.

His blocking hasn’t gotten any better, but on the whole Davis has been very good as a pass-catcher in camp. If he can establish himself as a red zone threat, he’ll be a valuable piece.

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.”

In a matter of days, the outlook for Washington’s front three has become a bit rosier.

Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield join rookies Jarvis Jenkins and Chris Neild as the newest members on the Redskins defensive line. They join Adam Carriker, Vonnie Holliday and Anthony Bryant as the linemen under contract, giving Washington the depth and versatility they lacked in 2010.

The transition to the 3-4 may have been premature as the Redskins were severely limited by the lack of experienced 3-4 linemen. Carriker steadily improved as the year progressed, but neither Ma’ake Kemoeatu nor Albert Haynesworth could make an impact at nose tackle. The Redskins didn’t have the personnel to fill gaps and command double teams, making life miserable for the linebacking corps.

The result was a run defense ranked 26^th and surrendering 4.6 yards per carry. The defensive line lacked any sort of elite lineman such as Aubrayo Franklin or another dominating force to make life easier on the rest of the defense.

Adding a power player to the middle of the defense would have made the most sense, but thus far Washington has avoided handing out a big payday to any of the biggest names in free agency. Instead they’ve made several smaller signings, spreading their payroll out among solid linemen in Bowen and Cofield.

With their staggering list of shortcomings, the Redskins needed to avoid throwing all their money in the direction of one or two players. There’s no question there were more exciting defensive linemen available, but Bruce Allen went for the cheaper options, leaving him with cash leftover to bring in Josh Wilson and Chris Chester with room to spare.

The Redskins have done an admirable job upgrading the defensive line. Haynesworth, the team’s biggest headache, is gone as is his $5.4 million cap hit. So are Phillip Daniels and Ma’ake Kemoeatu, two players past their prime. Those cuts saved saving them an additional $3.75 million against the salary cap.

Bowen and Cofield are younger, more durable and more talented as replacements. Bowen can play either defensive end position and Cofield is expected to contribute extensively at nose tackle where Washington was most vulnerable last year.

The Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl with a large stable of versatile defensive lineman and based on the Redskins’ offseason moves, they will try and imitate that philosophy.

Jenkins, Washington’s second-round pick, is expected to try his hand at both end and nose tackle while Neild is a seventh-round selection who could very well factor in at nose tackle. Carriker and Holliday were the best defensive ends on the roster in 2010 and Bryant flashed some ability as a run-stopping nose tackle.

Unlike last season, the Redskins have some players on the defensive line who will cause matchup problems for opposing offenses. They have several players with enough size and strength to absorb extra blockers, taking some pressure off what could be a very inexperienced group of linebackers.

Year two of the 3-4 scheme certainly appears to be off to a promising start, but it’s success will largely be determined up front on the line, putting plenty of pressure on the unit that underwent the most change this offseason.

How they handle that pressure will prove to be the difference between last season and the defenses which consistently finished in the top ten under Greg Blache and Gregg Williams.

Just as it is every year, the free agent period has been one dominated by the Redskins. After the first two days on the open market, Washington has emerged as an active participant in an effort to improve upon another losing season.

However unlike in previous seasons, there has been a method to the madness—surprising from a team who perennially contends for the title of “Offseason Champs.”

In fact, their approach has been refreshingly conservative.

Santonio Holmes cashed in with the Jets as Bruce Allen opted to re-sign productive veteran receiver Santana Moss to one-fourth the amount of guaranteed money New York gave Holmes.

Holmes would have been a major upgrade, but he wasn’t worth the $24 million in guaranteed money the Jets paid him. In 2010, Moss pulled in 93 receptions for 1,115 yards and Holmes caught 52 balls for 746 yards. Holmes has played only one season in which he had over 60 catches. He has just one 1,000-yard season and yet the Jets paid him elite receiver money.

With an exciting pair of rookies in Leonard Hankerson and Niles Paul, Allen has thus far refused to overspend at receiver. The Redskins have more pressing needs elsewhere and since they are finally on the right side of the salary cap, there’s little reason to slide back into the red while splurging on an overpriced receiver.

While the additions of Donte Stallworth and Brandon Stokley might leave some scratching their heads, signing two older receivers to low-risk deals isn’t much different from when they brought in Willie Parker and Larry Johnson last season.

Will Stallworth and Stokley find themselves on the final roster? Probably not, but with the rookie receivers having missed out on a structured offseason Mike Shanahan needs veterans around to shorten their learning curve. Meanwhile, second-year wideouts such as Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks and Terrence Austin will be forced to improve their respective games to hold off the freshly minted competition.

Allen stockpiled receivers throughout Wednesday, trading 2009 supplemental draft pick Jeremy Jarmon for Jabar Gaffney. Playing with Denver last season, Gaffney’s 65 receptions would have been more than any Redskins wide receiver save for Moss. He has a good chance of sticking with the team during the regular season and could even end up starting opposite Moss.

Holmes was the glitzy pick to solve the receiver conundrum in Washington. The Redskins have signed their share of lackluster journeymen receivers in the past with disastrous results, but this time around they haven’t overpaid for any of them and I don’t feel they’ll be stealing reps from the younger players drafted by Shanahan a la Joey Galloway.

Throw in the contracts handed out to Barry Cofield and Josh Wilson and Shanahan and Allen have some sizzling synergy developing. They are addressing needs with a mix of youth and experience, supplementing a 12-man draft class with cost-effective free agents.

Allen is the one composing the contracts and it’s hard to find fault with that end of the decision-making process. Shanahan is under more scrutiny especially after last season’s Donovan McNabb debacle, but on the whole he seems to have grasped the fact that there is no quick fix for this team.

Shanahan could have pursued Nnamdi Asomugha or Jonathan Joseph to bolster the cornerback position, but instead acquired Wilson. The 26-year old doesn’t possess the credentials of an Asomugha, but also doesn’t come with a hefty price tag and had nine interceptions the past three years (Carlos Rogers had four INTs in that time). Furthermore, the money saved by inking Wilson over a marquee name gives Washington an opportunity to sign another defensive lineman or a right tackle.

It isn’t easy to standby and watch elite players slip through the cracks, but the Redskins are more than a few pieces away so their restraint is necessary. They need a franchise quarterback, the defense is still transitioning from a 3-4 and playmakers are few and far between. Yet that doesn’t mean what they’ve done this offseason won’t be beneficial.

Allen has long maintained a reputation as one of the top financial minds in the game and Shanahan seems to have developed a sense as to what direction he wants to take. And most importantly, they have yet to try and rescue a floundering franchise with one offseason of frenzied spending.

Lord knows that’s the last thing the Redskins need.

The Redskins sixth round draft pick knows he will have to earn a role on the team during training camp

Becoming Penn State’s all time leading rusher shouldn’t be a distinction that’s taken lightly. The school that has produced the likes of Curt Warner, Larry Johnson and Franco Harris certainly knows what a solid NFL running back looks like. One would think that if a player left the school having amassed more rushing yards than each of those runners, he could garner attention from NFL teams.

And yet, Redskins draftee Evan Royster has been overlooked as a runner who can produce at the NFL level. As if amassing 3932 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns and a career 5.7 yards per carry isn’t enough to sway NFL teams. Even with those gaudy statistics, Royster’s name never seemed to bring much excitement inside many NFL circles.

In fact, his name may have elicited more confusion than excitement. NFL teams were likely baffled by Royster’s running style, as he was able to produce big time numbers at Penn State without being particularly fast or explosive. You can even count the man who drafted Royster, Mike Shanahan, as one who had a hard time explaining his draft pick’s college production.

“He’s just a natural runner and when you take a look at him, you don’t see anything that would blow you away,” Shanahan said right after the draft. “All he does is gain yards. He’s one of those guys, very smooth, very elusive. You run it back and forth and all of a sudden you’re saying, ‘How did he gain all those yards?’”

That obviously seemed to be the sentiment that the majority of NFL teams shared, as Royster wasn’t selected until the sixth round of the draft by Washington.

But if Royster doesn’t project as a player who can produce at a high level in the NFL, how will he be able to make the Redskins opening day roster?

Assuming the Redskins do not make a move to add a veteran running back in free agency, Royster will have to contend with Ryan Torain, fellow draftee Roy Helu, and third down specialist Keiland Williams.

And despite the late round stigma, the Fairfax, Virginia native has a number of things going for him that could help his chances of making the roster.

Along with his ability (and willingness) to play special teams, Royster has experience being on the field on third downs, something that will not only make it hard to cut him, but it’d provide stiff competition for the incumbent, Williams.

“I’ve played [all three downs] in college.” Royster said after the Redskins’ players-only workouts. “They kind of turned me into a pass protector [on third down]”

And not only did he produce as a pass protector, he showed he can be effective as a receiver out of the backfield. Royster finished with 562 receiving yards on 61 receptions at Penn State, catching three touchdowns in the process. His skills out of the backfield could set him apart from Helu (who hasn’t excelled in passing situations) and could give him the edge over the aforementioned Williams.

Unfortunately for Royster, he along with all the other NFL rookies are at a disadvantage this offseason because of the lack of true, full speed NFL practices that were taken away because of the lockout.  The rookies have to pick up parts of the offense that are taught to them during the players-held practices. That being said, the little that Royster has been exposed to this offseason hasn’t been too much for him to handle.  It certainly doesn’t hurt that the offense he was in at Penn State appears to bear a small resemblance to what the Redskins run.

“[The offenses] are similar.” Royster said. “It’s just the terminology that’s different. The protections are pretty much the same. There’s a couple things here and there are a little confusing to me at the moment, but that’s why we’re [practicing].”

Perhaps the best news for Royster is that Shanahan is a sage when it comes to unearthing quality late round running backs. So when he selects a back, it’s expected that rusher will produce in his scheme. Shanahan sees something in Royster, and obviously thought highly enough to draft him.

“When you take a look at his production at Penn State, all those yards, he’s just the guy I was hoping would be there and I feel very fortunate,” Shanahan said. “I think we have an excellent back that will come in here and compete for a starting position.”

Competing for a starting position are lofty expectations for a player that appears to have plenty of competition ahead of him this summer.

But Royster is certainly up to the challenge.

“I hope [I can contribute],” Royster said. “If I didn’t think I was capable of contributing, then I wouldn’t be here.”