Observations
1 Robert Griffin III’s biggest help will come in the red zone, an area the Redskins have focused on the past few days. And it’s Griffin’s legs that could be the star. The Redskins clearly will have him run the ball at times in this area, but the defense must be prepared for him to do just about anything. On one play Saturday, Griffin froze linebacker London Fletcher, then got him to commit to the running back. Griffin kept the ball and sprinted around the end. Griffin is patient on the fakes, getting the end or linebacker to commit before deciding whether to keep the ball himself.
2 One of Griffin’s best passes of the day resulted in a dropped pass by receiver Leonard Hankerson. Griffin ran a zone-read option and dropped back to pass. Had he delivered the ball right away to Hankerson, who was running a slant, it would have been intercepted. But Griffin showed patience, let Hankerson clear to an opening and threw a strike. It glanced off Hankerson’s fingertips. Drops were an issue for Hankerson last summer, but that was only his second drop in 11-on-11 work this camp.
3 The Redskins’ defensive linemen consistently get the better of the offensive linemen in the one-on-one drills aside from left tackle Trent Williams (who did get beat by Brian Orakpo once Saturday). Part of the problem is the Redskins tend to have smaller offensive linemen while the defensive linemen tend to be bigger in a 3-4. That leads to the defense at times overpowering them, especially the young offensive linemen.
4 The play of the day belonged to backup quarterback Rex Grossman, who ran a bootleg to the right and threw back deep down the left side to wide-open tight end Logan Paulsen. Linebacker Markus White misread the play and left him alone. Give credit to receiver Brandon Banks, who sprinted downfield and blocked cornerback Brandyn Thompson, opening the last few yards for a touchdown.
Notes
» Redskins owner Dan Snyder sees the buzz Robert Griffin III has created. But Snyder isn’t about to place grand expectations on the rookie quarterback’s shoulders. “Everything takes time as you know,” Snyder said. “We’re excited to have him, and with coach [Mike] Shanahan, everything we’ve built, we feel good about the future.” Snyder spoke to the media covering the Redskins for the first time in more than a year after Fan Appreciation Day at Redskins Park. Griffin was a primary topic. “It’s obviously exciting for everybody, and it’s a big deal,” Snyder said. “We’re thrilled with him as a person and what he stands for as a Redskin. It’s exciting for all Redskins nation.” It’s not the first time buzz surrounded the Redskins in Snyder’s tenure. “This is [a] top pick in the draft and a Heisman winner and a quarterback,” Snyder said. “It’s a big deal for everyone, and for Redskins nation it’s as good as you get. It’s exciting for us.”
» The Redskins had their first two fights of training camp. First, center Will Montgomery and linebacker London Fletcher tussled after a play, though they only shoved one another. A few minutes later tight end Niles Paul and linebacker Markus White engaged in a more serious scrap, with Paul throwing punches. Coach Mike Shanahan brought the team together to remind them to be spirited but to play with poise.
Player of note
LB Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan sat out a second day Saturday because of a heat-related illness, coach Mike Shanahan said. Kerrigan played every snap last season, so the Redskins will cut him slack if he says anything is bothering him. Kerrigan is having a solid camp and looks quicker to come upfield against the run, turning the ballcarrier back inside. He and Brian Orakpo will flip-flop sides on occasion, though Kerrigan hasn’t yet beaten left tackle Trent Williams in pass drills.
[email protected]; For more observations and notes from John Keim, visit washingtonexaminer.com/sports/redskins-confidential.
