Redskins training camp impressions: Day 7
Here are my random impressions from watching day 7 of Redskins training camp.
Clinton Portis, Joey Galloway, Albert Haynesworth, Malcolm Kelly, Jammal Brown, Larry Johnson, Santana Moss did not practice today. Injury was the reason Kelly didn't practice and Haynesworth swollen knee and inability to pass a simple conditioning test explains his inactivity. Portis, Galloway, Johnson and Moss simply got the day off due to age and experience. Jammal Brown wanted to play, but his hip was bothering him and the coaches insisted he sit this one out.
WR Brandon Banks is very small, but also very fast and quick. He gets around the field, changes direction on a dime and caught everything thrown at him today. He was playing mostly outside, but I'd like to see him in the slot, too. I think slot receivers can do a lot of damage in this offense.
Another thing about Banks: He's so limber he can touch the face guard of his helmet with the toe of his cleat. No kidding.
WR Coach Keenan McCardell looks like he can still play and, things being what they are, the Redskins might need him.
WR Roydell Williams is taking advantage of his opportunities. He catches everything, including a long touchdown pass over CB Kevin Barnes. Right now, Williams looks like the clear #2 wideout on this team.
CB Kevin Barnes bounced back moments later by nicely breaking up a long pass intended for WR Devin Thomas.
Speaking of Devin Thomas, he continues to rebound from a poor start to training camp. He looked good again today, catching some tough passes on out patterns against heavy coverage.
Also making nice catches today were TE Fred Davis [over the middle], TE Chris Cooley [over the middle for a touchdown] and WR Bobby Wade, who pulled in a long TD pass from Donovan McNabb. I think the middle of the field, between the hash marks, is going to be a target-rich environment for the Redskins tight ends.
New QB John Beck throws nice, tight spirals on out patterns, which is always a key test I have for the arm strength of quarterbacks.
Donovan McNabb is well-suited to the 5 and 7-step drops used in Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast offense. In fact, I think he may be more suited to that than he was to the 3-step drops commonly used in Philadelphia. The big question is: Will McNabb's receivers allow him to flourish?
When McNabb does miss, he misses low, which was his habit in Philadelphia. This prevents a lot of interceptions, but he will have the occasional pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage. Just get used to that.
I thought McNabb and Beck looked good in practice today. Fellow quarterbacks Richard Bartel and Rex Grossman did not, however. Neither was particularly accurate, though Grossman was especially wild and kept over-throwing deep post patterns that should have gone for long gains or touchdowns. Grossman is a very streaky passer and not known for his accuracy, so that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
After dropping two easy interceptions earlier in training camp, LB Robert Henson held on to one today. He has a knack for being around the ball.
CB Phillip Buchanon DID drop an interception today, but it wasn't an easy play to make. He was tough on himself, though, immediately dropping to the turf to do 10 quick push-ups.
PK Graham Gano won't have a problem with leg strength. That guy just crushes the ball and his accuracy is usually pretty good, though he struggled today from relatively close. Oddly enough, he was virtually perfect from beyond 40 yards. Just one of those days, I guess. Special Teams Coach Danny Smith likes him, though.
Long Snapper Nick Sundberg was low on a lot of his field goal snaps. That better not continue. He's a kid with pretty much no experience so he doesn't have much margin for error.
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