MTK
08-04-2004, 11:45 PM
I thought this was worth posting for discussion, some good stuff.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/longterm/2004/preseason/dailytracker4.htm
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/images/I26708-2004Mar03 Brunell vs. Ramsey
Patrick Ramsey looked efficient running the red-zone offense, particularly with finding open receivers over the middle. The third-year pro was quite animated after the offense punched the ball into the end zone on a few running plays and he threaded several passes to his backs through tight coverage, including a touchdown pass to Chad Morton. Much of practice was devoted to this area of play, with the offense lining up in the red zone during nine-on-nine and 11-on-11 drills.
Mark Brunell, the more mobile of the two, rolled out of the pocket with regularity but often was forced to throw the ball away during 11-on-11 drills. His best completion, a pretty lob to Rod Gardner in the end zone, drew wild protests from the defense, who believed Gardner had pushed off. Coach Joe Gibbs said Brunell would start Monday's preseason opener, with Ramsey to start the second game. That rotation will continue through the first four exhibitions. Gibbs is still debating how long to leave in the starters. "It kind of depends how you feel," he said. "We'll just play that by ear."
Quotable
"Get your [posterior] off the grass, now!" -- Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense, to his players during a conditioning drill.
Fresh Faces: Chris Cooley
Position: Tight end.
College: Utah State.
Who He Is: Cooley, the Redskins' third-round choice in the 2004 draft, led the nation's tight ends with 95 receptions and 1,255 yards and had 11 touchdowns in his senior season at Utah State. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder was a finalist for the award given to the best tight end in the country, the Mackey Award.
How He's Doing: During Monday's practice session, Cooley had a bad miss on one of the final plays of the day, after not giving the quarterback enough time to get him the ball. "We have three at my position right now -- we're rotating all three -- so I'm able to get a pretty good break and go as hard as I can every play that I'm in," said Cooley, 22, adding that he has been able to quickly get over any mistakes he has made in practice."
Chances of Making the Roster: Cooley almost certainly will make the team. He's up for the starting H-back role, competing with Brian Kozlowski and Mike Sellers.
The Daily Gibbs Watch
The differences between Joe Gibbs and Steve Spurrier are mounting -- and not just on the field. Under Spurrier's reign, fans had a virtually unlimited ability to watch training camp, and media were never shut out. Gibbs has taken a strikingly different stance, closing yesterday's morning walk-through to fans and opening last night's practice just to a small number of beat writers and some fans with VIP credentials. Gibbs, who put in restrictions in his first touras Redskins coach, said he didn't want his players to be distracted. He also mentioned that he did not want the media to see technical aspects of some of his practices. After Aug. 12, the rest of training camp will be completely closed to the public, and the media will have limited access.
Odds and Ends
The Redskins will certainly keep the play-calling pretty vanilla in the preseason, not wanting to give too much away, but given Gibbs's 11-year absence from the sideline, there will be a certain emphasis on key areas as well. The coaches plan to install the game plan in earnest tomorrow but have already deliberated on how to approach the game against the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Canton, Ohio.
"We've got a little game plan," Gibbs said. "We'll start work Thursday on that, so we've got one more day of regular work, then we'll get going on that. But, yeah, we've got a plan for it and we'll try to do some good regular things."
Gibbs said he will be closely evaluating the team in that game, and in particular mistakes such as penalties and turnovers.
The Redskins will train once this afternoon, beginning at 2 p.m. at Redskins Park. That session is open to the public, as is tomorrow's lone practice, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday's morning session at Redskins Park, starting at 9 a.m., will also be open, but the Friday night session at an undisclosed location will be closed. Saturday is fan appreciation day, with a walk-through in the morning and afternoon practice before the autograph signings begin. The club will depart for Ohio on Sunday and play at 8 p.m. Monday. The Redskins will play their first home preseason game Aug. 14 against Carolina.
Injuries
LB Chris Clemons: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain.
DL Phillip Daniels: Day-to-day because of an abdominal pull.
CB Walt Harris: Out indefinitely with knee injury.
WR Taylor Jacobs: Day-to-day because of an abdominal strain.
T Kenyatta Jones: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain.
T Brandon Winey: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/redskins/longterm/2004/preseason/dailytracker4.htm
http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/images/I26708-2004Mar03 Brunell vs. Ramsey
Patrick Ramsey looked efficient running the red-zone offense, particularly with finding open receivers over the middle. The third-year pro was quite animated after the offense punched the ball into the end zone on a few running plays and he threaded several passes to his backs through tight coverage, including a touchdown pass to Chad Morton. Much of practice was devoted to this area of play, with the offense lining up in the red zone during nine-on-nine and 11-on-11 drills.
Mark Brunell, the more mobile of the two, rolled out of the pocket with regularity but often was forced to throw the ball away during 11-on-11 drills. His best completion, a pretty lob to Rod Gardner in the end zone, drew wild protests from the defense, who believed Gardner had pushed off. Coach Joe Gibbs said Brunell would start Monday's preseason opener, with Ramsey to start the second game. That rotation will continue through the first four exhibitions. Gibbs is still debating how long to leave in the starters. "It kind of depends how you feel," he said. "We'll just play that by ear."
Quotable
"Get your [posterior] off the grass, now!" -- Gregg Williams, assistant head coach-defense, to his players during a conditioning drill.
Fresh Faces: Chris Cooley
Position: Tight end.
College: Utah State.
Who He Is: Cooley, the Redskins' third-round choice in the 2004 draft, led the nation's tight ends with 95 receptions and 1,255 yards and had 11 touchdowns in his senior season at Utah State. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder was a finalist for the award given to the best tight end in the country, the Mackey Award.
How He's Doing: During Monday's practice session, Cooley had a bad miss on one of the final plays of the day, after not giving the quarterback enough time to get him the ball. "We have three at my position right now -- we're rotating all three -- so I'm able to get a pretty good break and go as hard as I can every play that I'm in," said Cooley, 22, adding that he has been able to quickly get over any mistakes he has made in practice."
Chances of Making the Roster: Cooley almost certainly will make the team. He's up for the starting H-back role, competing with Brian Kozlowski and Mike Sellers.
The Daily Gibbs Watch
The differences between Joe Gibbs and Steve Spurrier are mounting -- and not just on the field. Under Spurrier's reign, fans had a virtually unlimited ability to watch training camp, and media were never shut out. Gibbs has taken a strikingly different stance, closing yesterday's morning walk-through to fans and opening last night's practice just to a small number of beat writers and some fans with VIP credentials. Gibbs, who put in restrictions in his first touras Redskins coach, said he didn't want his players to be distracted. He also mentioned that he did not want the media to see technical aspects of some of his practices. After Aug. 12, the rest of training camp will be completely closed to the public, and the media will have limited access.
Odds and Ends
The Redskins will certainly keep the play-calling pretty vanilla in the preseason, not wanting to give too much away, but given Gibbs's 11-year absence from the sideline, there will be a certain emphasis on key areas as well. The coaches plan to install the game plan in earnest tomorrow but have already deliberated on how to approach the game against the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Canton, Ohio.
"We've got a little game plan," Gibbs said. "We'll start work Thursday on that, so we've got one more day of regular work, then we'll get going on that. But, yeah, we've got a plan for it and we'll try to do some good regular things."
Gibbs said he will be closely evaluating the team in that game, and in particular mistakes such as penalties and turnovers.
The Redskins will train once this afternoon, beginning at 2 p.m. at Redskins Park. That session is open to the public, as is tomorrow's lone practice, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday's morning session at Redskins Park, starting at 9 a.m., will also be open, but the Friday night session at an undisclosed location will be closed. Saturday is fan appreciation day, with a walk-through in the morning and afternoon practice before the autograph signings begin. The club will depart for Ohio on Sunday and play at 8 p.m. Monday. The Redskins will play their first home preseason game Aug. 14 against Carolina.
Injuries
LB Chris Clemons: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain.
DL Phillip Daniels: Day-to-day because of an abdominal pull.
CB Walt Harris: Out indefinitely with knee injury.
WR Taylor Jacobs: Day-to-day because of an abdominal strain.
T Kenyatta Jones: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain.
T Brandon Winey: Day-to-day because of an ankle sprain