Springs is back
 

[B][URL="http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/"][SIZE=2]Long Time No Blog/Springs Is Back In The House[/SIZE][/URL][/B]

[FONT=Times New Roman,times,serif]Wow, it's been too long, eh?

Hope all of you guys are well. I am back from some much-needed time off to sort out the new family dynamics in the La Canfora household - Rocco is already over 15 pounds in just eight weeks and keeping all of us quite busy (poor Lauren especially) - but it's good to be back out at The Park, nonetheless.

I'm back on the case for the next 3 weeks or so until the entire NFL takes its summer vacation (and even then I'll be more of a presence than I have been the last month or so). I have to admit, however, that the break was needed. A year ago this week I left to cover the World Cup in Germany, and from then through rookie camp last month I was pretty much working 7 days a week, blogging daily on top of my regular newspaper duties. So getting off the grind was just what the doctor ordered. (But man, I miss the brats and pils. After 3 weeks on fulltime daddy duty with a toddler and a newborn, spending 40 days on my own taking across Deutschland covering soccer is something I could be coaxed into again).

Anyway, sitting out at The Park all morning getting caught up with the players. Had a good chat with Shawn Springs. He got here really early, meeting with the coaches a bit and getting some primers on the changes to the defense. He's back for good now from Arizona and will participate in his first OTA practice Tuesday, he said.

Shawn was in very good spirits and, with Lisa hopefully out there reading this somewhere, I feel the need to report that the man is ripped. He looked pretty huge in the upper body. Says he hit the training room pretty hard out in Arizona.

Other than that it's pretty quiet on a Monday morning, as the OTAs kick back up tomorrow.

I have a ton of other stuff to update you guys on as well and will do so later in the day. Nothing major, but at least some quasi-interesting tidbits to stem the Redskins News Withdrawal I know some of you are going through. I was thinking that I should probably just put up a huge post later updating everything rather than string you guys along through the week with it.

But if you prefer little individual items instead of a massive entry - all the better to allow for specific comments to each item, I suppose - than please speak up. As always, the mob rules.

Again, great to be back. Thanks for tuning back in. Don't be a stranger (and I promise I won't anymore, either).

Cheers.
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Re: Springs is back
 

Great news. Glad to see Springs kept his promise to be back today.

Re: Springs is back
 

I think Springs has earned the right to show up when he wants. He knows how to get himself ready. And from the sound of things he's in great shape and he's going to have a great year. We need him to have a great year!

Re: Springs is back
 

good read, and thanks that our best corner is back

Re: Springs is back
 

Can we fire Rogers now???? ... ;-)

Re: Springs is back
 

We have a standing bet. It's on Hess. He and Springs are going to be the same awesome duo they were in 2005 except with Rogers getting more INTs.

You ONLY say that cause you know it's get me all f-ing riled up!

Re: Springs is back
 

Did you forget about Smoot, my dear? Rogers is riding the bench... I HOPE!

Re: Springs is back
 

Smoot is nickel. I haven't heard ANY word on them benching Rogers.

Re: Springs is back
 

Who cares about which one will play corner?? All three especially Springs are great..

Re: Springs is back
 

I'm assuming they'll ALL play corner.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=hesscl34;315470]Can we fire Rogers now???? ... ;-)[/quote]


now now we cant do that

Re: Springs is back
 

Its just good to have 3 corners that can actually play! If one goes down, another can step in and pick up the slack. A clear advantage over last years squad.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=GridIron26;315485]Who cares about which one will play corner?? All three especially Springs are great..[/quote]

Rogers? "great" .... :laughing2 :laughing2

Re: Springs is back
 

Not only that, I even like Macklin to come in if need be.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;315491]Not only that, I even like Macklin to come in if need be.[/quote]

i like our secondary all around right now

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=jbcjr14;315488]Its just good to have 3 corners that can actually play! If one goes down, another can step in and pick up the slack. A clear advantage over last years squad.[/quote]

.. who stepped up?? .... who, where, and how? ... Every QB in the NFL knew to throw deep and to where Rogers was....

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=hesscl34;315494].. who stepped up?? .... who, where, and how? ... Every QB in the NFL knew to throw deep and to where Rogers was....[/quote]


he might be talking about springs, smoot, and macklin j/k

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=GridIron26;315485]Who cares about which one will play corner?? All three especially Springs are great..[/quote]

What????? I know we all love our Redskins but let's keep in real. I wouldn't call any of them great. None of these guys are in Champ Bailey's league. At best they can all be good to very good.

Re: Springs is back
 

Glad to see Shawn is healthy and ready to go!!!!!! Not to sound nosy Matt, but me being a newbie, how do you get to talk with the players, etc, and get the scoops?

Re: Springs is back
 

This is great news. I can't remember the last time we had so much depth in the secondary. I guess they learned their lesson after last season!

Re: Springs is back
 

Our secondary should be very good this year. I hope that translates into a lot of INTS.

Re: Springs is back
 

This is really good news, and sounds like he's in great shape. I think being this will be his last year with us, he is in for a GREAT season.

Hopfully no more injury bug, for our #1 CB. Welcome back, now get to work!

Also, I think our CB depth is a really nice problem to have. Maybe, we are finally in really good shape at corner.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=skinsfan69;315500]What????? I know we all love our Redskins but let's keep in real. I wouldn't call any of them great. None of these guys are in Champ Bailey's league. At best they can all be good to very good.[/quote]

I didn't mean GREAT great, I mean they are good enough.. Good enough to have good secondary..

Re: Springs is back
 

Crossing fingers that Springs will make it through OTAs and training camp injury free!

Re: Springs is back
 

i mean i'm glad that springs is back and all, but has anything really changed? there are no guarantees that he won't get injured, leaving us with rogers and smoot (which are a mediocre tandem at best). Why the excitement of his return? Didn't we all know that Springs was just waiting to see if he was going to be a June 1st cap casualty and if he wasn't he was going to come in and give it everything he had as he entered his contract year? I think the larger problem/issue of concern with the D is not the depth at CB (which is still a nice thing to have), but rather will we get any pass rush this season? Will it be an aggressive GW or a GW who is unsure about blitzing b/c we can't get to the QB in time? I don't see how that has changed at all and even with Springs or Nate Clements or even Champ Bailey back there, with last season's pass rush we will still be a middle of the road to bad defense.

For what it's worth with a healthy D-line I hope that we will be able to come together as a defensive unit, but we are still putting ourselves in a dangerous position like last year. We are depending on an aging squad to stay healthy AND be able to perform above their talent level. Something about that doesn't make me feel optimistic.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=GusFrerotte;315503]Glad to see Shawn is healthy and ready to go!!!!!! Not to sound nosy Matt, but me being a newbie, how do you get to talk with the players, etc, and get the scoops?[/quote]

This article is from Jason LaCanfora from the Washington Post. Just click the link at the top of the article.

Re: Springs is back
 

[quote=Rajmahal33;315669]i mean i'm glad that springs is back and all, but has anything really changed? there are no guarantees that he won't get injured, leaving us with rogers and smoot (which are a mediocre tandem at best). Why the excitement of his return? Didn't we all know that Springs was just waiting to see if he was going to be a June 1st cap casualty and if he wasn't he was going to come in and give it everything he had as he entered his contract year? I think the larger problem/issue of concern with the D is not the depth at CB (which is still a nice thing to have), but rather will we get any pass rush this season? Will it be an aggressive GW or a GW who is unsure about blitzing b/c we can't get to the QB in time? I don't see how that has changed at all and even with Springs or Nate Clements or even Champ Bailey back there, with last season's pass rush we will still be a middle of the road to bad defense.

For what it's worth with a healthy D-line I hope that we will be able to come together as a defensive unit, but we are still putting ourselves in a dangerous position like last year. We are depending on an aging squad to stay healthy AND be able to perform above their talent level. Something about that doesn't make me feel optimistic.[/quote]

Well, I'm sitting in terminal at Jax airport, waiting for the flight that will make me a Washingtonian again for the first time in 9 years. WOW. I'm so excited I have the chills!!!

Anyway, the excitement about Springs is b/c he is our best corner BY FAR when healthy, which he is, and apparently ripped to boot. There are no guarantees any player won't get hurt, but Springs has fresh legs and his shoulder is 100%.

As far as the D-line goes, a healthy secondary and improved linebackers will take some pressure off of the front 4, plus they're all healthy...

Frankly I'm in such a great mood, I'm supremely optimistic about every aspect of the team today. I've got 3 or 4 guys sitting here at the airport gate wearing Redskins t-shirts (me being one of them of course), and I'm just giddy.

Re: Springs is back
 

Thanks Matt,

Sounded like maybe you were a season ticket holder with connections or something. I guess I have to start reading the online Post more often.