Can Gibbs adjust to today's NFL?
It's been a dozen years since Joe Gibbs roamed the sidelines and a lot has changed in the NFL in that time. Gibbs has surrounding himself with veteran coaches like Joe Bugel and Gregg Williams to assist in the transition.
How much does Brunell have left?
Elbow surgery cost Mark Brunell the starting QB job with the Jaguars and he's entering his 12th NFL season. He'll have to use his mobility to stay healthy behind a Redskins line that allowed 43 sacks in 2003, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.
Has the defense improved?
New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will want to run an aggressive scheme to improve a defense that ranked 25th in the league last year. Newcomers Marcus Washington and Mike Barrow have joined LaVar Arrington to form a solid linebacker unit.
Joe Gibbs
In searching for a replacement for head coach Steve Spurrier, the Redskins looked to their past and brought back Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowl titles during his first tenure in D.C. in the 1980s and early 90s.
Gibbs will try to get the Redskins to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 behind newly-acquired RB Clinton Portis, who comes to Washington after running for more than 3,000 years in his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
Veteran QB Mark Brunell, acquired from Jacksonville in a trade, will likely take over for Patrick Ramsey as the starter. Defensively, more than half the starters will be new, including first-round draft pick Sean Taylor getting the nod at safety and free-agent pickup Shawn Springs taking over for departed Pro Bowler Champ Bailey at cornerback.
As usual, the Redskins showed the most dramatic flare of any team in the league during the offseason. They brought back a coaching legend, Joe Gibbs. They made one of the biggest trades the NFL has seen in years. And, once again, they spent mightily in the free-agent market. Gibbs' hiring is the greatest cause for optimism among Redskin fans, even though they realize it wasn't long ago that a coaching legend from the college ranks -- Steve Spurrier -- arrived with much fanfare only to make a disappointing exit two years later. Although Gibbs last coached in 1992, his offensive ideas and creativity remain fresh. He also has the help of an experienced and talented coaching staff -- featuring assistant head coach/offense Joe Bugel -- to help implement a plan to revive this struggling bunch. The Redskins picked up one of two major pieces to their offensive puzzle when they acquired top-notch running back Clinton Portis from Denver in exchange for top-notch cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis has excellent burst to run outside and is always a threat to go the distance. In addition, he hits the hole with the authority of someone much larger than 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, has excellent vision and lateral movement, and makes the most of his cutback lanes. To be the absolute ideal back for the Redskins' system, Portis needs to work on his receiving, especially when it comes to running more complex routes and catching the ball in-stride. The other major piece to Washington's offensive puzzle, Mark Brunell, also arrived via a trade. Although Patrick Ramsey could very well remain the Redskins' starting quarterback, Gibbs and Bugel would prefer the experience, leadership and, most of all, stability that Brunell should be able to bring to the position. An elbow injury and Byron Leftwich's promotion ended Brunell's 2003 season in Jacksonville early, but he is healthy and refreshed. He still has excellent footwork and good lateral mobility to buy extra time. His advantages over Ramsey are patience in the pocket and the ability to consistently hit receivers in-stride. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams brings an aggressive mentality, although the loss of Bailey's ultra-tight single coverage makes it a little harder to pull off. Free agent Shawn Springs will try and fill the cornerback void, but he has problems staying healthy. First-round draft pick Sean Taylor will upgrade the Redskins at safety. Free-agent outside linebacker Marcus Washington should provide at least a small boost to an anemic pass rush, while Mike Barrow should bring some consistency the Redskins have lacked at middle linebacker.
Training Camp Primer
OPEN CAMP: July 31, Ashburn, Va.
LAST YEAR: Steve Spurrier lost control of his team and watched the season go downhill, losing 10 of his last 12. He resigned three days after the finale.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, QB Mark Brunell, RB Clinton Portis, CB Shawn Springs, S Sean Taylor, LB Marcus Washington, LB Mike Barrow, DE Phillip Daniels, DT Cornelius Griffin, P Tom Tupa.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: CB Champ Bailey, LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Jessie Armstead, DE Bruce Smith, RB Trung Canidate.
CAMP NEEDS: Players need to master Gibbs' schemes. The coach made his players work hard in the classroom in the spring, hoping that it translates into instant comprehension once the pads are on. He's starting camp as late as possible to cut down on wear and tear late in the season.
EXPECTATIONS: Way too high. Gibbs has been welcomed back as the long overdue savior after 12 years away, but probably only a wild-card team if they do their best.
Brunell, Ramsey to Rotate in Preseason
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
August 3, 2004
Head coach Joe Gibbs said Tuesday that he intends to alternate his starting quarterbacks during the preseason, with Mark Brunell getting the call next Monday night in the Hall of Fame Game against the Denver Broncos.
Patrick Ramsey will start five days later against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason home opener at FedExField.
"We'll rotate starters," Gibbs said. "Mark will start the first one and Patrick will start the second and we'll go from there."
Starting Thursday, the team will start to put together a game plan for the nationally televised Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Game time is 8 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on ABC.
"We'll have a little game plan," Gibbs said. "We have one more day of regular work and then we'll get going on that. So we have a game plan for it and we'll try and do good sound things."
One of the goals for the game, Gibbs said, was to make sure there were few fundamental errors, such as penalties and turnovers.
Asked how long the starters would play, Gibbs said: "It's hard to say. It kind of depends on how we're going and how [assistant head coach-defense] Gregg Williams feels about the defense. We'll play that by ear."
Cooley: 'I'm Adjusting Really Well'
August 4, 2004
By By Chris Cooley
Tight end Chris Cooley is the Redskins' third-round draft pick out of Utah State. He will log a diary for Redskins.com throughout training camp.
Wednesday, August 4
Every day after practice, I try to sign as many autographs as I can because I want to be part of the community and do everything I can. I love it here and everyone's been so great to me, so I'm going to do everything I can to give back what I can out here.
Cooley signs autographs for fans following practice. (Photo by Gary Fitzgerald)
I've never signed any autographs before, not even at Utah State. So it's exciting to meet so many people this way.
I went to high school in Logan, Utah and it actually feels good to be away from Utah. It's good to be out here, my wife is with me and we're enjoying the experience right now.
Living in the Washington, D.C., is a pretty big difference from Logan, obviously, but I think I'm adjusting really well. I don't mind the heat too much at practice, as long as I drink enough fluids. As far as the area, it's a beautiful place to live and a beautiful place to be--it's real neat change for me.
My wife and I did a tour of Washington and that was neat. It was my first time to see D.C. I'd have to say my favorite thing was seeing the White House. I had always wanted to see the White House. We didn't get to do the tour, we just stood outside the gates and take a couple pictures. It was a great time.
Monday, August 2
I had a couple mistakes on run plays on Sunday that I wish I could have had back. I blocked a defensive end and just got off balance a little bit--it just wasn't a real good block there. Then I had an outside linebacker go up outside of me and I didn't get out to him. I'm there, it's just that I have to keep on getting better with my technique.
Run blocking is the biggest thing I need to work on. We didn't run the ball very much in college. Utah State was primarily a passing offense.
I did a little bit of everything at Utah State. We didn't have a H-back position. I was lined up at fullback, along the line and in the slot.
Really the H-back is a more pass-oriented position. There's a little bit of blocking, but the wide tight end is on the ball and in the pass game they're blocking in pass protection.
When it comes to the passing game, I feel very confident in what we're doing in practice. It's the same type of offense that I had at Utah State. But I know I need a lot of work in the run game and it's good that I'm getting a lot of work at it now so that I'm ready for the season.
Right now, special teams is the most important thing for me. If I want to get on the field, that's where I'm going to do it. There are a couple of things I still need to work on because I didn't really get much of a chance to play kickoff or punt coverage, so I'm working on my tackling skills. But I feel good about it out there.
Saturday, July 31
I think we did really well for the first day of practice. We did more than I expected for the first day, at least. Overall, it felt really good to get going with camp. The pace of practice seemed really fast. The way we moved around out there, it was really wild.
I feel like I'm getting to the point where I know the playbook better each day. I've been picking things up really quickly, I think.
We're known as a running team, so right now I'm at the stage where I'm focusing on my blocking technique more. The biggest thing I need to work on is keeping a low pad level every time. Staying low is key, with all these guys out here, since they're so fast and so quick. You have to stay low in order to get yourself into a competitive position to make a block.
The crowd out here was great. It was like the biggest crowd we would ever have for a game at Utah State--a sellout game. It seems like the energy at practice is higher with the fans. It's not as if the fans can capture your attention, but you know they're there and it's wild.
As far as my position, it seems like there are so many tight ends out here. Since it's the first day of camp, everybody's out here with something to prove to the coaches. We're working to get up to the level where we need to be. It all begins today.
My goal? It's to always do the best I possibly can on each play and to try to fit into the scheme of this offense. So, I'm going to block as hard as I can every time.
Williams: 'We Want to Dictate to Offenses'
August 2, 2004
By By Marc Gold
In a wide-ranging interview, assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams spoke with Redskins.com about coaching with Joe Gibbs, rookie safety Sean Taylor, the importance of linebackers in his scheme and some of the lesser-known players who could excel under his tutelage:
Q: How has the defense progressed so far this training camp?
A: "I think we are taking baby steps. Our effort has been outstanding. Their attention and focus has been pretty good. But we have got a long way to go. We are really happy that we have five preseason games, because we have a lot of new guys that have to get used to communicating with each other. So the fact that we have that fifth preseason game is going to be good for us."
Q: How have you developed your style of coaching?
A: "I have been real fortunate, I have been really have been blessed in the NFL, because I have been with some really good defensive coaches. I have worked with Jack Pardee in the George Allen system, Buddy Ryan and his system, I have had some ideas from George Seifert, when Jeff Fisher came in from the 49ers we tried to hybridize some of the things that Buddy was doing, with the Don Caper, Steve Sidwell, Dick Labeau system. So we have tried to evolve our system to where we are always attacking. We are always trying to dictate to the offense, instead of letting the offense dictate to us. Personnel really plays into that. You have got to have the right personnel to be as aggressive as we want to be. We have got some pretty good personnel right now, speed wise, if we have some injuries, we will have to adapt. What we are going to do is that we are not going to say that these guys have to play our system, we will adapt to the personnel that is here. We are going to play the best thing that we can with the eleven that is on the field. We are going to play a lot of people. We are going to play a lot of packages and do as much as we can in the pressure mode as long as we have the personnel to pressure."
Q: How do the players react to your style?
A: "Players usually would rather be aggressive than passive. They like blaming coaches when the coaches hold them back. There won't be anything like that here. We are all in this foxhole together, and we are going to be as aggressive as our personnel allow us to be."
Q: What does having two cover corners like Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot enable this defense to do?
A: "When you have cover corners, you can do lots of things on loading up the box, putting pressures on protections and overloading the run front. When you aren't as good at the corner position, you are lighter inside. You are lighter against the run and you are lighter on the pass rush. So those guys being shutdown corners is something we need to see, we need to see our corners line up and shut down people by themselves so that we can overload the protections and overload the run front. We will be pretty good on defense when that happens. The best defenses that I have been involved with had really good corners."
Q: How is Sean Taylor progressing?
A: "He's doing fine. He is taking baby steps. He has improved his condition since the last time I saw him, which was in June. There are a lot of things coming at him, but he is a pretty smart football player. Athletically, he is gifted. Now, he needs to catch up with the learning curve and the terminology, and he is picking it up pretty fast."
Q: Will Sean Taylor automatically start?
A: "He will not."
Q: Are you worried about how quick the team has to get ready for its first preseason game?
A: "There never is enough time. Coaches are never satisfied. We would like to have six months. But, you know what, I think it is a great strategy with what Coach Gibbs did bringing these guys in late because our commitment to the players was to give us the commitment in the off-season, be around all the mini-camps, be around all off-season, be around the meetings, and we will back off the physical part of our training camp, as far as the number of practices going into it. I think it is very smart, getting in the game and we will play a lot of those young guys in this first game. And the pressure has been on them, they needed to know, and we have told them from June on, when you come back, you had better make sure you are in your playbook during your time off, because we are going to play in a week when you get back and some stories are going to be told on you immediately, as to whether you belong or not. So, this is good. It is good that we came in as late as possible to be as fresh as possible, let's go play some games."
Q: What type of influence does LaVar Arrington have as a leader of this team?
A: "LaVar Arrington is a leader, but we believe that everyone is a leader. We talk about that. You are either a positive leader or a negative leader. And Arrington is a great player physically. He has got to take a step or two in doing some of the things we want done in the pressure game. It may be his best year, we hope that the best year he has ever had in his career will be this year because of how we are going to use him. He is a positive role model, on the field and in the community. And to be quite honest with you, when the rookies come over, the first person they come over to on the defensive side of the ball is him, because they want to be like him and follow him to the Pro Bowl. I think he might trade those Pro Bowls in for a different kind of bowl though."
Q: How important are linebackers in your scheme?
A: "They are going to be very important in our plan because when you get good in what we do. The linebackers never leave the field. And when you get good at what we do you have a hard time whether they are playing linebacker, or whether they are playing a safety position, or a defensive line position. The linebackers should be the heart and soul of your defense, and they should be the heart and soul of your special teams. You will see our special teams take a rise when our linebackers who are not on the starting defense, they are contributing there too. So it is a very, very important part of how we build this organization."
Q: How will your defense react to the many formation shifts in the NFL today?
A: "Formation shifts still declare. They challenge you, as a defense, to match the move, to match the motion. We have had to work really, really hard to stop that from bothering us. Thank goodness we go against it every day in practice. We have to do that. I don't think we will go against a team in our division that will move around as much as us. So that helps us on defense."
Q: What are your thoughts on Mark Brunell, having faced him for so many years in the AFC?
A: "He's smart. He's pretty tough. I have been talking about our own players about this at night meetings. I have gone against him for so long that he probably recognizes our defenses better than our own coaching staff. He has seen all the pre-snap looks. He does things on a two-step drop, instead of a three-step drop. He will do something on a five step drop instead of a seven step drop because he has already figured the defense out. His intelligence in regard to anticipating the defense is very good. He is a very accurate passer. Do not discount his running ability. People think he has old legs, but he can still pull it down and run it. Last year was basically a year off for him, so he is very fresh. He gives us the most fits because we don't know where he is at in the pocket. He is able to move around that pocket. Those stationary quarterbacks that don't mover around in the pocket are the ones we like to go against. He still gives us fits because he is mobile."
Q: What is the primary thing this defense can do to get better?
A: "We have to tackle better. If we don't tackle better, I don't care what scheme we play, I don't care what player we play, the sign of a great defense is a great tackling defense. If you want to know why Ray Lewis is looked at as the best defensive player in the league right now, there are a lot of reasons. One thing is, how many missed tackles have you ever seen Ray Lewis make in a ball game? You may go a month and never see him miss a tackle. So we have to be a better tackling team."
Q: Will your defense be a radical change from the defense the Redskins ran last year?
A: "I don't know that it will be a radical change. I know that, without speaking for coach Gibbs, they talk about protection before they ever talk about a route. They talk about protection before they ever talked about a run. We go the other direction. We talk about attacking the protection before we ever talk about a route. So we are both going to go after each other, hopefully it will make us better. And again, the personnel will dictate this. If we can't do that style of defense, our defense is flexible enough to make the adjustment to play front coverage."
Q: Everyone hears about LaVar Arrington, Shawn Springs and Sean Taylor, but who are some of the less celebrated players on the defense who could make an impact?
A: "It's not just the stars everyone talks about. You better keep your eyes on jersey number 53 around here. Marcus Washington is a big-time player. He was a very important signing for us this year. He has been a dominant presence in all our practices. Phillip Daniels, when he is healthy, is a force. Cornelius Griffin has really added some stoutness and some quickness to the inside line of our defense. You have to have the cover corners. Fred Smoot has made a big commitment to improving his technique and he has been a joy to coach so far."
Redskins DT Noble breaks hand in practice
NFL.com wire reports
ASHBURN, Va. (Aug. 4, 2004) -- Washington Redskins defensive tackle Brandon Noble was held out of practice one day after breaking his right hand in a workout.
Signed as a free agent before the start of last season to anchor Washington's defensive line, Noble has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the Redskins. The five-year veteran tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and dislocated his left kneecap in a preseason game against New England.
He had recovered well enough to participate in a March minicamp.
Noble was held out after practice because of a break in the third metacarpal, saying that he fell on the hand during a night practice Aug. 3 at a local high school.
"We'll take a few days to let it calm down. He's in great shape. We've got five weeks of camp, so he'll be fine," Washington assistant head coach Gregg Williams said. "That's part of a D-lineman's life."
Williams said there was no definite timetable for Noble's return, and he would not push Noble to play in the team's preseason opener against Denver because the Redskins still have four more preseason games.
Team trainer Bubba Tyer said Noble should be able to return "within four days. We'll make some kind of splint so that he'll be able to practice."
It's been a dozen years since Joe Gibbs roamed the sidelines and a lot has changed in the NFL in that time. Gibbs has surrounding himself with veteran coaches like Joe Bugel and Gregg Williams to assist in the transition.
How much does Brunell have left?
Elbow surgery cost Mark Brunell the starting QB job with the Jaguars and he's entering his 12th NFL season. He'll have to use his mobility to stay healthy behind a Redskins line that allowed 43 sacks in 2003, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.
Has the defense improved?
New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will want to run an aggressive scheme to improve a defense that ranked 25th in the league last year. Newcomers Marcus Washington and Mike Barrow have joined LaVar Arrington to form a solid linebacker unit.
Joe Gibbs
In searching for a replacement for head coach Steve Spurrier, the Redskins looked to their past and brought back Joe Gibbs, who won three Super Bowl titles during his first tenure in D.C. in the 1980s and early 90s.
Gibbs will try to get the Redskins to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 behind newly-acquired RB Clinton Portis, who comes to Washington after running for more than 3,000 years in his first two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
Veteran QB Mark Brunell, acquired from Jacksonville in a trade, will likely take over for Patrick Ramsey as the starter. Defensively, more than half the starters will be new, including first-round draft pick Sean Taylor getting the nod at safety and free-agent pickup Shawn Springs taking over for departed Pro Bowler Champ Bailey at cornerback.
As usual, the Redskins showed the most dramatic flare of any team in the league during the offseason. They brought back a coaching legend, Joe Gibbs. They made one of the biggest trades the NFL has seen in years. And, once again, they spent mightily in the free-agent market. Gibbs' hiring is the greatest cause for optimism among Redskin fans, even though they realize it wasn't long ago that a coaching legend from the college ranks -- Steve Spurrier -- arrived with much fanfare only to make a disappointing exit two years later. Although Gibbs last coached in 1992, his offensive ideas and creativity remain fresh. He also has the help of an experienced and talented coaching staff -- featuring assistant head coach/offense Joe Bugel -- to help implement a plan to revive this struggling bunch. The Redskins picked up one of two major pieces to their offensive puzzle when they acquired top-notch running back Clinton Portis from Denver in exchange for top-notch cornerback Champ Bailey. Portis has excellent burst to run outside and is always a threat to go the distance. In addition, he hits the hole with the authority of someone much larger than 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, has excellent vision and lateral movement, and makes the most of his cutback lanes. To be the absolute ideal back for the Redskins' system, Portis needs to work on his receiving, especially when it comes to running more complex routes and catching the ball in-stride. The other major piece to Washington's offensive puzzle, Mark Brunell, also arrived via a trade. Although Patrick Ramsey could very well remain the Redskins' starting quarterback, Gibbs and Bugel would prefer the experience, leadership and, most of all, stability that Brunell should be able to bring to the position. An elbow injury and Byron Leftwich's promotion ended Brunell's 2003 season in Jacksonville early, but he is healthy and refreshed. He still has excellent footwork and good lateral mobility to buy extra time. His advantages over Ramsey are patience in the pocket and the ability to consistently hit receivers in-stride. New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams brings an aggressive mentality, although the loss of Bailey's ultra-tight single coverage makes it a little harder to pull off. Free agent Shawn Springs will try and fill the cornerback void, but he has problems staying healthy. First-round draft pick Sean Taylor will upgrade the Redskins at safety. Free-agent outside linebacker Marcus Washington should provide at least a small boost to an anemic pass rush, while Mike Barrow should bring some consistency the Redskins have lacked at middle linebacker.
Training Camp Primer
OPEN CAMP: July 31, Ashburn, Va.
LAST YEAR: Steve Spurrier lost control of his team and watched the season go downhill, losing 10 of his last 12. He resigned three days after the finale.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, QB Mark Brunell, RB Clinton Portis, CB Shawn Springs, S Sean Taylor, LB Marcus Washington, LB Mike Barrow, DE Phillip Daniels, DT Cornelius Griffin, P Tom Tupa.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: CB Champ Bailey, LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Jessie Armstead, DE Bruce Smith, RB Trung Canidate.
CAMP NEEDS: Players need to master Gibbs' schemes. The coach made his players work hard in the classroom in the spring, hoping that it translates into instant comprehension once the pads are on. He's starting camp as late as possible to cut down on wear and tear late in the season.
EXPECTATIONS: Way too high. Gibbs has been welcomed back as the long overdue savior after 12 years away, but probably only a wild-card team if they do their best.
Brunell, Ramsey to Rotate in Preseason
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
August 3, 2004
Head coach Joe Gibbs said Tuesday that he intends to alternate his starting quarterbacks during the preseason, with Mark Brunell getting the call next Monday night in the Hall of Fame Game against the Denver Broncos.
Patrick Ramsey will start five days later against the Carolina Panthers in the preseason home opener at FedExField.
"We'll rotate starters," Gibbs said. "Mark will start the first one and Patrick will start the second and we'll go from there."
Starting Thursday, the team will start to put together a game plan for the nationally televised Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Game time is 8 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast on ABC.
"We'll have a little game plan," Gibbs said. "We have one more day of regular work and then we'll get going on that. So we have a game plan for it and we'll try and do good sound things."
One of the goals for the game, Gibbs said, was to make sure there were few fundamental errors, such as penalties and turnovers.
Asked how long the starters would play, Gibbs said: "It's hard to say. It kind of depends on how we're going and how [assistant head coach-defense] Gregg Williams feels about the defense. We'll play that by ear."
Cooley: 'I'm Adjusting Really Well'
August 4, 2004
By By Chris Cooley
Tight end Chris Cooley is the Redskins' third-round draft pick out of Utah State. He will log a diary for Redskins.com throughout training camp.
Wednesday, August 4
Every day after practice, I try to sign as many autographs as I can because I want to be part of the community and do everything I can. I love it here and everyone's been so great to me, so I'm going to do everything I can to give back what I can out here.
Cooley signs autographs for fans following practice. (Photo by Gary Fitzgerald)
I've never signed any autographs before, not even at Utah State. So it's exciting to meet so many people this way.
I went to high school in Logan, Utah and it actually feels good to be away from Utah. It's good to be out here, my wife is with me and we're enjoying the experience right now.
Living in the Washington, D.C., is a pretty big difference from Logan, obviously, but I think I'm adjusting really well. I don't mind the heat too much at practice, as long as I drink enough fluids. As far as the area, it's a beautiful place to live and a beautiful place to be--it's real neat change for me.
My wife and I did a tour of Washington and that was neat. It was my first time to see D.C. I'd have to say my favorite thing was seeing the White House. I had always wanted to see the White House. We didn't get to do the tour, we just stood outside the gates and take a couple pictures. It was a great time.
Monday, August 2
I had a couple mistakes on run plays on Sunday that I wish I could have had back. I blocked a defensive end and just got off balance a little bit--it just wasn't a real good block there. Then I had an outside linebacker go up outside of me and I didn't get out to him. I'm there, it's just that I have to keep on getting better with my technique.
Run blocking is the biggest thing I need to work on. We didn't run the ball very much in college. Utah State was primarily a passing offense.
I did a little bit of everything at Utah State. We didn't have a H-back position. I was lined up at fullback, along the line and in the slot.
Really the H-back is a more pass-oriented position. There's a little bit of blocking, but the wide tight end is on the ball and in the pass game they're blocking in pass protection.
When it comes to the passing game, I feel very confident in what we're doing in practice. It's the same type of offense that I had at Utah State. But I know I need a lot of work in the run game and it's good that I'm getting a lot of work at it now so that I'm ready for the season.
Right now, special teams is the most important thing for me. If I want to get on the field, that's where I'm going to do it. There are a couple of things I still need to work on because I didn't really get much of a chance to play kickoff or punt coverage, so I'm working on my tackling skills. But I feel good about it out there.
Saturday, July 31
I think we did really well for the first day of practice. We did more than I expected for the first day, at least. Overall, it felt really good to get going with camp. The pace of practice seemed really fast. The way we moved around out there, it was really wild.
I feel like I'm getting to the point where I know the playbook better each day. I've been picking things up really quickly, I think.
We're known as a running team, so right now I'm at the stage where I'm focusing on my blocking technique more. The biggest thing I need to work on is keeping a low pad level every time. Staying low is key, with all these guys out here, since they're so fast and so quick. You have to stay low in order to get yourself into a competitive position to make a block.
The crowd out here was great. It was like the biggest crowd we would ever have for a game at Utah State--a sellout game. It seems like the energy at practice is higher with the fans. It's not as if the fans can capture your attention, but you know they're there and it's wild.
As far as my position, it seems like there are so many tight ends out here. Since it's the first day of camp, everybody's out here with something to prove to the coaches. We're working to get up to the level where we need to be. It all begins today.
My goal? It's to always do the best I possibly can on each play and to try to fit into the scheme of this offense. So, I'm going to block as hard as I can every time.
Williams: 'We Want to Dictate to Offenses'
August 2, 2004
By By Marc Gold
In a wide-ranging interview, assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams spoke with Redskins.com about coaching with Joe Gibbs, rookie safety Sean Taylor, the importance of linebackers in his scheme and some of the lesser-known players who could excel under his tutelage:
Q: How has the defense progressed so far this training camp?
A: "I think we are taking baby steps. Our effort has been outstanding. Their attention and focus has been pretty good. But we have got a long way to go. We are really happy that we have five preseason games, because we have a lot of new guys that have to get used to communicating with each other. So the fact that we have that fifth preseason game is going to be good for us."
Q: How have you developed your style of coaching?
A: "I have been real fortunate, I have been really have been blessed in the NFL, because I have been with some really good defensive coaches. I have worked with Jack Pardee in the George Allen system, Buddy Ryan and his system, I have had some ideas from George Seifert, when Jeff Fisher came in from the 49ers we tried to hybridize some of the things that Buddy was doing, with the Don Caper, Steve Sidwell, Dick Labeau system. So we have tried to evolve our system to where we are always attacking. We are always trying to dictate to the offense, instead of letting the offense dictate to us. Personnel really plays into that. You have got to have the right personnel to be as aggressive as we want to be. We have got some pretty good personnel right now, speed wise, if we have some injuries, we will have to adapt. What we are going to do is that we are not going to say that these guys have to play our system, we will adapt to the personnel that is here. We are going to play the best thing that we can with the eleven that is on the field. We are going to play a lot of people. We are going to play a lot of packages and do as much as we can in the pressure mode as long as we have the personnel to pressure."
Q: How do the players react to your style?
A: "Players usually would rather be aggressive than passive. They like blaming coaches when the coaches hold them back. There won't be anything like that here. We are all in this foxhole together, and we are going to be as aggressive as our personnel allow us to be."
Q: What does having two cover corners like Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot enable this defense to do?
A: "When you have cover corners, you can do lots of things on loading up the box, putting pressures on protections and overloading the run front. When you aren't as good at the corner position, you are lighter inside. You are lighter against the run and you are lighter on the pass rush. So those guys being shutdown corners is something we need to see, we need to see our corners line up and shut down people by themselves so that we can overload the protections and overload the run front. We will be pretty good on defense when that happens. The best defenses that I have been involved with had really good corners."
Q: How is Sean Taylor progressing?
A: "He's doing fine. He is taking baby steps. He has improved his condition since the last time I saw him, which was in June. There are a lot of things coming at him, but he is a pretty smart football player. Athletically, he is gifted. Now, he needs to catch up with the learning curve and the terminology, and he is picking it up pretty fast."
Q: Will Sean Taylor automatically start?
A: "He will not."
Q: Are you worried about how quick the team has to get ready for its first preseason game?
A: "There never is enough time. Coaches are never satisfied. We would like to have six months. But, you know what, I think it is a great strategy with what Coach Gibbs did bringing these guys in late because our commitment to the players was to give us the commitment in the off-season, be around all the mini-camps, be around all off-season, be around the meetings, and we will back off the physical part of our training camp, as far as the number of practices going into it. I think it is very smart, getting in the game and we will play a lot of those young guys in this first game. And the pressure has been on them, they needed to know, and we have told them from June on, when you come back, you had better make sure you are in your playbook during your time off, because we are going to play in a week when you get back and some stories are going to be told on you immediately, as to whether you belong or not. So, this is good. It is good that we came in as late as possible to be as fresh as possible, let's go play some games."
Q: What type of influence does LaVar Arrington have as a leader of this team?
A: "LaVar Arrington is a leader, but we believe that everyone is a leader. We talk about that. You are either a positive leader or a negative leader. And Arrington is a great player physically. He has got to take a step or two in doing some of the things we want done in the pressure game. It may be his best year, we hope that the best year he has ever had in his career will be this year because of how we are going to use him. He is a positive role model, on the field and in the community. And to be quite honest with you, when the rookies come over, the first person they come over to on the defensive side of the ball is him, because they want to be like him and follow him to the Pro Bowl. I think he might trade those Pro Bowls in for a different kind of bowl though."
Q: How important are linebackers in your scheme?
A: "They are going to be very important in our plan because when you get good in what we do. The linebackers never leave the field. And when you get good at what we do you have a hard time whether they are playing linebacker, or whether they are playing a safety position, or a defensive line position. The linebackers should be the heart and soul of your defense, and they should be the heart and soul of your special teams. You will see our special teams take a rise when our linebackers who are not on the starting defense, they are contributing there too. So it is a very, very important part of how we build this organization."
Q: How will your defense react to the many formation shifts in the NFL today?
A: "Formation shifts still declare. They challenge you, as a defense, to match the move, to match the motion. We have had to work really, really hard to stop that from bothering us. Thank goodness we go against it every day in practice. We have to do that. I don't think we will go against a team in our division that will move around as much as us. So that helps us on defense."
Q: What are your thoughts on Mark Brunell, having faced him for so many years in the AFC?
A: "He's smart. He's pretty tough. I have been talking about our own players about this at night meetings. I have gone against him for so long that he probably recognizes our defenses better than our own coaching staff. He has seen all the pre-snap looks. He does things on a two-step drop, instead of a three-step drop. He will do something on a five step drop instead of a seven step drop because he has already figured the defense out. His intelligence in regard to anticipating the defense is very good. He is a very accurate passer. Do not discount his running ability. People think he has old legs, but he can still pull it down and run it. Last year was basically a year off for him, so he is very fresh. He gives us the most fits because we don't know where he is at in the pocket. He is able to move around that pocket. Those stationary quarterbacks that don't mover around in the pocket are the ones we like to go against. He still gives us fits because he is mobile."
Q: What is the primary thing this defense can do to get better?
A: "We have to tackle better. If we don't tackle better, I don't care what scheme we play, I don't care what player we play, the sign of a great defense is a great tackling defense. If you want to know why Ray Lewis is looked at as the best defensive player in the league right now, there are a lot of reasons. One thing is, how many missed tackles have you ever seen Ray Lewis make in a ball game? You may go a month and never see him miss a tackle. So we have to be a better tackling team."
Q: Will your defense be a radical change from the defense the Redskins ran last year?
A: "I don't know that it will be a radical change. I know that, without speaking for coach Gibbs, they talk about protection before they ever talk about a route. They talk about protection before they ever talked about a run. We go the other direction. We talk about attacking the protection before we ever talk about a route. So we are both going to go after each other, hopefully it will make us better. And again, the personnel will dictate this. If we can't do that style of defense, our defense is flexible enough to make the adjustment to play front coverage."
Q: Everyone hears about LaVar Arrington, Shawn Springs and Sean Taylor, but who are some of the less celebrated players on the defense who could make an impact?
A: "It's not just the stars everyone talks about. You better keep your eyes on jersey number 53 around here. Marcus Washington is a big-time player. He was a very important signing for us this year. He has been a dominant presence in all our practices. Phillip Daniels, when he is healthy, is a force. Cornelius Griffin has really added some stoutness and some quickness to the inside line of our defense. You have to have the cover corners. Fred Smoot has made a big commitment to improving his technique and he has been a joy to coach so far."
Redskins DT Noble breaks hand in practice
NFL.com wire reports
ASHBURN, Va. (Aug. 4, 2004) -- Washington Redskins defensive tackle Brandon Noble was held out of practice one day after breaking his right hand in a workout.
Signed as a free agent before the start of last season to anchor Washington's defensive line, Noble has yet to appear in a regular-season game for the Redskins. The five-year veteran tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and dislocated his left kneecap in a preseason game against New England.
He had recovered well enough to participate in a March minicamp.
Noble was held out after practice because of a break in the third metacarpal, saying that he fell on the hand during a night practice Aug. 3 at a local high school.
"We'll take a few days to let it calm down. He's in great shape. We've got five weeks of camp, so he'll be fine," Washington assistant head coach Gregg Williams said. "That's part of a D-lineman's life."
Williams said there was no definite timetable for Noble's return, and he would not push Noble to play in the team's preseason opener against Denver because the Redskins still have four more preseason games.
Team trainer Bubba Tyer said Noble should be able to return "within four days. We'll make some kind of splint so that he'll be able to practice."
