Redskins Training Camp Day Twelve - Ixnay on the Umblesfay

All about comfort level?

Thursday 31 July 2008, three days before the Hall of Fame Game

So Shaun Suisham comes into the game in the fourth quarter of a Redskins playoff game in January against the Seahawks. The Redskins are up by one after scoring two touchdowns to take the lead after being shut out for three quarters. It is a 30 yard field goal and Shaun misses it. It was a tough miss but that was not what lost the game, it was a bunch of things that started right before the kick and the Redskins lost and went home. That was Shaun Suisham's last meaningful kick.

Shaun is over that missed field goal attempt and ready to start the season. He has no competition in camp so he better shine. The Canadian kicker has the confidence of special teams coach Danny Smith, an old friend of Jim Zorn's from their tome together in Detroit, and even though coach Zorn has not seen much of Shaun's kicking he is taking Danny's word for it. I hope everybody's trust is rewarded.


In quarterback ville Jason Campbell expects to play a little at the Hall of Fame Game, maybe a series or two. Also, coach Zorn is not concerned about Jason Campbell's propensity for fumbling in 2007, coach thinks that if Jason knows the offense, the rhythms, the timing and the routes, this problem will take care of itself (ibid.). I will be following Jason Campbell closely all season under the Shooter gamewrap feature, it seems as though Jim Zorn might be implying Jason might not have been all that comfortable under Al Saunders' offense.


In tailback grove Clinton Portis will not play in the HoF Game (op. cit.). Does this guy ever play preseason any more?


In cornerback land Rich Tandler at Real Redskins reports on a story from yesterday by Jason LaCa at the WaPo (I linked up to that JLC piece yesterday for the Ladell Betts value) that Carlos Rogers is healing much faster than expected given that he tore both the ACL and MCL in his right knee last October in game seven against the Patriots. Getting him started at nickel back, before he will have to chase down a top receiver on every play is a good idea. The undercurrent of Rich's piece (and Jason LaCa has also been all over this) is that injuries and when players can come back and be at 100% is going to squeeze what players the team keeps where, for example five WR vs. six, five CB vs. six, three TB vs. four.


In receiver estates coach Zorn says Malcolm Kelly is doubtful for Sunday's HoF Game with his hamstring pull, he says Malcolm and fellow [injured] rookie Devin Thomas are quote qay behind unquote and it is going to be tough for them to catch up in time to make a difference on opening day. Also, Billy McMullen (Wahoowa!) has tendinitis and had bags of ice taped to his knees (op. cit.).


In coach county Jim Zorn finally explained why the rookies have no Redskins logos on their helmets (ibid.): they do not get them until they make the team after final cuts after the fifth and final preseason game. I want to say I have some kind of problem with this but I sit here and think, meh seems reasonable.


Players expected to be off to rest: Clinton Portis, Jason Taylor, Carlos Rogers, Chris Samuels, London Fletcher; recovering from injuries: LaRon Landry, Anthony Montgomery, HB Blades, Erasmus James, Anthony Mix, Billy McMullen, Rian Wallace.


Not really training camp fodder but timely so what the hey. Rick Snider at the Washington Examiner takes a look at who the next Redskin(s) could / should be for the Hall of Fame.

Matt Terl at the ORB (Official Redskins Blog) continues to delve into the back office operations with a Q&A with Marc Dress, the Redskins' executive producer for TV operations. Later, he was on the field for the morning practice, this is the first I have heard about Marcus Washington all training camp. He must be having a good camp or else we would have heard about him. Also Matt caught a reference in a Richmond Times-Dispatch piece on Jim Zorn's playcalling, the play called in for Jason Campbell happened to be exactly the same play mentioned by (Jim Zorn's previous team) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in that increasingly annoying commercial.

Ron Burgundy at Bleeding Burgundy is a little disappointed that touted Redskins rookie receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly have no knowledge or memory of Art Monk's time as a Redskins receiver. Three things about this: 1. man do I feel old, 2. it's no surprise since Malcolm and Devin were eight years old when Art ended his career in 1995 with the Eagles and 3. it's also no surprise since players grow up with their own favorite teams and often are too far in their little world as a player to study and become familiar with the generations of players that preceded them, that's our job as fans to focus the historical lens.

As an interesting adjunct to Ron Burgundy's piece, Matt Terl uses his awesome power of total access for good and asks current Redskins players that grew up around Washington for thier takes on Art and Darrell Green. Except for 33 year old Shawn Springs they have fairly little recognition. Matt follows this up with a quick interview with Bubba Typer, director of sports medicine for the Redskins, on Bubba's memories of Art and Darrell.

Will at Hogs Haven points out that intrigue is cool but wins are better. It's the early part of the romance, Jim Zorn seems into us and so there is little he can do that we won't think somehow is enduring. In a year or two when he's calling the same three and outs and leaving his dirty dishes in the sink then we will start to get irritated. Then Will just rambles.

Chris Cooley takes time out from being a busy football player in camp to post some video.

John Lynch at safety for the Redskins!?!? That's what David Wagner at Riggo's Rag thinks would be a good move. Now I know why so many people said I was crazy when I pitched Brett Favre for Washington.

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Redskins transactions of note

Signed: linebacker Alfred Fincher (here and ibid.), he takes the roster spot left open by the release and injury settlement of tailback/fullback Eric Shelton.



Jason Campbell being sacked and fumbling: Jim Rogash / Getty Images from here.