Coach Hixon Talks About Thomas, Kelly, West Coast Offense

RobJanis · Post by **RobJanis** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:33 am

Coach Hixon talks about the progress of Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and also explains the West Coast Offense.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/communit ... fan-forum/

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:44 am

Overall a good article. It makes me feign for some preseason action. I can't wait to see what Malcolm and Thomas can do. If they workout the way they Zorn and the offense wants them to, it will be a great year. We have a lot of potential weapons on offense and hopefully, we can dominate opposing defenses. The main thing that I will watch this year is the progress of Jason Campbell. We need this guy to step up his game and take it to the next level. I believe he can and will, because he needs to be effective for us to be one of the dominate teams in the league.

BnGhog · Post by **BnGhog** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:52 am

You should also expect to see a lot of James Thrash.

cool

Thrash is very dependable and has great hands.

So expect to see Thomas and Kelly at the wide receiver position and Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle-El will be playing wide out and in the slots.

They are really going to be moving people around in a game. I hope so, if they only use T & K in the same situations it will get too predictable.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:59 am

I like the thought of using James Thrash more. I've always thought he could be more than just a special teams guy.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:07 pm

Good read. I still hope we see Mix out there this season, but if you take this article at face value, it sounds like the WRs are already set.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:10 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:Good read. I still hope we see Mix out there this season, but if you take this article at face value, it sounds like the WRs are already set.

It sounds to me like the Redskins might keep an extra wide receiver.

Moss
Randle El
Thomas
Kelly
Thrash
Mix

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:13 pm

GSPODS wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:Good read. I still hope we see Mix out there this season, but if you take this article at face value, it sounds like the WRs are already set.

It sounds to me like the Redskins might keep an extra wide receiver.

Moss
Randle El
Thomas
Kelly
Thrash
Mix

I hope so, but don't we usually keep only 5?

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:17 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:
GSPODS wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:Good read. I still hope we see Mix out there this season, but if you take this article at face value, it sounds like the WRs are already set.

It sounds to me like the Redskins might keep an extra wide receiver.

Moss
Randle El
Thomas
Kelly
Thrash
Mix

I hope so, but don't we usually keep only 5?

I think so, but last season was so screwy with the injuries and the replacements that I can't remember who they originally had.

Moss
Randle El
Thrash

yupchagee · Post by **yupchagee** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:38 pm

GSPODS wrote:
VetSkinsFan wrote:Good read. I still hope we see Mix out there this season, but if you take this article at face value, it sounds like the WRs are already set.

It sounds to me like the Redskins might keep an extra wide receiver.

Moss
Randle El
Thomas
Kelly
Thrash
Mix

I think Zorn plans to keep 6. Remember our O will be different this year.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:02 pm

I also think they'll keep six WR's on the 53-man roster, especially in a WC system. Moss, ARE, Thrash, Thomas, Kelly and Mix sounds about right to me. Interestingly, I saw this on the Redskins website in the "Competitions to watch" article...

A dark horse candidate? Keep an eye on first-year player Burl Toler, who also impressed during off-season work. The 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver spent most of last season on the Redskins' practice squad.

Not sure he'll make the final roster, but perhaps he's caught someones attention and could give Mix a run for his money for that sixth spot.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:46 am

SkinsFreak wrote:I also think they'll keep six WR's on the 53-man roster, especially in a WC system. Moss, ARE, Thrash, Thomas, Kelly and Mix sounds about right to me. Interestingly, I saw this on the Redskins website in the "Competitions to watch" article...

A dark horse candidate? Keep an eye on first-year player Burl Toler, who also impressed during off-season work. The 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver spent most of last season on the Redskins' practice squad.

Not sure he'll make the final roster, but perhaps he's caught someones attention and could give Mix a run for his money for that sixth spot.

I recall reading someplace (I've forgotten the source) that Burl Toler and Anthony Mix are competing for the final receiver position. I think it may have been on Redskins.com

I'll say I'm glad that, for once, more people seem to agree with me than think I'm off-base about the Redskins keeping six receivers.

Found the article:

-- FIFTH WIDE RECEIVER
Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El are expected to resume their starting roles in 2008. Rookie draft picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are assured of a roster spot as well.

Anthony Mix turned in a strong offseason and could have the inside track for the job. At 6-5 and 235 pounds, he's wide-bodied and rangy and has a good rapport with Jason Campbell. (They played at Auburn together.)

James Thrash, a 12-year vet, is a consummate pro and team leader. He has 281 receptions and 24 touchdowns in his career. His experience in the West Coast offense--he played in a similar scheme in Philadelphia from 2001-03--should benefit him. He also can return kicks and serve on special teams coverage units.

Billy McMullen, a five-year NFL veteran out of Virginia, also played in a West Coast offense in Philadelphia and Minnesota. He has grabbed 45 receptions for 601 yards and three touchdowns in his career. Like Mix, McMullen is tall and rangy at 6-4 and 215 pounds.

A dark horse candidate? Keep an eye on first-year player Burl Toler, who also impressed during off-season work. The 6-2, 190-pound wide receiver spent most of last season on the Redskins' practice squad.

Will the Redskins keep six wide receivers on the roster? Possibly, but it appears likely that the team will have three tight ends on the roster, making it difficult to find space for a sixth wide receiver.

I'd like to know why he thinks the Redskins will keep three tight ends when the first two will be Cool

ey and Davis. Yoder, Ecker, Goode are by no means locks, and the article doesn't say why a third tight end is necessary. Anyone have any ideas?

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=36624

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:55 am

With the two receiving TEs we have, I'd fathom that there needs to be a blocking oriented TE

OR

We use a lineman in those circumstances. I'd say it's 50-50 on that.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:50 am

I think the competition in camp will be a major determining factor. I would probably venture to guess Zorn doesn't know at this point what will be the final breakdown between WR's and TE's.

But I'll add this, as we all know, Cool

ey is an incredible receiver. Having watched some game video and examining Davis' numbers from USC, a pro style offense, he also appears to be a stud receiver. Both Cool

ey and Davis are also exceptional in the red zone.

So whether they keep 5 or 6 WR's, or 2 or 3 TE's is not such a big deal, imo. Cool

ey and Davis are just as good at running routes and catching passes.

And another thought. Could it also be a situation that depending on the game plan for any particular week, Zorn can tweak the roster by activating a WR one week and a TE the next?

Any way you slice it, I feel pretty confident about our pass catchers and don't much care how it pans out. Zorn and Campbell now have plenty of weapons and Zorn, Smith and Mitchell will have a field day game planning week in and week out.

Portis and Betts are pretty good receivers as well.

I know many do here, but I honestly don't think most on a broader scale truly appreciate or recognize how good those 2nd round picks were for the Redskins. I really think we had a solid draft this year.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:37 am

SkinsFreak wrote:

Any way you slice it, I feel pretty confident about our pass catchers and don't much care how it pans out. Zorn and Campbell now have plenty of weapons and Zorn, Smith and Mitchell will have a field day game planning week in and week out.

Portis and Betts are pretty good receivers as well.

I know many do here, but I honestly don't think most on a broader scale truly appreciate or recognize how good those 2nd round picks were for the Redskins. I really think we had a solid draft this year.

Any way we look at it, the absence of Brandon Lloyd, Reche Caldwell, Keenan McCardell, combined with the addition of Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis and anyone else on the current roster can mean nothing but good things. I agree fully with your assessment of the receiving situation.

Cappster · Post by **Cappster** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:45 am

GSPODS wrote:
SkinsFreak wrote:

Any way you slice it, I feel pretty confident about our pass catchers and don't much care how it pans out. Zorn and Campbell now have plenty of weapons and Zorn, Smith and Mitchell will have a field day game planning week in and week out.

Portis and Betts are pretty good receivers as well.

I know many do here, but I honestly don't think most on a broader scale truly appreciate or recognize how good those 2nd round picks were for the Redskins. I really think we had a solid draft this year.

Any way we look at it, the absence of Brandon Lloyd, Reche Caldwell, Keenan McCardell, combined with the addition of Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis and anyone else on the current roster can mean nothing but good things. I agree fully with your assessment of the receiving situation.

If they all work out to their full potential, we have our new "posse" for years to come.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:39 pm

Zorn said in his presser today that they will definitely keep 5 WR's and maybe up to 7, with possibly one guy on the practice squad that can be activated at times. The addition of Kelly and Thomas really beefs up that unit.

And let's not forget that Fred Davis was a WR that transitioned to TE. Davis said the transition was the result his body maturing and working out. So he has pass catching abilities. Davis was recruited as a WR out of high school, with the heaviest recruiting done by Ohio St. and USC, two top notch programs, evidence he was a talented WR. He transitioned to TE at USC.

CanesSkins26 · Post by **CanesSkins26** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:15 pm

I'd like to know why he thinks the Redskins will keep three tight ends when the first two will be ey and Davis. Yoder, Ecker, Goode are by no means locks, and the article doesn't say why a third tight end is necessary. Anyone have any ideas?

Because we need a tight end that is a dependable blocker. Cool

ey is an average blocker at best and Davis is below average in that area.

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:26 am

Just bring Lorenzo Alexander in at TE for those 1 yard goal line plays.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:49 am

fleetus wrote:Just bring Lorenzo Alexander in at TE for those 1 yard goal line plays.

Or Stephon Heyer. Either one blocks far better than any tight end.

"Heavy Jumbo"

Heyer Jansen Kendall Rabach Thomas Samuels Alexander
Campbell
Sellers

Betts Portis

I have a hard time believing teams could stop this power lineup, even if they knew it was coming. Shades of The Original Hogs. Not to mention Portis, Sellers and Betts are also receiving threats.

fleetus · Post by **fleetus** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:13 am

Sounds like Thrash may be a major factor. Zorn has repeatedly mentioned Thrash's name and now Hixon is complementing him also. I think not only will Thomas and Kelly both have to really show they know the playbook to get a lot of passes thrown their way, but Moss and ARE (especially ARE) will need to show they can be effective in this offense and hang on to the ball better. Even though most of us consider Thrash the 5th WR, it sounds like he's playing himself into the top 3 until someone unseats him.

VetSkinsFan · Post by **VetSkinsFan** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:33 am

A lot of stuff gets said throughout the weeks. The next 6 weeks will be the be all end all. Anythign before then it's still all speculation.

SkinsFreak · Post by **SkinsFreak** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:22 pm

VetSkinsFan wrote:A lot of stuff gets said throughout the weeks. The next 6 weeks will be the be all end all. Anythign before then it's still all speculation.

Damn dude, of course it's speculation at this point. The coaches don't even know the final roster yet. That's, in part, what training camp is for. When there's competition at certain positions, we all know any talk prior to said competition is speculation. That's what we're doing... speculating.