Preparations Underway For HOF Game
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
August 6, 2004
The Redskins began work Friday morning on preparing for the Hall of Fame Game, with the team installing some basic looks during 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Many of the team's younger players are expected to get a long look in the Redskins' first of five preseason games.
The game, in Canton, Ohio, is slated for Monday evening at 8 p.m. ET.
Joe Salave'a (right) works against Greg White during D-line drills. (Photo by Gary Fitzgerald)
"In the preseason, what you like to do is play a good solid game and abide by all of the game's principles," he said. "You don't want to turn the ball over and you want very few penalties. I think you focus on execution."
The Redskins will hold a closed practice this evening and Gibbs hopes to hold a simulated game.
"Warm-ups, halftime-there are so many things that are going on," he said. "You just want to go through that one time and get everything as organized as possible. Because on Monday night, you know it's going to be organized chaos."
Monday's game will be reserved mostly for the team's younger players. It's possible that quarterback Gibran Hamdan, fresh off of a stint in NFL Europe, could see significant action.
"We are getting ready to find out about him," Gibbs said. "I think he has been impressive so far. We're anxious to match him up against other people and see how he does. It still remains to be seen with almost all of the players."
Gibbs said the team hasn't decided who will start at H-back, saying the decision is up to tight ends coach Rennie Simmons.
The game will also be the first for Gibbs playing with a shortened play clock, using headphones to call in plays and monitoring instant replay.
"We didn't have [headphones] the first go-around, but I wish we had," Gibbs said. "I like this system much better, I think it's quicker. But having said that, we probably can't do as much as we did before, formation-wise."
Linebacker LaVar Arrington sat out practice with soreness in his lower leg. But he still participated, to an extent, by standing along the goal lines, behind the defensive alignment and reading the play as it unfolded.
Middle linebacker Mike Barrow appeared to injure his left knee during a 9-on-9 drill and left practice early.
Here are some of the highlights from Friday morning's practure:
Play: During red zone drills, Rock Cartwright took a handoff, broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage, then rushed through a seam into open field. He drew the day's largest ovation when he crossed into the end zone. Cartwright, who is listed at fullback but has played some at tailback during training camp, drew the day's largest ovation when he crossed into the end zone.
Player: Andre Lott, the Redskins' fourth-round draft pick in 2002, continues to make a name for himself. During Friday's practice, he recorded an end zone interception during red zone drills. Later, he met Sultan McCullough with a hard tackle on a swing pass, limiting the second-year running back to a minimal gain. Said assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams: "Andre has solid corner movement skills, now I need to see him have safety toughness skills."
Quote: "You have to incorporate your speed along with your hands, because if you get a guy's hands off you, he can't block you. That's the key to pass rushing. If you can get a guy's hands off you, you're going to be in the quarterback's face a lot." -- linebacker Marcus Washington, discussing pressuring the quarterback.
Atmosphere: It was another subdued, workmanlike practice. After practice, Gibbs once again signed autographs for fans lined up along a barrier. Later, he interrupted a media session to sign more autographs for fans, some of whom were in wheelchairs.
Notes:
-- Practice ended after 90 minutes and most of the team broke up with their position coaches for 15-20 minutes of extra work. Assistant head coach-offense Joe Bugel worked with offensive linemen and tight ends on one field, while linebackers coach Dale Lindsey worked with his crew on the opposite field.
-- Arrington was interviewed by FOX's Terry Bradshaw on Thursday night after practice. It was an honor for the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who was emotional after the interview and stayed late at Redskins Park to get a photograph of the Hall of Famer. Arrington, of course, grew up in Pittsburgh where Bradshaw and the 1970s-era Steelers were icons.
-- Punter Tom Tupa, who played quarterback for the Phoenix Cardinals in the early 1990s, showcased his arm when he threw a 50-yard pass to Ethan Albright at midfield. It was noticed by only a few because it was on the field farthest away from the fans.
-- There have been few tussles throughout training camp, despite hard hitting on both sides.
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