BH's Training Camp Q&A

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:21 am

Please post any questions you have on TC so far in this thread and I will do my best to answer them today on the Redskins day off....

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:32 am

What younger players have really shown you something? What older players have shown you that it's time to go?

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:23 am

1. Is it really likely that our starters at WR might be S. Moss, D. Patten and T. Jacobs?

2. How is McCune coming along? (I am admittedly biased in his favour and love his story).

3. Any new FB with a chance to win a spot on top of Rock Cartwright?

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:39 am

I don't think anyone has shown me that it's time to go neccessarily, but there have been a few tings...

James Thrash looks slower at the side of a Santana Moss or an Antonio Brown, but who wouldn't?

Mark Wilson seems to be struggling a little bit, and Jim Molinaro looks a little bit more comfortable... depending on the number of bodies they keep for o-line, Wilson will have to step it up if he wants to make this team IMO. Right now, Molinaro has the inside track.

McCants has been so sporadic that it would be irresponsible to not mention him. As much as I like the guy, he hasn't shown me anything at a time when he should be striving to make a mark.

Ade jimoh looks like Ade Jimoh out there. :shock:

If you want to get a hold of Ade, you can reach him at 1-800-YOU-BURN

Guys that have impressed:

Rich Parsons - day in, day out, the guy catches pretty much everything

Jim Molinaro - see above notes. When we drafted this guy, I said he had huge up-side ( http://www.the-hogs.net/content/story.php?id=267 ), and in my mind, it's starting to show.

Antonio Brown - we've raved pretty long and hard about AB since mini-camp... so much speed and it seems that ALL the QBs seem to look for him

Zak Keasey - whether it is practice squad or actual roster, this guy has a motor that won't stop and he seems like he has the heart to match. We have a lot of bodies at LB but he's going to be a difficult cut. He's a little under-sized but he's really quick. He and Robert Royal matched up last week (I think there's a pic in the galleries) and they were going at it tooth and nail. Good stuff.

Mike Sellers - getting a lot of looks. He seems to be getting time at TE as well as at HB. The guy's a house and if he can buckle down mentally, he could be quite utilitarian for us... I wouldn't want to try and get in his way. :shock:

That's a few... it's hard to pick out individuals from the pack... it might be better to ask more 'specific' questions.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:13 pm

Redskin in Canada wrote:1. Is it really likely that our starters at WR might be S. Moss, D. Patten and T. Jacobs?

It is right now... they are most definitely the 3 front runners provided Jacobs' toe injury from yesterday isn't significant.

2. How is McCune coming along? (I am admittedly biased in his favour and love his story).

The fans don't really get to see much of the defense to be honest with you... they practice on the far field and can't really be observed except in the 7-on-7's and 11-on-11's. I haven't seen anything too spectacular from him yet... except when he walks by you :shock:

I knoweverybody loves to gawk at the guy but we're stacked at LB and I'm not as convinced as everyone else is that this guy is a shoo-in... like all rookies... he'll need to make a mark on special teams to crack the roster as I think Holdman and Marshall are still the front-runners for the job. Hopefully this week's practices may permit a better look at the defense. No doubt about his sheer awesome physicality though... I can't even imagine how many hours a day the guy spends in the weight room.

3. Any new FB with a chance to win a spot on top of Rock Cartwright?

Oops, forgot Nemo Broughton in my list of impressees above... see, that's why I don't like picking out individuals... definitely impressive so far, and I think the writing is on the wall for Cartwright.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:15 pm

Jonathan Combs has also had a good camp running the ball (what little they do) and had a blocked punt in the scrimmage yesterday as well.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:30 pm

If you ever get a chance to answer... Does Steven Harris have an even miniscule chance to make the practice squad in your view playing wise?

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 12:48 pm

No.

With Moss, Jacobs, Patten, Dyson, Mccants, Thrash and Antonio Brown in the mix... we're already in a body overload situation.

... and if we were going to grab a PS wide receiver, I'd think that Rich Parsons had the inside track. Jimmy Farris, Nathan Black and Jafin Elliott have all probably put in slightly better performances as well.

Not trying to slight Harris at all, but he's just not quite there yet and as a small-bodied receiver, I just think he's in a tough mix already.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 1:41 pm

You're probably rifht. Also, doesn't help he tore his ACL a bit once.

welch · Post by **welch** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 5:45 pm

How about Dyson?

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 7:42 pm

I think Dyson's had a decent camp so far... contrary to some of the reports I've read. But I'm used to that down here... but I'm not a 'real' journalist like some of these guys. :roll:

If all he has to do is beat out McCants, then so far, he's in.

But neither of them has really lit it up, so that big-bodied receiver slot may be filled by someone who isn't even on our roster yet.

I will say that Dyson hasn't really done anything to hurt his chances, I'm just not sure he's done much to distance himself.

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:16 pm

BH, How's Jansen's lateral mobility looked?

I realize that he'll always be a mauling 110% guy, but if the injury had any effect on his mobility, it could be a serious problem against certain teams.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:25 pm

Actually he's looked great. There was a scare earlier in the week where he came up a bit gimp on one play but he just quickly walked it off and went back in... I couldn't tell if it was ankle-related or not.

I watched him in a fair few one-on-one drills and everything seemed copasetic, though i fully admit that I don't think we'll really know until JJ has to do it in a game situation.

All reports state that if he hadn't been put on IR then he could have played the last two games last year.

It's with guarded optimism but I think the ankle looks fine and he says he's in the best shape of his life.

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:21 am

Any updates on special Teams

I know AB has been going well but anyone else to look for

Will Tupa be our punter again this year

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 8:44 am

Tupa has been Tupa... so I think so. But Andy Groom can really boom the ball. But not with the same consistency that Tupa does. Truthfully, I'd like to see Groom make the practice squad so that we have a back-up plan in case anything happened to Tupa.

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:19 am

I should get my butt out to camp to see this myself but piggybacking on Amberion's question, have you seen anything that indicates that we will be able to hold Punt Returns/Kick offs to minimum yardage? That really bit us in the butt last year.

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:31 am

Great call on Zak Keasey this kid is just a plan ole' football player. Dale Lindsay loves this guy. During mini-camp he pulled Zak out of line during sled drills to show the vets how to do it!!

Do you really think he has a chance to make the squad??

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:33 am

A lot of emphassis has been put on ST this offseason and Joe Gibbs has repeatedly said that Danny Smith would get whatever he needed to make the unit better. There are several guys that were brought in strictly for their ST prowess... Prioleau, Tuipala, Dixon...

Gregg Williams stated at the mini-camp that we could expect to see more athletic LBs getting slots as well as we have a good crop of speedy linebackers.

You can't kick the ball much better than Tupa did last year, so hopefully the infusion of some true special teamers (as opposed to guys playing ST as well as their regular positions) will help this unit improve upon their 2004 performance.

It's certainly being addressed though, as opposed to just hoping it fixes itself.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:05 am

not just a jansen question but how is the o-line as a hole looking ??? any other injuries to worry about on the o line ??? also is there a DE who turning heads ??do the WR's have the droppsy ???

Post by **admin** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:47 am

as a hole? We don't want holes on our o-line. :hmm:

Hard to gauge an o-line at practice... to me the most noticeable aspects of the line are that JJ looks to be healed and they all look to be in great shape.

The WRs have had some drops, but it's practice and while fans seem to expect perfection, in reality that isn't what you get. There have been sharp, crisp practices and performances but there have been some bad ones too.

The defense is ostensibly away from the fans as already stated. You get to watch them in 11-on-11s but they aren't exactly going full out to the QB all the time. I don't know if anyone has made me really stand up and take notice yet though. Hopefully we'll see a little more of the D this week and I can give you a much better assessment.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:23 pm

John Hall: is he back to 100% and looking good with kicks?

I hate having inconsistencies with the kicking game. . .it's so much better in the fall when you know that it's nearly guarenteed that you get at least 3 points after crossing the other team's 35.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:24 pm

Thank you for taking the time to provide the answers, that was very informative. Do you think you will be able to do this on a regular basis? and is there any chance of you guys (and THN) getting any access when they close the practices?

thanks again!

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:27 pm

admin wrote:as a hole? We don't want holes on our o-line.

Hard to gauge an o-line at practice... to me the most noticeable aspects of the line are that JJ looks to be healed and they all look to be in great shape.

The WRs have had some drops, but it's practice and while fans seem to expect perfection, in reality that isn't what you get. There have been sharp, crisp practices and performances but there have been some bad ones too.

The defense is ostensibly away from the fans as already stated. You get to watch them in 11-on-11s but they aren't exactly going full out to the QB all the time. I don't know if anyone has made me really stand up and take notice yet though. Hopefully we'll see a little more of the D this week and I can give you a much better assessment.

thanks BH !!being as sharp as you are i knew you would catch the "HOLE" thing.L.O.L.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:48 pm

SkinsJock wrote:Thank you for taking the time to provide the answers, that was very informative. Do you think you will be able to do this on a regular basis? and is there any chance of you guys (and THN) getting any access when they close the practices?

thanks again!

No, unfortunately access to closed practices is restricted to only the beat writers for the 'mainstream' media.

But I'll be at every other practice and you can just keep the questions coming in this thread all week long. I was a little busy to do it last week but I have a few less obligations this week. Plus, hailskins went back to NC as well, so we're not trying to break world drinking records each evening. :oops:

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:59 pm

BossHog wrote:No, unfortunately access to closed practices is restricted to only the beat writers for the 'mainstream' media.

BH, if you are going to start correcting on the "hole", let us get it straight:

No, unfortunately access to closed practices is restricted to only the deadbeat writers ...

Thanks for the answers. Let's seek acreditation (for the staff only, of course) as members of the media. Let us invite some of the people in the organisation to come to the site. I know it is easy for me to ask but I feel that they need to know your work (and the site) in order to fully appreciate it.

I am convinced that this is the best Skins site on the web. I love the insight.