The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Washington's defense, third in the league in 2004 despite playing without three injured starters for most of the season, was formidable again in Baltimore in the absence of eight starters because of injuries or personal problems. Only Pro Bowl linebacker Marcus Washington, end Phillip Daniels and new middle linebacker Lemar Marshall were in their usual spots.

"That's the trademark of our defense," Washington said. "When one guy goes down, another guy goes in and does a good job."

Safety Sean Taylor didn't start after skipping the entire offseason program. However, Taylor likely won't be a backup much longer after breaking up what would have been a touchdown catch by Randy Hymes and dropping running back Tellis Redman with a big hit.

"I saw Sean show up a few times, I'll say that," coach Joe Gibbs said. "He has a way of doing that. He's a heck of a natural player. Sean has had a very good first week (of training camp), but I'll leave that up to (the defensive coaches) who starts over there and who plays."

Washington put in a plug for Taylor to rejoin the starters.

"I always kid Sean that we keep him in a cage and feed him raw meat and on game day, we turn him loose," Washington said. "He's a heck of a player and we're glad to have him back."

On Friday at Fan Appreciation Day at Redskin Park, a fan wearing a No. 56 Giants (Lawrence Taylor) jersey held up a sign that said "Free Sean Taylor" in reference to the safety's upcoming trial on a felony assault charge and a simple battery misdemeanor. Of course, LT — no relation to Sean — had more than his share of off-field troubles during his Hall of Fame career, too.

While Taylor could regain his job from Pierson Prioleau as soon as Monday afternoon's practice — "It reminds me back in college, we had three color jerseys. If a real good player got demoted down to green, sometimes in practice he was already back in white before the day was over with," Gibbs said — what the secondary really needs is to get some corners healthy before facing Steve Smith, Keary Colbert, Ricky Proehl and ex-Redskin Rod Gardner in next Saturday's preseason opener in Charlotte.

The defense would obviously be better with departed free agents Antonio Pierce and Fred Smoot and if LaVar Arrington were healthy and on the field, but the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker missed virtually of all of last year and the unit prospered. For now, assistant head coach Gregg Williams has to be given the benefit of the doubt that he'll make this year's pieces fit properly, too.

CAMP CALENDAR

Aug. 11 — Last day camp is open to public

Aug. 30 — Camp closes

NOTES, QUOTES

—Brian Kozlowski's career appeared to have ended when the 34-year-old tight end walked off the field following Washington's season-ending victory over Minnesota on Jan. 2. Eleven seasons, 165 games including a Super Bowl start for Atlanta were more than anyone would have predicted for an undrafted free agent from Connecticut.

But as the months dragged on this offseason, Kozlowski continued to train with New England Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison, his next-door neighbor in Atlanta and hope that a team might call.

Late last week with Mike Barrow's $1.75 million coming off their salary cap because of the linebacker's release, the Redskins called. And so Kozlowski is back, trying to keep a roster spot. Washington has a plethora of H-backs with Chris ey, Mike Sellers, fourth-rounder Manuel White and journeyman Billy Baber, but starter Robert Royal and undrafted rookie William Palmer are the only tight ends on the roster besides Kozlowski.

"I was never worried," Kozlowski said. "My agent (Frank Bauer) had heard from several teams and I knew something would happen eventually. I'm glad that it was the Redskins. I know the guys. I know the coaches. And I know the system."

— Told that some fans had driven as long as 17 hours to attend Fan Appreciation Day, coach Joe Gibbs reminisced about his days as a young Redskins fan in North Carolina in the 1940s and early 1950s before his family moved to Southern California as he was going to start high school. Washington was the South's team in that era before Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina had franchises.

"I grew up watching (running back) Charlie 'Choo Choo' Justice," said Gibbs, whose uncle owned what served as the community television set to watch the Redskins on Sundays. "The Redskins were all we had. It ws the Carolina Redskins. Until the Panthers came (in 1995), it was pretty much Redskins territory."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I look around and one good thing, I know we don't have any Dallas people here. They're the ugliest people in the world." — Coach Joe Gibbs joking about Cowboys fans during Fan Appreciation Day. Gibbs was very apologetic on Saturday, saying, "I kind of got caught up in things. It didn't come out like it should have. If anybody took it the wrong way other than a joke, I apologize ... When you make a mistake like that, you ought to own up to it." Especially when your team is 1-11 against theirs since 1997.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: BACKUP WR: Santana Moss and David Patten will have to really screw up not to start, but the rotation and jobs aren't set after that. Taylor Jacobs, more potential than production since being drafted in the second round in 2003, had his moments in practice but suffered a sprained toe in Baltimore that will be reevaluated after a week. James Thrash is a possession receiver/special teamer at this stage of his career. Holdover Darnerien McCants had a better week than former Tennessee standout Kevin Dyson in the battle of the big (over 6 feet) men before being held out of the scrimmage with stitches in his hand. Jamin Elliott (five games with Chicago in 2002 and 2003) beat Shawn Springs for a tremendous catch on Friday. But watch out for little Antonio Brown (see Player of the Week). And don't forget that all the WRs spent most of the week going against no better than the fifth corner (other than Springs) because of injuries (see RCB battle).

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: MLB: Former weak side backer Lemar Marshall had a solid first week which included the release of contender Brian Allen. Marshall hadn't played inside since before he could drive, but he has the coaching staff's trust and with only the raw Clifton Smith, Brandon Barnes and Robert McCune really in the mix, it's clearly Marshall's job to lose.

RCB: This competition is on hold with rookie Carlos Rogers (ankle) yet to practice and veterans Walt Harris (quadriceps) and Artrell Hawkins (hamstring) both sidelined two days into camp. Garnell Wilds (two NFL games), Rufus Brown (one) and the oft-toasted Ade Jimoh got most of the work opposite veteran Shawn Springs last week.

K: Reliable veteran John Hall couldn't stay healthy last year and finally wound up on injured reserve. Jeff Chandler was fine for the final three games. If Hall doesn't have a good preseason or gets hurt again, he could lose his job for good. However, Hall nailed his 41-yard field goal in Baltimore while Chandler missed from that distance.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR/KR Antonio Brown. He's not close to his listed 5-feet-10 and 175 pounds, but the little guy continues to make a big impression. He caught just about every pass thrown his way in practice and added two more catches in the 11-on-11 work against the Ravens after a nice kickoff return and two grabs in 7-on-7 drills. One of the latter catches came after Brown held on despite being popped by Calvin Carlyle. With Santana Moss, David Patten, Taylor Jacobs, James Thrash, Kevin Dyson and Darnerien McCants all more experienced at receiver, Brown has a tough road to earn any playing time on offense, but coach Joe Gibbs said Brown's fearlessness returning punts earned him a shot on offense despite his stature. "A guy that size, if he can run back a kick, he can play anything else," Gibbs said. "Running back a kick takes as much courage as anything in sports. To stand back there, field a ball and realize you've got 10 guys trying to kill you takes real concentration."

ROOKIE REPORT

—CB Carlos Rogers (destined for nickel corner, see injury report)

—QB Jason Campbell took the field on Tuesday after ending a 1-day holdout and looked sharp for most of the rest of the week. Campbell was 5-for-10 for 55 yards and a scrimmage-ending touchdown toss to H-back Billy Baber on Saturday in Baltimore. The 25th pick overall will start the season third-string but that status might not last the year.

—HB Manuel White (4th) had a solid week as he continues to adjust to H-back after being mostly a tailback at UCLA. White was used at fullback against the Ravens and didn't touch the ball. He should make the team as a backup to starters Chris ey and Clinton Portis.

—LB Robert McCune (5th) is a Jeremiah Trotter-like player. He can close on a straight-ahead target and hit with impact, but doesn't do as well going sideline to sideline to make plays. McCune will likely win a roster spot on special teams.

—LB Jared Newberry (6th) is more athletic than the chiseled McCune, befitting his outside backer spot. Newberry had two tackles against Baltimore to McCune's one and will also win a job on special teams.

—FB Nehemiah Broughton (7th) is trying to supplant veteran Rock Cartwright as the Redskins' nominal fullback. Broughton, who has four inches and 40 pounds on Cartwright, received a surprising amount of work in Baltimore and carried twice for 10 yards.

INJURY REPORT

—LB LaVar Arrington (knee surgery) is on the active physically unable to perform list and won't be back this week.

—DT Brandon Noble (staph infection) is on the active physically unable to perfrom list and could be activated and begin limited work this week.

—CB Carlos Rogers (severe sprained ankle) is on the non-football injury list. The ninth pick overall, who signed on Wednesday, won't be back this week.

—DT Cornelius Griffin (strained shoulder) was hurt during last Monday's practices and is day-to-day.

—CB Walt Harris (pulled quadricep) was hurt during last Tuesday's practice and is day-to-day.

—CB Artrell Hawkins (strained hamstring) was hurt during last Tuesday's practice and is day-to-day.

—CB Shawn Springs (sore hamstring) was hurt during 7-on-7 drills during Saturday's scrimmage and is day-to-day.

—WR Taylor Jacobs (sprained toe) was hurt during the scrimmage and is day-to-day.

—WR Darnerien McCants (hand) was held out of 11-on-11 work during the scrimmage and is day-to-day.