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

There was some offensive fireworks as Kirk Cousins and DeSean Jackson connected on a couple of nice plays, including a 50-yard touchdown pass. That play and a sideline catch by Jackson both appeared to come when the quarterback and receiver took advantage of holes in zone coverage. On the 50-yarder, nickelback Dashaun Phillips initially covered Jackson, but there appeared to be a mix-up as the receiver ran free while Phillips looked to be passing Jackson off to help – that wasn’t there. Josh Norman was in the neighborhood on the out route that Jackson caught, but he too looked like he expected someone else to pick up the receiver.

Today, we saw Lynden Trail and Houston Bates both get some time with the first team as they spelled either Kerrigan or Smith. The two worked together to produce a positive result for the defense on one particular play. Bates rushed from the left edge and got inside of Morgan Moses and slipped by to get to Kirk Cousins. The quarterback quickly turned and tried to get rid of the ball, throwing to his left. But Trail had knifed through from the opposite edge as Bates, also dipping to the inside and swatted down the pass for an incompletion.

Preston Smith - LB - Redskins

Redskins coach Jay Gruden calls OLB Preston Smith "bigger, stronger and faster this year."

"I think he’s going to be a heck of a pass rusher for us here for a long time, but out here it’s going to be real important for him to get even better," Gruden said. Smith's development has become even more critical following Junior Galette's Achilles' tear. Smith has 10-sack upside as a sophomore after closing out 2015 with five sacks in his final three games.

Source: Washington Post Jul 28 - 6:32 PM

Vernon Davis - TE - Redskins

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he thinks Vernon Davis still has "a lot of juice left."

Gruden said he's been impressed by his speed and blocking this offseason. Davis has vanished since his 13-touchdown campaign in 2013, logging just 64 catches for 640 yards over his last two seasons. He's not going to see much work this year with Jordan Reed and Niles Paul ahead of him on the depth chart.

Source: Master Tesfatsion on Twitter Jul 29 - 4:03 PM

Keith Marshall - RB - Redskins

Redskins rookie Keith Marshall avoided the active/PUP list to begin camp.

He's practicing fully, which is good news after Marshall spent most of his college career on the shelf and then sat out some of the offseason program with an additional injury. Marshall posted the highest Speed Score ever recorded by Football Outsiders at this year's Scouting Combine. All the backs in Washington are worth monitoring behind shaky starter Matt Jones.

Jul 29 - 5:04 PM

Josh Doctson - WR - Redskins

Redskins first-round WR Josh Doctson (Achilles') said he felt good after his first day of rehab.

Doctson took a month off to rest and treat his troublesome Achilles' tendon. He ramped up his activity on Thursday, and he said he woke up Friday feeling good. "Today was the real test," he said. "It’s been weeks since I felt this good." The rookie will still likely sit out a couple weeks, but it sounds like he is trending in the right direction. Doctson should open the year the Redskins' No. 4 receiver, but he has the talent to climb the depth chart quickly.

Source: Washington Post Jul 30 - 8:32 AM

Redskins' Scot McCloughan feels Josh Doctson's pain

By Chris Wesseling
Around the NFL Writer
Published: July 29, 2016 at 03:42 p.m. Updated: July 29, 2016 at 07:20 p.m.

Washington Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan feels rookie wide receiver Josh Doctson's pain.

McCloughan arrived at training camp sporting a hand wrap courtesy of the Achilles' tendon soreness that kept Doctson out of organized team activities sessions in May.

Former Redskins tight end Chris ey unpacked McCloughan's curious story on Washington's WTEM-AM.

"I said, 'What happened to your hand?'" ey recalled Friday, via the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "He said, 'when I found out about Doctson' -- which they thought was going to be much worse, the Doctson injury, apparently it isn't going to be as bad -- 'I punched the wall.'"

Doctson initially couldn't believe the Redskins' GM actually did that.

"I thought he was playing around, but he was being for real," Doctson said. "You know, it's just what they believe I can do. They trust me."

The Redskins eschewed more dire team needs in the first round of the draft because they couldn't resist Doctson's talent as the best player available.

"If you had talked to me before the draft," McCloughan acknowledged in early May, "I would never thought that would happen."

It's easy to understand the general manager's frustration upon hearing the original report from a team doctor. Now that his chosen one is deemed day-to-day rather than lost for the season, though, McCloughan can afford to laugh off his own injury.

Asked about the incident after Friday's walkthrough, McCloughan pointed at Doctson and quipped, "It's this guy's fault."

DarthMonk wrote:The Redskins eschewed more dire team needs in the first round of the draft because they couldn't resist Doctson's talent as the best player available.

"If you had talked to me before the draft," McCloughan acknowledged in early May, "I would never thought that would happen."

DarthMonk wrote:

Vernon Davis - TE - Redskins

Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he thinks Vernon Davis still has "a lot of juice left."

Gruden said he's been impressed by his speed and blocking this offseason. Davis has vanished since his 13-touchdown campaign in 2013, logging just 64 catches for 640 yards over his last two seasons. He's not going to see much work this year with Jordan Reed and Niles Paul ahead of him on the depth chart.

Source: Master Tesfatsion on Twitter Jul 29 - 4:03 PM

Something tells me he's going to pass Paul on the depth chart and look out if Reed gets hurt.

Irn-Bru wrote:Man, terrible journalism.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:This stuff gives me a headache. Can't wait for real football so we can stop reading Joe Blow writer's baseless opinions on everything.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:This stuff gives me a headache. Can't wait for real football so we can stop reading Joe Blow writer's baseless opinions on everything.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:Jackson beats Norman on one play of dozens and suddenly Norman is a bum. Breeland reads a play wrong one time of twenty and recovers to break up the pass and we read about how he's not up to Norman's level. Marshall breaks one play and he's the next starter. Kelley breaks three plays but we read about the one where he was stopped.

riggofan wrote:ugh. Doctson in a walking boot today. Said to be precautionary or whatever.

Starting to think we might not see that kid on the field this year.

Burgundy&GoldForever wrote:

riggofan wrote:ugh. Doctson in a walking boot today. Said to be precautionary or whatever.

Starting to think we might not see that kid on the field this year.

We knew McCloughan didn't almost break his hand over a minor issue.

Mike Jones Verified account
‏@MikeJonesWaPo

When asked about the boot, Doctson said that he was told not to comment on his health.

Irn-Bru wrote:The team is claiming that the boot is not indicative of a setback.

. . . but of course, Gruden also said at the start of training camp that Doctson's PUP designation was a "formality" or "procedural" or something like that, implying that he was basically ready to go.

oj wrote:I don't expect to see him until after the bye week anyway, this isn't a setback as much as something to talk about.

John Keim Verified account ‏@john_keim 1h1 hour ago

Redskins coach Jay Gruden singled out linebacker Martrell Spaight. Have to agree; he really jumped out Monday

JP Finlay ‏@JPFinlayCSN 1h1 hour ago

Gruden echoing what I've been seeing: Martrell Spaight turning heads at ILB