Post (Newsletter): Into the Routine
Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:56 pm
Into the Routine
Coach Joe Gibbs has yet to complete his team's schedule for this weekend but has attempted to get them into the regular-season routine in these final days of training camp. Of course, with the Redskins playing on a Friday night for the second straight week, simulating a normal week is not easy.
Gibbs goes by feel for determining when to bring players in for work and practices and often makes those decisions just a day or two before, sometimes changing them shortly thereafter. The team has started practices as early as 8 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m. during training camp but will soon settle into a routine.
The coaches wanted this week to feel like the start of the regular season and gave players time off when they would during the regular season. The team held a walkthrough yesterday morning in preparation for tonight's preseason finale against Atlanta at FedEx Field, and the players are expected to be off Saturday, which is an off-day during the season. Sunday is game day -- and Washington must make 23 cuts to reach the 53-man limit by then -- and the coaches could also call players in for a practice, given that Sunday will be a work day during the season.
Mondays are generally off for the players, and Gibbs could begin that process this week, as he has stated that he wants to back off a bit in the final days of the preseason to get the team fresh for the Sept. 12 opener against Tampa Bay.
They likely will be in pads from Tuesday through Thursday, and players such as linebacker Mike Barrow, who has missed virtually all of training camp with a knee injury, will need to get on the field for at least a few full practices in order to be able to participate in the season-opening contest.
-- Jason La Canfora
