Here are some thoughts and observations after watching two of the Redskins rookie minicamp workouts. This time I'll focus on the offense and start by separating each draft pick. My goal is to always focus on the draft picks during these camps; tough to learn about a guy if you're trying to watch more than a handful:
RT Brandon Scherff: Liked how he reacted on inside moves vs. Preston Smith in the one-on-one situations. Good base, good footwork and excellent hand placement. He did a nice job of keeping his hands tight and finishing his blocks, as he did vs. Smith getting his hands into the rusher's chest. Once, Smith tried to rush inside, but because Scherff did not overcommit he was able to slide with him and rode him to the ground. During 11-on-11 work, Scherff and Smith worked vs. one another a few times. It did look like one player turned the corner on Scherff, but I had a bad angle so I couldn't tell what happened. That's where his arm length could be an issue at times.
RB Matt Jones: Big fella. Like the backside power that he has, allowing him to run with extra strength. It matters. He caught the ball well, reaching up high to grab one over his head. I really think he'll be better as a third-down back in the NFL than in college, where they rarely looked at him. He cut well in the open field, especially for a big guy. Got chastised once for not running his route to the proper depth. Every yard matters. But he ran it again right away and did it right.
WR Jamison Crowder: A personal favorite for the day. He's listed at 5-foot-8, though that might be a little generous. Regardless, he does not play small. I like watching him cut; he does a lot of speed cuts, almost gliding after a quick plant. What you notice is the same thing that was evident in his games: He understands where the pressure is coming from and he turns accordingly. He lined up mostly in the slot, occasionally vs. Tevin Mitchel. Once, he got Mitchel leaning to his left, then cut back the other way and created several yards of separation.
OG Arie Kouandjio: Saw this in his games, but also saw it Saturday: He punches aggressively. It worked against him one time when he was beaten. Another time, vs. undrafted free agent defensive end Corey Crawford, Kouandjio went with a hard punch off the snap in one-on-ones, but Crawford was able to drive him back a little. That's when Kouandjio anchored. A nice battle. During a one-on-one in the afternoon session, Kouandjio was more patient vs. a tryout player, linebacker James Robinson. So when Robinson ducked inside, Kouandjio could react and stopped him. During one successful pass block, line coach Bill Callahan shouted to Kouandjio, “Finish it! Finish it! Nice job!”
WR Evan Spencer: Did not practice because of a hamstring issue.
C Austin Reiter: Couldn't focus a lot on him, but did catch him in the one-on-ones in the afternoon. I've talked to some in the NFL who think he'll be able to help one day. But he'll need to keep getting stronger. He struggled vs. first-year vet LaKendrick Ross on two rushes, though he did anchor vs. him on the first. On the second, Reiter tried to use one hand to initially slow him and Ross beat him to his outside shoulder.
More offensive observations:
Ex-Alabama quarterback Blake Sims did not look like a running back ready to be in camp, but in fairness to him it's awfully tough to switch positions and look sharp right away. Not sure what's going to happen with him, but it's not like he stood out during the two practices we saw, not in an obvious way. That said, it's not as if I could pay close attention to many of his snaps and running backs need to be in full-contact situations to show their true value. But, for me, the focus always is on the players already under contract, starting with the draft picks.
Undrafted free agent running back Trey Williams is a shifty runner. Small back. On one carry, he was able to hide behind the linemen as he darted around the left side.
Undrafted free agent tackle Takoby Cofield bends quite a bit and would occasionally lunge, getting himself in trouble. But Cofield was better in the one-on-ones in the afternoon, showing a good base and footwork vs. tryout linebacker Houston Bates.
Callahan worked with Scherff and Kouandjio after the morning workout with hand placement. He wanted them to get one hand on the rusher (keeping one hand behind their back for emphasis). It's what Reiter tried to do on one rush that got him in trouble.
