ASHBURN, Va. -- Highlights and observations from the Redskins organized team activity that was open to the media on Wednesday:
Rookie linebacker Preston Smith's length will be an issue at some point for other teams, when he’s able to learn the NFL game. He’s still figuring things out. Smith worked with the starters at left outside linebacker (Ryan Kerrigan's spot). On a couple rushes, he tried spin moves that did not work. Smith tried a spin move vs. right tackle Takoby Cofield but he was too upright and the move was easily stopped. Guessing he needs to learn when and how to execute them in the NFL.
But Smith did bat down a pass with his left hand while rushing from the middle. Teams want fast pressure up the middle to offset the quick passing game and having a long player such as Smith occasionally stunting to the middle can help just by deflecting passes. I would like to see a better get-off from Smith in a three-point stance. Something to watch moving forward.
The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg wrote a good article about nose tackle Terrance Knighton and his size. Yeah, there's a lot of weight references and it's done in classic Steinbergian prose. Knighton has always played at a hefty size and if he lost more weight perhaps he’d be even more effective on third downs. But Knighton does not play like a typical guy that size – not sure many exist like him -- because of his ability to maintain leverage and bend his knees. He’s not just a huge man, he’s an athlete. But the Redskins do want him to lose more weight.Trent Murphy’s versatility will play a bigger role this season. Already see him moving around more – he can run stunts from the outside or inside (one of them, with Trevardo Williams, resulted in a sack of Robert Griffin III Wednesday). Murphy took out two blockers on the play, freeing Williams. Just a hungh: It’ll work better with Kerrigan on the field or, someday, Smith.
Rookie corner Tevin Mitchel was involved in two plays that stood out to me, one of which was spectacular. On the first, though, he was beaten by Pierre Garcon. The veteran receiver, aligned in the slot, ran at Mitchel about 5 yards downfield, and easily shook him with a hard plant outside and cut back to the inside. Mitchel was caught off-balance – a bit impatient – and Garcon caught the pass.
However, Mitchel made the play of the day later in the practice. He was much more patient vs. rookie receiver Jamison Crowder at the goal line, waiting until he made his break to counter. So when Crowder broke outside, Mitchel was able to react and break with him. And when quarterback Colt McCoy tried to hit Crowder, Mitchel dove and broke up the pass (did not look like he came down with the pick). Just a nice play. Mitchel is a slot corner with a lot to learn, but he played this one well.
The line is not always going to go full blast in these drills, not without pads. But end Stephen Paea did have one play in which he used his quick first step to get into the backfield and delivered a good pop to rookie running back Matt Jones, drawing an “ooooo” from the assembled crowd (the Women of Washington Redskins were in attendance).Corner Justin Rogers did a nice job vs. DeSean Jackson on one route in particular in the red zone. Rogers was in press coverage, but waited for Jackson to make his move off the line before jamming him. His jam occurred within 5 yards and it prevented Jackson from getting open on the fade. It’s one play, but it was a good one for Rogers.
The starting secondary for a second consecutive week: Chris Culliver and Bashaud Breeland at corner; Duke Ihenacho and Dashon Goldson at safety. I can tell you that they’re excited about having Goldson. I’ll cover the Goldson/Culliver additions more in-depth later (don’t know when, but trust me I will get into this more). Culliver’s length, competitiveness and toughness is exactly what the Redskins wanted.
Here's a look at the offensive highlights in the OTAs. I'll also have more on corner Bashaud Breeland later.
