ASHBURN, Va. -- Here are some offensive highlights from the Washington Redskins minicamp practice Wednesday (the Thursday session was cancelled):
One thing I've noticed: The quarterbacks have to get used to throwing to Jamison Crowder. He’s listed at 5-foot-8, so he's a little shorter than they’re used to -- but it’s not as if DeSean Jackson is a lot taller (about a couple inches). Regardless, when they miss to Crowder, it's typically high, which happened again Wednesday.
Andre Roberts has looked solid this spring, but a bobble led to a near interception in the red zone. Quarterback Colt McCoy had to throw fast to Roberts, who bobbled the ball. It popped into the air, where corner Justin Rogers nearly made a terrific diving interception.
Robert Griffin III held the ball too long in a seven-on-seven drill in the red zone. I say this all the time but sometimes it's hard to know if it's because of the coverage or just indecision. One thing they absolutely want to see more is better anticipation from Griffin. It hasn't been a strength. Regardless, after the first time doing this in the red zone, coach Jay Gruden yelled to the defense, "That's what we’re looking for. Make him hold the god dang ball!" He did not sound happy. Griffin does hang onto the ball a while in the 7-on-7s.
But on the next play Griffin connected with Roberts in the corner of the end zone, a well-placed ball for a touchdown. He threw it on the break; a nice job. One play later, Griffin tried to hit tight end Niles Paul over the middle. His lofted pass was too far; Paul was open and Griffin's reactions suggest he knew he missed the throw.
A couple plays later, Griffin looked left, then right and finally flipped a sidearm pass to Jackson. Griffin is adept at throwing from different angles, but at times like this he can get himself in trouble -- his feet did not match up with the throw. If it's completed, it's good. If it's not, then it will be an issue.
McCoy worked with the No. 2 offense while Kirk Cousins took the third-team snaps. This job won't be decided until late in the summer. Neither quarterback jumped out Wednesday, though Cousins did a nice job on one red zone play. He eased up into the pocket, stepped into a throw and tossed a strike to Crowder, who made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone.
Jackson got wide open on an underneath cross, catching a pass from Griffin in the red zone. I mean, wide open. That's a play I thought was going to be a bigger one for the Redskins last season; Jackson had been strong on crossing routes in Philadelphia. On this play, corner Chris Culliver went with Garcon but nobody came over with Jackson.
Have tried to watch rookie center Austin Reiter on occasion. He's working vs. backups (Wednesday it was Jerrell Powe). On one snap, I liked Reiter's base and footwork; allowed him to slide right and handle Powe with no problem.
The Redskins did quite a bit of red zone work this week, both in 11-on-11 drills and in seven-on-seven. It's needed. They were horrible last season -- it would help if they ran the ball better on first down in particular, putting them in better spots and allowing them to use play-action. Improving here is a clear point of emphasis.
