Ask a Redskins quarterback or receiver after the first practice of Jim Zorn's first minicamp on May 2 to outline the differences in Zorn's offense from those of Joe Gibbs or associate coach Al Saunders, and you might get wide-ranging answers.
"There's a lot to this offense, but you can grab it quick," said receiver Santana Moss. "It's not brain-wrecking or nothing like that. Not saying that our other one was brain-wrecking, but for a new offense, with the high power they play at in their offense, you kinda expect to get a lot of 'Oh man!' It pretty much lets you know what to do and when to do it. You make the rest happen."
However, receiver Antwaan Randle El said the biggest difference is that the players can improvise in Zorn's West Coast scheme.
"It's almost like you're free," Randle El said. "You've got a lot of options. You run to get open. The quarterback plays off you. It's not the quarterback drops back and throws to that one spot. He's waiting for you. Once we get that down ... run that route time and time again and [quarterback Jason Campbell] seeing it."
Campbell said that since he, Moss and Randle El have started just 14 games as a trio, they need to work on their chemistry as well on the nuances of the offense.
That idea was complicated by Randle El's arthroscopic knee surgery on May 6 and the hamstring the quarterback strained the next day. However, both could be back when the Redskins resume organized team activities on June 2.
"It's not a real hard offense to learn, but there (are) a lot of key things you have to keep in mind as far as technique-wise, reading coverages and getting the ball out of your hands fast," Campbell said. "In this offense, the quarterback has more hands-on control. It comes with being on the same page. That's going to take time after practice and time away from the coaching staff as far as us communicating with each other and finding out what reads we see on different coverages, what are his adjustments and what are my adjustments so we can all be on the same page."
According to Randle El, that page turns faster than in the past.
"(The offense is) up-tempo," he said. "(Coach Zorn) wants you to get up to the ball and get moving."
Zorn's early evaluation of the transition to his offense was positive.
"There was a pattern where Jason looked to one side and it was covered and then he looked over the middle, it was covered and then he turned all the way around and hit the back coming out the other side," Zorn said. "Those are the kinds of things that you put in on the board ... and then you hope it gets executed out here. That's when you know that the playbook, all the talk ... connects with the player."
Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
Heard on nfl.com, Clinton Portis wants to play defense... I know that it probably wont happen, but do you think we could have a Deion Sanders on our hand...
Clinton Portis is 5'11" though...Fred Smoot is 5'11" and Shawn Springs is 6&
Wow. Vinny is making room for new receivers. I wonder if we are getting ready for a big FA signing like the Boldin rumor or we are getting 2 receivers in the draft?
Espy had a good rapport with Campbell in 2006 preseason but I guess Cerrato and Zorn doesn't like what they see in Espy and Harris as both have been on the IR last season. Hopefully we are right in letting Espy walk and
The Redskins have picked up this guy Andrew Crummey, an offensive lineman from Maryland. Wow, the poor guy. What a name. I'm sure he'll end up being pretty crummy too. Any worse last names you guys can think of? How about Robert Sux ?
Another win for JGR last night. This racing team is seriously on fire. Kyle Busch, like him or not, could be the best driver in NASCAR right now. Denny Hamlin is constantly in the running as well. Tony Stewart struggled last night, but was a contender despite crashing on lap number three.
Right now, I think the o-line is set with all our starters back, Samuels, Kendall, Rabach, Thomas and Jansen however almost all of them went down one time or another last year. Jon Jansen has only started running and blocking on his injured ankle in the mini-camps and OTAs.
I thought this was intersting on how teams have faired in taking the same positon with there first two picks. There were several different examples but only one where a team took 2 wr's with the first 2 picks. I hope it turns out as well for us as it has for this team with there WR's. Here is the article read to find out.
I just wanted to get your thoughts on or CB situation. I know Rogers wont be ready until maybe week 3 or 4, but I think Smoot should be the starter along with springs. i also think we should put J.T. Tryon in the rotation at nickel back. He's a very speedy corner who can tackle and adjust to the ball very well. Rogers in my opinion has been a real pain in the a$$ o
How about an area where the skins faithful can come and talk about our team. An area dedicated to voicing our opinions on the skins and their future. An Area to discuss the current topics like why isn't GW being named our Coach, How do we think we will get under the Salary Cap this year, What are the best draft propects coming out of college.
Kenny Phillips got permission from the New York Giants to wear #21 jersey, not for the remembrance of Tiki Barber, but to honor is fellow fallen Miami Hurricane team member Sean Taylor...
Phillips wants to wear it thru mini camp and on into the year to honor S
