Skip to main content
Advertising

News | Washington Commanders - Commanders.com

Practice Notes: 2019 #SkinsCamp, Day 2

day_2_brush-tc-centerpiece (1)

Redskins.com's Kyle Stackpole and Ryan Fowler break down the key plays and highlights from Day 2 of training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center.

Offense:

-- At his press conference Friday morning, head coach Jay Gruden announced there was no further information regarding perennial Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams, who has still not reported to training camp. Gruden said the organization will likely work out other offensive linemen throughout their time in Richmond.

"We're short tackles now, so we need another tackle," Gruden said. "There aren't very many [young tackles] out there, so you might have to go the veteran route. There's a few other guys we might talk to here in the future, just for depth wise. Right now, we're at 12 offensive linemen that are practicing, and that's way too short right now into training camp."

-- Gruden provided injury updates for offensive linemen Chase Roullier and Geron Christian, both of whom underwent offseason surgery. Following the conditioning test Wednesday, Gruden said the team decided to hold out both Roullier (shoulder) and Christian (MCL) to start training camp.

"We may hold him out through the weekend; start him next week," Gruden said about Roullier. "We will see how it goes."

"We got to get him in there soon, but we want to make sure he's physically ready to go," Gruden added in regard to Christian. "He's very, very close. I anticipate the weekend he'll be ready."

-- Similar to Day 1, each of the three signal-callers received ample chances with the first team during varying portions of practice. Colt McCoy began the first 11-on-11 session with the first team, kicking off the series of plays with a toss to Derrius Guice, who scampered around the right side for a solid gain.

-- Among the offensive highlights Friday included Vernon Davis making a catch over Landon Collins and Steven Sims running unaccounted for on a corner route, which resulted in what would have been a 65-yard score. McCoy was on the throwing end of each play.

-- Dwayne Haskins worked with a series of different backs and receivers throughout 7-on-7 drills and then into 11-on-11. After a uneven start to the session, Haskins worked a two-man game with fellow former Ohio State teammate Terry McLaurin, connecting on three different occasions over a span of five plays.

In his press conference, Gruden praised McLaurin not only for his receiving prowess but for his unselfishness, leadership and blocking ability.

"We ran a screen the other day and he blocked the corner for about seven seconds," Gruden said. "He does things like that -- that don't show up on tape or on a stat sheet -- that really excite you and same thing with [Kelvin] Harmon. Those guys have been very, very good, and [I've been] very impressed with them."

-- Deeper into the projected depth chart, first-year receiver T.J. Rahming and running back Craig Reynolds each showed spark. Rahming was used in multiple offensive sets as the slot man, as well as the primary option on reverse plays and tunnel screens. Reynolds has a knack for finding holes -- no matter how small -- and was given a solid number of reps throughout the session.

Quick Hits:

  • Rookie wide receiver Kelvin Harmon showing strong hands and the ability to high-point the football.
  • Second-year wideout Cam Sims used his 6-foot 5 frame to his advantage throughout practice, hauling in multiple receptions on drag routes with his hands extended away from smaller defenders.
  • Robert Davis, who missed all of the offseason workouts with an injury, used his fingertips to catch a touchdown pass on a fade route during 1-on-1 drills.

Take a look at the photos from the second day of 2019 training camp in Richmond, Va.

Defense:

-- Much has been said about Landon Collins' physicality and toughness since he signed with the Redskins in March. Head coach Jay Gruden called him the tone-setter this defense has lacked in recent years, while defensive lineman Jonathan Allen referred to him as an "alpha male" in the secondary. These attributes have made Collins an elite run-stopper since entering the NFL in 2015.

They've also led people to label him as a "box safety," though Gruden disputed that notion in his press conference Friday morning.

"He's been labeled as a box safety, but we put him out at the post yesterday a couple times and he made some great plays – showed great range," Gruden said. "I don't think that label is necessarily true."

Collins has been solid in coverage over the past two days despite having two unfortunate breaks against tight end Vernon Davis.

On Thursday, Collins flew over towards the left sideline to deflect a deep pass, only to see the ball land in the hands of a streaking Davis. The two players squared off again Friday, with Collins blanketing Davis in coverage down the left side. That forced a risky throw from quarterback Colt McCoy that Davis snagged over Collins for a big gain. Both plays could have easily resulted in interceptions for Collins.

-- Rookie cornerback Jimmy Moreland called himself a "pick machine" at rookie minicamp, and he backed it up during OTAs and minicamp with five interceptions, including three in one session.

But for the opening two days of training camp, that label belongs to his veteran counterpart: Josh Norman.

Norman snagged his third interception of training camp Friday morning, plucking a McCoy pass out of the sky over the middle and then lateralling the ball to Collins. Norman has picked off McCoy twice and Case Keenum once so far in Richmond.

-- Veteran inside linebacker Jon Bostic used to be called "the explainer" by his University of Florida teammates because of his constant communication and widespread knowledge of each defensive position. He's brought those same characteristics to Washington in 2019.

Initially signed in response to Reuben Foster's season-ending injury in May, Bostic made defensive calls in his first practice and continued to impress coaches throughout OTAs. Now, with the recent release of veteran Mason Foster, he's starting alongside Shaun Dion Hamilton in Richmond. Bostic said Hamilton reminds him a lot of himself with the way he communicates and sees the game.

"This defense allows the leeway of, 'You guys are smart, you guys understand this and if you see this we're going to play it this way," Bostic said Thursday. "That's football to me, and I love that side of football because ... that's the brain side of it."

-- Along the defensive line, multiple players asserted their dominance throughout practice Friday.

On the play where McCoy connected with Davis, Matt Ioannidis used a spin move to slip through the middle for a would-be sack. On another occasion, Daron Payne blew up the pocket around Keenum. Rookie Montez Sweat also got in on the sack party -- beating Morgan Moses around the left edge during 11-on-11 drills -- while reserve defensive linemen Caleb Brantley and Tim Settle frequented the backfield as well.

Special Teams:

-- Trey Quinn, Greg Stroman, and Steven Sims Jr. fielded punts from Tress Way on Friday.

-- Kicker Dustin Hopkins went 5-for-5 on field goals from 34, 40, 42, 44 and 49 yards out, respectively.

Related Content

Advertising