http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamReport?categoryId=67062&type=InsideSlant
inside slant: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."
Notes and Quotes:Quarterback Jason Campbell finished the first three-day OTA session on May 7 watching from the sideline after mildly straining his left hamstring during that practice, but coach Jim Zorn wasn't that upset.
"Jason was feeling his hamstrings all along and I think it was because I have him sinking down [under center] a little bit," Zorn said. "It's the change. I was kind of excited about it. Not that I wanted him to tweak his hamstring, just the fact that different things are happening to his body. He's going to be fine."
--Antwaan Randle El has missed just one game in his six NFL seasons, but the receiver left Redskin Park on crutches on May 7 after having his right knee scoped the previous day after on and off pain since last September.
"I banged it a little against Philly [Week 2] last year," Randle El said. It didn't bother me [again] until about Game 8 and then it came back out of nowhere for Game 12 [when he missed the Buffalo game]. Then it didn't bother me for the rest of the season or in the playoffs until I came back out here. Friday and Saturday, I played pretty well and didn't have any problem with it. Saturday night, it kinda swelled up. Sunday, we iced it, but then we got an MRI and found out it needed to be cleaned up a little bit."
And since it's only May, Randle El isn't going to rush his recovery even though the Redskins have a new passing attack.
"I want to try it make it back for OTAs, but if not, I'm not going to push it because the most important thing will be training camp," he said. "I'm not too concerned about it. If early June is too early, I'll wait until late June and run some routes on my own."
--Zorn was happy with how rookie receivers Devin Thomas (34th overall) and Malcolm Kelly (51st) handled their NFL debut weekend.
"I like the speed and the acceleration down the field," Zorn said. "There was one time in a one-on-one that Malcolm beat the defender and we didn't get the ball to him. As he saw the ball sail over his head he slowed down. My emphasis was 'Don't slow down, speed up, just make an effort.' It also helps a QB to know how bad a pass that really was."
--In an eventful end to minicamp, seventh-year running back Clinton Portis challenged second-year safety LaRon Landry, who had just come across the field to catch him on a screen pass, to a 40-yard dash.
As many of their teammates whopped and hollered, Landry just held off Portis.
"They'll race again," Zorn said after the race. "I bet it's not over."
Bet it is now that Zorn suspects that Portis strained the hip flexor that kept him out of the May 7 practice during the race.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We don't have people watching us constantly and telling us what to do like we're little kids. He puts it on ourselves. We're being treated like men." -- Fullback Mike Sellers on the change from Joe Gibbs to new coach Jim Zorn.
Strategy and PersonnelOn May 6, the Redskins signed quarterback Derek Devine and safety Patrick Ghee and cut defensive end Alonzo Dotson, quarterback Bret Meyer and safeties Kevin Mitchell and Justin Scott, all of whom signed as rookie free agents last week.
Devine and Ghee were both in training camp with Seattle last year so Devine has more experience working with new coach Jim Zorn than does holdover backup Sam Hollenbach or rookie Colt Brennan, the other candidates for the No. 3 job behind Jason Campbell and Todd Collins.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--G Rick DeMulling was signed in September, cut in November and re-signed in December. He played sparingly in six games and will only return with a minimum contract.
--LB Randall Godfrey signed in training camp because of his history with assistant head coach Gregg Williams. Godfrey was a solid run defender while starting four games because of injuries to Marcus Washington and Rocky McIntosh. Godfrey, who mulled retirement last year, will be 35 in April and might choose to follow Williams to Jacksonville rather than return to the Redskins.
--TE Brian Kozlowski played in at least parts of the past four years for the Redskins. He was signed during the season in 2006 and 2007. He had one catch in three games last year and with Joe Gibbs gone, maybe the 37-year-old Koz is finally gone for good, too.
--WR Keenan McCardell was the Redskins' 12th-round pick in 1991. He finally made his Washington debut in October 2007. McCardell caught 22 passes in 10 games and doesn't plan to retire at 38. He has experience in the West Coast offense so perhaps new coach Jim Zorn wants him back.
--C/G Mike Pucillo was the extra lineman in jumbo packages in 2006. However, Pucillo's surgically repaired back gave out in him in October and Lorenzo Alexander assumed his old role. Pucillo, who'll be 29 in July, will have to prove he's fully healthy to receive a new contract.
--S Omar Stoutmire played regularly as a backup in 2005 before signing with New Orleans where he started most of 2006. Stoutmire returned in 2007 but was cut and re-signed twice while playing sparingly in three games. Stoutmire will be 34 in July and is probably finished.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--WR Jerome Mathis: Not tendered as RFA by Texans; terms unknown.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--LS Ethan Albright: Potential UFA; terms unknown.
--DT Ryan Boschetti: UFA; terms unknown.
--RB Nehemiah Broughton: Not tendered as ERFA; terms unknown.
--RB/KR Rock Cartwright: UFA; $3.55M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB/$300,000 RB; $200,000 RB '09; 2008 cap: $705,000.
--QB Todd Collins: UFA; $9M/3 yrs, $3M SB.
--OT Jason Fabini: UFA; $870,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB; 2008 cap: $485,000.
--P Derrick Frost: UFA; $805,000/1 yr, $200,000 SB.
--K Shaun Suisham: ERFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS LOST
--QB Mark Brunell: UFA Saints; 2 yrs, $1M SB, other terms unknown.
--WR Reche Caldwell: UFA Rams; $645,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--WR Brandon Lloyd (released; post-June 1 designation).
--CB David Macklin: UFA Rams; $770,000/1 yr, $40,000 SB.
--S Pierson Prioleau: UFA Jaguars; terms unknown.
--OT Kevin Sampson (released/failed physical).
--C Ross Tucker: UFA; retired
