Richmond, VA – Day two of training camp – the morning session is in the books and the Washington Redskins looked better as a unit. The sunny and pleasant weather had a lot to do with it as yesterday’s first practice took place in a torrential downpour.
As always, things start on offense with Robert Griffin, III and today he looked much more comfortable and poised in the pocket. He had a much more productive and conservative approach. Gone were the deep balls that he threw yesterday (which were attempted in heavy rain) as he opted to focus on finding wider receivers underneath and in the flat. He made a couple of nice throws to his two starters, Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson.
Wide out Andre Roberts ― who is the player who will sacrifice balls being thrown his way the most with the surprise signing of Jackson ― had an impressive morning. He caught everything that came his way, in particular, a nice deep out as well as a nice one in the flat. Both of these would have been big plays in a regular season game. With Roberts roaming underneath it will be tough for opposing defenses to key in on Garçon and Jackson.
Young speedster Chris Thompson was given ample opportunity to show that he has battled back from an injury-shortened rookie campaign, displaying the burst that made him a home-run threat at Florida State University. Recall that this guy ran a 4.3 40-yard-dash in college.
I asked the running back after practice how he felt.
“Feel great man,” he said. “[My] body’s feeling good… feeling good to be healthy again.”
Thompson is excited to be back out on the field and, asked if his legs felt like they did back during his Florida State days, he replied in the affirmative.
“Yeah, that’s what I have been focusing on trying to bring back,” Thompson answered. “Show the coaches and everybody that you know that Florida State guy is still there. I had my knee injury, I had my shoulder injury. You know I’m hoping and praying that all those injuries are out of the way and that just comes with me eating better and taking care of my body. All those little smaller things and being consistent everyday.”
Whether he’s doing in purposely or not, it is good that he’s getting an opportunity to show what he can do.
“I try to get as many reps as possible,” he told me. “Whether it’s with the ones, two’s, or three’s, I don’t care. [I] just continue to get work… that’s the biggest thing for me. I just have to steal reps any way I can, nothing against the other guys, I just want to get more reps.”
If the team can use the speed that he posses, he could be an added bonus to an already deep and versatile offense.
Another story that continues to develop is the play and progression of the second-round draft pick Trent Murphy. Yesterday in the rain the linebacker made some plays that stood out. Today he made a few more outstanding plays. He got pressure on back up quarterback Kirk Cousins on one sequence and almost tipped the ball in mid-air. On another play he made a great pass defense while covering one of the tight ends.
I asked head coach Jay Gruden about Murphy’s progress.
“I thought Trent had a great OTA session,” Gruden said. “Trent’s long and has the ability to bend , and that’s very exciting. We can move him around. But you know, he lost contain on one play today which cost us a 70-yard touchdown scramble throw. So there’s some things that has to improve on himself. But the progress that he’s made from OTA’s, his strength is getting better, the knowledge of the game. He’s going to work at it. He’s a true football-playing, grinding machine. He loves the game. He loves to play. He loves to work. He loves to study. He’s just going to continue to get better.”
If Murphy continues his productive play and then can carry that over while in pads and through the preseason, he could really spell linebacker incumbents Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan for meaningful playing time. No doubt the coaches are working on packages that will feature all three at the same time on the field.