RICHMOND—Here are the notes from Thursday’s opening training camp practice and a few notes and quotes from some players:
—Due to guidelines in the CBA the players were not in pads, just helmets. The temperatures were moderate but the humidity was high.
—The defensive line is practicing knocking the ball out of the carrier’s arm. Robb Akey is emphasizing doing it before the runner knows you're there. Have never seen that emphasis.
—On Robert Griffin’s first pass he dropped back, hesitated a half beat, and threw sidearm and off target. There still is work to do.
—We nearly had our first scuffle of camp. Jordan Reed didn’t like how DeAngelo Hall bumped into him after a reception. They exchanged words but teammates intervened before the altercation got physical.
—Griffin did warm up as practice went on, firing some nice passes. He hit Jamison Crowder downfield with a bullet.
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—Jason Hatcher is trying to put 2014 behind him. “Last year we just didn’t have the right approach . . . I’m not going to go into detail about it but it’s all about the right approach to put together a good football team. This year, as of today, we have the right approach to a lot of stuff.”
—Rookie Kyshoen Jarrett, a former Virginia Tech Hokie, knows that if he is going to make the 53-man roster and be on the 46-man game day active list, special teams will be a big part of it. “I’m taking a full head of steam and I’m excited to do it and to be able to contribute to help this team win as much as possible . . . I think that’s one of the reasons why the picked me up, the foundation I came from out of Frank Beamer and how much he emphasized special teams as well.”
—DeAngelo Hall on the bright side of having to watch the defense struggle last year” “Those guys struggling got a chance to learn from that, got some experience. I think we got a chance to get another guy in here is Chris Culliver, who can make plays and dominate. It was obviously painful to watch but the end end result now having Culliver, myself, Breeland, Amerson . . . it’s one of the most talented secondaries I’ve been around.”
—Trent Williams wants to get an extension done with the Redskins but he does recognize that hitting the open market can be very attractive as well as lucrative. “For a player, it’s a tossup. Everybody wants to hit the open market, especially in their prime. But I just can’t see another team being a fit for me the way Washington is so, of course, I’d like to get a deal done.”