Washington Redskins After some changes at
the top, the Washington Redskins will head to their first training
camp workout in Richmond, Va.
Washington
Redskins on July 24 with plenty to prove. Last year's 3-13 nosedive after a
10-6 record in 2012 led to the dismissal of head coach Mike Shanahan and his
son and offensive coordinator Kyle. Washington Redskins Taking their places are
Jay Gruden as head coach and Sean McVay as offensive coordinator and they have
no prior experience in those respective roles. Washington Redskins Their most conspicuous
challenge will be to restore quarterback Robert Griffin III to star status.
Heading into camp, Washington Redskins he certainly is the player with the most
to prove. Two years ago, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner/second overall pick in
the 2012 draft set rookie quarterback records for passer rating and rushing
yards and electrified Washington fans while leading the Redskins to a 10-6
record and their first NFC East title in 13 years. Washington Redskins That
season ended with a playoff loss to Seattle in
which Griffin
tore his right ACL and MCL. Griffin
missed the entire offseason, but pushed to be on the field for training camp
and to start the season opener after being held out of all four preseason
games. He wore a brace to protect his knee for all of 2013 and was never the
same dynamic performer that he had been in 2012 before being benched for the
final three games by Mike Shanahan to supposedly prevent further hits in a lost
season in which Washington would finish 3-13. With his knee healthy and the
Shanahans gone, Griffin
needs to show that he is more like the dazzling performer he was in 2012 than
the lackluster player he was in 2013, or his future and that of the Redskins
will be in jeopardy. Washington Redskins Here are other key issues Gruden must
address in his first NFL training camp as a head coach: London Fletcher retired
after starting every game the past seven seasons while making four Pro Bowls,
calling the defensive signals and serving as a captain. Washington Redskins Washington
signed free agents Akeem Jordan (98 games, 44 starts), Darryl Sharpton (42
games, 19 starts) and Adam Hayward (107 games, 13 starts), but the leading
candidate appears to be Keenan Robinson, Washington Redskins a fourth-round
pick out of Texas in 2012. Robinson's rookie year ended with a torn pec on
Thanksgiving at Dallas
and he missed all of 2013 with a similar injury suffered before preseason
began. Washington Redskins However, Robinson spent more time working with the
starters in minicamp than any of the newcomers. Washington Redskins The
Redskins signed veteran Ryan Clark, which should help at free safety. Washington
Redskins And Brandon Meriweather can still play, especially at strong safety, Washington
Redskins when he's not costing his team 15 yards or getting suspended. But it's
slim pickings after that. Bacarri Rambo struggled as a rookie and has a lot to
prove. Washington Redskins Phillip Thomas sustained a Lisfranc injury to his
left foot during training camp and that cost him a valuable development season.
Washington Redskins The Redskins did not draft a safety, Washington Redskins
but cornerback Bashaud Breeland, a fourth-round selection, is versatile enough
to move to safety, Washington Redskins.
