Skins.com: Redskins begin Voluntary Workouts

[mcees4life]

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=6221

They're back at it at Redskin Park. On Monday, the Redskins conducted their first day of voluntary offseason workouts at their Ashburn, Va., training facility. The turnout--at about 90 percent-- and the atmosphere was outstanding, said head strength and conditioning coach John "Mother" Dunn.
"We had almost everybody," Dunn said. "Basically, the whole team was here, and the atmosphere was real positive and upbeat."

The Redskins who were not in attendance included those players who are in NFL Europe. Also, Tim Hasselbeck's wife is expecting a baby and he was excused. Rod Gardner, who has been granted permission to seek a trade, was not expected to attend any of the sessions.

Dunn said one guy who really lit up the weight room on the first day back was running back Clinton Portis.

"We're real excited about seeing Clinton," Dunn added. "He was upbeat about getting started again and in taking a leadership role with his team."

The players were ready to get be back in the swing of things. For instance, return specialist/running back Chad Morton, who tore his ACL in the seventh game of the 2004 season against Green Bay, said: "I've been rehabbing in Miami. I'm feeling great, and I'm glad to be back here with the rest of my teammates."

Among others on hand was defensive end Demetric Evans, saying, "You can only vacation for so long. You have a job at hand and you have responsibilities. The quicker we can get started here with the program, the better."

Evans hasn't had much time away from football in recent seasons. Since 2002, he has played in Dallas, for the Redskins and in NFL Europe for the Cologne Centurions last spring.

[ArmchairRedskin]

Go get em Clinton! Didn't I read somewhere that Portis hasn't really spent a lot of time in the weightroom in his career? Could be wrong, but either way it's good that he's in there and excited about next season.

[redskns21]

90% attendance is pretty impressive, especially when the 10% missing are in NFLE or not expected to be on the 2005 roster. I just hope that it stays that way!

[neilclarke]

Chad Morton better stand out.... I think he's probably feeling the pressure w/ the Santana Moss signing plus the emergence of Antonio Brown last season..... Will be interesting to see what happens at the PR position.

[mcees4life]

Glad to see Clinton already has his game face on in the middle of March.........i have a feeling he's gonna have a huge year

[Zen-like Todd]

Originally posted by ArmchairRedskin
Go get em Clinton! Didn't I read somewhere that Portis hasn't really spent a lot of time in the weightroom in his career? Could be wrong, but either way it's good that he's in there and excited about next season.

Yeah, last season he basically said he doesnt hit the weights. I guess a season of Gibbs football and the 7 remaining years on his contract made him realize it might be a good idea to pack on a few pounds.

[Jody]

Portis will have a good year, now that we have our O-line intact.

[33]

This is the important stuff. Gotta figure now's the time that they build a rapport with each other.

I'd like to be hearing about the new guys and if LaVar's there back from his honeymoon. I think until last year he always worked out on his own.

[mcees4life]

Lavar was probably there, his honeymoon should've been over

[tr1]

Yeeeaaaaaa Baby!

Forget basketball, forget baseball. The new season has just begun....

[jimster]

this re-affirms the attitude here. The fact that every guy that showed up looks around and sees that every other team-mate showed up as well and is as serious as they are.

[footballhenry]

nice stuff to hear in mid march:)

[ciresolstice]

Good read, good stuff to hear! I'm glad Clinton is positive and upbeat and bought into what Gibbs is doing and his role in it. Gibbs sung his praises of Clinton, even with the line problems, his toughness, getting some tough yards etc. Good to see he is dedicated and even hitting the weights early, especially that being something he hasn't customarily done in previous seasons.

As far as Chad Morton, I know many want him to be gone *lol* I'm not sure what his role is now with Antonio Brown, Santana Moss and the like...Gibbs speaks of him as another RB more than a returner, though he wasn't used much in that capacity last season. (rb) But I like his attitude, seems like a team guy.

Well here's to a good start, I hope the guys that are healthy remain healthy..and those that aren't get healthy.

[Phat Hog]

For instance, return specialist/running back Chad Morton, who tore his ACL in the seventh game of the 2004 season against Green Bay, said: "I've been rehabbing in Miami. I'm feeling great, and I'm glad to be back here with the rest of my teammates."

:paranoid:

[NoCalMike]

Morton could keep his role, due to him being very versatile.

[RunPortisRun]

Santanna Moss wont play much on special teams...if Moss gets hurt we are hurt at the WR position badly.

[Chris Worthy]

Wow..to hear this in March is something else!!!

[jpgirth]

Originally posted by RunPortisRun
Santanna Moss wont play much on special teams...if Moss gets hurt we are hurt at the WR position badly.
He will become the X factor in very desperate special team situations, much like Darrell was.

[Fifty Gut]

"We're real excited about seeing Clinton," Dunn added. "He was upbeat about getting started again and in taking a leadership role with his team."

It's time. :helmet:

[garg8050]

Originally posted by NoCalMike
Morton could keep his role, due to him being very versatile.

I don't see Morton as being that versatile. He really hasn't shown much as a 3rd down back. I think he really is in jeopardy come June 1st. Antonio Brown was more impressive in limited duty as the primary return man than Morton has been in 1 1/2 years.

[garg8050]

Do the offseason workouts just mean lifting weights or do the skill-positions (i.e. QB's and WR's) get a chance to work on some routes and timing?

[Jay Master Jay]

Sounds like we have a team & players that WANT to be REDSKINS.

[ciresolstice]

Originally posted by garg8050
Do the offseason workouts just mean lifting weights or do the skill-positions (i.e. QB's and WR's) get a chance to work on some routes and timing?



^^^ As per Joe Gibbs, you can work out the QB throwing the ball, practicing routes with your WR's, you just can't have Offense go against Defense.

[skinsaddict]

Originally posted by Jay Master Jay
Sounds like we have a team & players that WANT to be REDSKINS.

I just shed a tear.

http://www.panicfreaks.org/images/emoticons/medal.gif

[authentic]

yeah , time for them to and bust some Azz , i love this .. cant wait for the season to begin!!!! :dj:

[PapaDRoc]

Great to see that he at least seems dedicated and in a leadership role. Can't wait to see how good he does this year. With an improved o-line, more experience in Gibbs' system, hopefully a well improved passing game. Career year maybe??? :point2sky

[mookie0720]

Originally posted by jpgirth

He will become the X factor in very desperate special team situations, much like Darrell was.

He's not that good.

His PR ability tailed off last season.

Darrell and guys like Randy Moss, Brian Westbrook, etc.. are X-Factors on PR's.

Santana is a regular PR.

[Park City Skins]

It's the offseason alright. I clicked on a thread dealing with offseason voluntary workouts....then read it. :rubeyes: :doh:

[Bat~man]

lol @ park city skins , i did the same thing ^^

im glad portis is all gung ho about it tho sounds like everyone is anxious to get going and they are starting to feel that with gibbs comes success ~ ..... man i flat cant wait

[DE SKINS FAN]

is morton getting paid a lot? would it help our cap if we cut him? he seems expendable at this point...

[convince]

Question, did we trade a first round pick for Morton?

[authentic]

i'm ready to throw on some pads and start railin' somebody!!!

[FLSKINSFAN]

Darrell and guys like Randy Moss, Brian Westbrook, etc.. are X-Factors on PR's.

Santana is a regular PR.

Moss was fighting a hamstring injury all of last year and it really limited him in his return duties. But, when he's healthy, he is as dangerous as anybody.

[FLSKINSFAN]

Originally posted by convince
Question, did we trade a first round pick for Morton?

We traded a 5th rd. pick.

[mookie0720]

Originally posted by FLSKINSFAN


Moss was fighting a hamstring injury all of last year and it really limited him in his return duties. But, when he's healthy, he is as dangerous as anybody.

I wouldn't call him an X-Factor though.

Guys lke DG and Randy Moss are X-Factors.

[topdog]

Morton better get ready cause Brown explodes up field and Morton tries to setup blocks to much good competition between these two.

[NVskinsfan]

Originally posted by redskns56
90% attendance is pretty impressive, especially when the 10% missing are in NFLE or not expected to be on the 2005 roster. I just hope that it stays that way!

Gardner, needs to work on the hand eye coordination.....ohhhhh wait he gone soon! :laugh:
No tears here!!! :D

[jimster]

Originally posted by DE SKINS FAN
is morton getting paid a lot? would it help our cap if we cut him? he seems expendable at this point...

I beleive he's getting paid a whopping $500k.

Brown looked ok on a couple of returns, but he also committed a game-costing fumble in his limited action, so before we crown him the next Mike Nelms, let's see how Morton looks with an improved special teams around him.

[Larry]

What, no pictures, yet?

I need a fix. Pictures, video, some more rumors about Courtny Brown, something!

[Shotgunner]

Gibbs squads were always known for being very physical, and it begins in march with weight training. The early preparation pays diividends in Dec/Jan when teams get beat up.:notworthy

[cphil006]

yes, with Jansen back at full strength Clinton should have a monster year. He is a year older, a year stronger, and a year faster and a year smarter...what we will ahve this year is...continuity...

[freakofthesouth]

Jansen's return will do wonders for Portis; but let's not forget about our new interior anchor in Rabach...this is gonna be clutch, IMO. Counters will actually be able to develop, and not be busted up in the backfield on every play. My only concern w/ the o-line is Dockery, and hopefully he can come around a litle bit more. Maybe he did suffer a little last season by not having a solid center to work w/.

Santana's role, IMO, will simply be the reciever, and not so much the returner...I think Brown and Morton will handle those responsibilities. Plus, w/ a year of continuity under the ST's belt, and signing players like Proileau (sp?), we will be on the right track here.

On another note, I would much rather have a reciever who is nursing a hamstring injury than a reciever who has turf toe, and refuses to get surgery...but that's just me.