COLLINS GOES SECOND
Veteran Todd Collins gets the first chance to make a serious statement in the competition to back up starting quarterback Mark Brunell. Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday that Collins, who spent the past five years in associate head coach-offense Al Saunders’ system in Kansas City, will relieve Brunell in the first half of Sunday’s preseason opener at Cincinnati. Second-year man Jason Campbell will follow. Gibbs said Collins will go before Campbell because Campbell got the first work in last Saturday’s scrimmage against Baltimore.
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DRESSED TO KILL?
It seems like tight end Chris Cooley is jealous about all the attention running back Clinton Portis received for his various disguises — Coach Janky Spanky, Jerome From Southeast et al — on Thursdays last season.
Cooley has taken to wearing outfits in practice that can’t be missed. On Tuesday, he wore a billowing black undershirt, black shorts and long black socks that made him look like an unfortunate European tourist. Cooley might have topped that look with yesterday’s long, baggy gray shorts over bright yellow socks.
Not to be outdone yesterday, Portis wore shorts so loose that they kept falling down to his knees as he ran, exposing his black undergarment to the fans.
NEVER STOP WORKING
Receiver Taylor Jacobs might be out with an injured groin, but he didn’t just watch his teammates . At one point, Jacobs was doing pushups to the side of the huddle as his teammates ran plays.
HIGH ON DOCKERY
Offensive line coach Joe Bugel is raving again about left guard Derrick Dockery, who lost weight during the offseason.
“Losing those 25 pounds, he’s got his balance, he’s not on the ground and he runs a lot quicker,” he said. “It was a blessing in disguise. He worked out in Atlanta with some different things and got himself into tip-top shape. He’s the real deal right now.”
Dockery took boxing lessons to improve his technique and Bugel has noticed the difference.
“The hands are the most important thing,” Bugel said. “If you’ve got strong hands, you can block.”
NUMBER OF THE DAY
3 Draft picks (out of six) not practicing. Fifth-round defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (hamstring) and seventh-round linebacker Kevin Simon (groin) remained sidelined. Seventh-round guard Kili Lefotu remained hospitalized after collapsing Wednesday night.
QUOTABLE
“You can’t fault him for his training. In the offseason he was pulling the sled during the break. But he’s had injuries and sometimes, you don’t quite know why it happens.”
— Coach Joe Gibbs on oft-injured receiver Taylor Jacobs being sidelined again, this time with an ailing groin.
ON THE SIDELINES
In addition to Jacobs and the injured draft picks, offensive tackle Jim Molinaro (knee surgery), safety Curry Burns (hamstring) and defensive end Nic Clemons (knee) remained sidelined. Cornerback Ade Jimoh (sternum) will miss the rest of the week. Running back Jesse Lumsden (groin) and defensive back Aric Williams were the latest additions to the injury list. Guard Ike Ndukwe injured his right leg during practice but was able to return.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
4 p.m. (Closed to public).
— David Elfin and Ryan O’Halloran
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