In his weekly press conference yesterday, Washington assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams allowed himself a couple of smiles about a defense that looks to be on the way back from its terrible 2006 season. In their first two preseason games, the Redskins’ starters have played eight series, allowing just six points, 196 yards and 11 first downs.
“The nice thing is we have kept the opposition out of the end zone,” said Williams, whose defense ranked third in 2004 and ninth in 2005 before tumbling to 31st last year. “Our guys see the possibilities. They see that we have a chance to be solid if we stay healthy in some of the areas we slipped in last year. Their confidence playing together has been good.”
Williams, who coached linebacker Randall Godfrey in Tennessee in 2000, said his newest player has looked good. However, Williams hasn’t decided whether Godfrey, signed Tuesday, will make his Washington debut in Saturday’s preseason game against Baltimore.
“We’re going to take it day by day,” Williams said. “The snaps Randall took today, he kinda got everybody’s attention [with] the things he can do on snapping your head back and knocking the line of scrimmage back. He blitzed today and ran over some people. Randall just needs to get our verbiage down and his feet underneath him from a conditioning standpoint. He’s not too bad right now from what I saw.”
No changing of guard
In the brief part of non-special teams drills that the media was allowed to watch yesterday, Mike Pucillo was still working ahead of Todd Wade at left guard. Wade was struggling before partially dislocating a shoulder in the Aug. 11 preseason opener at Tennessee. That allowed Pucillo to start Saturday against Pittsburgh. Wade’s still not 100 percent, and Pucillo apparently did well enough that he will remain with the starters against the Ravens.
Making an impression
When training camp began, defensive end Chris Wilson was a true long shot. He played Division II ball at Norwood (Mich.) before recording nine sacks in two years with British Columbia of the CFL.
“I’m learning something new every day, and I just try my best to apply it,” Wilson said. “I grew as a player and as a person in the CFL. I came here with the mind-set of a professional instead of being thrown into it like a kid straight out of college.”
Wilson had two tackles in each of the first two preseason games and had a sack of Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch wiped out by a penalty. With Marcus Washington now out with a dislocated elbow, the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Wilson will fill in as a rush end with the starters against the Ravens and probably five days later in the preseason finale at Jacksonville.
“We’re going to get Chris some opportunities to become that nickel rusher,” Williams said. “We need to see him against some of the top guys of Baltimore and Jacksonville, but he has flashed. That’s the kind of edge rusher that we’re hoping [to find]. The game’s slowing down a little bit for Chris. There are still some things he has to work on in his technique. He’s not struggling as much with the terminology and with the footwork. He does have the ability to be a fast player, but he has to stop thinking so much.”
Comings and goings
Receiver Jason McAddley returned after sitting out Tuesday with an ailing hamstring. However, running back Dee Brown (personal reasons) and linebacker Dallas Sartz (allergic reaction) were absent.
Running back Clinton Portis, out since July 31 with tendinitis in his right knee, apparently increased his workload but said he still doesn’t expect to play until the Sept. 9 season opener against Miami. Offensive tackle Chris Samuels, out since July 30 with a sprained right knee, continued to rehab, as did Washington and quarterback Jason Campbell, who badly bruised his left knee against the Steelers, and rookie tight end Tyler Ecker (groin).
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