Washington Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner isn’t worried that his players didn’t give positive answers on Wednesday about the acquisition of big back T.J. Duckett. Quite the opposite.
“If they didn’t care, if they weren’t shocked, then we have the wrong type of people,” Byner said. “You can understand how the guys feel. We had started to get somewhat of a [rotation] going. They had gotten their minds set on some of the things they wanted to achieve. There’s nothing wrong with that. If they don’t, then we have the wrong type of guys.”
Although Duckett practiced for the first time with the Redskins yesterday, coach Joe Gibbs said he plans on giving the former Atlanta Falcons player some carries against the Patriots on Saturday night.
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“I can’t say it’s going to be an easy battle,” Duckett said. “It’s going to be hard [catching up]. I’m going to have to learn and I’m going to make some mistakes. But I’m out here working to get better.”
Starting fullback Mike Sellers, who had anticipated some short-yardage and goal-line carries, was graceful yesterday about the 254-pound Duckett likely taking that role. Second-year fullback Nehemiah Broughton, whose roster spot is in serious jeopardy, said he doesn’t worry about what he can’t control. Ladell Betts, who figures to drop from the No. 2 back to No. 3 when starter Clinton Portis returns from a partially dislocated left shoulder and Duckett becomes fully acclimated, even gave the new man some pointers in practice.
“T.J. jumped right in the huddle in the walkthrough, started slapping fives and broke the ice,” Byner said. “He’s going to fit right in. The reality is these guys will take T.J. in. They will do some things to try to help him and they’ll compete.”
Williams blames newness
Assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams said that playing newly added cornerbacks Mike Rumph and Julian Battle with the starters in Saturday’s loss to the New York Jets was chiefly responsible for the 61-yard touchdown on a reverse by rookie Brad Smith.
“[Cornerbacks coach] Jerry Gray did a very good job of getting our new corners into the mix early, but we gave up a big play as soon as we got them in the game,” Williams said. “They had to go through the shell shock of handling me on the sidelines, which was very good to happen in a preseason game. I walked out and called [the Jets’ play] before it started. That really angered me. You didn’t put [former college quarterback] Brad Smith at receiver and we say in the huddle, here comes the reverse.”
Williams also said his defense won 17 of the 23 plays on the Jets’ scoring drive that consumed all but 3:02 of the third quarter. However, the Redskins lost the critical snaps.
“We played really well on first and second downs on that series, but you’ve got to get off the field on third down,” Williams said. “When you give up a third-and-15 screen, a third-and-8 [short pass] and a third-and-6 on a bad spot by the officials and you have a third-and-1 and a fourth-and-1 …”
McCune out
Add Robert McCune to the list of Redskins who won’t face the Patriots. The second-year linebacker injured a hamstring on Wednesday and didn’t work out yesterday. McCune joined the long-ailing Portis (shoulder), cornerback Shawn Springs (abdominal surgery), linebacker Kevin Simon (groin), offensive tackle Jim Molinaro (knee surgery), tight end Robert Johnson (ankle), defensive end Phillip Daniels (back) and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (knee).
• Staff writer Ryan O’Halloran contributed to this article.
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