The Redskins opened their first training camp under coach Mike Shanahan on July 29 at their Ashburn, Va. facility still adapting to coordinator Kyle Shanahan's version of the West Coast passing game and to new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's 3-4 system, the first time the scheme has been Washington's base scheme.
There was also the weighty matter of defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth. After leaving the offseason program as soon as it began on March 15 because he wanted to play end, not nose tackle, the $100 million man stayed way even during June's mandatory minicamp, drawing the ire of such veteran leaders as linebacker London Fletcher and end Phillip Daniels. But Haynesworth reported to camp on time and having trimmed down from the 350 or so pounds he weighed during his underwhelming Washington debut season in 2009.
However, Haynesworth couldn't pass Mike Shanahan's conditioning test he was the only player made to take it and the old-school coach vs. it's all about me player standoff intensified. Haynesworth finally passed the test and joined his teammates in practice on Aug. 7. He soon even seemed to enjoy Haslett's defense, but when he left practice on Aug. 16 and didn't return the next two days because of hydration issues, he and Shanahan were at odds again, especially when the two-time All Pro tackle with Tennessee didn't play until the second half on Aug. 21 against Baltimore.
But Haynesworth went in for the fourth snap six days later against the New York Jets and saw most of his action at right end instead of nose tackle, leading him to joke that he and Shanahan would have drinks and cigars soon. The coach picked up the thread and joked about their relationship, too.
However, it's too early to say if the rift is finally healed or how Haynesworth will react if he opens the season as a backup or is asked to play extensively at nose. Whether those events occur is partly in the hands, or more aptly, the Achilles tendon, of Maake Kemoeatu, whom the Redskins hope can man the nose after missing all of 2009 for Carolina with that injury. Kemoeatu has seemed to favor the Achilles at times this summer and hasn't been much of a force inside.
Washington's defense also began camp not sure whether: newcomer Adam Carriker or holdover Phillip Daniels would start at left end it's Carriker ; Andre Carter could make a smooth enough transition to outside linebacker to hold off the versatile Lorenzo Alexander Carter has and if rising safety Kareem Moore could beat out the more experienced Reed Doughty and Chris Horton to start next to LaRon Landry Moore did but had his right knee scoped on Aug. 23 and is out another three to five weeks.
On offense, the Redskins went to camp still searching for a receiver to start opposite Santana Moss, their top wideout the past five years. Malcolm Kelly, who opened 2009 in that role, was laid low by a hamstring, and the only candidate to step up has been 2009 practice squad member Anthony Armstrong so 38-year-old Joey Galloway will likely get first crack at the job. Devin Thomas, Kelly's fellow 2008 second-rounder, continues to be an enigma, following a long touchdown catch with a couple of drops.
The news has been better for Trent Williams. The fourth pick overall has looked good at left tackle save for a bad night against Ravens Pro Bowl pass rusher Terrell Suggs. The other big question for the revamped offensive line is whether Jammal Brown, the two-time Pro Bowl left tackle acquired from New Orleans in June, was fully recovered from the hip surgery that cost him the 2009 season and whether he could make a smooth return to right tackle where he hadn't played since 2005. The answers have been less conclusive for Brown than for Williams.
Clinton Portis, Washington's No. 1 back the past six years, went to camp still in that spot after a solid spring, but free-agent signee Larry Johnson had actually looked better and a third former 1,200-yard runner Willie Parker was also in the mix to start. Portis was fine in limited duty before spraining an ankle against the Jets, but Johnson and Parker were both awful in their chances to start although the former redeemed himself with a strong finish against New York.
New quarterback Donovan McNabb, the longtime Philadelphia starter, was inconsistent in camp and in the first two preseason games before a sprained left ankle against the Ravens cost him the final two weeks of the summer and blunted the chemistry he had begun to establish with 2005 Pro Bowl pick Moss and tight end Chris Cooley, who was chosen for Hawaii in 2007 and 2008.
On special teams, young snapper Nick Sundberg beat back a challenge from veteran pickup James Dearth and will team with almost as raw kicker Graham Gano and veteran punter Josh Bidwell.
COACHING: Mike Shanahan, 17th year (154-103), 1st with Redskins.
REMEMBERING: 2009 record: 4-12 (last in NFC East).
PREDICTING: 2010 regular-season record: 7-9 (last in NFC East).
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