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by Eric Espada
Special for Hailmagazine.com
For the several months I have wondered what is going to be my first post on my brand new blog. I always wondered if anyone besides my Mom cared about what I had to say. I thought maybe Ill write about a cool trip I took or write about a great game I shot and add some photos. Every time I thought about it, it just didn’t seem right. But this morning was different. I woke up and I felt I needed to write something about Sean.
Im not a writer by any stretch of the imagination. I write with the photos I take and I took a lot of photos of Sean. Sean was one of my favorite Canes to photograph. Since 2002 I have been part of the Caneshooter team along with JC Ridley and since 2004 have covered the Washington Redskins.
There were lots of things I loved about Sean. I loved the variety of shields he wore to cover his eyes, whether it was the orange colored shield or the reflective shield. It gave him this Darth Vader type look and feel. I loved that you couldn’t see his eyes and all you saw was the reflection of the sky or of the Orange Bowl every time you looked at him. I also loved the crazy hairstyles that Sean had. It seemed like it changed weekly or for every game. And I loved the way he played the game. I quickly became a fan of Seans.
Four years ago today Sean Taylor passed away and to this day it still hurts. . .
Sean and I weren’t best friends, we weren’t related, but we were family. Sean and I were part of the Miami Hurricane Family. Its extremely difficult to explain to anyone what its like to be a part of the Hurricane Family. Imagine the love you have for your family and multiply it by 1000. Since I have been a part of this family I lost 6 of my Hurricane family members. Marlin Barnes, Robert Woodus, Chris Campbell, Al Baldes, Bryan Pata and Sean Taylor. Robert died in a plane crash, Chris and Al were both killed in car accidents and Marlin, Bryan and Sean were each murdered. I have lost more members of my Hurricane Family than I have of my immediate family and it hurts each time I think of them.
With Sean its a little different. I covered almost every game Sean played at the University of Miami and every game but 1 when he played for the Washington Redskins. I have always felt a weird connection to Sean. As Sean was becoming this larger than life figure on the football field, I was there from the start growing as a photographer. Sean gave me some of the best photos I have ever taken. Sean cutting in front of Larry Fitzgerald for an interception and him diving for a ball against the Arizona Cardinals are two photos that hang on my office wall. Every time I needed a big photo I knew I could count on Sean. He was a playmaker and I could see his game growing each and every time he stepped on the field.
You can see in this video that I created, what I mean about Sean and all of the big plays that he gave me throughout my photography career. There are a lot of tribute videos out there but this one is different. All of the photos taken in this video were taken by me from 2003-2007. This is a small sample of the photos I have taken of Sean but it gives you a great idea of why I loved taking photos of Sean in action.
Thank you Sean for allowing me the opportunity to capture some of the greatest plays in Hurricanes and Redskins history.
We miss you ST.
(26,36,21)
Photo by Peter Lockley
By Brian Murphy/homermcfanboy.com
After a rocky start to his football career and a series of underwhelming win-loss records, Adam Carriker has one goal from here on out in the NFL – winning football games.
The Washington Redskins defensive end was born in Nebraska, where Cornhusker football is considered must-see television. At an early age, Carriker was drawn to the game and knew he wanted to play football, but first he had to convince his father.
“He didn’t want me to play because he said too many guys get hurt playing football,” Carriker said.
So Carriker settled for playing baseball and basketball until the seventh grade, when he finally convinced his father to let him play football. But after playing in just one game, football felt so foreign to Carriker that he was ready to give it up. Because it was so different from the other sports he had played up to that point, he had trouble finding his comfort level.
That Friday, Carriker sat down with his football coach and let him know he didn’t want to play anymore. He had made his decision and was ready to move on … until the following day when it was time, once again, for Nebraska football.
Watching his beloved Cornhuskers play again, he remembered what had drawn him to the game in the first place. With a renewed faith, Carriker sought out his coach and rejoined the team that Monday.
“I never even missed a practice,” Carriker said with a laugh. “I don’t think anyone associated with the team, other than the coach, even knew I had quit.”
Carriker became a standout player, drawing interest from a handful of big-name colleges. The only problem was Kennewick High School, in Kennewick, Wash., won a grand total of two games during his four-year career, so he wasn’t on the radar of the one college program he always dreamed of playing for: Nebraska.
Fortunately for Carriker, his high school coach knew how much the Cornhuskers meant to him, so he took it upon himself to contact the school.
Initially, recruiters told Carriker he wasn’t good enough for a scholarship. But their tune changed as soon as they saw his highlights – including a 17-tackle performance in his final high school game. Although Carriker wasn’t exactly thrilled with the lukewarm reception he was getting from Nebraska, he reluctantly agreed to visit their campus in Lincoln.
“During that recruiting trip, I saw everything I remembered from watching all those Nebraska football games growing up,” he said. “My dad was with me and I said to him, ‘Forget everything that’s happened. This is where I want to go.’”
Carriker’s collegiate career didn’t exactly get off to a picture-perfect start. He was redshirted his first year at Nebraska, meaning he was relegated to the scout team during practices and he didn’t get to play in any games. Making matter worse, the Cornhuskers went just 7-7 – which is a disaster for a powerhouse program like Nebraska.
“It was the first time in something like four or five decades that the program didn’t win at least nine games,” he said. “So the players and coaches weren’t exactly in a great mood during that time either.”
Carriker continued to work hard and by his junior year, people were starting to take notice of exactly what he was capable of on the field.
“I had four sacks in my first four games my junior year,” Carriker said. “That’s when people started coming up to me on campus asking me if I was leaving early. I didn’t even know what they meant at first. I hadn’t even really thought of the NFL at that point.”
Carriker returned to Nebraska for his senior year and he continued to impress. He played so well, in fact, that he was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.
When he made it to the NFL though, he once again found himself dealing with a losing record. During his first two seasons in St. Louis, the Rams went just 5-27. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Carriker missed the entire ’09 season because of a shoulder injury.
This past offseason, Carriker was shipped to the Redskins for a pair of late-round draft picks. He chalks the decision to ship him off on nothing more than bad luck.
“To be honest with you, I just went through a lot of injuries,” Carriker said. “You can ask the strength coach, you can ask the trainers there in St. Louis, nobody put in more time in the weight room than me. But for some reason, I was unlucky.”
It should be pointed out that Carriker played in 31 of 32 games his first two seasons. Still, in Carriker’s words, the Rams eventually lost their patience waiting for him to be fully healthy. Once that happened, it was only a matter of time before they came up with a reason to move on without him.
“It’s kind of funny,” he said. “When I first came out, people were saying, ‘He can play anywhere. He can play nose tackle, left end, wherever.’ And when the new coach [Steve Spagnuolo] sat me down, he told me I was too slow to play left end and too tall to play inside. Like all the sudden, it became a bad thing that I could play all these different positions. It’s just funny how different people can view something.
“I’ll never forget my rookie year,” Carriker continued. “I would play nose tackle, right and left end. I would play it all. In one drive against San Francisco, I played every single position. I didn’t have a lot of time to think, but I thought I did it pretty well.”
And yet, Carriker was essentially given away for a couple draft picks – a move the Redskins were more than happy to make.
“He’s what you look for in a 3-4 defensive end,” said Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan earlier this year. “He’s big, strong, and powerful and plays his gap. I’m really happy the way he’s played and the way he’s handled himself since he has been here.”
Shanahan isn’t the only person in the organization who is happy to have Carriker on the roster. His teammates are thrilled to have him on board as well.
“I look at Adam as someone who can really help this defense,” said defensive end Phillip Daniels. “Not only that, but he’s also a guy who can help extend my career because now I’m not being asked to play so many snaps. He’s a big, physical guy and he’s someone who has come in and helped anchor that defensive line.”
As the left defensive end, Carriker is often faced with teams – particularly those with right-handed quarterbacks – running primarily to his side of the football field.
“That’s not even something we really even worry about,” said linebacker Andre Carter. “He’s so strong that he’s able to step in there and solidify our line against the run, even though he’s usually matched up against their strongest tackle.
“When you’ve got a guy that’s reliable like Adam over there, then it makes everything a little bit easier,” Carter continued. “Your heart’s not racing 100 miles an hour and the game slows down because you’re not worrying about whether or not the guy in front of you can do his job.”
Already motivated after being shipped off by the Rams and desperate to finally play for a winning team, Carriker couldn’t have been happier when he arrived at Redskins Park.
“I was really excited when I found out I was going to Washington,” he said. “You look at Shanahan. You look at [quarterback Donovan] McNabb. You look at everything else they did and I saw a team making a lot of offseason moves to get better.”
After losing so many games in high school, college and in the pros with the Rams, Carriker would like nothing more than to be on a team that gets to enjoy some success.
“I definitely feel we’re pointed in the right direction,” he said. “Especially on defense, we’re getting there. Some people want to focus on the stats, but we’re holding our own against good teams. In a lot of these games, we’ve been able to get a key turnover or someone steps up and makes a play. Obviously there’s always room for improvement, but I really feel like we’re playing pretty well.”
Photo by Peter Lockley
By John Pappas
twitter.com/skinscast
Why is Carlos Rogers smiling? After last season, the sixth-year cornerback wanted out of Washington in the worst way. His primary reason for wanting out? Rogers was tired of dealing with a coaching staff that he felt sent mixed-messages. From his vantage point, they were quick to praise him when all was well, but they also had no problem turning their back on him if he had an off-game.
Rogers was also miffed by a front office quick to throw money around at free agents year after year, but was much slower when it came to rewarding homegrown players with a contract extension.
And that’s before we even get to the locker room – where a general lack of leadership and direction was evident.
All of this was more than enough to affect Rogers, on and off the field. He was clearly unhappy with his circumstances and it translated to inconsistencies in his game.
Following the 4-12 debacle last season, Rogers was ready to move on. As far as he was concerned, his days in Washington were done, no matter what.
That is, until he met head coach Mike Shanahan.
“My sole mindset after last year was to leave,” said Rogers. “I mean, I wanted out. Regardless of who came in, I didn’t want to be here. But [Shanahan] told me, ’You ain’t going no where. We like you, and we’re not trading you.’”
Shanahan told Rogers he liked what he saw in the corner.
“He said he looked at my tape, he liked how I played, that I’m a physical corner, I can cover,” said Rogers. “He was like, ’We’ll get the hands right, don’t worry about it.’ But as an overall corner; he liked my ability. And I think from him on down, with [general manager] Bruce [Allen], with [defensive coordinator Jim] Haslett, all the coaches believe in me and they know – not taking nothing from DeAngelo Hall, because he’s a real good corner, he’s a very good playmaker – but I think coaches past, when D-Hall got here they put the other corners aside and said, ’Okay, he’s the number-one corner, he’s this, and he’s that,’ and just forgot about our ability to cover and that we can play too.”
Through seven games, Rogers has reminded fans and critics exactly what he brings to the table – with 35 tackles, nine passes defended, one interception and a forced fumble.
His penchant for dropping sure-fire interceptions may be the subject of jokes and heartache, but Rogers is almost always in position and rarely gives up big plays.
“Number one, I’m happy,” said Rogers. “It’s just a whole different environment. From the top down, dealing with the management to the coach here. I haven’t had nothing like it since Coach Gibbs.
“I’ve always been able to cover my man,” he continued. “I’ve always had confidence in my ability. It’s just [before] when you get kind of down, when you don’t have a good game, and I say you were punished for it, or coaches looked at you in a different way. Then, when you have another good game and it’s, ’Oh, you are back where you were.’”
Since the day they arrived, the new administration at Redskins Park has shown more confidence in Rogers’ abilities. He’s been asked to take on more responsibilities and, as a result, is thriving in the new scheme.
“I think when this coaching staff started believing in me, it gave me a lot more opportunities and put me in a position to make plays,” he said. “They put me in the nickel. I’m blitzing. I’m doing a lot more in this defense than I ever had a chance to do.”
The difference is evident by his play, which is earning praise from his coaches.
“He’s done a great job, he really has, and at covering guys, especially in the nickel and the slot,” said Haslett. “He’s done an excellent job. He’s hard to throw over. He should have probably five to six interceptions right now.”
In mentioning turnovers, Haslett brings up the one sore point in the cornerback’s game. While Rogers has been solid in coverage, he continues to find new and creative ways to drop interceptions. It is a problem which has plagued Rogers throughout his career.
“It seems like every game I always put myself in a situation to make a pick,” said Rogers. “Sometimes it’s not getting my head around fast and the ball is right there, and some I had in my hand and I just dropped it. [Against Indianapolis] I had that one, took two or three steps and tucked the ball, but I just hit my elbow and the ball came right out. So I continue to work, and I continue to catch the ball and try and put myself in that situation to make plays.”
Most maddening is how close Rogers is coming to getting the picks.
“He should have a minimum of five turnovers,” said Haslett. “Hopefully, he can put that away in the second half of the season … and help us get a few because that’s what is going to help us win games.”
Shanahan has shown patience with Rogers, believing the interceptions will come.
“I think you joke about it, kind of take the pressure off of him a little bit,” he said. “He’s been doing it in practice, so those will come because he has been much more consistent in practice over the last three or four weeks than he was when he first got here.”
Rogers came to Washington as the ninth overall draft pick in 2005. He was a Jim Thorpe award winner at Auburn, given to the best defensive back in the nation. He also earned consensus All-America honors and was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award, given to the best defensive college football player in the United States.
Because he was drafted so high, Rogers was saddled with expectations that he could immediately step in and fill the void left when shutdown corner Champ Bailey was traded to Denver for running back Clinton Portis.
Not unrealistic expectations for Rogers, who knew early-on he was gifted.
“I started playing when I was eight years old,” said Rogers. “I was so tall that I started out as a tight end, moved to quarterback, and I’ve been playing corner ever since. And at every level I’ve been that star player. From Pop Warner football to middle school, I was the top running back – to high school, I was ’that’ player. And I always thought that I can make it in this league. I’ve always been quick, I’ve been fast. I had the ability to learn, so I always thought I could play.”
In his first two seasons, Rogers seemed to be on his way. His rookie year brought 39 tackles, two interceptions and four passes defended in 12 games. In ’06 he logged 66 tackles, one interception and 17 passes defended over 15 games.
But trouble struck in 2007. Rogers was lost for the year when he tore his ACL and MCL in a 52-7 drubbing by New England Week 8. The following the season, Gibbs retired, and assistant head coach Gregg Williams, who led the defense, was let go. It was a harbinger of tough times.
Rogers started strong in 2008 along with new coach Jim Zorn and the 6-2 team. But things were different as far as communications with the defensive coaches and a strain developed as the team struggled, finishing 2-6 to end the season.
Rogers says he was benched with no explanation and let it be known by the end of the season that he’d rather play elsewhere if the Redskins didn’t want to start him.
Things didn’t get any better in ’09, as the losses continued to mount and the coaching staff continued to run hot and cold with Rogers. All of it was more than enough reason for Rogers to want out.
Fortunately for everyone involved, Rogers did get his fresh start – and he never had to leave Washington.
“I definitely want to be here,” he said. “I like this coaching staff. I like Coach Shanahan. He reminds me of Coach Gibbs, a coach that has been to Super Bowls, is established and knows how to run a team. He has control and not only that; they have Bruce Allen up in the front office that helps to run this team too.
“I think [Shanahan] knows what he is doing, instead of just bringing in guys with cool agents, or bringing in the top main guys,” he continued. “Because we have always been a good team. If you look at some of the guys with the names that we got, you just say; ’oh, the Redskins are going to be good.’ But we was never a complete team. Then you look at Dallas. I don’t know how many games they have to lose for people to get off their bandwagon. Because they got so many names. You can name so many people on Dallas. But until it’s a team, you will never be a winner.”
Rogers thinks the difference this year is leadership, and the quality of players the team has added.
“You look at our team now. You can look at Donovan McNabb, Clinton Portis – but look at Ryan Torain – who ever heard of him? Who has ever heard of Anthony Armstrong? Guys like that are making plays,” Rogers said.
“I [also] think our coaches have raised our level of play a lot,” he said. “It’s not just one person, but it’s a lot of guys that [Shanahan is] putting together, everybody is buying into one common goal, and that is winning the Super Bowl.”
Rogers became a restricted free agent this year because of the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement, which allowed the team to place a first-round tender on him. When no other teams offered a first-rounder, Rogers had to sign the tender in order to play this year. To date, no talks have begun on an extension.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” said Rogers. “People are always asking me about the contract, ’why haven’t they extended you, they need to extend you, you the best corner on this team, if we lose you, we lose our best corner, we losing our nickel.’ I just don’t pay attention. Me and my agent had a conversation about it and he was like, ’Los, you just go out there and you play and everything else will take care of itself.’”
Without concerning himself with thoughts of unsettled contract situations or off-the-field drama, Rogers is free to just focus on football. And for that reason alone, he couldn’t be happier.
“I’m still learning,” he said. “This coaching staff still teaches me, and I’m still willing to learn and get better. This is my sixth year and I still get in my notebook, and I’m even writing down things coach [Steve] Jackson tells the safeties. If corner don’t work out years later, I think I got ability to play free safety. So I’m still kind of learning, not only at corner, but at other positions too.”
Photo by Eric Espada
By David Elfin
twitter.com/davidelfin
When he was held without a sack in seven of his final eight games last season, one had to wonder whether opposing teams had begun to figure out Brian Orakpo.
Sure, Washington’s outside linebacker was voted to the Pro Bowl, but perhaps his red-hot start to his rookie year – with seven sacks in his first eight games – was more flash in the pan than a sign of a greatness career to come.
Those doubts can be put to rest now that Orakpo has matched his first half of 2009 with seven sacks in the first half of 2010, tied for seventh in the NFL. And good news for Redskins fans: the 24-year-old Houston native promises better production in the second half of his sophomore season.
“I’m much more prepared for 16 games than I was last year,” Orakpo said. “The rookie wall really exists. The season was so long. By our bye week, and you count preseason as well, in college you’d be pretty much done and we had half the season left. I kind of hit a dry spell until that Oakland game [Week 14 when he had four sacks]. This season, I feel real refreshed after the bye.”
And although Orakpo rushed mostly from a defensive end position on third downs last year as he had done while winning All-American acclaim at Texas, he’s really enjoying the freedom that has come with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s new 3-4 scheme.
“I love this defense,” Orakpo said. “I just feel way more comfortable. I’m moving around all over the place. I can rush [from the] left and [the] right [side]. I’ve got a lot of freedom to roam around and create havoc.”
Haslett, a former NFL linebacker who coached such pass rush luminaries as Greg Lloyd and Joey Porter in Pittsburgh, loves watching the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Orakpo disrupt opposing offenses.
“He just plays the scheme and he plays it well,” Haslett said. “[He] picks things up fast. He’s one of those guys that when he’s on the field for about two weeks of walkthroughs he kind of had it. When I got here, everyone kept saying, ‘Well, he got 11 sacks last year because [linebacker] Andre [Carter] was on the other side.’ I don’t think it really makes a difference who was on the other side because … he’s really a heck of a pass rusher. He’s relentless, first of all. He’s powerful. He’s really strong. He’s fast off of the edge. He shocks people when he hits them. I think his career will even get better when he has a couple more inside moves. “
Orakpo is such a natural that he only has two or three go-to moves as opposed to a veteran’s arsenal of techniques. And there’s no doubt which is his preferred method of getting to the quarterback.
“I’m from Point A to Point B, that’s my mentality,” he said. “My favorite move is the speed to power because you catch guys off guard. The [offensive] tackle’s trying to run out there and catch up with you at the point of attack and all of a sudden you hit him right dead in the chest and he’s all over the place.”
Teammate Lorenzo Alexander won’t soon forget rookie Orakpo’s first match-up with six-time Pro Bowl tackle Chris Samuels in the summer of 2009 at Redskins camp.
“He bull-rushed Chris and got to the quarterback real quick,” Alexander said. “That was like, ‘Man! He’s got it. He’s gonna be something special.’ “
Orakpo is such a special pass rusher that cornerback Carlos Rogers said when an opponent has a successful pass play, “I look around to see if he got a holding call. They’re either holding him or he’s getting pressure on the quarterback. He makes us DBs a lot better.”
Carter, who jumped from six to 12-1/2 sacks between his first and second NFL seasons, praised Orakpo’s hands, use of leverage and said he’s very much on the rise as a pass rusher.
“He’s still growing and developing as a player,” said Carter, a 10-year veteran. “He’s never content. He never stops his feet. He has a motor. He’s always 100 miles-per-hour. This scheme suits him real well. We do a lot of disguising. You don’t know who’s coming and who’s staying. He acts like he’s dropping back in coverage and then when he comes that will throw a blocker off. They try to catch up, but it’s too late.”
Although Orakpo focused primarily on rushing the passer for the Longhorns who were usually far enough ahead that he could tee off on the opposing quarterback, Washington was just 4-12 in 2009 and 4-4 at midseason this year. Most Redskins games are so close that Orakpo also has to play against the run often.
Since coming into the NFL, Orakpo has also had to learn how to drop into pass coverage, mostly against tight ends such as NFC East rivals Jason Witten, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, and the underrated Brent Celek of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’m doing a little less coverage this year, but I feel like my awareness is a lot better,” Orakpo said. “My coverage skills are improved. They can only get better.”
Haslett is even more impressed with Orakpo’s all-around game working together on a daily basis than he had been from afar.
“I watched film last year and I said, ‘Well, he’s OK as a cover guy,’ because they used him as a linebacker more than a rush guy. I think he’s a heck of a cover guy. He knows how to cover tight ends and running backs when he gets in space. He’s really smart. He’s really athletic. You got to have a will to do it. He has the ability to [play the run and cover receivers] and be really good at it. I think he’s an excellent run defender. I think he can do everything.”
With Carter and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth both now backups, blockers can key on Orakpo much more often than they did last year. That’s a compliment, but also frustrating.
“I’m seeing a lot more chips, a lot more doubles, a lot more slide protection,” Orakpo said. “That’s the big one. The whole line shifts your way so you’re not able to be as effective. You can’t get upfield. You can’t come inside. It’s almost like a wall. I’m getting held a lot more, too. Coach [Mike] Shanahan says, ‘Let them keep holding you Rak because it’s the same thing as a sack. You’re moving ‘em back 10 yards.’ I’ll take it as long as it helps the team win, but I would love to get those sacks.”
Orakpo’s goal is to top last year’s total of 11, but he got a gleam in his eyes when he was told how matching his first half production would give him 14 sacks and place him behind only Dexter Manley (18 in 1986 and 15 in 1985) and Charles Mann (14-1/2 in 1985) in Redskins history.
Even more impressive, 14 sacks would give Orakpo 25 in his first two seasons, more than any of the top 10 active sack artists produced during their first and second seasons. Only Indianapolis’ Dwight Freeney (24) had more than 20.
In fact, of the top 10 all-time pass rushers whose careers began after sacks became an official statistic in 1982, only Hall of Famers Reggie White (31 in the NFL after 23.5 in two years in the USFL) and Derrick Thomas (30) had more than 20-1/2. Standouts like Chris Doleman, Michael Strahan and Kevin Green didn’t even break double figures.
And with half a season left to play, Orakpo has already topped the first two seasons of Jason Taylor, Leslie O’Neal and Hall of Famer John Randle.
“That would be a huge accomplishment,” Orakpo said of perhaps ranking behind only White and Thomas after two seasons. “You give me a number and I’ll strive for it. I’m in a good situation. I just gotta keep racking them up.”
Photo by Eric Espada
By Brian Murphy/HomerMcFanboy.com
You don’t last 15 seasons in the National Football League without learning a thing or two about life on and off a football field. That’s why defensive end Phillip Daniels is one of the most respected players in the Washington Redskins’ locker room.
Sure, he might be 37, but Daniels is still one of the strongest players on the Redskins and he’s also one of the team’s hardest workers. So when Daniels speaks, his teammates listen.
On the field, Daniels also commands respect as well. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder had 615 tackles, 60 sacks, 16 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries in 187 games played prior to this season.
Now, if you’re the son of an established NFL player such as Daniels and you dream of one day following in your father’s footsteps, you’d probably want to follow suit and pay attention to your old man as well, right? Apparently not.
DaVaris Daniels, a senior at Vernon Hills High School in Illinois, fully admits it took some time and some growing up before he was ready to listen to his father when it came to football.
“When you’re younger, you don’t always take criticism the right way,” he said. “He’d try to give me some feedback or advice after a game, but I didn’t want to hear what I’d done wrong. I only wanted to hear the positives from him. It took me a while to get out of that mindset, but once I did, it really helped me out.”
“He’s definitely been there and done it all,” DaVaris continued. “He’s taught me the ropes along the way and he’s always been willing to give me advice, but at the same time, he’s always left it in my hands to go out and do it.”
That was by design, says Daniels. While he went through the same process back in 1992 before opting to go with the Georgia Bulldogs, Daniels didn’t want to be one of those parents who tries to dictate to their children where they go and what they do with their lives.
“Ultimately, it’s his decision,” Daniels said. “He’s got to be the one making the decision. If he has questions, I’m more than happy to help, but as far as choosing what school he wants to go to, it’s up to him.
“I’ve got nothing to do with it,” Daniels continued. “I even told the University of Georgia, it’s all about how you recruit him and what school he falls in love with. It’s not up to me, it’s up to the coaches and everyone involved in the recruiting process. I’m just here to support him throughout the process.”
Even though Daniels stays in Virginia during the season and his family lives in Illinois, the father and son are in constant contact. Because of the demanding NFL schedule, Daniels was able to see just one of DaVaris’ games this season in person. For the rest of the games, Daniels has to settle for watching a feed on the internet.
“We talk a couple times a week though,” DaVaris said. “And no matter what we start the conversation talking about, it always gets to football at some point.”
At 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, DaVaris isn’t built like a defensive lineman. Instead, the younger Daniels plays wide receiver well enough that he’s considered one of the top prospects heading into college.
When asked which professional football player he most resembles on the field, DaVaris says Indianapolis receiver Reggie Wayne, who is considered one of the best all-around wide outs in the game.
“But I don’t see it,” Daniels said. “I really don’t. It’s hard to pick a guy in the NFL right now because, really, he could be anybody. I’m not sure who I’d say he plays like, but I know he plays well.”
Regardless of whether he’s the second coming of Wayne or not, DaVaris has proven to be an impact player in whatever situation his coaches put him in. This season alone, he’s thrown, caught, rushed, returned a punt for a touchdown and even scored a defensive touchdown for the Cougars.
“Since we first got him in pee wee leagues back when he was six, every sport he’s played, he’s dominated,” Daniels said. “Back then, every time he touched the ball, he scored. By the second half, his coaches would have to take him off of offense and only let him play defense.
“He’s broken records at every level he’s ever played at,” Daniels continued. “By the time he’s done at Vernon Hills, he’ll probably own some of their records too.”
Which explains why the younger Daniels was one of the most sought-after seniors in the country. DaVaris received 16 scholarship offers from top colleges across the nation, but, at the end of the day, he opted to stay close to home and committed to Notre Dame in September.
“I really wanted to take my time throughout the entire process,” DaVaris said. “And really, no other place showed as much love as Notre Dame did. Fans, coaches and everyone around here really made me feel wanted and kept trying to get me to come on board and help them turn that program around. You don’t see that kind of love from very many schools.”
DaVaris said the final decision came down to three colleges – Notre Dame, Miami and Oklahoma.
“Miami is a great school, but I didn’t think it was the right choice for me,” he said. “With Notre Dame, I really feel like it’s the best fit because, if football doesn’t work out, I’ll still be able to set myself up for success in life off the field.”
That, more than anything else during this process, has been the key point of emphasis – ensuring DaVaris sets himself up for success once his playing days are over.
“Education is the key,” Daniels said. “Football will come and go, but a good education is something no one can ever take away from you.”
On the field though, DaVaris will focus solely on the offensive side of the ball as a receiver. But he’s been assured Notre Dame has some big plans for him.
“They’re looking for people to come in and get started right away,” DaVaris said. “There’s already been talk about throwing in some Wildcat formations, once I bulk up a little bit more. That’s down the road a little bit, but I’m looking forward to it.”
What goals, if any, has DaVaris set for himself for his first year at Notre Dame?
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” he said. “I’d like to score at least one touchdown, but other than that, I don’t really know yet. There’ll be time to figure that stuff out later.”
Photo by Peter Lockley
By David Elfin
twitter.com/davidelfin
When Albert Haynesworth left Tennessee, where he had played his college ball as well as his first seven seasons as a pro, for a record, seven-year, $100-million contract with Washington nearly two years ago, the Redskins’ 2010 visit to the Titans was already set.
What Haynesworth didn’t know was how difficult life as a Redskin would be, starting with a 4-12 season under a coaching staff he didn’t like followed by a new group of bosses who wanted to move him out of his comfort zone and into the nose tackle position on a 3-4 defense.
And just as the two-time All-Pro was finding a middle ground with Washington’s coaches and settling into being a backup, his half-brother was killed in a motorcycle accident.
That’s a lot to handle, even for a 29-year-old with $41 million guaranteed.
“I think it will be a little weird,” Haynesworth said about returning to Nashville, where he starred for the Titans and where his children still live with their mother. “I practiced with them for seven years. Now it’s going to be a real game playing against the guys I grew kinda grew up in an NFL sense with. I think it will definitely be fun.”
Obviously, being a Redskin hasn’t been as fun as Haynesworth might have expected, but he said that he’s beginning to feel appreciated.
“[Last year] I felt like I was kind of like a showpiece to take up blocks and help the teammates … but as my teammates are playing good, I want to play good, too,” Haynesworth said. “I want to be able to get sacks and stuff. Last year … I felt I wasn’t doing what I could do. But now I’m getting back to it. It’s still a different role, but it’s more similar to what I did in Tennessee. … I don’t have to think as much on the field. I can just go out and play. … You see me standing up. You see me playing a lot of end. You see me doing a lot of things I did in Tennessee, so it’s helping a lot.”
Even though he’s missed three of Washington’s nine games, (one with a sprained ankle, one after his half-brother’s death and one for conditioning issues), Haynesworth has made enough plays that he leads the Redskins in tackles for losses (five), second in hurries (17) and tied for second in sacks (two).
Haynesworth’s best game as a Redskins came in the Week 7 victory at Chicago, during which he stuffed Bears quarterback Jay Cutler at the goal line, giving linebacker London Fletcher time to swoop in, strip the Bears’ quarterback of the football and recover the game-changing fumble. Haynesworth finished the game with a tackle for a loss, a sack and two hurries.
“We’re trying to put him in positions where he can be successful,” said Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who admitted that, when it came to Haynesworth, the Redskins had been trying to fit square peg into a round hole in their base 3-4 defense. “We used him in nickel, goal line, short-yardage and some other things. Actually, he didn’t even know it, [but] he played five snaps of nose [tackle] against Detroit. He was awesome. He did a great job. I just sneak him in there once in a while and don’t tell him he’s a nose.”
Haynesworth’s teammates can see the difference in his attitude even if he doesn’t talk about it.
“You can tell when Albert’s not happy and when he is from his body language, how he walks around practice, whether he’s into it or not,” said linebacker Lorenzo Alexander. “Now they’re using him in the right way, the way he wants to be used, pass rush situations getting off the rock. And when he’s in on run downs, he can just go straight ahead and create some havoc. I think he’s very happy now. And the coaches are happy with what he’s doing.”
Of course, the moody Haynesworth, who spends his offseasons in Knoxville where he starred for the University of Tennessee, can’t help but wonder what life would be like if he hadn’t left the Titans or if the Redskins had worked out the trade to ship him back to his former teams as was being discussed when he was locked in a six-month battle of wills with head coach Mike Shanahan about his role.
“Sometimes I wish I was still back there because I felt like I could still be dominant,” Haynesworth said. “The fact of the matter is, Tennessee, they never pay defensive linemen, so I knew that wasn’t going to change. [So] I wanted to go somewhere else and be appreciated. I think people still think that I’m not playing as good as I can or whatever, but all of it ain’t about the player. Sometimes it’s the scheme, but … we’re getting back to it. They’re letting me play, so you’re seeing a lot more production out of me than you did last year and earlier this year.”
Although it might not appear that way at first glance, Haynesworth believes coming to Washington has been a positive.
“You’ve got to move forward as a person and this is a good experience for me,” said Haynesworth, who feels particularly close to defensive linemen Vonnie Holliday, Phillip Daniels and Jeremy Jarmon. “People probably don’t think that I care about the Washington Redskins. That’s not true. I have a lot of great friends on this team. As far as thinking that just because I got paid that I’m not going to play [hard], that’s not true either. I’ve always said if you just put me in the right situation, then I’ll be prosperous.”
Having already received $32 million from the Redskins with another $9 million guaranteed even if this is his Washington swansong, Haynesworth is certainly prosperous. But although he asked to be traded while skipping the offseason workouts and minicamps at Redskins Park, Haynesworth is no longer in a hurry to get out of town.
“I’m under contract for another five years, so if they keep me five years doing the same thing, I’m happy with it,” he said. “I had to get used to coming off the bench and playing [fewer] plays, but it’s really helped me out a lot as far as keeping me healthy and being more productive so I can go out for three, four [plays] and then go as hard as I can knowing somebody else is going to come in. Last year, it was kind of stay out there as long as you can and do whatever you can.”
That strategy often resulted in Haynesworth, who’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 350 pounds, gasping for air, wobbling to the sideline or just laying prone on the field. And face down was where he was again in last week’s embarrassing 59-28 home loss to Philadelphia, a game in which Washington allowed 592 yards and trailed 35-0 just nine seconds into the second quarter.
“It was horrible,” said Haynesworth, adding that it was the worst defeat he had ever suffered. “I didn’t get on the field until it was 21-0. Not a whole lot you can do about that, [trailing] 21-0 with 10 minutes left in the first quarter.”
But it didn’t help Haynesworth’s reputation for not always giving his all when, after getting pushed from behind, he laid on the grass for a few seconds as Eagles quarterback Michael Vick scrambled and threw yet another touchdown pass.
“I had like a charlie horse in my thigh,” said Haynesworth. “I thought I heard the whistle, so I kind of stayed there for a second and gathered myself and I looked up and [said, ’expletive], he’s still got the ball. And he throws the ball for a touchdown.”
It should go without saying that Shanahan wasn’t pleased with that performance.
“You’ve got to be in great football shape, as I’ve talked about with Albert [often], I think I’ve made that very clear,” Shanahan said. “I said, ’Hey, he’s going to be on this football team and he’s going to play every down, play with a lot of emotion and play between the whistles.’ That’s the key to our success on defense is guys playing from whistle to whistle, playing physical and playing very hard.’”
And that’s what Shanahan expects from Haynesworth in his return to Tennessee.
“Hopefully he handles it well and he has one of his best games,” the coach said. “Any time you go back to where you started … I’m sure he wants to go back and play his best game this season. I know I would if I was in his shoes.”
As for his goals or motivation when he steps onto the field against the Titans, Haynesworth opted to keep things simple.
“Just to go out there and get a victory,” he said. “And show ’em that they miss me.”
Say what you will about Haynesworth, but, for better or for worse, he’s definitely a hard man to miss
Photo by Peter Lockley
By Brian Murphy/homermcfanboy.com
Don’t mistake Brandon Banks’ stature for football potential. The diminutive receiver is as dangerous as you want when he gets the ball in his hands. At 5-foot-7, and 155-pounds, Banks is making a name for himself as an explosive kick and punt returner in the league. With his blazing speed and nifty moves in space, opposing teams are learning an important lesson about the return specialist.
When Banks is on the field, kick the ball somewhere else.
That’s because early indications suggest Banks is something special. At the halfway point of the season, Banks ranked 15th in the league in kick returns with a 27.3 yards-per-return average. However, Banks only played five games over the period compared to the eight most everyone else had. More telling is that Banks ranked third overall in returns of 40 yards or more with three, which would have been four had a long touchdown return in Detroit not been called back on a penalty.
Then there are punt returns. Banks sat at eighth in the league with a 13.8 yards per return average going into Monday Night against Philadelphia. He was first overall however, in returns of 20 yards or more, tied for fourth in punt returns of 40 yards or more, and had the eighth longest punt return in the league at 53 yards.
But the stats don’t tell the tale of Banks as a player. Banks brings something to the return game that hasn’t been seen consistently in Washington since Brian Mitchell left the team.
Excitement.
Like Mitchell, Banks represents the potential to change the game each and every time he steps back to return a kick or punt. Just as important is his ability to flip field position and give the Redskins a shorter field with which to work. It is the perfect situation for Banks, who believes his talents are well suited to being a great return man in the league.
“[I] just use my ability, my speed, and my illusiveness,” said Banks. “Just to make guys miss and to get around guys. I love the return game. I think I contribute a lot there. That’s what I love to do, and that’s what I would rather do.”
Against Detroit, Banks racked up 213 yards on six kick returns, with a 35.5 yard average, and one touchdown before the Lions figured out they should stop kicking to him. He added another 58 yards on five punt returns. It was a performance that left the normally reserved head coach Mike Shanahan raving about Banks.
“He was off the charts,” said Shanahan. “If you weren’t impressed with him, then you don’t enjoy football.”
Shanahan isn’t the only one impressed with Banks. Special teams coordinator Danny Smith likes Banks’ fundamentals on returns, especially in space.
“He’s good at reading things,” said Smith. “He’s good at following his blocks. He’s got a lot of confidence, and that always helps.”
Special teams captain Lorenzo Alexander puts Banks’ potential in simpler terms.
“Once he gets out in the open field like that,” said Alexander, “can’t nobody catch him.”
Banks has come a long way to earn such praise from coaches and teammates. The receiver was raised in Garner, North Carolina, a small community south of Raleigh, where he attended Garner High School. Garner is most famous for producing Washington Wizards’ star rookie, and close friend to Banks, John Wall (who was at FedEx Field in August when Banks returned a punt for a touchdown against Buffalo, celebrating in the end zone by doing the “John Wall” dance).
In addition to being a four-year starter in football for Garner, Banks distinguished himself in track and field, being named to the 2006 USA Today All-USA high school track and field team after posting a 10.22 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.22 in the 200-meter dash.
Despite extensive playing time in football, and impressive speed in track and field, Banks’ first stop was community college at Bakersfield, California on the recommendation of his high school coach. At Bakersfield, Banks set a school record with 15 touchdowns, earned first-team All-America honors from JC Gridwire as an all-purpose player/wide receiver, was named a PrepStar JUCO All-American, and helped lead Bakersfield to a No.1 national ranking, a 12-1 record on the season and a berth in Southern California championship game.
Banks next transferred to Kansas State, where he had 123 receptions for 1,754 yards (14.3 avg.) and 10 touchdowns in 24 games with the Wildcats. Banks earned Big XII Special Team Player of the year, first-team All-Big XII kickoff returner/punt returner and second-team All-Big XII wide receiver as a senior.
Though his numbers at Kansas State were impressive, Banks went undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft. Probably a result of his size and what some described as poor route running. Banks dismisses the doubters, saying he has been underestimated throughout.
“I think I’m underestimated a lot up here,” said Banks. “A lot of people look over me because of my size. So I just go out there and prove a point and turn heads.”
Turning heads he is. One area of concern for Banks however, is ball protection. Banks earned a reputation for fumbling in the preseason with three (losing one). It was something that led to his release at the end of camp, and subsequent signing to the practice squad (he was signed to the active roster prior to week 4, against Philadelphia). Through week 9, Banks had two fumbles, one each against Chicago and Detroit. Thankfully both were recovered by Washington. It is something Banks is working on.
“Every time I touch the ball I try to tuck it away and carry the ball in the right position, so nobody tries to strip the ball when I run through traffic,” Banks said. “I’ve been working on ball security and my vision.”
More than anything, Banks wants to contribute to the team. Following his breakout performance against the Lions, Banks bemoaned not being able to make one more play to help get a victory.
“I wanted to make a big play for my team,” he said. “Any way I can get that ball in my hands is an opportunity. I want to be that guy to make that big play.”
It is the type of attitude coming from an explosive return man that has teammates seeing the possibilities.
“Once everybody gets on the same page, we could do those every week,” teammate Byron Westbrook said of Banks’ touchdown return in Detroit.
Banks himself believes he is poised to make his mark, though he is still working to improve his game.
“I still can get better in some areas with my vision and cutbacks and getting tackled by the kicker,” he said. “But I feel good back there.”
Opposing teams have no desire to see Banks improve. The dangerous return man is already keeping special teams coaches up late. Once thing is certain; with the way Banks has played so far this year, the opposition will be looking out for the little return man the rest of the way.
Photo by Brian Murphy
By Brian Murphy/homermcfanboy.com
Maybe it’s because he grew up in a small-town community in Toledo, Ohio, but Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis is easily one of the most level-headed and grounded professional athletes you’ll ever find.
When times are good, he’s not going to thump his chest and tell the sea of cameras how great he is. And when times are tough, he’s not the type of player to point fingers and make excuses. That’s just not who Davis is or what he’s about.
Maybe it’s because as a kid, if he and his friends found a way to get into trouble, his parents already knew about it by the time he got home.
“Everybody knew everybody,” Davis said. “So if we got together and did stupid stuff, like toilet papering someone’s car or a prank like that, word always got back. We would do harmless stuff like that. It was cool though. We had as much fun as you could in Ohio.”
It goes without saying that when parents are able to keep such close tabs on their kids, they’re far more likely to stay out of trouble. So when Davis was looking for extracurricular activities, he turned to sports.
Davis first stepped onto a football field when he was in the sixth grade and instantly fell in love. He had already tried soccer, basketball and baseball, but as soon as he started playing football, he was hooked.
“I think it was the physical contact,” he said. “You got to hit people and not get in trouble, so I enjoyed taking my aggression out on the field. And that’s part of it, but football’s not always about being physical. A lot of the times it’s about whose got the biggest heart. Especially when you’re younger and a lot of the players are at the same skill level. The difference in those games comes down to heart. I wasn’t thinking about playing in the NFL or anything. I was just having fun.”
As fate would have it, the first youth team Davis ever played on was called the Redskins. But while it was clear from an early age that Davis was a standout with a football in his hands, he still didn’t think much about playing professionally.
“I didn’t know if I’d be in the NFL, but I knew there was a good chance I could play for any school I wanted to,” Davis said. “In high school I knew I was pretty good, but it all kind of took off from there.”
In his first high school game, Davis caught two touchdown passes and returned a punt for another score. By the time his high school career was over, he’d been recruited by every big-name program in the country.
Davis settled on USC, Ohio State, Miami, Florida and Oklahoma as his top five schools before ultimately selecting Southern Cal.
“I went with USC because it was far from home,” he said. “I didn’t want to be too close to home, they always had nice weather out there and their team was pretty competitive. Even away from football, it seemed like a fun place to be. Plus, you’re living in a big city, but you’re also still in a college atmosphere, so you kind of got used to both.
“I think it really helped me going to a big-city school because you see some guys, by the time they get to the league and get a bunch of money, they don’t know how to handle it. Going to USC, I didn’t have any money, but I learned how to deal with being away from home and living in a big city. By the time I got to the NFL and had some money, I feel like I knew how to handle myself better.”
On the field, USC was dominant. The Trojans went 46-5 during Davis’ career, but that record is marred because of the two-year bowl ban, four years of probation, loss of scholarships and forfeit of the 2004 season because of the scandal involving running back Reggie Bush.
To this day, no one knows for sure exactly what went on and who else violated NCAA rules by accepting handouts or money under the table. Like everyone else, Davis has heard the rumors.
“Nothing would surprise me,” he admitted. “UCLA is in Hollywood and USC is in the hood. And really, that kind of stuff has always been going on no matter where you’re talking about. There’s always going to be people out there trying to get you to sacrifice your college career for a few bucks.
“You’ve just got to learn how to deal with it and tell yourself you’re going to be in the league soon enough,” Davis continued. “Is it really worth it? Do you really want to owe this guy something or sell yourself short? There’s always going to be people like that – especially when you’re a top player at a big school. You’re definitely going to get that kind of attention. You’ve just got to be smart about it.”
Even though he came from a small town, Davis heard enough horror stories about athletes making poor decisions away from the game to avoid those types of situations. On the field, however, Davis continued to make a name for himself, earning the John Mackey Award as college football’s most outstanding tight end in 2007.
The following year, Davis was drafted in the second round (48th overall) by the Redskins.
“I was definitely surprised,” he said. “I didn’t know much about them, but they already had a good tight end in Chris Cooley. I knew they had a great history and that they had won multiple Super Bowls back in the day, but that’s about it. I didn’t even talk to them or work out for them.”
Typically, award-winning players end up on a team in need of an upgrade at that particular position. In Washington, Davis found himself behind a Pro Bowl tight end who also happened to be his team’s most popular player. Not exactly a dream scenario for a new guy hoping to make a strong first impression.
“I mean, it does get frustrating sometimes, but you’ve got to think about it and be thankful you’re in the league,” Davis said. “In the NFL, it’s all about opportunity. I get people asking me, ’Why aren’t you performing better?’ But how do you expect me to show my best and show my abilities when I’m not getting an opportunity?
“He’s the guy getting paid the big money,” he continued. “He’s the guy who has made a name for himself as a Redskin. That’s just the way it goes. I’m not going to sit around and cry about it. I’ve just got to do what I can to be ready so when I get a chance, I make the most of it. I’m either going to do it here, or eventually I’ll end up on another team that needs me more. I’ve just got to continue to prove to everyone that I can do it.”
Last season, Davis finally got the chance to show he can be a playmaker. Cooley was injured in an Oct. 26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the rest of the season, which meant Davis became the starter.
After catching just seven passes for 45 yards and no touchdowns in Washington’s first six games of 2009, Davis finished the season with 48 catches for 509 yards and a team-high six receiving touchdowns.
All of the sudden, everyone who rushed to label Davis a bust while he was stuck behind a proven commodity on the depth chart was suddenly patting him on the back and telling him how great he was.
“I just thought it was funny,” he said. “Everyone wanted to make their little comments and everything, but I knew I just needed an opportunity. More than anything, it was a relief to finally be able to get out there and just play. It gets frustrating standing on the sidelines and not being able to help your team. Plus, we were losing a lot on top of that and I’m not being used at all. Sometimes I felt like ’What am I even here for?’
“When the opportunity was there, I took it. Now, imagine if I had a full year under my belt,” Davis continued. “I was basically going on raw talent because I was just thrown in there. If I had a full year starting at the tight end position, I know I could do even better.”
Davis maintains that while he and Cooley both play the same position, they have always had a solid relationship.
“He’s definitely a cool guy and we hang out from time to time,” he said. “He’s not hard to get along with at all. I mean, I can’t be mad at him for being here and he can’t really be mad at me for being here. I guess he could be mad at the Redskins for drafting me when he was already here, but we’re not upset at each other. We both want to catch balls. He’s a veteran and I’m a young guy trying to establish myself, but we’re not going to feud with each other over it.”
This season, with a healthy Cooley back in the lineup, Davis is no longer seeing the ample opportunities he saw in the second half of last season. But while he’s only getting one or two passes thrown his way per game, Davis continues to try and make the most of his chances.
The 24-year-old has set a career-high for longest catch twice this season – a 62-yarder against Houston in Week 2 and a 71-yard catch-and-run at home against Philadelphia. Amazingly, neither play resulted in a touchdown. In fact, Davis, who led the Redskins in receiving touchdowns last season, didn’t find the end zone in Washington’s first 10 games of 2010.
“Fred has been out there a lot,” Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “We don’t try to force anyone the ball. We have concepts. We go through progressions and attack coverages. I thought he would get the ball more than he has when I sit here and look at it. It’s not something we’re trying to force and it’s not something against him, it’s just hasn’t come his way.”
While the Redskins aren’t exactly drawing up plays for Davis, his coaching staff still maintains that he’s a valued member of the offense.
“I think Fred Davis is a good fit for any system,” head coach Mike Shanahan said. “He’s a great athlete. He can block, he can catch. He’s been working extremely hard since I’ve been here and has a big upside. I look for him to have a great future.”
And although the numbers don’t necessarily show it, Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb still believes that Washington’s depth at tight end might be the best in the NFL.
“I feel [they are] two of the best tight ends not only in the NFC, as far as a tandem is concerned, but up there in the league,” he said. “Two athletic guys that can block as well as get out and catch the ball … When you have guys like that you want to get them an opportunity to make plays for you, and they definitely can do that.”
Even though he’s getting fewer chances to make plays, Davis is much happier in his third season with the Redskins.
“It was horrible,” he said of his first two seasons in Washington. “We had no team camaraderie. Everyone was on different pages. The team was just destructive, and I think it really showed last season. Too many people were trying to do their own thing and we didn’t have the leadership we needed.”
With Shanahan and McNabb in place, leadership is no longer an issue at Redskins Park. Now, all Davis needs is a few more footballs thrown his way each Sunday and he’ll be good to go.
“I just know there’s so much more I can do for this team,” Davis said. “But that’s not the way it is right now. And I’m fine with that. I just want to contribute any way I can.”
Photo by Eric Espada
By John Pappas
twitter.com/skinscast
Washington Redskins running back Keiland Williams’ first NFL start was unexpected, to say the least.
It came because Clinton Portis had not fully recovered from a groin injury and fellow backup Ryan Torain as a last-minute scratch after tweaking his hamstring in pre-game warm-ups.
Had both Portis and Torain been ruled out earlier in the week, chances are the Redskins would have hit the street in search of a veteran free agent – someone such as Larry Johnson or Willie Parker, both of whom spent the offseason on the Redskins’ roster and know the offense.
But because of the timing of Torain’s setback, the Redskins had no choice but to turn to the virtually-unknown Williams to shoulder the load on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.
It was a tall request of an undrafted free-agent rookie, one who started only three games in college.
Williams, however, responded with a three-touchdown performance – one on the ground and two through the air – while rushing 16 times for 89 yards and catching four passes for 50 yards. His performance was one of the only bright spots for Washington in the horrific 59-28 loss.
“I’ve been getting a lot of calls and text messages from people back home just congratulating me,” said Williams. “Just knowing what I’ve been through to get to this point and saying that they’re proud of me and things like that.”
It goes without saying that many NFL players got their start as a standout in college. Scan the roster of any professional franchise and, chances are, even the perennial special teamers earned athletic honors in high school and college. It is a reality that reflects the number of outstanding college players who compete every year for the 1,700 or so jobs in the league.
Williams was supposed to be one such player. The Louisiana native was ranked the third-best running back prospect in the nation by Scout.com while in high school at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. He was deemed the offensive most valuable player of Class 4A in Louisiana in 2004. He was heavily recruited and selected Louisiana State University; a program that could provide a big enough stage on which to shine, all in preparation for his professional career.
Just one problem – things never really got off the ground for Williams. Despite coming to LSU as a big-time prospect, Williams never made the transition to full-time starter. In four years, Williams played in 47 games, but started only three. He amassed a total of 1,699 rushing yards on 299 carries, with 17 touchdowns. He added 28 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
Not exactly banner statistics for someone considered a blue-chip prospect. Even now, Williams’ voice is tinged with regret when he discusses his career in college.
“Everything is not going to be storybook,” said Williams. “Of course, anyone that plays collegiate football would like to have a great career and be a first-round pick, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
“I was a top recruit. Kinda had big expectations coming out. I really just didn’t … I really wasn’t happy with my career at all. I didn’t play like I wanted to and accomplish some of the things I wanted to accomplish.”
Williams knew there would be no first-round selection for him in the 2010 NFL draft, based on his career at LSU. Still, he believed he had done enough to be selected late. But disaster struck in his second-to-last game in college when he broke his ankle. The injury prevented him from working out at the NFL combine, and as a result, his telephone remained silent throughout the draft.
Williams signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in April, and was considered by many a long-shot to make the team. After all, Williams joined a team whose roster featured Portis, Johnson, Parker and Torain, a former Mike Shanahan draft pick from his days in Denver. Despite the long odds, Williams landed a spot on the final 53-man roster.
“I think in camp I showed good flashes,” he said. “I feel like I played pretty good in the preseason. I think really what stuck out the most wasn’t my running ability. I think it was the things I was able to do without the ball in my hands. For instance; like picking up blitzes, my raw running ability and being able to catch the ball out of the backfield. I definitely feel like that’s what kind of secured my spot on the roster.”
Even with his solid play during the preseason, most teams would have relegated Williams to the practice squad, rather than give him a spot ahead of established veterans or draft picks. Williams however, plays for a coach in Shanahan who has earned a reputation for giving young players ample opportunities to earn a roster spot.
“When you come to a situation and you competing with guys that are proven, Pro Bowlers like Willie [Parker] who has a couple Super Bowls under his belt, and to actually be given a fair shot, just kind of says a lot about coach Shanahan,” said Williams. “Some coaches would have just gone with the guys that are proven in the league. But Coach Shanahan kind of takes the approach where each year is different and everyone has to prove themselves all over again.”
Williams has also benefitted by the mentorship of Portis, who has worked with him on running and blocking techniques.
“Everyone has their different perception of a guy when you don’t really know him as an individual,” said Williams of Portis. “But Clinton does a lot of things that a lot of people don’t know. And to really learn from him as far as on the football field … I think it’s his knowledge of the game that really separates him and puts him in a position to do good things.
“[Prior to the Eagles game], he didn’t dress and he was going to go into the suites and watch the game. And when he finds out that I’m playing, he puts his stuff on that allows him to stand on the sideline and he was like; ’I was going to go into the suite, but since you are starting I just want to make sure you are calm and everything is good with you.’”
Portis spent the Eagles game on the sidelines, giving Williams advice and encouragement, all of which Williams said helped him to stay poised.
“Throughout the game he’s talking to me, just helping me stay relaxed and telling me what he is seeing out there. That was something I really did appreciate.”
While most rookies would probably be ecstatic with a three-touchdown performance in their first-career start, Williams was far from satisfied with his debut.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to get into the end zone,” he said. “But at the same time, I still feel like some plays, if I could have done things differently, or maybe hit this hole instead of that hole, it could have made the difference on the outcome of a drive and in the grand scheme of things it could have made a difference on the outcome of the game … Anytime you are a competitor, and you feel like you want to get better and never be satisfied, you always think about the wrong things you did.”
One week later, Williams carried the bulk of the load against Tennessee after Portis’ groin injury sidelined him once again. Williams’ number against the Titans weren’t nearly as flashy as his first start – 23 carries for 68 yards and six catches for 27 yards – but he again showed he can be a dependable running back, with or without the football.
While Williams has remained humble as his role has increased over the last two weeks, his solid play has not gone unnoticed.
“He’s getting a lot more confidence and the more repetition you get, the more you’re able to play in game situations, I think the better off you feel, especially as a young guy coming in,” Shanahan said of Williams. “So, he is improving both in the running game, pass protection and things along those lines.”
And with the lack of depth at running back, his role will likely only increase as the season goes on.
“You know, just to be here, and just to be at this point where I actually made the team but also contributing to the team means a lot,” he said.
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