Washington Redskins Fan Appreciation Day Recap

Today—Saturday, July 26—was the Redskins' Fan Appreciation Day in Ashburn, Virginia.

The event featured a performance by the marching band and some of the cheerleaders.  The above photograph is my view of the practice field.  There were 28,000 fans attending, breaking the 2004 record of 25,000.

By the way, this was my first time at the Redskins' Training Camp.

All the usual stars came out to warm up, and everyone of course screamed out names.  Clinton Portis has a certain aura about him, even when he stands still. 

The crowd really went crazy when Jason Taylor came out.  He put his hand up in the air and got an even bigger roar.  Fortunately for me, Taylor came out right near me. So did Portis, Betts, Randle El, and Cartwright.

There were a few women behind me screaming, "Marcus!" out loud.  It wasn't to linebacker Marcus Washington, but instead to second-year running back Marcus Mason.

Oh, and Mike Sellers is massive.  I would hate to try to tackle him.   

Jason Campbell looks really tall.  I guess I forget he is six-foot-five.  Colt Brennan is really short for a quarterback. 

Rookie receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly were both sidelined with hamstring injuries, but they also stood briefly very close to where I was.  Thomas had a towel over his head.  I must say, he looks shorter than six-foot-two. 

Rookie punter Durant Brooks can really kick the ball—farther than Derrick Frost can; that's for sure. 

In the scrimmage, quite a few players didn't participate.  Safety LaRon Landry has a minor hamstring injury.  Portis, as one would expect, didn't play.  Receivers Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El played briefly. Jason Taylor didn't play a down, either.

In the end, this makes sense.  The veterans know how to play.  They need not risk injury.

Frankly, Colt Brennan's release is really weird.  It is a combination of a sidearm throw and a push.  The ball flies really low to the ground when he throws, so I'm afraid many of his passes will be batted down.

Both he and Derek Devine were unimpressive. 

I was, however, very impressed with Jason Campbell.  I was a little far from the end zone the offense was moving towards, but he definitely got the job done.  There was one overthrown ball I remember. He completed fifteen of twenty-two passes for 122 yards.  Not bad.

Todd Collins had a great throw. Billy McMullen caught it and ran a good distance for a touchdown.

Strangely enough, there were very few run plays called.  I suppose this is because the passing offense is what really needs to develop. 

It was a fun day.  I was in the shade, so the heat didn't get to me. 

Coach Zorn ended the scrimmage at three o'clock instead of the scheduled 3:30.  Instead of staying for autographs, I booked it to the car and successfully avoided traffic.

I wish I had stayed back to get photographs of players up close, but oh well.

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