Redskins Insider - Your daily source for news and commentary on the Washington Redskins, by Jason Reid - October 4, 2009

Redskins Cut Wynn to Make Room for Punter

Renaldo Wynn's second stint with the Redskins didn't last nearly as long as his first. Signed as a free agent last March, Wynn was released by the team today to make room for punter Glenn Pakulak on the 53-man roster. Pakulak will punt in place of injured Hunter Smith on...

Special Teams Look to Make Difference

In this week's installment of Special Teams Saturday with Lorenzo Alexander, we'll look at what needs to be done to get the kickoff and punt-return games going and examine whether the Redskins have an edge on teams over the Carolina Panthers. Through the first four games, kickoff returner Rock Cartwright...

Golston Develops into Dependable Player

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is among the league's top players at his position, but defensive tackle Kedric Golston might have been the Redskins' most effective defensive lineman in the first four games. In his fourth season, Golston is emerging as one of Washington's top players. He has performed his role...

Former Terp Lattimore Gets a Look

In their ongoing quest to have every unsigned running back on their 53-man roster, the Redskins on Friday worked out former Maryland running back Keon Lattimore, Ray Lewis's brother, but do not plan to sign him because they have no roster room, a league source said. Earlier this week, the...

Injury Report: Montgomery Inactive Again

Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (knee) will be inactive again this week, Zorn said, "but he's progressing. He's not quite ready, I'm going to put him down this week, but he's progressing to where he's actually got a chance in the next weeks to come to really make it tougher on...

Hunter Inactive; Pakulak to Punt on Sunday

Punter Hunter Smith will be inactive Sunday against the Carolina Panthers because of a groin injury he suffered in the Redskins' previous game, and punter Glenn Pakulak will be signed off the practice squad, Coach Jim Zorn said after practice Friday at Redskins Park. Smith, injured on his first punt...

Portis Isn't Winning Any Fans Among Teammates (Updated)

I just received a few more texts and calls from league sources about the Mike Sellers-Clinton Portis incident, and this is not good for the Redskins. Some people in the locker room wouldn't have been too upset if Sellers had landed a couple of blows (no punches were thrown), because...

Sources Confirm Portis-Sellers Incident

Just got off the phone with multiple league sources who confirmed that running back Clinton Portis and fullback Mike Sellers had a heated verbal exchange earlier this week over Portis's frustration about Sellers's blocking this season. No punches were thrown during the argument - which occurred Monday at Redskins Park...

What Will Lewis Say about Portis?

Longtime NFL assistant Sherman Lewis, who has extensive experience in West Coast offenses, is easing into his new job. Although the Redskins run Coach Jim Zorn's version of a West Coast attack, the offense includes terminology that is unique to Zorn's scheme. Zorn and Lewis said Lewis would watch a...

Zorn Says Blache 'Really Needed a Break'

In an unusual move for NFL coordinators, defensive coordinator Greg Blache has informed team officials he will no longer speak with the media this season, a Redskins spokesman said. Blache did not reveal his decision, give a reason for the change or take questions during his regularly scheduled session with...

Kelly Reveals Thumb Injury

Looking for theories about wide receiver Malcolm Kelly's lack of production through the first four games? He revealed today that he suffered ligament damage in his right thumb on the first pass play of the game against the Rams. Kelly said he's still able to play and practice but conceded...

When Hall and Smith Match Up, It's Personal

Earlier this week, Panthers receiver Steve Smith evaded questions about Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall on a conference call with Washington media. Fortunately for us, Hall wasn't quite as shy today when he was asked about Smith. "We tend to get a little bit more personal than other battles," Hall said....

Blache Hands Media Duties over to Gray

A week after throwing himself "under the bus" for the Redskins' poor performance defensively, defensive coordinator Greg Blache has informed team officials he no longer will speak with the media this season, a team spokesman said today. Blache did not reveal his decision or take questions during his regularly scheduled...

Kelly's Still a Puzzle that Must Be Solved

After emerging as the winner in the competition with fellow second-year wideout Devin Thomas for the job of starting flanker, Malcolm Kelly focused on being a "security blanket" for quarterback Jason Campbell. "Just to give Jason that option where if something isn't there [on other routes in a play], he...

Zorn Discusses Lewis Hiring

Redskins Coach Jim Zorn faced the media for the first time since the team hired Sherman Lewis as a consultant. Zorn, who had no prior relationship with Lewis, did his best to shine a positive light on what seems from the outside to be an awkward situation. "It's not something...

Portis Philosophical about Hiring

During his weekly group media session today at Redskins Park, running back Clinton Portis seemed reluctant to weigh in on the hiring of offensive consultant Sherman Lewis. "I don't know," Portis said. "You've got to ask general management about that. I don't know much about the situation." Well, not quite....

Tryon Might Have Found Just the Right Slot

Playing in the slot, second-year nickel cornerback Justin Tryon had his best performance in the 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tryon had a sack on a corner blitz and covered and tackled well, apparently strengthening his position in the defensive backfield rotation. Top corner DeAngelo Hall has played...

Punter Pakulak Makes D.C. Latest Stop on NFL Tour

The professional resume of Glenn Pakulak is all over the place: teacher, bartender, waiter, steel worker. Oh, and NFL punter. As the team's new practice squad punter, Pakulak made an appearance in the Redskins' locker room on Wednesday, just another NFL locker room to scratch off the checklist. Prior to...

Campbell: 'It's Not the Coaches'

The hiring of offensive consultant Sherman Lewis is not an indication that Coach Jim Zorn and his offensive staff have performed poorly, quarterback Jason Campbell said today. "I don't think so. Not at all," he said. "I think Coach Zorn and all our coaches have done a good job, we...

Vote: What's Your Take on the Lewis Hire?

We want to know what you think about the Redskins' hiring of Sherman Lewis. Is it a smart idea to bring in, as Vinny Cerrato says, "a fresh set of eyes?" Or is it, as Charley Casserly says, the "kiss of death" for Jim Zorn? poll by twiigs.com From the...

Analysis: Behind the Sherman Lewis Hiring

The decision to add Sherman Lewis, a longtime assistant in West Coast offenses, as a consultant might be Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's last-ditch effort to convince himself not to make a coaching change during the season. In the last few weeks, we've been hearing a lot about Snyder seeking answers...

Redskins Hire Offensive Consultant

Not happy with the team's offensive production through the first four games, the Redskins made perhaps their biggest offensive move since hiring Coach Jim Zorn -- bringing on a consultant to help Zorn run his offense. The team announced today that it has retained the services of Sherm Lewis as...

Pakulak Signed to Practice Squad; Shelton Dropped

The Redskins' punter competition has ended -- yet the team's 53-man roster remains the same. Glenn Pakulak, a 29-year-old journeyman punter, has been added to the practice squad. To make room for Pakulak, the Redskins have released wide receiver Trent Shelton from the practice squad. So you're thinking: If Hunter Smith is hurt and unable...

What I Think: The Tampa Bay Edition

The heat isn't as intense on Coach Jim Zorn after Sunday's 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There still is, however, a lot happening with the Redskins, and much of it isn't positive. Obviously, these times demand another installment of Here's What Happened/Here's What I Think. Let's get it...

Redskins Won't Sign Henry, Zorn Says

On his radio show on ESPN980, Redskins Coach Jim Zorn said the team would not sign Tennessee Titans running back Chris Henry, who worked out today at Redskins Park. Zorn declined to say who finished ahead in the four-way puntathon: Glenn Pakulak, Sam Paulescu, Waylon Prather and Ricky Schmitt....

The View from Charlotte

Coming off their bye week, the winless Panthers are approaching the season the only way they can, writes Charles Chandler of the Charlotte Observer: They're gonna pretend those three games never happened; there's nuthin' more to see here, just keep movin'. Quarterback Jake Delhomme said the team came back so...

Redskins Give 4 Punters a Tryout (Updated)

It sounds like a reality TV show: "Who Wants To Be A Punter For A Struggling Football Team?" There won't be cameras around, but there will be a competition of sorts today at Redskins Park. The team has flown in four candidates, one of whom may or may not assume...

Zorn: Tryon 'Very Heads Up'

Second-year cornerback Justin Tryon impressed Coach Jim Zorn in Sunday's 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Playing in the slot as the nickel corner, Tryon was effective in man and zone coverage, had a sack on a corner blitz and tackled well. Could Tryon, who played ahead of cornerback...

Zorn Opts to Push on for Perfection

Washington (2-2) has lost to the Detroit Lions, defeated the St. Louis Rams (0-4) by only two points and struggled to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by three points. After Sunday's victory over Tampa Bay, quarterback Jason Campbell essentially said the Redskins might not have many aesthetically pleasing victories this...

Ex-Titans RB to Try Out with Redskins

Former Tennessee Titans running back Chris Henry is scheduled to work out for the Redskins on Tuesday, a league source said. With top back Clinton Portis slowed by injuries and off to a slow start this season, the team is seeking a spark in the running game. Offensive coordinator Sherman...

Healthy Again, Doughty Delivers

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache last week demoted strong safety Chris Horton to the second team in favor of Reed Doughty, and Doughty delivered during a 16-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedEx Field. In his first start of the season, Doughty was credited with a team-high nine tackles,...

Campbell and Moss Click for Long TDs

Even in their fifth season together, quarterback Jason Campbell and wide receiver Santana Moss still are trying to get in sync on deep balls. But it definitely appears they've clicked the last two weeks. Campbell and Moss teamed on a 57-yard touchdown in the third quarter of a 19-14 loss...

Redskins to Audition Punters

Veteran punter Hunter Smith, who has a groin injury, might miss this week's game against the Carolina Panthers, so the Redskins plan to audition possible replacements Tuesday at Redskins Park, Coach Jim Zorn said today. "His MRI came out decent," Zorn said. "He's got a pulled groin. It's not severe,...

Jurgensen, Campbell Weigh in ... on Campbell

There's no one I respect more in the Redskins' organization than legendary quarterback and radio analyst Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III. The Hall of Famer tells it like it is and stands by his words. During Sunday's 16-13 victory over the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedEx Field, I received...

Predict Redskins-Panthers Result

The Redskins play another winless team Sunday. This one, the Carolina Panthers, is coming off its bye week and has lost to Philadelphia, Atlanta and Dallas. The Panthers have been outscored 87-37 and have scored four touchdowns in three games. poll by twiigs.com Zorn Goes Orbacious Over at the D.C....

Tryon More at Ease in Bigger Role

For the last couple of weeks, I've been hearing that second-year cornerback Justin Tryon has been making strides in practice. Tryon struggled when the coaches gave him opportunities in preseason games, and was burned repeatedly in coverage in the 2008 preseason as a rookie. But with nickel corner Fred Smoot...

Moss Joins Elite Company with TD (Updated)

Wide receiver Santana Moss made the play that won the game, a 59-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Jason Campbell in the third quarter. Though Moss caught only two passes, he did something no Redskin has done in 22 years -- catch touchdowns of more than 50 yards in back-to-back weeks....

Internet Aside, Horton Has a Solid Day (Updated)

Second-year safety Chris Horton lost his starting job this week to Reed Doughty, a move that defensive coordinator Greg Blache said was a switch of evenly-matched players. Sunday morning, though, Horton's Web site -- predator48.com -- posted a screed that called out Blache and highly-paid teammates DeAngelo Hall and Albert...

Smith on His Injury, Suisham's Game

Punter Hunter Smith left Sunday's 16-13 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after straining his groin on his first punt in the first quarter and was unable to kick for the rest of the game. Smith continued to hold for field goals and extra points and said after the game...

What's Your Take?

poll by twiigs.com...

Redskins Get Out of This One with a Win

It wasn't pretty, but you get the feeling that the Redskins will take it. They rebounded from last week's loss at Detroit by sneaking by the Tampa Bay Bucs 16-13 Sunday at FedEx Field. Despite the win, you can bet there will be plenty of questions tossed around Redskins Park...

Redskins Take a Lead into 4th Quarter

The Redskins opened the second half with exactly what they needed -- a big play, of any kind. After the Buccaneers took the opening kickoff, quarterback Josh Johnson unwisely threw into double coverage down the right sideline. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall picked it off and returned it 22 yards to the...

Vote Now on Campbell, Offense

poll by twiigs.com poll by twiigs.com...

Redskins Down by 10 at Halftime

After posting a first-quarter passer rating of 5.6, Jason Campbell's day got worse. Though he completed a 15-yard pass to Santana Moss to give the Redskins a first down and get the offense moving, he stumbled badly, again, on a third-and-two play at the Tampa Bay 46. After calling a...

Redskins Trail by TD after a Quarter

Had the Redskins envisioned disastrous ways to start a game against a winless team, Sunday's start would have been a candidate for the worst. Quarterback Jason Campbell was sacked on the team's second play from scrimmage, then sacked again on the third-down play by Tampa Bay end Jimmy Wilkerson. Worse,...

Portis Is a 'Go' to Play; the Inactive List

Clinton Portis will indeed play today. His status had been a game-time decision because of an injured calf as well as bone spurs. The Redskins' inactive players are Marko Mitchell, Kevin Barnes, Anthony Alridge, Edwin Williams, Robert Henson, D'Antony Batiste and Renaldo Wynn. The Buccaneers' inactives are Byron Leftwich, Derrick...

Buccaneers vs. Redskins: Pregame

Tell us how you think running back Clinton Portis, who is listed as a game-time decision, will do today. poll by twiigs.com If You're Heading to FedEx The Capital Weather Gang has delivered a beeeyuuteeful day. Remember that there may be a bit more of a traffic shabingus than usual,...

Redskins Insider: October 4, 2009 - October 10, 2009