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Friday Training Camp Practice Notes

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The Redskins practiced today under bright sunny skies for the first time since Tuesday, and enjoyed one of their more spirited practices to date.

After the customary warmup, stretch and position drills, the team participated in 1-on-1 drills and then moved straight into 11-on-11 full team scenarios.

Veteran receiver Donte' Stallworth was back on the practice field today and got involved with the offense early.He showed no lingering effects of the hamstring tweak that kept him off the practice field since last Saturday.

Coaches have been cautious in their approach with injured players and those that joined the team after offseason workouts, taking time to ensure they are ready for the increased workload.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was without ankle support, but still had athletic tape encouraging circulation running down his leg.

Offensive tackle Trent Williams had his wrist heavily wrapped and appeared to struggle with the pain of his sprained wrist, but did not come out.

Head coach Mike Shanahan praised Williams' pain tolerance and perseverence after practice, saying that the fourth-year tackle had the option to sit but wanted to practice with teammates and prepare for the season.

Quarterback Robert Griffin III got on the field during 7-on-7 drills and completed 13-of-17 passes, including two dropped balls that should have been caught.

The drill mostly focused on underneath passes to tight ends and slot receivers, but the highlight of the series was a 50-yard pass to Aldrick Robinson downfield over safety Bacarri Rambo and cornerback David Amerson.

Here are some other observations from today's portion of practice that was open to the media:

  • Griffin III was spelled by Kirk Cousins on a handful of plays but was largely on the field during 7-on-7 drills. Cousins' big play was a pass to tight end Niles Paul, who was running free over the middle, for 30 yards.
  • After 7-on-7's, the team moved into 11-on-11 goal line drills, where running back Roy Helu Jr. kicked things off with a plunge into the end zone. Rex Grossman followed that up with a pass to tight end Niles Paul, who was once again wide open. The next two plays yielded touchdowns to Jawan Jamison and Eric Kettani, but there were defenders in the area that made it unclear if either would have scored in live hitting.
  • During the ensuing special teams drills, the unit worked on kick coverage, putting only rookies Nick Williams and Skye Dawson back deep. During these drills, members of the Redskins Kids Club began chanting "Go Shan-a-han!" Once the offense returned to the field, the group switched to the customary "R-G-3!"
  • During the 1-on-1 trench battles, defensive end Chris Baker had a scary moment after falling to the ground and walking to the sideline for a breather. He recovered quickly, however, and was back in play for the duration of practice.
  • Having the NFL officials in camp has been a benefit to the players and media, as they have been able to articulate the rule changes and interpretation in place for the 2013 season. The officials were also active in practice, throwing flags for false starts and offsides, while also offering players free advice. When receivers lined up in the neutral zone or improperly off the line, refs were able to offer quick pointers to get everyone up to speed.

Play(s) Of The Day: Offense

The team closed practice with drive scenarios, beginning with the ball on the 30 and plenty of time on the clock. Rex Grossman got first crack at the offense, hitting Aldrick Robinson for a sizable gain, but ultimately stalling.

Kirk Cousins came in for the second attempt and hit tight end Fred Davis for his first first down. On the next play, Cousins found tight end Niles Paul open on the sideline, who raced more than 50 yards for a practice-ending touchdown.

Paul is certainly a player to watch in the team's preseason action, as he looks comfortable in his second season at tight end.

Play(s) Of The Day: Defense

After the goal line scenario, the Redskins flipped it around and had the 11-on-11 offense backed up inside the 10-yard line.

As frequently happens in football, the defense got the best of the offense in this scenario, highlighted by a leaping interception by Richard Crawford, who made the Rex Grossman pick in 1-on-1 coverage.

Crawford drew praise from his coaches this offseason, and he looks to earn more playing time in his sophomore season. He fights an uphill battle against the additions of David Amerson and E.J. Biggers, but plays like this will certainly help his cause.

What's Next?

The Redskins will be back in action on Saturday for the annual Fan Appreciation Day, held for the first time in Richmond, Va.

The team is expecting record crowds, so be sure to arrive early and bring your official training camp pass.

The official list of events can be found on the schedule page, but festivities are set to begin at 10 a.m. with practice officially kicking off at noon.

For your official source of training camp news, follow along @Redskins.

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