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Practice Notes: 2019 #SkinsCamp, Day 8

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RICHMOND, Va. -- Redskins.com's Kyle Stackpole and Ryan Fowler breaks down the key plays and highlights from Day 8 of training camp at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center on Saturday.

Offense:

-- While head coach Jay Gruden said Saturday that he'd love to make a decision on a starting quarterback now, he added that he does not believe that will happen for "a little bit of time."

"These guys are all doing some good things," Gruden told reporters during his morning press conference. "We've just got to manage the reps and try to get it figured out sooner than [later]. But the way these guys are all progressed and playing it'll be tough to say, 'OK, you're the starter, you're the backup, you're number three, in the next couple of weeks, that's for sure."

In terms of naming a starter for Thursday's preseason opener in Cleveland, Gruden said that decision will probably be made Tuesday.

-- Colt McCoy and Case Keenum split the first-team reps Saturday, experiencing their own highs and lows.

During 11-on-11s, McCoy led the offense down the field against the starting defense with a long connection to Vernon Davis on a post route along with several shorter completions. But once the Redskins approached the goal line, McCoy threw into traffic in the middle of the end zone and paid for it. Landon Collins was right there to snag the one-handed interception, and then he took off down the left sideline with plenty of blockers in front of him. On another play earlier in practice, McCoy made another questionable decision, firing a deep ball with no wide receivers in the vicinity that almost led to another Jimmy Moreland interception.

Keenum began his final 11-on-11 session with a long touchdown pass to Brian Quick on a post route, but the throw came after edge defender Jordan Brailford burst into the backfield for a would-be sack. From there, Keenum connected with Robert Davis but then capped his day with two straight incompletions in the red zone.

-- Rookie Dwayne Haskins handed the ball off three times and threw an incompletion during his opening 11-on-11 session. A rare miscommunication between Haskins and Ohio State teammate Terry McLaurin caused the misfire, as McLaurin cut out while Haskins launched the pass downfield. Afterwards, Haskins immediately assumed the blame by tapping his chest.

During his final 11-on-11 session, Haskins delivered a wobbly throw downfield that Kelvin Harmon was still able to catch using just one hand. He proceeded to throw two incompletions mixed between several runs, but he capped Saturday's practice with a short touchdown to Donald Parham. Haskins and the 6-foot-8 tight end have shown to have a good relationship since the team signed Parham in June.

-- During a rare live session at the end of practice, running back Craig Reynolds displayed a solid combination of speed and physicality, bouncing to the outside on one play and then bouncing off tackles up the middle shortly thereafter. The undrafted rookie out of Kutztown split the live reps with the shifty Shaun Wilson, who snuck into the end zone during the second-to-last play of practice.

Quick hits:

-- Geron Christian assumed the starting left tackle spot while Ereck Flowers played left guard and Chase Roullier played center. Newly-signed Donald Penn played left tackle with the second team.

-- Wes Martin, who played next to Donald Penn with the twos, plowed fellow rookie Cole Holcomb during team drills to open up a sizable hole for Byron Marshall.

-- Tight end Jordan Reed had another standout day, consistently getting open and catching every ball that came his way. Collins, when asked about standout pass-catchers after practice, decided on Reed and rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

-- Derrius Guice showed quality vision and patience on runs and was frequently used as a pass-catcher.

Defense:

-- NFL referees were on sight Saturday, offering an intensified and game-like atmosphere in Richmond.

-- Corner Greg Stroman was dominant in 1-on-1 coverage. The defensive back used both press and off-man coverage in his matchups and broke up two passes in the air. Stroman, who has also worked returning punts, offers versatility to the back end of Washington's defense heading into his second season.

-- Seventh-round selection Jordan Brailford saw his first action of training camp after being activated from the physical unable to perform (PUP) list Saturday morning. On multiple plays with the second-unit, he showcased his pass-rush skillset by blowing by tackle Timon Parris off the edge.

-- Jon Bostic and Shaun Dion-Hamilton served as the team's starting inside linebackers, with Cole Holcomb working in with the first team on occasion. The defensive line would frequently "chop" down the Redskins offensive linemen by taking out their legs, allowing the linebackers to quickly fill any rushing lanes and meet the ball carrier not far from the line of scrimmage.

-- Fabian Moreau took the bulk of the reps as the nickel corner during 11-on-11 drills, and Jimmy Moreland also received reps with the ones. Deshazor Everett continued to showcase his physicality both in the run and in coverage. Everett provides the Washington defense with the ability to play both near the line and in the secondary, along with his skillset in special teams.

-- Landon Collins made the highlight play of camp for the defense, picking off a Colt McCoy pass with one-hand in the end zone. Collins immediately turned up field with a herd of Redskins defenders leading the way for what would have been roughly a 105-yard pick six. After practice, Collins described the Redskins defense as a unit that could "take us to the big dance."

Quick Hits:

-- Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky employed some four-man fronts Saturday with Ryan Kerrigan, Matt Ioannidis, Daron Payne and Ryan Anderson all in three-point stances.

--The third-unit offense and defense squared off as full tackling was allowed for the first time in camp. The five-minute period was highlighted by extreme physicality from young defensive backs Ashton Lampkin and Jeremy Reaves.

Special Teams:

-- Trey Quinn, T.J. Rahming, Steven Sims Jr., Byron Marshall and Greg Stroman all practiced returning punts and kicks.

-- Punter Tress Way clinically placed punts during the "coffin corner" drill. After landing a ball inside the 10-yard line, Gruden complimented Way by shouting, "That's a great punt big boy, I love that!"

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