Cheers & Jeers - Thursday, May 8, 2008

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Thursday, May 8, 2008

POSTED May 8, 8:11 AM

Life changes under Zorn

They put in the offense, examined the newcomers and started to get a feel for the new head coach. The past week — with three minicamp days and three more organized team activities — gave the Redskins a glimpse of life under Jim Zorn.
Three things stood out during this time:

PASSING GAME » The passing game will take some time to get going as the receivers learn a new offense.
“It’s different,” receiver Antwaan Randle El said. “The terminology is different. Sometimes when they say Z motion, they’re not talking to the Z receiver. Sometimes they’ll say F motion and you think they’re talking about fullback but they’re really not; they’re talking about the Z receiver. You can see how it would be a little confusing.”
Said Zorn, “That causes them to be slow. What I want them to do is know and feel the defense, and how to beat the defender. Right now they’re just trying to remember the routes.”

DEFENSIVE COMMUNICATION » It’s obvious the defense is more familiar with its scheme. Corner Fred Smoot spotted the offense flooding a particular area with its formation. So he immediately shouted out a warning to the other side. The offense then had to check out of the pattern and dump the ball to the back.
It’s a subtle, but telling, thing.

INJURIES » Three key players — Randle El (knee), quarterback Jason Campbell (minor hamstring pull) and running back Clinton Portis (minor hip flexor) — have now dealt with some sort of ailment. Randle El had surgery Tuesday, but is expected to return for the next round of OTAs the first week of June.
Zorn wasn’t thrilled with Portis’ injury.
“I’m wondering if it was that sprint he ran,” he said, referring to the 40-yard dash vs. LaRon Landry on Sunday.
But Campbell’s injury represented progress: he said it occurred because, per Zorn’s orders, he’s staying more compact in the pocket and his muscles must adapt. For Zorn that means one thing: he’s doing the right thing.

Wieters waits for his chance

It won’t be next week. It probably won’t be until the end of next season.
But first-round draft pick Matt Wieters is on his way to the majors.
“He is either on pace or ahead of schedule right now and he started the season hot,” said Ben Badler, assistant editor of Baseball America. “He is hitting for average and power and doing everything they want him to do. He could be in the majors in a few years, no doubt.”
Wieters was selected fifth overall in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft by the Orioles. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder played winter ball for the Honolulu Sharks, where he hit .283 with 17 RBI, nine doubles and a home run in 31 games.
But he has picked up his game since being assigned to Class A Frederick midway through Spring Training.
As a Key, he is batting .340 with 18 RBI and five home runs and five doubles in 29 games. When Wieters signed his deal, which included a $6 million bonus, Orioles front office personnel said they wanted to be sure he was being challenged and reached the majors as soon as possible.
A promotion to AA Bowie should come sooner than later, but don’t be surprised if Wieters takes a little time to adjust.
“It depends on who you talk to, but we find the biggest jump is from High-A to Double-A Frederick to Bowie. It seems like that is the level where a lot of guys get weeded out,” Badler said.
At the start of this season, he was ranked 12th on Baseball America’s list of Top 100 prospects.
But with 31-year old catcher Ramon Hernandez (.189 BA, 16 RBI) under contract through just next season, Wieters might soon go from prospect to major league starter.

A father-son moment for Green, Monk

Darrell Green and Art Monk became close as teammates and they’ll enter the NFL Hall of Fame together. So it’s only fitting that both have chosen their sons to present them at the ceremony in August.
Green will have his son, Jarrett, 19, present him while Monk’s son, James, 25, will serve as his presenter.
The players will be inducted on Aug. 2. The Redskins will play the Indianapolis Colts the following day in Canton, Ohio.
“It’s going to be fantastic to have him,” Monk said. “He’s excited about me making the Hall of Fame, but he’s even more excited to participate. It’s an opportunity that most kids don’t have.
“It’s very special to have my own flesh and blood stand up and speak on my behalf. It’s going to be a great moment.”
Green’s son Jarrett is finishing up his freshman year at the University of Virginia. As a player, Green used to tell stories of playing basketball with his son at their Ashburn home.
“My son is my best friend,” Green said. “We talk every day of his life, even in college. He’s my best buddy.”
Green said the decision was made at least a year ago.
“It was a no-brainer,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knew that it would be him.”

Good idea/bad idea

Good idea » Naming Washington Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau the Jack Adams trophy winner for NHL coach of the year. Did any coach do a better job this season?

Bad idea » Inflatable dolls in the clubhouse. If only Bud Selig had reacted to steroids as fast as he reacted to the White Sox’s stunt.

Good idea » Watching HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which will be at training Camp with the Dallas Cowboys this summer. Let’s hope they hang one night with Pacman Jones.

Bad idea » Shooting two for 18 in Tuesday’s playoff game. Not a good opener for LeBron James vs. the Boston Celtics. Ask the Wiz how he responds to bad games.

Good idea » Getting hold of Derek Jeter’s black book. Apparently, he’s dated six women on Maxim’s Hot 100 list. Sigh.

Bad idea » Taking legal advice from Rusty Hardin. Then again, maybe Roger Clemens is so arrogant and foolish nobody could have steered him from this mess.

Good idea » Checking to make sure that the prostitutes you hire are, you know, actually women. How’d that work out Ronaldo?

Bad idea » Paying $10 million for one year of Eric Gagne’s services. He’s already blown five saves for Milwaukee this season. Many more to follow.

Knucklehead of the week

Cedric Benson » Bears RB
It was bad enough for Cedric Benson in Chicago. Fans have wanted to get rid of him for a while. Writers view him as a wasted pick by Jerry Angelo. And then the Bears traded Thomas Jones, who helped get them to the Super Bowl, before last season. Benson was ineffective and then eventually broke his leg. The Bears then drafted Matt Forte in the second round. And now this. Benson was arrested over the weekend for boating while drunk and then had to be pepper-sprayed. We must say, Benson and some others on the boat dispute the police account of what happened. But police have pulled over his boat six times in the past year. Are they really targeting him? Oh, yeah, Benson has been arrested two other times (for marijuana possession in 2002; the charges were dropped. And in 2003 for smashing in an apartment door searching for a stolen plasma TV).

On the record

“My inside tells me that Strahan played his last game with the New York Giants as a champion, and that’s not a bad way to go out.”
— New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce on WFAN-AM in New York on teammate and DE Michael Strahan.

“If Antawn is not back, then there’s no point in me coming back because he’s part of my success too. If he doesn’t come back, I’m not coming back.”
— Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas on his blog talking about unrestricted free agent Antawn Jamison

By the numbers

3 » Number of home runs hit yesterday by Cincinnati’s Joey Votto in a 9-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. The second-year player had never hit more than one in a game.

29,035 » Feet to the summit of Mount Everest, the next stop of the Olympic Torch, which is scheduled to reach the top of the mountain in the next few days.

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Cheers & Jeers
The Baltimore Examiner's Dave Carey and the Washington Examiner's John Keim review the daily buzz around the sports world with their insight and analysis. Feel free to give us your take at caj@examiner.com