However, on Wednesday I did take time off from my day job to head down to Ashburn for the team’s morning practice. Herewith are my thoughts on the training camp experience, the team, and random observations.

The Training Camp Experience

The trip to Ashburn from Baltimore was decent, that is until I hit the exit off 95 to 495 in Silver Spring. That horrendous stretch of the Capital Beltway from New Hampshire Avenue to the 270 spur reminds me of one of the reasons I do not miss living down that way. The Baltimore beltway is no great shakes either. However, that long stretch of waiting to move did allow me to stew in my own juices for forgetting my camera. I guess that is what happens when you are rushing out the door at 0Dark: 30. If you want to see what the facilities and the fields look like I recommend Ben’s travelogue from Training Camp ’07 over at the Curly R blog. Thankfully, my experience was not as hot and muggy as Ben’s was, the clouds blessedly shielded us from the sun.

If that wasn’t enough, once I made it to Virginia I had shell out $9.50 in tolls just to drive the road to Ashburn. At least The Danny wasn’t charging an entrance fee this year.

This was my first ever trip to Redskins Park, and for the foreseeable future it will be my last. It really is in the middle of Nowheresville, Loudon County. I have nothing against rural areas, but why in the name of Great Odin’s Raven would the team build a facility that far away from the home stadium (RFK and FedEx)?

That is actually a rhetorical question, when you consider George Allen designed the place. Allen was always concerned with preventing other teams from spying on his club—especially since he got caught doing it himself—so the Redskins built their headquarters in a place it would be hard to spy on. I remember the NFL Films piece on Allen where he had his security man patrol the woods surrounding the practice fields looking Tom Landry’s spies.

The logistics of running a team with facilities nearly 50 miles apart can’t be easy. Danny, if you are reading this, you need to build headquarter facilities closer to the stadium somewhere in Maryland or in the District.

In all fairness, once you get to Redskins Park, the team does its best to make it a good experience for the fans. Vendors have concessions available and the tents selling merchandise are ubiquitous. There are no seating stands to view practice, just a wide swath of grass on a small rising knoll. If you get a position close to the fence be prepared to stand in order to watch practice, otherwise, one of those foldy chairs works well on the top of the knoll. Lots of folks had those canopy chairs. They are definitely on my shopping list.

Of course, all of this is a moot point if you can snag a VIP pass, which gives you access to the sidelines and the corporate tents, where you can schmooze with the high and mighty. If my Examiner partners are reading this, how about showing me some love with a VIP pass so I don’t have to mingle with the hoi polloi. Actually, I just wanted to get picture with Kelli Johnson, but alas even if I had a VIP pass I had no camera.

Compared with my experience at Carlisle, training camp at Redskins Park pales in comparison. Sure Carlisle was just as bucolic as Ashburn, but the town was old and had quaint charms and nice little restaurants close by. You also had the stands at Dickinson College’s football field to sit in. Plus, I doubt you will ever again see Russ Grimm pull up in his old Ford Bronco (the big mamajama), park it in the end zone, step out, throw his chaw on the ground, and walk on the field to practice. Somehow, Chris Cooley’s beard just doesn’t measure up to that. Not that Captain Chaos’ personality doesn’t hearken back a little to John Riggins, but until he comes back with some Ron Saul stories, he’s got some more work to do.

Practice

This team definitely appreciates its fans. To a man all the players who the crowd acknowledged waved back, even Jason Taylor, who got a good reaction from the crowd. Jim Zorn gave a fist pump, but it was a bit weak. I appreciate the sentiment coach, but see Gary Williams on the mechanics of a proper fist pump to jack up the fans. Despite that, you can tell Zorn is a passionate and committed coach. He runs practice at a frenetic pace and hustles along with the players. Not surprisingly, he spent a lot of time with the quarterbacks.

For the most part the first hour of practice is pretty humdrum; warm ups, individual drills etc… In fact, for a time the most exciting football was the touch game some kids were playing on the grass. I think Vinny Cerrato even tried to sign one of them.

Practice really picked up in the second hour, when the offense and defense went against each other. The pads were on and the hitting was good.

Defenders should just get out of Mike Sellers way. He is a human freight train. Just ask Kennoi Kennedy and Brian Dawkins.

Joe Bugel looks like a guy, who has the joy of doing the thing he loves to do for a living.

Colt Brennan has a fantastic arm and a lightening quick release. However, his learning curve is going to be steep.

Jason Campbell looked better than he did the previous two days.

The rookie wide receivers look pretty darn good. Devin Thomas just hurt his hammy.

Anthony Mix has a tremendous upside.

James Thrash is a consummate professional.

Todd Collins’ arm makes him look like a wine drinker.

Chad Rhinehart held his own against Jason Taylor. Depending on the offensive line’s health this season, he could see some serious playing time.

London Fletcher is definitely a proud Poppa, if the hits he dealt out are any indication.

Stephon Heyer looks to have an excellent sophomore season.

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