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Chris Culliver:
Gruden says the CB market was Revis and then a drop off to next tier. Culliver was at top of that next group.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Jay Gruden loves Chris culliver's competitiveness. Felt he was one of best corners available after Revis
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Jeron Johnson:
Gruden on said the #Redskins studied SS Jeron Johnson's only start last season vs. #Giants. Really liked what they saw.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Safety Depth Chart:
Gruden likes competition they will have at SS w Johnson, Thomas, Ihenacho, Davis. Says no starter set.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Converting CB to FS:
Johnson can play FS as well as SS, Gruden says. Also says moving a CB yo FS is possibility. Doesn't say which being considered yet.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Gruden acknowledges that it's possible a corner on roster could be moved to safety. Didn't name names. Said DBs coach Fewell will have say.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Gruden says they will consider moving one of their corners to safety. Just one of the options. Could draft. Could still sign one
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Defensive Line:
Gruden says he wants the def line to play more up the field.
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Gruden doesn't yet know how rotation on D-line will shake out. Knighton at NT, obviously, but ends, nickel line still TBA.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Right Tackle:
"He's doing good, he's been working hard," Gruden said of Moses' rehab. "He should be ready to go."
"It won't be hard at all, as long as he comes into camp ready to go and gets a whole offseason with coach Callahan and understands what we're looking for at that position," Gruden said. "Morgan's a smart guy. He'll pick it up quickly, what we're looking for and what coach Callahan needs him to do. He'll have the opportunity, no doubt. Tom will have a great opportunity. I'm sure we'll add a couple pieces in the draft and rookie free agents to come in and compete, too. It'll be an interesting battle.
"[Moses] has a chance to be a good, solid right tackle for us. Tom Compton did some good things. He got beat from time to time like a lot of tackles do. With another year under his belt he has a chance."
Moses recovering well. Hope is he's ready to go OTAs, but could be later. Gruden again mentions possibility of drafting RT though.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
"The transition to right side wasn't as smooth as we'd like, but with a year under his belt, he has a chance to be a good solid right tackle for us," Gruden said. "Tom Compton won the job there in the middle of the year and did some good things. He got beat from time to time, like a lot of tackles do. I think with another year under his belt, he has a chance. We'll see how they do."
Running game:
Expect more downhill power running schemes w Callahan on board, Gruden says.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Gruden likes Callahan physical run style. More power. Likes he can mix style of runs
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Gruden said Alfred Morris will like what Bill Callahan has in store for the #Redskins' running game.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Guard Depth:
Gruden says they expect spencer long to compete. Says gives them two good right guards
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
At RG, Long will challenge Chester for job, and Gruden expecting big jump forward for the second-year pro.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Brian Orakpo:
Gruden said he's glad Orakpo got a good contract and will miss his leadership. Understands it was frustrating for him last year.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Drafting OLB:
Gruden said OLB is probably a position to be addressed in the draft.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Trent Murphy:
"Trent has great hands. He needs to develop more strength,"Gruden said. "He's very young up top and he'll get a lot stronger. He has the hands, he has the hips, he has the flexibility to get a good pass rush. We have to continue to work on his get off and some of his strength, which I think we can develop that. From a talent standpoint and toughness standpoint I like Trent. I think he has a bright future."
Improving as a Head Coach:
"I think going into Year 2, getting to know the guys, we had such a different group of guys. We had a lot of new guys coming into the organization, I was new, we had some new coaches. It was a unique situation last year, obviously. We had the quarterback issues. We had some issues we had to put out in-house. Hope everything calms down this year. Everybody's approach is ‘We're all in this together.' We want to have one goal and it's ‘We want to win football games.' I'll be more comfortable, the players will be more comfortable knowing what to expect from me, and hopefully it'll be a smooth transition."
"I do feel confident moving forward in my approach, not only to the weekly approach, but daily approach, to hourly approach to what I need to get done," he said. "And with the help of a great staff, that's why you hire people around you that are competent, that you can distribute workloads to people and know it's going to get done right and taught right. I really feel good about that moving forward with myself and the staff that we have."
QB Coach Matt Cavanaugh:
Gruden liked having cavanaugh to have a set of eyes focused harder on qb's. Can be more detail oriented with fundamentals
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Gruden says Cavanaugh will really help sharpen fundamentals of the QBs and allow McVay and himself to focus more on offense.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
QB Depth:
Gruden: We carried three quarterbacks last year. I don't know why we couldn't do it again this year.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
New Strength and Conditioning Coach:
Gruden said hiring a new strength coach (Mike Clark) was aimed to employ new/different ways for players to get stronger, avoid injuries.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Griffin Enters Camp as Starter:
Gruden says plan is still for Griffin to open OTAs as the starter and cousins and Mccoy will split reps behind him.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
"Every quarterback in the National Football League, whether you're 39 years old or 24 years old or 25, you have to continue to work on your fundamentals every offseason," Gruden said. "He's got to do that. Then, from the Xs and Os part of it, you know, that's just something he's going to have to work through and figure out how to do it."
Offseason coaching restrictions for QBs:
Gruden says it's crazy that he can't talk football with Griffin. "This is a starting quarterback in the NFL and I can't talk football."
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Gruden and Griffin are also neighbors. Gruden joked that when he sees him, he just yells, "Hey Robert."
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry:
Gruden says he likes Barry's ability to motivate and develop players
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 25, 2015
Scot McCloughan:
Gruden said it's been refreshing to work with McCloughan and having a guy that likes to focus on drafting and developing.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
5th Overall Pick:
Gruden on the No. 5 pick: "You've got to be right." Considers it a deep draft.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Injuries affecting offseason workouts:
Gruden said he doesn't expect any #Redskins players to miss any time this offseason due to recovering from injury other than Moses (foot).
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
3rd down back:
Gruden said he's looking at Chris Thompson as a strong candidate for third down back. Also mentioned deep draft for RBs.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Gruden will give Thompson and Redd a chance to be the third-down back, but figures to draft a RB.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Santana Moss:
Gruden doesn't know what Santana Moss' plans are (retirement) but "I would not hesitate to call him." Probably a post-draft situation.
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Gruden doesn't know what Santana Moss' plans are yet. Said "I could always play with Santana." Knows he'll be in shape and play hard.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Unsigned Redskins free agents:
Gruden on departed free agents: "If they're not on our roster right now, we don't have any plans for them to be with us."
— Zac Boyer (@ZacBoyer) March 25, 2015
Gruden didn't sound like there are plans to bring back the handful of remaining FAs, guys like Meriweather, Biggers, Polumbus, etc.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Top QBs in the draft:
Gruden echoes McCloughan saying team will take best player available and so, he's been studying top two QBs in case one should fall to 5.
— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 25, 2015
Gruden was elusive on Mariota question. Said the #Redskins are studying everyone. Added that whoever ends up with him will get good player.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
"If we think it’s worth the risk to hit the ‘reset button,’ if he’s that good of a football player, if we decide in the building that he’s that good of a football player and that we should do that, then we should do that, you know?" Gruden said. "But we haven’t come up with that determination as a whole group, as an organization yet, and it’s something that we’re working towards. Based on what I’ve seen so far, both of them are very talented people."
Trent Williams and Ryan Kerrigan extensions:
Gruden also indicated that Bruce Allen and Eric Schaffer are talking to Kerrigan and T. Williams' reps about long term extensions.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
David Amerson:
Gruden said Amerson had some "head scratchers" last season. But he expects him to make a "major jump" in third year.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Bashaud Breeland:
Gruden also said by the end of the year, Bashaud Breeland was one of the unit's leaders. Still has stuff to work on, tho.
— Tarik El-Bashir (@TarikCSN) March 25, 2015
Pass rushers in the draft:
"To add another pass-rusher would be outstanding, whether it's first, second, third, fourth, whatever round we get. There are some good pass-rushers in this draft -- not just early, but late," Gruden said.
"You know, they are different. They're different pass-rushers. It's interesting," Gruden said. "You know, you've got Shane Ray, who's a good pass-rusher. He's got good speed. You've got Vic Beasley. He's excellent. Randy Gregory, very athletic, man. He can bend and do everything you want as a pass-rusher. Obviously, Dante Fowler, very explosive, strong, big. There are some great options out there as far as pass rushers are concerned. That's exciting."
They're different, too. Some are better in third-and-long; some on first-and-10.
"You want a guy that can do a little bit of both," Gruden said. "You want a guy that can hold up in the running game on first down and obviously transition from playing the run to getting a pass rush and some of the play actions but then have the ability on third down-and-8 to be a game-type changer. I feel like there's four or five guys in this draft that can be that."