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The billionaire’s club of the NFL descended on Orlando, FL this week for the annual owner’s meetings. This week will bring new rules, rule changes, and opportunities for journalists to get a paid vacation to Florida to kick off their Spring.
Redskins Team President Bruce Allen spoke to NBC Washington’s JP Finley yesterday about a number of topics including Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, free agency, draft trades, and the status of the Redskins new stadium.
Today was the coaches breakfast where reporters get to ask a few questions after the first wave of free agency and before next month’s draft. Jay Gruden talked about new Redskins players he expects to step up, the draft, and of course Smith replacing Cousins.
Alex Smith:
Jay Gruden says on Alex Smith throwing the deep ball, “the ability has always been there” but maybe gained confidence with better weapons
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 27, 2018
“It’s his entire body of work. He’s very good with the intermediate ball. He’s good with the quick game. Obviously he gets the ball out of his hands with the screens and all that stuff. He can run the zone reads, the RPOs, very exciting. The intermediate passes, the deep ball, I mean, and then obviously the ability to ad lib and make plays that aren’t there are exciting – keep plays alive.
“So, really, you know, coaching him I think for the first time will be exciting because I don’t think there’s a limit right now on what he can do. He’s got all the things you want a quarterback to be able to do.”
“I think over time he probably got a little bit better and maybe had a little bit better skill set of guys he could throw to, but the ability has always been there, but I think he’s maybe starting to gain a little bit more confidence in doing it and maybe taking a few more shots as a result of his success. But we’ll wait and see. I don’t have any doubt that Alex can throw the deep ball.”
#Redskins HC Jay Gruden told us why he can't wait to start working with his new Quarterback Alex Smith...
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) March 26, 2018
AUDIO pic.twitter.com/QvOyXmEsFT
Asked #Redskins coach Jay Gruden if his team got better at the QB position. Says “without a doubt.” Then explains, not to compare Cousins to Smith, but based on Smith’s credentials, they definitely improved there, which is the goal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 27, 2018
“Yeah, without a doubt. I don’t want to compare two players, but we’re always trying to be better at every position. We got better. Alex’s experience is well-noted, and his record the last five years is what it is. You could argue that all day, but we feel very good.”
Deep ball:
“He threw deep balls to Travis Kelce, for goodness sakes. Travis is very similar to Josh in that they’ll have a defensive back on them and you’re throwing away from a defensive back, whether it’s back shoulder or over the top or what have you. He’s got that arm talent to throw it to different locations deep.”
Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid on Alex Smith:
Lots of good stuff in here from Jay Gruden and Andy Reid about new Redskins QB Alex Smith: https://t.co/OJHZ9Lb1is
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) March 27, 2018
“You’re talking about the No. 1 ranked quarterback coming out this year, and I don’t think he’s hit the ceiling yet.”
”He’ll be eager to get in there and get Jay’s stuff down. I think he and Jay will hit it off. I have a lot of respect for Jay as an offensive coach, and this is how much respect (general manger Brett Veach) and I had, was to get him in a place where he can win and be with a good offensive line.”
”His ability to change things at the line of scrimmage is phenomenal. You’re not going to run out of gigabytes with the dude. His capacity to learn and still function at a high rate is second to none.”
Johnathan Hankins:
Asked about possibility of still adding FA Johnathan Hankins, Jay Gruden said, “There’s still a chance. (Smiles) Why wouldn’t there be a chance?”
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Adds, #Redskins could still add some pieces
When price point meets production expectations, then there's a chance. not there at this time. https://t.co/hLQKGU0p60
— John Keim (@john_keim) March 27, 2018
New recovery facility at Redskins Park:
Jay Gruden says that the team is adding state of the art recovery tech to the facility on the heels of last year’s injury disaster.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) March 27, 2018
#Redskins are adding recovery facilities this offseason to try and fight injuries. “Better work because it’s expensive,” Gruden says.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 27, 2018
“Our trainer will be here shortly with the final projection and we’ll get it started I think starting Monday. He’s flying up to London – or he’s flying over there – to check out some recovery centers at some of the soccer facilities that they have over there. So we’re adding quite a few things that will hopefully help in the recovery process. Will it cure injuries? A guy getting rolled up on or a shoulder or an Achilles? No. But I think in order to help guys after games recover could be beneficial to everybody. It better be, because it’s quite expensive.”
“There’s a lot of these tanks and things that they’ve been using, some of them, on their own. Now, we’re just trying to have access so they can use them at the facility. Obviously our facility is not gigantic, we can’t add too many of them, but it’s a great start for them.”
Injury updates:
Gruden: Morgan Moses and Trent Williams will not be ready for OTA’s. The goal is for both to be ready for training camp.
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) March 27, 2018
Gruden:
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
- Jordan Reed not expected to be back by OTAs
- Trent Williams not expected to be back by OTAs
- Morgan Moses not expected to be back by OTAs
“There is concern, when you have guys coming off of injuries. The big concern is that you want them healthy. Both good guys. They both work extremely hard and they’re both great players. So we got to get them right. I don’t want Trent to go through what he went through last year, he played through a lot of pain and very uncomfortable, and really showed what type of team player, what type of leader he is by trying to do that.
“Morgan did the same thing, both of his ankles were flared up on him pretty good and he came out of multiple games. But still tried to fight through it, and it’s not easy for these guys carrying that much weight that big when you have knees and ankles, but both of them fought through it and hopefully they’ll be back healthy soon.”
“I think he’s had some procedures done on his toes and now it’s just a matter of the rehab and he’s been working hard at it. He’s been working on his upper body while his toe are recovering, so hopefully we’ll see a 100 percent healthy Jordan by training camp.”
New running back:
Jay Gruden: “There *will* be another running back in the building” by the time the draft is over #Redskins
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Gruden seemed fairly dismissive of the idea #Redskins will take RB early in draft
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 27, 2018
Kirk Cousins:
Jay last talked to Kirk Cousins when the Alex Smith trade became official. Gruden told Kirk, “Good luck. Thanks for everything.”
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Gruden on the offense from Cousins to Smith: “I hope it’s better. We’re always trying to get better.”
— Craig Hoffman (@CraigHoffman) March 27, 2018
Free agency:
Asked today re: lack of FA signings, Jay notes if #Redskins had signed a bunch of guys, they’d be criticized for spending wildly + if they don’t make a ton of moves, they’d be criticized for not approaching FA the right way.
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Gruden said they’re just doing what’s best for team
“We’re trying to do what we think as an organization is going to make our team better next year. Sometimes you don’t have to go out and sign 35 or 40 guys like certain teams have done. I think we’re able to play a lot of guys last year, we have a lot of guys on our roster that I feel good about, a core group of guys on our team that I feel like can compete. Get those guys ready to go, continue in there developmental process, add some key components in the draft and college free agents. Sprinkle in a few free agents here, from now until training camp and I think we’re ready to compete.”
FA safeties:
“Montae Nicholson’s a great example. We’ve got to get this guy going, we think he’s got a chance to be as good a safety as there is in pro football and pairing him up with D.J. is great. So do we go out and sign a key free agent at safety? And convince him what? That you’re going to be the third safety? That’s hard.”
Defensive depth signings:
“Middle linebacker we’ve got Zach [Brown] and Mason [Foster] we feel good about. Outside backers we feel pretty good about. Getting Jonathan [Allen] back full-time is huge on the inside, and pair him up with Matt [Ioannidis] and the rest of the guys on the inside. So, there are some areas that we can add to our depth, and will, but we feel good about our team and where it is.”
Re-singing Zach Brown and Mason Foster:
Jay Gruden: "Pairing (@ZachBrown_55) up w/ @Mason_Foster for another year, hearing the same things, doing the same things...will be beneficial for both of them. I think they work well together, so that was a big add for us.” #Redskins
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Paul Richardson:
Asked if Paul Richardson, Jr. can get better separation than #Redskins WRs last year, Jay Gruden smiles: “He better. That’s why we signed him.”
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
Josh Doctson:
Gruden says he expects Josh Doctson to get more opportunities at 50/50 balls this season
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 27, 2018
“I think Josh will get more opportunities to make plays on 50-50 type balls, which is Josh’s strength. Josh is not a guy who is going to get 5 or 6 yards of separation right away. He’s a guy that builds up his speed. He can adjust to the ball like no other with his 41-inch vertical. That’s where he gets his separation, by leaping and adjusting to the ball.”
Jon Gruden:
Jay Gruden on his brother joining the coaching ranks: "My parents get to stress out for eight hours now on Sundays."
— michael phillips (@michaelpRTD) March 27, 2018
Orlando Scandrick:
Jay Gruden on former #Cowboys CB @OScandrick: "You don’t really get the full appreciation for Orlando until you sit down and meet with him and talk to him about what he knows about pro football and defenses. He’s just the total package..." #Redskins
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) March 27, 2018
First round pick:
“Targeting the right guy, the right fit is another story. So, we’ve got a lot of work to do on that.”
“You’re going to get possibly the best corner, possibly the best nose tackle, defensive tackle, possibly the best inside backer, possibly the best receiver on the board, so there’s a lot of different ways we can go and it’s exciting to see how it all pans out, it always is. We’ll get a good player.”
Bruce Allen Interview:
Full Bruce Allen interview. Listen up https://t.co/qkgWRtscRU
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 26, 2018
Bruce Allen has the #Redskins counting wins, counting picks and counting cash https://t.co/Lg40U4bWMf pic.twitter.com/I5OU47PPt3
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 27, 2018