Redskins Training Camp 2018: Jay Gruden Presser

Jay Gruden answered questions from reporters before today's morning practice. Stacy McGee could miss some regular season time on the PUP list. Joshua Holsey has a severed freaking toe? The team wants a backup for Chris Thompson, what does that mean for Rob Kelley snd Samaje Perine?

Zach Brown injury:

Different vibe around the team?:

Confidence:

Safeties skillset:

"No doubt, I think Montae’s [Nicholson] injury hurt a little more than people anticipated. He’s such an all-around great athlete, great speed and he does complement DJ [Swearinger Sr.] quite well. Deshazor [Everett] does a good job when he comes in there. He can get in the box; he can play different spots also. [Troy] Apke shown some flashes of being really fast and good. [Kenny] Ladler has done some good things. The safety position we feel good about but from a starting point, you’re looking at DJ, Montae, they do complement each other very well. DJ is very multi-talented. Also he can do different things. He can cover tight-ends, he can cover backs, he can play in the post also. Those two guys are good. We just have to continue with the communication process. Montae was a rookie last year, he missed a lot of time. DJ was new to the defense so, hopefully this year it all comes together for them.”

Analyzing personality in the draft:

“We try to make sure that their personality fits into what we want in a football player, it’s very important you know, and I think the type of character fit is important to a football team. If you go to the University of Alabama odds are you are going to buy into playing hard nose football and that’s a part of our draw too looking at Alabama guys look at Ryan Anderson and Jonathan [Allen] and obviously Daron [Payne] hard-nose football players that love football. So, not to mention that Alabama usually gets the cream of the crop of the high school kids so they are obviously very talented but Jonathan is starting to come out of his shell a little bit and I’m sure Daron will do the same thing but Ryan [Anderson] is - all of these guys - Shaun Dion [Hamilton] love football they are well trained and good players.”

Joshua Holsey injury:

Stacy McGee injury:

Preston Smith:

“I think he needs to be a dominant edge setter really, to go along with Ryan Kerrigan. It’s a time for him to step up, he’s got all the tools in the world and he’s proved he can be an excellent pass rusher, he’s very good against the run and he’s long, tough, and strong – motor. He’s got a good motor, so basically great things from Preston. Watching these guys on the edge, Ryan, we were putting on our outside zone yesterday and it’s a pain in the rear trying to get out there with Ryan and Preston setting the edge and obviously Ryan Anderson also. I expect great things from Preston and I know he does of himself. It’s a big year for him.”

Josh Doctson:

Colt McCoy extension:

Jordan Reed:

“Yeah, I’m very hopeful without a doubt, I have to be. He’s one of our best, most explosive players on offense and it’s hard to find a guy like that, that can really stretch the field work in a slot, work the option routes and still be a factor in the running game. I think he’s one of the top tight ends in the National Football League when healthy. Last year, he tried to fight through a couple of those injuries in the off season - he got them fixed, so hopefully we’ll put an end to all those foot and toe injury things, and ankle. So, Jordan feels extremely - he feels great right now, very optimistic about the way his body feels and now it’s our job to make sure we just progress him along at a good rate and hopefully get him in there in a preseason game or two and get him ready for the [Arizona] Cardinals.”

Josh Norman:

"Well I think Josh is always going to be who he is, which we don’t know who that person is from day on to day out (laughter). I like Josh, Josh is a steady main-state guy here at corner and does a lot of good things for us in coverage and tackling. I just want to see him continue to work with the young guys, work with himself and continue to get better. That’s all you can do as a cornerback and study the game, study the people you’re going to cover, study our system, our techniques, our coverages and have a good plan of attack every Sunday.”

RB depth:

"Without a doubt, without a doubt, the good thing is Kapri Bibbs is very good out of the backfield and Byron Marshall has shown things that he could be a very explosive player for this football team, out of the backfield and running the football between the tackles and outside. So, I think we have that spot covered. Without a doubt, without a doubt, yes, fortunately last year when Chris did get hurt - Kapri we went to Bryon [Marshall] and then he got hurt, he pulled his hami [hamstring] and then Kapri did some good things so that is an important spot in pro football eventually you’re going to get to third down four or five and that back [running back] is either going to have to protect or get open on the linebackers and all three of those guys have shown they can do that.”

Ryan Kerrigan underrated?:

"Definitely not his golf game, wow is he bad. What I think people just don’t understand about Ryan is Ryan has never said two words about anything negative around here. He’s always been an upbeat, positive guy, he’s never missed a day of practice. He practices just like he plays, hard. He’s just a no nonsense, work your tail off, playmaking guy. You love guys like that, really. He’s a great example for the young guys, he’s a great example for the veteran guys on how you want to maintain a career and have you want to have a great career. He does things right, when he gets treatment, he’s never late to a meeting. If you are going to dial up a professional football player, how you want him to act off the field, on the field, on game day, production, Ryan Kerrigan is really a starting point.”