Closing comments on minicamp

[joecrisp]

Here's my final take on minicamp:

http://thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=606

Thanks for everybody's kind comments. I tried to represent you guys well. I wish I could have got more questions in, but they've really cut down the time allotted for player interviews after practice, leaving the group interviews as the primary opportunity to get answers. But even then, you really only get one or two questions in, due to the number of reporters. I hope you enjoy the audio files. I'll try to get more pics up later this week.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by joecrisp

Here's my final take on minicamp:

http://thewarpath.net/showthread.php?t=606

Thanks for everybody's kind comments. I tried to represent you guys well. I wish I could have got more questions in, but they've really cut down the time allotted for player interviews after practice, leaving the group interviews as the primary opportunity to get answers. But even then, you really only get one or two questions in, due to the number of reporters. I hope you enjoy the audio files. I'll try to get more pics up later this week.

Your presence and insight behind the seen's as a real objective observer with your talent evaluation is much more informative as well as entertaining than a few extra interview's which every new's media will have any way, great job as usual. :headbange

P.S. Do you really feel that we will take winslow if he goes with someone other than poston?

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by offiss

Your presence and insight behind the seen's as a real objective observer with your talent evaluation is much more informative as well as entertaining than a few extra interview's which every new's media will have any way, great job as usual. :headbange

P.S. Do you really feel that we will take winslow if he goes with someone other than poston?

Wow, offiss, I really appreciate that.

Yes, the general consensus among the media seemed to be that Winslow is the more likely pick, depending on his choice of agent. After watching practice, I came away with the feeling that the H-back is going to be a critical part of this offense, and while the coaches like the size of the guys they have there right now, Mike Sellers was the only one that looked reliable. Given the Bryan Johnson trade talk, it would make sense that Gibbs would want Winslow in there, with Sellers as the backup. But Sellers has looked very good...

[MTK]

I think we all need to give Joe Crisp a huge round of applause for the outstanding minicamp reports. He's provided us with some rare insight into what goes on in minicamp and with the pictures and audio clips he's brought us all to Redskins Park.

The kind of reports he's been able to provide for us are rare coming from a fan site!

Stay tuned for more outstanding camp reports once training camp gets going!

Once again, thanks Joe! Great job!

[Gmanc711]

Great Report Joe! Two Things I would like to comment on. First of all, Clinton Portis is offically crazy. Did he really wanna box Ohellete for #26, I know alot of you think that sounds rediculous, but I think thats awsome ( In a friendly way ). Oh well, looks like Portis will get another number, or Iffy is gonna be gone if we get Sean Taylor. Second of all, if we base our draft pick on whoever Winslow selects as an agent, I will be pretty dissapointed to say the least. I want either of those two guys, but I just think thats a dumb way to go about it.

[JWsleep]

Fantastic again, Joe. This is the best report on the minicamp I have read anywhere, and it is both a beautiful piece of writing and a super informative piece of sports journalism. We are very lucky to have you here.

I agree that the H-back is crucial to Gibbs, and if Winslow is coachable (and they say he is when he's not strutting the Miami strut ) he could really make this offense go. But there was a post (I can't remember who's) that also suggested the agent issue is real. That would be too bad; it's not the best way to pick talent. Still, if he might be a hold out, that would not fly with Gibbs. And I'm sure Williams is salivating for Taylor, given the aggerssive style D.

Joe, did you get to talk to Williams? He seems like a serious force, and a great match to Gibbs. He certainly has fired up Lavar!

Finally, it's so evident why Gibbs is the great winner he is. As you put it Joe, his spirit lifts those of everyone around him. They want to win because of the respect, love, determination and pride the see eminating from Gibbs. Like all great champions, he lifts those around him.

I am so psyched. I can barley wait for the next minicamp, much less the season!!!!

[SmootSmack]

Crisp, excellent job taking us "inside Redskins park". What's great about it is that you obviously know and love football so you're not treating this like a job where you just punch in and punch out. Your enthusiasm definitely shines through.

By the way, I wore #26 in a rec league football team I played on in 7th grade....so you just let Portis and Iffy know they're lucky I'm not around to fight them both for the number And um, if they ask who I am just tell them my user name is CowboysUK (whatever happened to him?)

Did you get to talk to Blache or Coy Gibbs at all? Or from your basic observations what role did they seem to play? Was Blache running the defense? Did Coy do any actual coaching?

[RedskinRat]

Hey, you misspelled 'Temperamental' and it totally spoiled the whole article for me.

Joe, this stuff has been excellent, I'm more excited after reading this than I was before and I was pretty hopped up on the Happy Trail already.

Keep up the great work!

[Ghost]

Thank you Joe. Your minicamp posts are better than anything in the Post or other national news media.

Was there anyone -- other than Hasselbeck -- whose performance was particularly disappointing?

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by smootsmack

Crisp, excellent job taking us "inside Redskins park". What's great about it is that you obviously know and love football so you're not treating this like a job where you just punch in and punch out. Your enthusiasm definitely shines through.

By the way, I wore #26 in a rec league football team I played on in 7th grade....so you just let Portis and Iffy know they're lucky I'm not around to fight them both for the number And um, if they ask who I am just tell them my user name is CowboysUK (whatever happened to him?)

Did you get to talk to Blache or Coy Gibbs at all? Or from your basic observations what role did they seem to play? Was Blache running the defense? Did Coy do any actual coaching?

Thanks so much, smooty.

I didn't get to talk to Blache or Coy. It was difficult to get a read on the defensive activities, as the defense practiced on a separate field behind the field which reporters had access to, where the offense practiced. That, in addition to the fact that the nature of minicamp limits what the defense can do, is why so much of the coverage has centered on the offense.

I will say though, that Gregg Williams is unquestionably the alpha male on the defensive staff, and he has a confident, authoritative style which is very indicative of his status as the defensive boss. Blache's role is certainly subordinate to Williams', both in official title (Williams is Asst. Head Coach - Defense, and Blache is Defensive coordinator/Defensive line) and in the representation to the media of their roles.

The full-throttle, attacking defensive style displayed during minicamp has been attributed almost exclusively to Williams by both the defensive players and Coach Gibbs. It was blitz, blitz, blitz, and the defensive players loved it.

Coy is an offensive quality control assistant, and that role is primarily a observational job, where he basically watches the practices and videos, takes notes, and helps the coaches compile videos and statistical information. It's essentially the entry-level job for an aspiring NFL coach. It will give Coy the opportunity to learn how an NFL coaching staff works, and his input would be very limited at best, especially considering the decades upon decades of experience present on that coaching roster. He will be learning from the best, that's for sure, and great coaches are borne of great coaches. He's a young guy-- only 32-- so he's just beginning the very long journey of a professional coach.

[Carnage]

That was awesome. Thanks Joe.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

Fantastic again, Joe. This is the best report on the minicamp I have read anywhere, and it is both a beautiful piece of writing and a super informative piece of sports journalism. We are very lucky to have you here.

I agree that the H-back is crucial to Gibbs, and if Winslow is coachable (and they say he is when he's not strutting the Miami strut ) he could really make this offense go. But there was a post (I can't remember who's) that also suggested the agent issue is real. That would be too bad; it's not the best way to pick talent. Still, if he might be a hold out, that would not fly with Gibbs. And I'm sure Williams is salivating for Taylor, given the aggerssive style D.

Joe, did you get to talk to Williams? He seems like a serious force, and a great match to Gibbs. He certainly has fired up Lavar!

Finally, it's so evident why Gibbs is the great winner he is. As you put it Joe, his spirit lifts those of everyone around him. They want to win because of the respect, love, determination and pride the see eminating from Gibbs. Like all great champions, he lifts those around him.

I am so psyched. I can barley wait for the next minicamp, much less the season!!!!

First, let me say that I'm extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to do these reports, and it has been the experience of a lifetime for me, having identified the Redskins with myself since I was a young child. I can't express enough how grateful I am to Matt for providing me a forum for my life's passion, and to you all for how warmly you have received my work. Thank you, Warpathers, for making this such a wonderful and hospitable online community for "the best bloody fans in the world!"

You sure hit the nail right on the head, JW, regarding the complimentary characterisitics of Gibbs and Williams. These two are like Yin and Yang, and that harmony just seems to permeate the entire team. It's amazing how quickly that effect has spread throughout the club, indicating what a powerful force these two coaches exert upon the people around them. It's inspiration, in the purest sense of the word.

I did get to ask Williams a question during his Saturday press conference (regarding the possibility of using the 3-4 scheme), and more so than the answer he gave me, I was impressed with the way he answered it. There is no hesitation in his answers. He is sure and confident and unwavering. The same can be said of Bugel. Gibbs has picked his lieutenants wisely.

[Riggo44]

Good job Joe.

[rickmmrr]

Great Job. Thanks so much.
Really enjoyed reading every word of it.

[Sadistic Jeff]

you rock, Joe. It's going to be nice to finally be able to get some day to day updates, from camp. Living in Chicago, I HATE not getting daily updates.