Friday, June 19, 2015

Report from Redskins Park, Wednesday Veterans Mini Camp

ASHBURN, VA-  The Washington Redskins held their second day of the mandatory mini camp at Redskins Park in Ashburn. Sweltering heat and humidity added to the intensity of the workout.

Moe and Matt Murphy of Clarke County Sports were on hand for the practice and filed the following report and photo's. Check back for additional photos.

Robert Griffin III  Photo by Matt Murphy


Alfred Morris running hard   Photo by Matt Murphy



Clarke County Sports is proud to cover the team at their Loudoun County facility, Bon Secours and FedEx Field.


Redskins Coach Jay Gruden comments after yesterday's Mini Camp by Redskins PR


June 17, 2015
Redskins Park

Head Coach Jay Gruden

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden
On if he is starting to see the results he was seeking this offseason:
“I am. I was just making mention of that today. Just looking at a lot of the players, they just look like they’re physically in better condition and that’s half the battle. At this time of year, you want to try to make sure that you strengthen your bodies obviously, get them in the best shape possible and obviously strengthen their minds in the meeting rooms. Then, you know, start to slowly implement your system and how you want to go about your business on the field, the habits that you want to start to create. We feel like great practice habits in the weight room will lead to great things and that’s what we’re all about.”

On what pleases him most about the team’s offseason so far:
“I think I feel best about what I just mentioned. I feel like the progress that they’ve made in the weight room, structurally, I feel like their bodies are in better shape than they’ve been since I’ve been here. You see the young guys starting to develop their bodies. Trent Murphy, I made mention of. You see veteran guys like Jason Hatcher, whose lost some fat and gained some more lean mass to him so I think as a whole I think the group is in better shape, which is exciting to me because obviously that is very, very important. But also, the progress they’ve made with Coach [Joe] Barry’s system on defense and then offensively doing the same things over and over again for a second year, you can see the confidence that they have in what they’re doing and it’s paying off.”

On what concerns he has prior to camp:
“Well, maybe Trent Williams’ injury and maybe Jordan Reed, but really I think we did the right thing by making sure they’re held out and making sure they come back full speed next year, but really, this time of year, I don’t have any concerns or anything negative to say about anything. I feel very good about where we are, the way we practice. The attendance rate here was excellent, the tempo was outstanding and I feel like we made major strides already.”

On if he has seen tangible results from having Quarterbacks Coach Matt Cavanaugh on staff:
“Yes. I think just from having a voice there that’s a consistent voice there, a constant one, a guy who’s been there and done that, a guy with a great deal of experience, helping them along the way… He still hears from myself and Sean [McVay] quite a bit, but to have somebody, an individual really strictly work with him on his fundamentals, you know sometimes as a coordinator or the head coach, I’m watching the defensive backs or the linebackers or the line play, Sean is watching the total picture, and now we have a set of eyes strictly on the quarterback. And I think that’s important. Every snap, every handoff, every dropback is being critiqued and making sure we do it the right way, and I think that has been a big benefit for Robert [Griffin III].”

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Washington Redskins Head Coach Jay Grudens press conference from Redskins PR



June 16, 2015
Redskins Park

Head Coach Jay Gruden

On Defensive Backs Coach Perry Fewell and safety Dashon Goldson:
“Coach Fewell brings great experience with him on his résumé. 1) He’s a great person – very loyal guy – and 2) he’s been productive where he’s been. He’s been in the division. He knows the division. He knows the opponents, knows the Giants, obviously. Great wealth of knowledge. Any time you have a guy with experience as a defensive coordinator… You know, we have a young defensive coordinator, you add a guy like Perry Fewell to help in that transition process, a guy that understands his role, understands football, it was a great addition for us. A lot of respect for him going against him the last couple years. He’s a great addition. And then of course Goldson, he’s an experienced guy. He’s tough. He had some great seasons at San Francisco, went to Tampa Bay, might have been a little disappointing down there, I don’t know. But based on his tape and his career production, we thought it was worth it to go try to get him. Scot McCloughan did a great job to get the deal done and we’re glad we got him. Brings more experience, toughness to the secondary that we need.”

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden   Photo by James Murphy
On wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon:
“I’m impressed especially with Pierre. Pierre has been here every day, working his tail off, doing a great job. DeSean has missed some time with some personal things and things he had to do, but he came out here today and looked sharp. He looked fresh, looked focused, he knew what to do and he looked fast and he finished practice without any hiccups. It was good to see. Those guys are two great players on our offensive football team and we’re going to demand a lot from them. Are they where we want them to be at this point? Close, but we’re always striving to get better, everybody is, and those guys really work extremely hard at practice, especially Pierre. He does a great job.”

On what coaches can gain from minicamp:
“Well, you’re looking for fundamentally sound football, both sides of the ball. Defensively, you’re looking for your gap security, you’re looking for people running to the football, knowing where they’re supposed to be, not giving up any big plays, obviously, and no penalties – no foolish penalties. There’s a lot that you can look at. Obviously the pump, the thud, the shed and all that – the tackling -- you can’t see, but you can emulate it. You can get your body in the right position, all those things you need to do from the pursuit angle standpoint, from breaking on the football, you can do all that, there’s a lot you can look at. Offensively, it’s the same thing. You can’t really drive the defender off the ball, but you can get your pads down, you can get your feet moving in the right direction, getting up to the next level in the running game, receivers blocking the right people, and, of course, route concepts – reading routes versus coverage – you can get a lot out of.”

On what positions the coaches can learn most about during minicamp:
“I think skill guys: receivers, defensive backs, safeties, especially in the passing game you can see a lot. Unfortunately, offensive line, defensive line and the trenches, you know we’re telling them to come off the ball but it’s more of a thud-ish type thing and you can’t really finish blocks, you can’t really shed people like you want to based on the rules of the CBA. It’s difficult for them, but still, the pursuit angles are important, getting in the right gaps, combination blocks by our offensive line, they’re still good to see. But really, you can still tell a lot in the passing game with the receivers, defensive backs, tight ends, backs.”


On improving play in the red zone:
“Red zone has been a struggle a little bit. It’s something that we continue to focus on. Every practice, we’ll have some version of red zone in working on it, but obviously, running the ball more effectively will be very helpful. The play-actions off of that will be very helpful. There’s a lot of plays that you can run if you stay in positive downs and distances. You get in third down in the red zone, it’s difficult. You get all out pressure or you get people dropping eight, very difficult. So, it’s important for our quarterbacks to see throws and anticipate. Throwing windows are going to be tight, and then if they drop eight, keep the plays alive and move around. All that comes with experience, reps, and the more we get… Coach [Joe] Barry is doing a great job with mixing up his coverages down there and his intent. We’re getting great looks and great work, it just takes a lot of practice and we’re going through the process right now.”

On quarterback Robert Griffin III’s progress:
“Every day he is doing something a little bit better, and that’s all we can ask, man. We’re just taking baby steps right now. We’re all getting better together. You can see that I’m starting to have confidence in the pocket and going through his progressions. That’s got to be a consistent theme with him, and not always is that possible with the pocket the way it is, but for the most part, he’s coming along at a good rate right now. He’s doing a great job of exhausting all of his progressions, playing the quarterback position with good fundamentals and getting better, that’s all we can do.” 

click read full story below for more...

Chargers capture Southern Conference, move to 13-0 prepare for the Sharks



Richard "Mouse" Myers touchdown reception  Photo by Matt Murphy / CCS
PURCELLVILLE, VA- The Virginia Chargers moved to 13-0 as they knocked off the Virginia Vengeance for the second time this season capturing the Atlantic Football Association's Southern Conference Championship with a 42-12 victory.

 Richard "Mouse" Myers put the Chargers on the board first and in the lead to stay with a diving touchdown catch from Brandon Hyler and the Chargers never looked back.

Dale Taylor and Kenny Griffin each had a touchdown reception, and Michael "Moo" Roberts scored twice on the ground.

Dwayne Foddrell had two interceptions, one for a touchdown to round out the Chargers Scoring. Alhaji Kanu was 6 for 6 on P.A.T.'s.

Larry Lucas on the hit   Photo by James Murphy
The Chargers will host the AFA Northern Conference Champions the Harrisburg Sharks. The Sharks come in to Wolverine Stadium at 12-0 and will face the 13-0 Chargers. Game time is 7:00PM on Saturday June 20 at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville VA.

The AFA All Star game will be played prior to the Championship at 3:00PM at Woodgrove. Admission will admit the holder to both the All Star and the Championship Game.











The Clarke County Sports Game of the Week has highlights and interviews with the Chargers Offensive Line, Jeremy Payne, QB Brandon Hyler and Associate Head Coach Scott Dinant. Viewing time (22:31)


BON SECOURS WASHINGTON REDSKINS TRAINING CENTER OPENS TO THE PUBLIC FOR TRAINING CAMP IN RICHMOND ON THURSDAY, JULY 30

Richmond training camp will feature 23 on-field sessions open to accommodate fans;
Team will practice jointly with Houston Texans on Aug. 6-8
 
EASY TWEET: .@Redskins, @BonSecoursRVA,@CityRichmondVA and @VisitVirginia release training camp schedule, to begin July 30 #SkinsCamp #RedskinsRVA

RICHMOND, Va. – The Washington Redskins, in partnership with Bon Secours Virginia Health System, the City of Richmond and the Virginia Governor’s Office, announced their 2015 training camp schedule, set to take place at the world-class Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center from July 30 through Aug. 16 in Richmond, Va. The schedule features a total of 23 public on-field sessions available to fans, highlighted by joint practices with the Houston Texans on Aug. 6-8 and Fan Appreciation Day on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Admission is free for all fans. Following practice, Redskins players and coaches will be made available to sign autographs and take pictures with fans, schedules permitting. All scheduled dates and practice times are subject to change.

Prior to their arrival at training camp, Redskins fans are encouraged to fill out their free Training Camp Fan Invitation, which is available at www.csnwashington.com/RedskinsTrainingCamp.

The $10 million state-of-the-art training center debuted in 2013 and features two full-size natural grass fields, a natural grass drill field, spectator areas, locker rooms and a high-tech training room. Last year, the facility welcomed more than 164,000 fans during the course of camp, including more than 60,000 fans during three days of the Redskins’ joint practices with the New England Patriots. This year’s joint practices with the Houston Texans will provide added exposure for the team’s annual camp, as the visit coincides with the Texans’ featured appearance on HBO’s HARD KNOCKS.

Bon Secours Virginia Health System operates the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center, which serves as a valuable year-round resource for the community when camp is not in session. A full-service sports medicine rehabilitation and primary care practice are provided throughout the year in addition to men’s health, fitness and education programs. The facility is also home to movin’ mania, Bon Secours’ healthy kids initiative.

The City of Richmond has developed field utilization plans to ensure the facility is available for a variety of sporting events and other activities throughout the year. The fields are available for youth programming, tournaments and other uses that generate revenue and positive exposure for the City of Richmond when camp is not in session. The facility has also previously served as the minicamp host of the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa REDBLACKS.

During the team’s stay in Richmond and throughout the 2014 calendar year, Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation youth programs directly impacted more than 9,000 children in the Richmond community. Events and activities impacting Richmond youth included the team’s annual High School Coaches Clinic, a Back to School Shopping Spree presented by Macy’s, Richmond All-Stars VIP Training Camp Experiences, the 4th & Life High School Football Forum, the Coaches in the Classroom program, the Get the Ball Rolling Flag Football Tournament and more. The Charitable Foundation also created the Redskins Read Across Richmond Summer Reading Program, a collaborative effort with Richmond Public Schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools to encourage kids to track the number of minutes they read over the summer to win prizes for themselves and their school.

In addition to the opportunity to watch practice, the Redskins will offer special events, giveaways and other unique fan experiences. Fans can also enjoy various interactive displays and purchase their favorite Redskins merchandise at the Redskins Team Store tent.

The City of Richmond will offer a variety of parking options for Redskins fans during training camp. Available parking lots provided by the City of Richmond will be announced closer to camp.

For more information on the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center or the Redskins training camp, please visit www.redskins.com/trainingcamp or www.redskinsrva.bonsecours.com. For detailed information on Richmond sites, attractions, hotels and more, visit www.rvariverfront.com.


2015 BON SECOURS WASHINGTON REDSKINS TRAINING CENTER FAN SCHEDULE

The practices sessions listed below are open to the public free of charge; practice dates and times are subject to change without notice. For the latest training camp information, please visit redskins.com/trainingcamp.

***DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE,
PRACTICE SESSIONS CAN BE CANCELED WITHOUT NOTICE***

Thursday, July 30                    10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Friday, July 31                        10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 1                     10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 2                       10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Monday, Aug. 3                      10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Wednesday, Aug. 5                10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Thursday, Aug. 6 *                 8:35 a.m. Practice
                                                4:10 p.m. Walkthrough
Friday, Aug. 7 *                      8:35 a.m. Practice
                                                4:10 p.m. Walkthrough
Saturday, Aug. 8 *                  10:35 a.m. Practice
Monday, Aug. 10                    10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice
Tuesday, Aug. 11                    1:35 p.m. Practice
Saturday, Aug. 15 ^                1:35 p.m. Practice
Sunday, Aug. 16                     10:35 a.m. Walkthrough
                                                3:00 p.m. Practice

* Team scheduled to practice jointly with the Houston Texans
^ Fan Appreciation Day

·         Fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on during practice, overlooking the practice fields. No bleachers are available on-site. Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center visitors can walk around designated areas outside the practice fields to watch their favorite players.
·         For security purposes, all visitors and bags entering the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center grounds are subject to search by team security.
·         The City of Richmond will offer a variety of parking options for Redskins fans during training camp. Available parking lots provided by the City of Richmond will be announced closer to camp.
·         The following items are prohibited at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center: alcohol and illegal drugs, weapons, firearms, glass bottles, video cameras and animals (except for certified guide dogs assisting disabled guests).
·         Food and beverages will be available for fans to purchase on-site.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Washington Redskins Coach Jay Gruden comments at OTA's by Redskins PR




June 9, 2015
Redskins Park

On wide receiver Jamison Crowder:
“I really don’t want to make a comment… We’re aware of it. The NFL is aware of it. We’re just going to go from there.”

On if he has talked with Crowder about it:
“We’ve had conversations, yeah.”

On if he addressed cornerback Chris Culliver’s comments from a couple years ago prior to free agency:
“No, that was a couple years ago. He was on another team at that time, so that’s not an issue.”

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden  Photo by James Murphy
On linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and wide receiver DeSean Jackson:
“Ryan Kerrigan is in the same situation as we were last time. He’s going to continue his rehab process. We’ll get him ready for training camp. DeSean Jackson – he had a personal matter to attend to today. He’ll be back tomorrow.”

On tight end Jordan Reed and tackle Trent Williams:
“Nothing new with Jordan Reed. Trent Williams, same thing.”

On college programs running spread offenses and how it affects preparing a quarterback to play in the NFL:
“When you’re a college football coach, you’re doing whatever you think is necessary to win. That’s what it’s all about. There’s a lot of pressure on them, as well as there is on us. Whatever they think they need to do to win is what they’re going to do. It’s our job as scouts and as personnel evaluators to judge what they’re doing in their situation. Would I like to see them run a conventional offense? Sure, but we still have to judge them no matter what. I’m just happy they’re out there playing football and competing. You can see a lot on the way they compete, the way they handle big-time situations in big games. It’s still all good, man. College football’s still great.”

On how he’s feeling after participating in individual drills:
“A little sore, man. It’s fun. The guys are out here competing. We’re just trying to get better every day. The players are welcoming that. They are competing every day. They’re attentive in the meetings. They’re working out in the weight room extremely well. It’s exciting to be here right now. We’re all fired up about this season and what might come of it.”

On having new players in the secondary and what type of mentality he is trying to instill in the group:
“You know what, we do have some new guys. They’ve played a lot of football. They’ve played some football. Anytime you bring in veterans from outside, it’s important for them to A) buy into the system… But luckily, it’s a new system for everybody right now. You want some guys that come in here that are good leaders that love football. The guys that we did bring in are very good competitors. They mix in well with the guys that we already got. There is great competition at every position right now. The secondary is no different than any other position we have. It’s exciting.”

On LeBron James or Steph Curry:
“Ooh, that’s a tough one. I’m going with Steph… I wouldn’t bet on it, no [laughter]. I like them both. I love basketball, man. It’s going to be a great series. Man, it’s going to be good – it is good.”

Virginia Chargers vs Metro Phoenix Photo Gallery by Matt Murphy



PURCELLVILLE, VA- Clarke County Sports staff photographer Matt Murphy was on hand at the Virginia Chargers 42-7 victory over the Metro Phoenix last Saturday at Woodgrove High School. Here are some of Matt's shot's from the game.






For More Pictures Click Read Full Story below

Redskins Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay Comments from OTA's by Redskins PR


June 9, 2015
Redskins Park
On Quarterbacks Coach Matt Cavanaugh’s influence:
“It’s been great. Having Matt Cavanaugh here with the experience he has as a player and a coach has been a great resource for myself and the quarterbacks. He’s done a great job implementing some of the fundamental techniques and things that we want to emphasize on a daily basis. From a work standpoint, just being able to kind of bounce around and have eyes on all position groups, it has been extremely valuable.”

On Head Coach Jay Gruden’s hands-on approach:
“He’s an energetic coach. He’s always been real to his personality and I think it rubs off on the players and his coaching staff, so he’s a joy to work with every day.”

On the players giving Gruden a hard time about his fitness when he participates in drills:
“That’s exactly right. They do give him a hard time, and I know he gets back at them pretty good too.”

On if he is seeing improvement from quarterback Robert Griffin III:
“I think we are seeing improvement. I think Colt [McCoy] and Kirk [Cousins] have also shown improvement as we’ve gone through the OTAs. Coach [Joe] Barry’s defense has done a great job giving us a bunch of looks where we’re seeing different types of coverages and pressures. I think all the quarterbacks have continued to improve each practice.”

On the schematic advantages of Griffin’s athleticism:
“I think one of the things you like about a running quarterback is that he does regulate the defenses. Robert was able to make some plays, and the one that comes to mind is against Minnesota — they bring a man-pressure against us, and he ends up sticking his foot in the ground and runs for a 70-yard touchdown. So, when you do have a quarterback with some athleticism and the ability to break contain and make plays with his legs, it definitely does regulate some of those defensive looks where guys are scared of him breaking contain and doing things with his legs.”

On the additions of Cavanaugh and Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan:
“Any time that you’re able to bring in two veteran coaches like that, it’s been a great addition for us. Very influential guys toward me as far as learning from them, gaining from their experience that they’re able to offer me advice. I know that they’ve been really valuable for the position groups that they’re working with. We were able to add another guy working with the receivers in Dave Ragone, too, who has some experience working with the quarterback and wide receiver position. So, we feel really good about the offensive coaching additions we’ve been able to make this season.” 

On how the additions have changed his responsibilities:
“It takes a lot off my plate, just being able to kind of have an overview on the offense as a whole, being able to bounce around from different position groups, so it’s been very beneficial so far.”


On if he can tell a difference entering the second season of the offensive system:
“I think it’s been great. We were able to detail our meetings a little bit better, having some familiarity and some carryover from last year. Bringing Coach Callahan in, we will do a couple different things in the run game that I think has looked good when we’ve been able to get those plays repped in practice. So, we feel good about the progress. We know we have a long way to go, but going through these OTAs right now, we feel pretty good about where we’re at.”

On rookie wide receivers Evan Spencer and Jamison Crowder:
“They’ve done a good job. We throw a lot at these rookies early on. Our whole system is pretty much in place so far. I think Jamison is a guy that immediately when he came in the rookie minicamp, you could feel some of the quickness, his ability to separate, the natural hands, all those things that you like when you draft him. Same thing with Evan. He had a little tweak in his hamstring where he missed a little bit of time early on, but he’s been able to practice this last week and we’re seeing some encouraging things from him as well.”

On rookie running back Matt Jones:
“He’s done a nice job. It’s a little bit harder to evaluate running backs when we are in OTAs and you’re not able to tackle and do some of those things, but his ability to pick things up mentally and protections and then being disciplined with his courses as far as his running game, we’ve been very pleased with him.  He’s a guy that we’re looking forward to see compete when we can play live ball.”

On Crowder:
“I haven’t noticed anything. He’s handled it like a pro. It’s a situation that he’s dealing with and hopefully it will get resolved, but I haven’t noticed anything. He’s been a pro about going about his business in a normal fashion.”

On the process of getting himself, Cavanaugh, Gruden and the quarterbacks on the same page:
“It’s been great. Sometimes we’re all three in the meeting room, sometimes it’s just Coach Cavanaugh, Coach Gruden. But I think the great thing is we’re all on the same page communicating the same message to those quarterbacks. And again, like I was saying earlier, Coach Cavanaugh is a great resource with his experience as a player and a coach, where he might offer some different things and ideas and approaches that I think has been very helpful so far for our quarterbacks.”

On how the offense may differ this year as compared to last year:
“I think you’ll see a lot of things that will be similar. You look at the success that Coach Callahan has had at the different stops that he’s been, and one of the things that makes him special is he’s kind of adjusted. He has the ability to run a variety of different schemes in the run game, but he’ll fit what we do best to our personnel, and we’re continuing to figure that out as we go through these OTAs.”

On if he has any concern about wide receiver DeSean Jackson’s timing with the quarterbacks:
“No, I think this is the time of year where you are trying to develop some rapport and things like that, but DeSean had some other issues that he’s had to take care of and we understand that. We know when training camp rolls around, he’ll be ready to go and he’s a guy that we can consistently count on on game day, the way that he was able to perform last year and over the course of his career.”

On player attendance during OTAs:
“Certainly you want to be able to get all the work that you can, but there’s certain circumstances and things that come up that guys have to take care of and we’re confident that we’ll be able to make up for that when we get to training camp.”


On running back Alfred Morris:
“I think he’s done a great job. Obviously Alfred’s production over the last few years speaks for itself. I think implementing a couple of the newer schemes that Coach Callahan has will help Alfred, where we’ll be a little bit more multiple and balanced in the way that we attack defenses. And Alfred’s showed a great ability to be able to pick up some of those new schemes that we are implementing, whether it be the wide zone, some tight zone or those gap-type plays that we’ve been utilizing in OTAs.”

Clarke County Sports Game of the Week 6 6 2015

Kenny Griffin 2 TD's  Photo by Matt Murphy
PURCELLVILLE, VA- The Virginia Chargers defeated the Metro Phoenix 42-7 in the first round of the Atlantic Football Association Southern Conference Playoffs at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, VA.

Chargers WR Kenny Griffin and DB Sherman Thomas along with Head Coach Louis Simmons Sr. speak with Moe Murphy after the game.

The Chargers will face the Virginia Vengeance in the Atlantic Football Association Championship Game this Saturday at 7:00PM at Woodgrove High School Purcellville, VA

Highlights, interviews and more. (Viewing time 20:34)







Washington Redskins to host joint practices with Houston Texans by Redskins PR


LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they will host three days of joint training camp practices with the Houston Texans at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Va. from Thursday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 8.

All joint practice sessions will be open and free to the public. Last season, more than 60,000 fans visited the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center during three days of the Redskins’ joint practices with the New England Patriots. This year’s joint practices will provide added exposure for the team’s annual training camp in Richmond, as the visit coincides with the Texans’ featured appearance on HBO’s HARD KNOCKS.

“We are looking forward to working with the Houston Texans in preparation for our 2015 season at our world-class Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center,” President Bruce Allen said.

"Redskins Training Camp in Richmond is a great opportunity for fans to connect with their favorite team and to experience the wonderful attractions, food and recreation that Central Virginia has to offer,” Governor Terry McAuliffe said. “I look forward to attending camp for the third year in a row and watching the Redskins and the Texans get ready for this season." 

“We look forward to welcoming a bit of Texas to Virginia,” said Peter Bernard, CEO of Bon Secours Virginia Health System. “Our partnership with the Washington Redskins continues to be one that benefits our community. Being able to showcase the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center as well as Virginia on a national platform is an added bonus.”

“Being able to again welcome two NFL teams to our city for a training camp experience is a clear benefit of our state-of-the-art training facility,” said Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “Welcoming the Houston Texans to Richmond, Virginia for practice sessions with the Washington Redskins is thrilling! We'll also be able to further showcase Richmond to a worldwide audience with the Texans being featured on HBO's award-winning sports series, HARD KNOCKS. All I can say is Richmond is a winning summertime destination."

Times and details for each session will be announced at a later date. All other training camp dates will be released at a later time.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Comments from Redskins Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry by Redskins PR







On his enthusiasm on the field:
“That’s kind of my personality. I’m very hands-on, I’m very enthusiastic. But I think that’s obviously my style and the way I coach. That’s also… I’m kind of that way in the hallways during the day at work. That’s just who I am. I’m very hands-on.”

On players commenting that they believe his system is more aggressive than last year’s system:
”We’re aggressive. I would absolutely say that. It’s hard to do a lot in OTAs right now, just because of the rules, we can’t really do a lot. We’re really stressing effort. We’re really stressing playing fast, playing with good fundamentals, having our knees bent, sprinting to the ball, things like that. In OTAs, when you can’t do a lot of the physical stuff, we’re going to be physical with our effort and playing really fast and playing really hard. So, yes, it is something we’ll stress and will continue to stress.”

On linebacker Preston Smith:
“I think Scot McCloughan and Bruce Allen and Coach Gruden [and] our whole scouting staff, I think we had a very successful free agency. We brought some new pieces in here, obviously, and the draft is no different. I think they did a great job, and to get Preston where we got him, we were very excited. But he is a good, young, talented kid, and I’m sure his head is spinning a little bit right now, like most rookies. But he comes to work every day and he’s doing a great job, and after – what’s today? – five OTAs, I’m really excited with where he’s at.”

On if he is looking to move players between safety and cornerback:
“Well, no. Corners are corners. Safeties are safeties. We ask, respectively, both sets – both our corners and our safeties – we ask them to do a lot. We ask them to blitz, we ask them to cover, we ask them to play zone coverage, we ask them to defend the run. So, yes, they’re interchangeable in that sense, but no – our corners are going to play corner and our safeties are going to play safety.”

On how the players are picking up his system:
“It’s a process, but the way we have the offseason set up, it’s in phases. So we have Phase 1, which is a series of meetings. We have Phase 2, which is meetings and then we actually get to get out on the field a little bit with the guys. And then obviously Phase 3 is the OTAs. So we tried to install everything with them in Phase 1, then go back and re-install with them in Phase 2. So this is really the third time that it’s been installed with them. But it’s brand new. It’s a different language. From system to system, that’s the biggest difference is the terminology. What guys have maybe been considering apples, now we’re calling it oranges and they’ve got to change it over in their head a little bit. So it’s just the terminology, but, like I said, I love where we are at right now.”

On the development of cornerback David Amerson:
“One thing that you’re going to get with me, guys, is that I’m a ‘look through the windshield’ guy. I’m never going to look in the rearview mirror. So, David and every other player, I’ve been around them for two months and that’s what I’m judging everything on. He’s been outstanding in everything that he’s done so far. He’s been here the entire offseason, he’s been great in the meeting room, taking notes and learning it. Again, after five practices, I’m very happy with where he is at. Now, I want him to continue to develop, no question about it, because he’s a young, talented kid. There is no doubt about it. Where he is at right now, I am pleased with his progress, no doubt.”

On getting players lined up correctly in multiple fronts:
“It’s definitely a process, and we’re in the fifth OTA of the offseason. We have good plays during the day and we have bad plays during the day, but that’s what we’re here for – we’re teachers. That’s the No. 1 thing that as a coach you have got to do, you have got to teach. It’s definitely a process, but like I said, there is a lot more good out there right now than bad and I’m very happy with where we are at as a unit.”

On if there was any consideration to changing the front to a 4-3:
“Not with me. I think we’re going to have the ability to be multiple and jump in and out of 4-3 fronts, 3-4 fronts. We’re structurally based out of a 3-4, there’s no doubt about it. I wouldn’t go as far as saying -- it’s kind of the trendy word to say ‘hybrid’ these days – but I wouldn’t go that far. But we are very multiple. We’re going to give you a bunch of different looks when we are in our base group and when we are in our sub groups.”

On the defensive staff:
“It’s really been good. I couldn’t be more pleased with the staff that Jay has put together. To get a guy like Perry Fewell, who has unbelievable experience and I’ve got all the respect in the world for, we’ve gotten to be very close over the last 15 years. Robb Akey, who has been a head coach before and was a defensive coordinator at Washington State, so what he brings to the table also is very impressive. You guys all know Kirk Olivadotti. We got to be very good friends over the years being linebacker coaches, so I have a chance to work with him. And we have two young coaches that I think are outstanding in Chad Grimm and Aubrey Pleasant. I love our staff. I love where we’re at. Just like players, they have got to learn the new system also, and it hasn’t been much of an offseason this year for us because we’ve been having in-season-like hours, but they’ve done a great job and I couldn’t be more pleased with the staff.”

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Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Redskins Coach Jay Gruden Comments from Redskins PR


June 3, 2015
Redskins Park

On Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry’s style and enthusiasm:
“I worked with him in Tampa a little bit. He was a position coach in Tampa, so I got to know him and see his coaching style there. But as a coordinator, I haven’t been around him. He was a coordinator in Detroit, obviously. But I know him as a coach and I know what kind of energy and passion he has for the game. That’s just his identity. That’s who he is.”

On if cornerback DeAngelo Hall had a setback:
“No, he’s had no setback. We’re just part of the protocol. We just want to make sure he’s going through the right rehab steps and the process. We want to make sure that thing’s a hundred percent. I think training camp’s a good start for him to get rolling, start the individual drills in training camp, start some team drills in training camp. Right now, it’s about to continuing the rehab process to make sure that thing’s a hundred percent.”

On tackle Trent Williams:
“You know, Trent had that ankle issue a little bit last year at the end of last year. He tried to go in the Pro Bowl, obviously couldn’t go. In the offseason, he did some things in Phase 1, and just felt like it was a little sore. So he’s just going to take some time off and rehab it. We’re going to make sure he’s right for training camp because we don’t want that thing to be good one week and bad the next week. We want to make sure we get that thing fully strengthened so he’s good to go for training camp.”

On tight end Jordan Reed:
“Same with Jordan, really. He had a little process – it wasn’t a scope. He’s had some nagging soreness with that knee. This is a time where we get a chance for them to work out in the weight room still, build their upper body strength but make sure the things that really make their money – Jordan needs legs, man. He needs to have those things a hundred percent. We’re going to make sure he’s right for training camp.”

Coach Jay Gruden           Photo James Murphy
On wide receiver DeSean Jackson’s absence last week:
“They have lives. This is a major part of what they do. Obviously, we’d loved everyone to be here, 100 percent. I don’t know how many teams have a hundred percent, but I think we’ve had great participation overall from top to bottom of our roster. He missed a little bit of time, but he had reasons for it. I trust the fact that when he does come back – and he has come back – that he’ll be in great shape. He’s a veteran guy. He knows the system. He’s an extremely intelligent person. I would have loved to have had him here, but it’s his choice not to be here. He came back, he looks like he is in great shape. He didn’t miss a beat.”






Redskins sign T Willie Smith by Redskins PR


LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have signed free agent tackle Willie Smith. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In addition, the team waived tackle Tovar Allen.

Smith (6-5, 310) originally entered the NFL with the Redskins as a college free agent on July 28, 2011. He has appeared in 29 career games with 11 starts as a member of the Redskins, Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers.

Smith appeared in four games with three starts for the Redskins as a rookie in 2011. A year later, he started seven of the nine games in which he appeared for the Raiders. After playing one game for the Chargers in 2013, Smith appeared in a career high 15 games last season, including a Week 15 start vs. Denver.

Smith played collegiately at East Carolina, where he was named a first-team All-Conference USA selection as a senior in 2010.

Smith, 28, attended North Johnston H.S. in Kenly, N.C., where he helped lead his team to a 14-1 record and a conference championship as a senior captain in 2005. He was born on Nov. 13, 1986.

Clarke County Sports Game of the Week VA Chargers 28 MD Phantoms 21

PURCELLVILLE, VA- The Virginia Chargers defeated the Maryland Phantom 28-21 to cap off a perfect regular season with a 10-0 record. Video highlights by Moe Murphy with interviews with QB Brandon Hyler and Coach Louis Simmons Sr. Viewing Time (16:33)


Atlantic Football Association 2015 Playoffs, Championship and All Star Game Press release

2015 Playoffs 6/6/15




BLUEMONT, VA-  The Atlantic Football Association has released this weeks first round playoff schedule for both conferences.

The Virginia Chargers will host the Metro Phoenix at Woodgrove High School on Saturday.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
#1 VA Chargers  VS. #4 Metro Phoenix
#2 VA Vengeance  VS. #3 Virginia Storm
bNORTHERN CONFERENCE
#1 Harrisburg Sharks  VS. #4 Hanover Rhinos
#2 Phantoms  VS. #3 Germantown Gladiators

The League also announced that this years AFA Bowl V between the Southern and Northern Conference Champions will be played at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville VA June 20 at 7:00PM. The League All Star game will be played earlier that day at Woodgrove, details posted below. 

For more information on the Atlantic Football Association visit their website at:




2015 AFA Bowl V

& All Star Game

6/20/15


Woodgrove High School 36811 Alder School Road Purcellville, VA 20132


ALL STAR Game 3pm


Championship Game 7pm


1 Admission Price $10 for Both Games

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Redskins sign NT Jerrell Powe by Redskins PR


LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have signed free agent nose tackle Jerrell Powe. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Powe (6-2, 331) was originally selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round (199th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. In three seasons with Kansas City from 2011-13 and one season with the Houston Texans in 2014, Powe has appeared in 28 career games with four starts, compiling 18 tackles (12 solo), two passes defensed and a sack.

Last season, Powe appeared in all 16 games for Houston, making three starts.

Powe played collegiately at Ole Miss, where he earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league’s coaches and was chosen as a team captain as a senior in 2010. He appeared in 37 games with the Rebels with 22 starts from 2008-10.

Powe, 28, attended Wayne County H.S. in Waynesboro, Miss., where earned Parade All-American honors and played in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl as a senior. He was born on March 15, 1987.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Virginia Chargers vs. Maryland Phantoms Photo Gallery


PURCELLVILLE, VA-  The Virginia Chargers defeated the Maryland Phantoms 28-21 last Saturday, May 30 at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville.

Clarke County staff photographers James and Matt Murphy were on hand to capture the action.











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