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PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL

Jackson aims to play his role to its fullest

Ex-U-Va. standout says it’s time to redefine the fullback position

by Zach Berman

charlottesville — Rash-

awn Jackson is one of the top fullbacks in this week’s NFL draft, a distinction without much prestige. As NFL offenses have become pass oriented, the fullback position has evolved, with its traditional form near- ing extinction. “It’s a dying breed,” said

JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POST

Donovan McNabb takes a snap from Kory Lichtensteiger as the Redskins wrap up their first minicamp under Coach Mike Shanahan.

McNabb, Redskins get familiar

First minicamp under new staff is a learning experience

by Rick Maese

While there’s a different envi- ronment, unfamiliar uniform col- ors and new faces all around, the feeling is a slightly familiar one for Donovan McNabb, the Red- skins’ newly acquired quarter- back.

“I feel like a freshman just get- ting into college,” he said Sunday, following the final practice of the team’s first minicamp. The team’s predraft minicamp was in many ways like the first week back to school for the Red- skins, complete with a new cur- riculum, new teachers and new classmates. “It was good to finally get out

there, get a little work going,” said offensive coordinator Kyle Shana- han. “[We’re] teaching everyone a new offense, so each day it got better. The first day everyone was a little rusty; they’re just trying to know what they’re doing. The more they knew what they’re do- ing each day, we got a little better at technique as it went. I thought today was our best day.” In Coach Mike Shanahan’s first minicamp since taking over as head coach in January, his staff began installing new offensive and defensive schemes, all the while making notes on individual performances. What they saw over the weekend will go a long way to determining some players’

futures with the team and might force some last-minute tweaks on the team’s draft board. Though the minicamp was vol-

untary, Shanahan wanted to see commitment from his players, which is why 75 were in attend- ance and only three were miss- ing: quarterback Jason Campbell, defensive tackle Albert Haynes- worth and linebacker Rocky McIntosh. Running back Clinton Portis, criticized by past coaches for his offseason conditioning habits, says that won’t be a problem for him this year. In fact, Portis says he feels more committed than he has in recent years under former coach Jim Zorn. “I actually do. It’s a difference when you say commitment and you want someone to buy into a system that you really don’t be- lieve in,” Portis said. “I think hav- ing Coach Shanahan here, you just believe in whatever he say. If he tell you, ‘I think we can jump off the roof, that we going to land safe.’ It’s like, ‘All right, [expletive] it, let’s jump.’ ”

Shanahan denied reports that the Redskins are interested in trading Haynesworth, though few around the league would be surprised if Haynesworth is shopped before this week’s draft. Either way, missing the first mini- camp means Haynesworth and McIntosh are both a step behind their teammates in learning the new defense. Coaches say the Redskins will switch to schemes that rely on both three-man and four-man fronts. “They’ve got a lot to learn,” de-

fensive coordinator Jim Haslett said of the absent players. “There’s a lot more to this defense — there’s a lot of things. The lon- ger you stay away, you’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Being around the guys that are here and knowing how conscientious they are, I think they’ll be fine once we get them here and get them up to speed. I don’t think it will be a big learning process.” As for the offense, McNabb said the minicamp was important. A Redskin for just two weeks, he’s not the only one learning a new system. The team has acquired several new offensive pieces — running backs Larry Johnson and Willie Parker and offensive line- man Artis Hicks among them — and even players returning from last season must learn the new of- fense, a system devised by both Shanahans and expected to rely heavily on the run and a complex passing attack.

“I use it as kind of a mental

weekend of being able to get ac- customed in the offense, sur- rounded with the guys and just make sure we worked a lot on chemistry and timing and com- munication,” McNabb said. “I think that’s very important in this offense, of the success that [Kyle Shanahan] had in Houston. Hopefully we can mirror that.” McNabb has remained in town since he was acquired from the Eagles, lifting weights and spend- ing his days at Redskins Park. He’ll now take a week off to re- turn to his Arizona home but will return to Washington the follow- ing week. “I expect to be here with these guys,” he said. “We

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Landry puts trade

rumors behind him

Although safety LaRon Landry

briefly left the Redskins’ voluntary workout program, “everything is cool now.” After the Redskins’ final minicamp practice Sunday, Landry for the first time addressed his feelings about hearing his name mentioned in trade speculation, discussed his evolving role in the Redskins’ new 3-4 defense and characterized 2009 as a “disappointing season for me.” Landry, who appears to have bulked up considerably, is focused on rebounding well in his fourth season. “During that time, as far as a

trade being concerned with me, I didn’t take it as a negative thing or being upsetting,” Landry said while walking off the field at Redskins Park. “I looked at it like this: ‘There are other teams who wanted me.’ They really wanted me. If the Skins wanted to give me up, I’d be gone by now. The only thing I did, I stepped back and thought of my next career move as a businessman. That didn’t mean I stopped working or didn’t want to be with the Skins. I was just thinking of my next business move. Talking with my agent and that was it. I wasn’t mad or anything.” Landry has spent more time at the complex than during previous offseasons because “the 3-4 defense is new. My second year here, I knew the whole defense. I knew everything. I communicated with Coach [Greg] Blache. Coach Blache was okay with me working out wherever I was working out at, and we communicated that. But

as far this defense, it’s a whole new thing. I need to be here and learn that.”

Excited about O-line?

If you’ve grown tired of hearing the offensive line maligned and criticized, then Kyle Shanahan’s thoughts will come as a breath of fresh air. In his first organized meeting with reporters, the team’s new offensive coordinator said, “I’m real excited about our offensive line,” noting that he was pleased with its collective performance during the three-day camp. Certainly, the Redskins

wouldn’t mind an upgrade at just about any position, but it’d seem the tackle positions are areas especially ripe for improvement. During minicamp, the first team included Stephon Heyer at left tackle, Derrick Dockery at left guard, Casey Rabach at center, Mike Williams at right guard and Artis Hicks at right tackle. Shanahan said he’s aware the group has faced criticism for its play the past few seasons. “I don’t see it on tape and I

don’t see it out on the field. I think we got some real good players,” he said. “I think we got some big guys who aren’t just big guys who stand still. We got some big guys who can move. We’ve just got to get them in shape and get them used to running the zone scheme and running and cutting.” Some within the organization

have said that Mike Shanahan and his staff are comfortable with their inside linemen but feel both tackle positions could be significantly upgraded. Despite what Redskins fans and league observers might’ve noted last season, Kyle Shanahan

have a long ways to go.” Though he wasn’t necessarily surprised, Mike Shanahan said he’s been impressed by his new quarterback’s leadership abili- ties.

“Donovan has done a great job since he’s been here,” Shanahan said. “It’s always a learning situa- tion any time you come in . . . but he’s a worker, he’s come out here and he’s really thrown the ball well and he’s looking forward for him getting to know the system a little bit better and getting more comfortable with the system as we go through these [organized team activities].” Portis spoke with reporters

Sunday at Redskins Park for the first time since the Redskins signed Johnson and Parker to compete with him in the back- field. He said he wasn’t surprised by the signings and called the pair “great pickups.” “I think we’ll find a way to

make it work. I think that’s beau- ty,” he said. “Some people say you can never have too much and some people say there’s not enough balls to go around, but I think the situation will work it- self out. I think everybody is go- ing to add a different dimension and come here and help this team.” Following this week’s draft, the Redskins will have two more minicamps and 13 days of off- season training activities. The next minicamp is voluntary and is scheduled for May 7-9.

maeser@washpost.com

Staff writer Mark Viera contributed to this report.

Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers, who has played 10 seasons. “More of the fullbacks need to be able to catch passes, go out and run routes. You don’t have too many of those right now. It’s just specific to what a coach wants.” Only two natural fullbacks were selected in last season’s draft, the fewest since 2001. Sellers said a fullback must be a “hybrid” to succeed in today’s game, able to both block for oth- ers and makes plays on his own. It’s a role that Jackson, a former Virginia fullback, has embraced as he prepares for an NFL ca- reer. “My whole goal is to get in the league and have people re-think their perspective of what a full- back is,” said Jackson, who led Virginia with 461 rushing yards last season. “Things change. Toyotas don’t look the same way they looked in 1992. So I fig- ured, hey, why can’t fullbacks change and do the same? So me and other fullbacks out there can reconstruct the position.” Jackson points to Philadel- phia Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver as an example of the way the position is changing. Weaver earned a spot in the Pro Bowl last season after rushing for 323 yards and catching 15 passes for 140 yards, and signed a contract during the offseason that made him the highest-paid fullback in NFL history. Jack- son also admires Atlanta Fal- cons fullback Jason Snelling, a U-Va. product who rushed for 613 yards and caught 30 passes in a hybrid role last season. “Guys have to be that hybrid

said he reviewed game film and saw plenty of potential. “When you watch tape of an

old staff, you don’t want to watch too much because you’re not watching scheme,” he said. “You don’t know what they’re asking players to do. . . . When you watch the individual, you do see talent. You see size and you also see speed. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for. Now we want to get them on the field and see. We know they’re talented; can they do what we’re asking them to do?”

Parker already battling

When running back Willie

Parker entered the NFL in 2004, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield included Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley. What Parker described as a “no-win” situation later resulted in Parker emerging as 1,000-yard rusher in his second season and as a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007. Parker drew from this

experience when deciding to sign with the Redskins during the offseason. He will compete with former Pro Bowlers Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis for playing time. “I look at the other guys, tied in their history along with mine, and made the best decision and chose to be a Redskin,” said Parker, who met with reporters Sunday for the first time since signing.

Of the three running backs,

Parker has the fewest career carries with 1,253. But his 4.3 yards per carry is the lowest average among the running backs. “Me, L.J. and C.P., we

definitely out here battling and it’s just minicamp,” Parker said.

player who can lead block, block on the edge, protect the quar- terback,” Snelling said. “And you also have to be able to take car- ries, be productive on short yardage and run the ball and catch the ball out of the back- field. Fullback needs to do a lot more this time in the league.” Snelling has a close relation- ship with Jackson and experi- enced a similar college career. Like Jackson, Snelling shuffled between fullback and tailback — Jackson even spent a season as a linebacker — and was forced to learn how to play dif- ferent roles. “Teams look for guys who do more, because it saves roster spots,” Snelling said. “They want guys who can play full- back and come in and play tail- back.”

Snelling also emphasized special teams as vital for full- backs, and Jackson pointed out that he played in all special

JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POST

Safety LaRon Landry says trade rumors didn’t break his spirit or his dedication to the Redskins.

“The second minicamp [May 7-9], I expect to take it a little higher and the third minicamp [the mandatory one June 16-18] take it a little higher, and training camp, just going out to get it. It’s definitely a competition that’s setting a high standard right now.”

Porter tries to land a job

At least three wide receivers took part in the three-day camp as a tryout for a permanent position, including Jerry Porter, a former second-round draft pick and nine-year veteran. “There’s a lot of talent around

here,” Porter said. “I’ve seen the offense from afar before. It’s definitely an offense I’d like to be a part of.” Porter was drafted by the Raiders in 2000 when General Manager Bruce Allen was in the Oakland front office. He had nearly 4,000 receiving yards there from 2000 to ’07. Porter is a Washington native

who attended Coolidge High and played at West Virginia. He said he’s not certain what the Redskins’ plans are for him. “I don’t know,” he said. “I have

no clue.”

— Jason Reid, Rick Maese and Zach Berman

DAVE MARTIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rashawn Jackson, shown in January at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., led Virginia with 461 rushing yards last season.

MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010

SAM GREENWOOD/GETTY IMAGES

Only two fullbacks were drafted in 2009, but Rashawn Jackson could go this year.

teams with the Cavaliers. But Redskins running backs coach Bobby Turner, who has coached the position for 15 years in the NFL, said he still requires a full- back who can block.

Snelling said blocking is about technique more than a size, but a fullback in the cur- rent state of the NFL needs quickness and athleticism, which Jackson possesses even at 6 feet 1 and 239 pounds. When former Virginia coach Al Groh recruited Jackson, Groh watched Jackson play basket- ball and witnessed what Jack- son could do at his size. “He did a little 360 and went up and dunked it, and that’s pretty good for a player that size,” Groh said during the sea- son. “It’s not as if he’s 6-4. That gives you a good idea that he’s got really good overall athletic skill.” Jackson said he injured his hamstring while running the 40-yard dash at February’s scouting combine, which hurt his results. He ran in 4.73 sec- onds, but is confident there’s enough game film from the past few seasons to reveal what he can do on the field to survive as a fullback in a pass-oriented league. “They still need someone to pick up the blitz,” Jackson said. “Not too many tailbacks are 240 pounds. I’ve been given oppor- tunities to showcase that this season, playing H-back and picking up the blitzes, and I think that was beneficial in evaluating my film and seeing they have a complete-package player.” Jackson is not going to watch

the draft, instead planning to barbecue with his family. The range in which he could be drafted is so vast that he said he would become too nervous. Jackson is less concerned with the round he gets picked and more concerned with how he fits on his future NFL team. Snelling was a seventh-round pick. Weaver went undrafted. Sellers came from the Canadian Football League. Jackson is pre- pared to quickly learn the value of a position that continues to evolve.

“I don’t think it’s devalued,” Snelling said, “but the position is transforming and you got to do more than just the typical fullback, the lead blocker, and what it’s typically known as.”

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