Head Coach Jim Zorn
On the first day of training camp
producing two injuries:
“They were both non-contact injuries. They are
hard to predict, but you have to deal with it. There is nothing that
we can discuss to say ‘what if.’ Alex Buzbee was setting for a punt
block and as he was back pedaling and he planted, his achilles
ruptured on his right leg. Fred Smoot got a sprained ankle. I love
sprained ankles now because we know it is a few-day recover. With
Phillip gone and now Buzbee gone, there is a hole there. Phillip has
created a hole there. Demetric Evans has to fill in. We are really
glad we have Erasmus James. Fortunately we have very mature coaches
with experience. With Greg Blatche, we have already had several
discussions on how to make this work. As we go we have the next
practice and need to deal with it.”
On the status of Erasmus James:
“We think Erasmus is going to be able to practice
with reps in our team drills in August. As he works in and we build
him up, he might not be ready to even get into the game until the last
couple of preseason games. That is if his knee responds well and his
shoulder responds well.”
On the role of Demetric Evans:
“He just needs to fill a void and he will. He is
a heck of a player. The other guys will move in and move up. He has
been playing behind Phillip Daniels, so I haven’t really been able to
hone in on him. He has some size to him and he is going to have to be
a good run stopper. He is going to have to continue to learn to pass
rush and give us some stability there. I expect to slot him in and
go. It is what we have to do.”
On how Phillip Daniels is doing:
“The hard part is he was so ready. He did
everything that he could possibly do to not only have a great training
camp, but an excellent football season. Now he has a new challenge
before him and of course we have a new challenge before us. He feels
miserable. He deeply cares about the players on this team and knows
that it is a big void. He knows that he was a key leader on this
team. He is going to be around and he is going to try to do what he
can to continue to be a part of it even though he doesn’t get to play
on the field. I think he has to work through a lot of the emotional
issues. He senses a real loss for him, for us, and even his family.
It is a hard thing to deal with.”
On if the team will look elsewhere to fill the
void caused by the injuries:
“I don’t know if we will call teams or teams will
approach us now because everybody will know. This will happen in the
next few days if it does. If it doesn’t then we will stick with what
we have.”
Running Back Clinton Portis
On the first day of training camp:
“It was good. The season is right around the
corner. It’s different from mini-camp and OTAs because now you are
actually getting ready for somebody. Right now we are a month out
from playing football and it really counts.”
On what he thinks of Head Coach Jim Zorn so
far:
“I think he is going to be a fun coach. I think
a lot of the players love the ideas that he brings. I really think he
is going to give more players the opportunity to use their talents.
You are going to see a lot of people touch the ball, such as Malcolm Kelly, Devin Thomas, Chris Cooley, [Fred] Davis, and myself. Those
guys are working hard. They look good and it is exciting to see how
the ball gets spread around. You walk up to the line and it is not
just me, Santana [Moss], and Chris [Cooley] getting the ball anymore.
The ball can go anywhere and that is exciting.”
On the impact that bringing in receivers is
going to have on the running game:
“Its going to be great for the passing game and
when you get a passing game it is going to open up the running game.
They are going to counteract. The running game is going to have to be
used to open up the passing game and the passing game is going to need
to be used to get people out of the box for the run. I think it is a
great combination. Guys are looking forward to it and we are excited
about it. I know I am looking forward to it. It feels good to see
six people in the box and everybody else spread out wide.”
On his role on in this offense:
“People are used to seeing me as a break-away
back and they want to see me break [away for big runs]. My role is
different. I wanted to break away for big runs, but at the same time
there were few opportunities. I didn’t take advantage of all the
opportunities, so I can’t say I was consistent. Now I can say there
are more opportunities. There is more freedom.”
On where he thinks he is in terms of reaching
his prime:
“I think I am having fun. Reaching a peak or
not, I think there is a lot left in me because I am getting this
opportunity and this freedom again. Over the past five years I have
been playing tough man football and probably knocked six years off my
career. I planned to play for nineteen years, but now I am down to
thirteen. So I have six left.”
On the loss of DE Phillip Daniels:
“It is tough. Phillip Daniels was one of our
best defenders and a leader on this team. He went down the first play
after all the hard work he put in during the offseason and knowing he
was going to be a vital part to this team’s success. All of a sudden
you lose him on the first play and it is hard. As a team, guys need
to focus and come together so we can find a way to win. We need to
keep Phillip around us and keep him motivating us. Then we can go out
and win for Phillip.”
On training camp without the late Sean Taylor:
“Sean Taylor is always here with us and always in
the back of our minds. Every time you step into the locker room you
see the memorial for Sean. It is hard without him. I was looking in
the backfield today and saw Stuart Schweigert and I thought, ‘I wish
Sean was here to share this.’ He is that one piece. You always feel
that you are a piece of the puzzle away and if you could go back and
fill Sean into this team it’s a piece of the puzzle. To me it would
feel like we are there and could be the Super Bowl champs. Not having
that as a team means that guys need to come together as a team and
work. You are never going to replace him, but guys need to continue
to try.”
Redskins Quarterback Jason Campbell
On practicing under Coach Zorn:
“Coach Zorn is a good coach. He has a lot of
drills for us, and they are exciting because they prepare you well for
games. Everything has become second nature to us, but we have not
gotten to Coach Zorn’s favorite drill yet, dodgeball.”
On the loss of Phillip Daniels:
“He is one of our proven veterans on the
defensive line that makes plays. You hate to see him get injured
because he has such a great attitude and mindset about being on the
team, and helping us when games. He works tremendously hard, and you
can see how fit he is. We have to pick him up as a team, and show him
that we still love him, still care for him, and let him know that he
is still part of the team.”
Redskins Linebacker Marcus Washington
On the loss of Phillip Daniels:
“It is tough and really unfortunate. We know how
hard he worked in the offseason, and how much a part of this team he
is, especially on the defensive side. But I know Phillip, and this
will not keep him down.”
On how difficult it is to know that a player’s
entire season is lost due to an injury on the first day:
“It is tough because people don’t know how much
time players put into the offseason. You put the time in and make a
lot of sacrifices, which is why it is so disappointing when you don’t
get a chance to make it to the regular season.”
On the advantages of having so many returning
starters on defense:
“It is good because guys know what to expect from
each other, and we have a lot of confidence in each other. We had a
pretty good run last year as a defense, and hopefully we can continue
to get better this year.”
Redskins Defensive Lineman Cornelius Griffin
On how difficult it will be to replace Phillip
Daniels:
“You can’t replace a leader and a veteran that
knows the game, knows how to work, and knows how to be accountable.
But this gives someone an opportunity to step up.”