Washington camp thoughts: Terry McLaurin, Antonio Gibson can ‘open up the playbook’

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Football Team is back at its home facility for the remainder of training camp after four days in Richmond. With Day 5 in the books and players set to wear pads Tuesday, here are eight takeaways to date, including Terry McLaurin’s growth, Taylor Heinicke’s struggles, releasing unvaccinated players, camp surprises and Washington’s focused PR push.

1. As reporters, we get paid to cover the team. While grateful for this career, this job, like many others, has its challenges. There are also times when you appreciate what’s happening in front of you to the point where you’d pay to watch an iron-sharpens-iron type of duel. McLaurin against cornerback William Jackson III is one of those battles.

“It’s fun, man,” Jackson said. “He’s a great receiver and I’m just out here getting better every day. I’m getting him better. He’s getting me better. There’s nothing like playing two good people at one position out there competing.”

Part of that competition involves trash talk. Chase Young and Montez Sweat are loud and proud with their banter but Jackson and McLaurin are more subtle.

“We talk a little noise, but it’d be low, though,” Jackson said. “You had to be real close to hear us, but we talking a little noise.”

The receivers have the advantage in practice reps because in one-on-ones, there’s no funneling the target toward deep help, and in team drills, pass rushers cannot hit the quarterbacks and there’s no tackling. That’s helped McLaurin get the best of Jackson and other defensive backs, though his game has improved from his successful first two seasons.

Jackson and McLaurin faced off last season when Washington hosted Cincinnati on Nov. 22.

“He’s gotten way better, man,” Jackson said.

McLaurin previously said he worked on his releases from the line of scrimmage. Jackson recognized the change.

“(His releases) are definitely better, way better, since I played him last year,” Jackson said. “He’s doing sudden moves. He gives you a little something at the line. He’s making it harder for DBs.”

There has been a bit of adjustment for Jackson, a high-profile offseason signing. Cincinnati emphasized man coverage while Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio’s system is “more of a zone,” Jackson said. “With zone, I’m just getting comfortable on where guys need to be — like linebackers, safeties — and knowing where they need to be and what I need to do to make plays in the defense.”

Jackson, 28, established himself as one of the better corners during his four years in Cincinnati. Yet he appreciates the steady reminders from the coaching staff about basic fundamentals and the “tiny, tiny details. … I feel like I’m caught up to speed.”

That’s the playbook aspect. Facing one of the top receivers daily in practice aids Jackson’s on-the-field preparation as well.

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2. Washington’s vaunted defense entered the week shorthanded with defensive tackles Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Two additional starters were out Monday. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who worked with the athletic training staff on a side field, is day to day with a hamstring injury and rookie linebacker Jamin Davis has an eye infection after he was poked in the eye during a recent practice.

Tim Settle, a top reserve, and roster longshot Devaroe Lawrence worked inside edge rushers Young and Sweat. Despite the absences, Washington ran several plays Monday with five defensive linemen. That’s not an unusual sight; last year, no team had more snaps with five defensive linemen on the field — 58, according to Football Outsiders. Washington averaged 3.9 yards per play allowed on those snaps.

Without Davis, Khaleke Hudson joined starters Jon Bostic and Cole Holcomb when plays were run out of the 4-3. That gauges the pecking order among the reserves and is another reminder that Hudson could have a larger role this season.

3. Apparently the day-to-day tag works for all the Allens. That’s also quarterback Kyle Allen’s status. He watched practice Monday, two days after tweaking his surgically repaired left ankle in Richmond, and he was clearly walking with a limp. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Heinicke and Steven Montez had some good moments, but there were also several misfires.

Allen seemed like he was on the verge of pressing Heinicke for the backup job behind Fitzpatrick — there will be no more mention of a competition to start unless something Ron Rivera says warrants inclusion — in part because of Heinicke’s uneven showing in Richmond. That continued Monday.

The mobile quarterback shined during a red zone series and threw touchdown passes to DeAndre Carter and Steven Sims Jr. that Rivera praised. However, the coach didn’t mention several errant throws. Defensive backs Cole Luke and Jeremy Reaves saved Heinicke from throwing interceptions on consecutive plays as they dropped the passes.

Fitzpatrick is the steadiest of the bunch, as expected, but we know his in-game journey is rarely a straight line. There’s still a ways to go before the Aug. 12 preseason opener at New England, let alone the Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. That means more time for the quarterbacks and his receivers to find a rhythm.

“You’re looking for when you start seeing that comfort zone, where they can look at each other and get a feel and understanding of what they need to do to get themselves open to be a target,” Rivera said. “And, for Fitz and Taylor to be able to read that knowing when to work towards them.”

4. Cornelius Lucas was at practice for the first time in training camp. He was the first player placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and the team can keep him there while he reacclimates. Lucas is a candidate to start at right tackle and therefore is not in obvious danger of losing his job.

However, there’s a concern among several agents that fringe players could find themselves without a job should they decline to receive the vaccine. Washington lags behind most teams in percentage of vaccinated players and has seven players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Although Rivera has expressed frustration over players refusing to receive the shot, he said that choice won’t be a factor in roster decisions.

“We know we’re going to have guys coming into the regular season that are unvaccinated,” he said. “And so, if that’s the case, if it comes down to it, we’re going to take who we think is the best player that gives us a chance to win. But they also make sure they understand that the protocols are real. … And that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

Warning: Don’t accept Rivera’s comments at face value. Players are not required to take the vaccine, and teams won’t admit they cut a player for that reason. Bills general manager Brandon Beane, who was in Carolina with Rivera, received a reprimand from the league earlier this year for saying he would hypothetically lean toward a vaccinated player because of the competitive advantage.

Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden, who tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after he was drafted in the fourth round last year, said he recently received the vaccine.

“I wouldn’t say anything changed my mind too drastically,” he said. “Just being on the team and just seeing everybody that didn’t have (some restrictions) anymore.”

Gandy-Golden “started reading and seeing Coach bringing these experts in to talk to us,” he said. “They obviously put a lot of time into this, so it’s obviously pretty serious. These older guys are getting it done and they’re not affected. … I feel like everybody will eventually come around. We’re a pretty strong team, and if not, most of us will come around and we’ll be able to lift those restrictions for most people.”

5. If you’re looking for a breakout performer on defense who wasn’t selected in the first round, Holcomb stands out — and not just for his eye-catching mullet.

“I think he’s had an excellent camp. He really has done a nice job,” Rivera said of the third-year linebacker. “You see his retention from last year has been excellent.”

Holcomb, a speed presence with a feisty attitude, injured a knee in last season’s opener and missed five games. Washington’s linebackers lagged accordingly. This year, Holcomb and Davis could end up playing the most snaps since both have the skills to play all three downs.

6. Antonio Gibson is a favorite of the fantasy football world because of the expectation that he’ll receive more work in the passing game. It’s not like anyone complained about 36 receptions on 44 targets as a rookie, but he was clearly learning the pro game in the process.

“Route running is kind of pretty easy to kind of learn,” Gibson said. “It’s different when you get out here. You got defensive backs in front of you, safeties, linebackers. So, you kind of adjust to that, but running back, I still have a lot to learn.”

Gibson played wide receiver in college but Washington drafted him in the third round as a running back. It was a good call. Gibson’s size and dynamic speed led to a 4.7 yards-per-carry average and 11 touchdowns on 170 attempts. Washington wants to see how it can further deploy the versatile threat. Rivera anticipates more third-down work, along with some different personnel groupings in which Gibson can start a play in the backfield and then shift outside.

“Depending on how the defense reacts, we’ll run a certain play,” Rivera said. “So, that’s what it’ll do for us. It’ll open up the playbook a little bit more.”

Gibson was limited by turf toe last season. The injury appeared to bother him occasionally during minicamp and over the last five practices, though he insisted, “It’s been good. Just making sure I stay on top of it, treating it after practice. After the long days, it gets kind of sore, but other than that, I’m fine out there.”

Good. Not just because his two-way ability is central to Washington’s offensive approach, but there’s no obvious replacement should he miss time.

7. Everyone covering Washington or in the stands probably has their own 53-man roster projection. Hopefully, that comes with an understanding that what’s clear today may be out of whack by cut day. That’s a combination of poor showings, like that by safety Sean Davis last season, along with players impressing. Luke is among those making noise in camp.

The corner-turned-safety has been a presence in the passing game throughout camp. Washington keeping 11 defensive backs — six corners and five safeties — is my thought, though the number could drop if there’s a standalone punt returner or an injury issue elsewhere.

That Luke, Curl and free safety Bobby McCain all have experience playing cornerback could allow Washington to run with five pure corners. Johnson or Darryl Roberts might seem like the obvious final candidate at cornerback, but Torry McTyer has made a few pass deflections.

Rivera said they used five players in the buffalo nickel role that is expected to be held by Kam Curl. “He’s flying around,” Jackson said of Curl. “He seems like he’s a smart football player. I don’t know how he was as a rookie. But he’s doing real good right now.”

Hudson is among those the coaching staff wants to see play in that buffalo role. Though he was not mentioned by name, Luke is another player to consider.

8. There’s a wonder if we’re overestimating Fitzpatrick as an upgrade simply because of the low bar set last season. Perhaps that’s also the case with Tanya Snyder throwing footballs and mini helmets into the crowd during Saturday’s practice. Her presence offered the most human public interaction from ownership in years, if not the last two decades.

That’s a good thing for Washington’s brand and perhaps the strongest reminder that the organization’s corporate public relations push is at full bore.

Dan Snyder’s “Happy Thanksgiving” comment at Rivera’s introductory news conference in January 2020 received so much attention then and since not only because the attempted joke fell flat but because he never speaks publicly. Tanya Snyder attended multiple days of the four-day training camp. Her husband was not seen. At Saturday’s post-practice rally for fans, she made her first public remarks since being named a co-CEO in June and taking on day-to-day operations.

“I have been on the sidelines for 22 years and I’m much more active and involved now with my husband,” she said. She also praised the football man in charge (“We’ve got a great, new fabulous coach. We’re in a new era with Ron Rivera”) and the organization’s new business leaders and told fans, “We want to see you at the stadium.”

Tanya Snyder's 1st public remarks since being named co-CEO: "I have been on the sidelines for 22 years and I'm much more active and involved now with my husband. We couldn't be more excited about our new leadership… we want to see you at the stadium."pic.twitter.com/F7DJwk1Lqp

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 31, 2021

It wasn’t the Gettysburg Address, nor were heavy words required, even if part of thrusting Tanya Snyder into the spotlight came after Dan Snyder pulled back on his daily role within the organization. That choice came after the NFL fined Washington $10 million as a result of an investigation into the team’s culture, including allegations of sexual harassment and other workplace misconduct.

Casual comments or a softer touch won’t have anyone forgetting the chaos wrought over the prior two decades. Dan Snyder’s looming presence remains and history suggests he could turn a positive-moving franchise around on a whim. But it’s interesting to see the organization finally taking steps to pitch its product — an NFL team — with purpose rather than indifference or disdain.

(Photo of Antonio Gibson: Scott Taetsch / USA Today)