Attendance was down from last year's second day morning session, a sign that new head coach Jay Gruden's decision to hold full practice in the morning earlier than last year's morning walk-through sessions, and not in the late afternoon may have an effect on overall attendance, but it is too soon to tell how Redskins fans will adjust to this and make their plans to visit accordingly.
Robert Griffin III was on full display during drills and 7-on-7's, showing no ill effects of the knee which captured all the attention in RVA last summer. There is also no knee brace.
Dozens of high school football coaches from across the Commonwealth were in attendance for morning practice, including new Patrick Henry head coach Bryan Davis and assistant Dan McGraw, for the Washington Redskins High School Coaches Clinic, sponsored by the Redskins Charitable Foundation.
Guest speakers discussed areas of improvement coaches can make with their student-athletes in nutrition, conditioning and performance. The main speaker was none other than head coach Jay Gruden's rather famous brother, Jon Gruden, who won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002 and is now an ESPN NFL analyst, most notably the color commentator on Monday Night Football.
In his usual fiery, upbeat tone, Gruden pronounced Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel as having the quickest release of any quarterback he's ever seen, noted he coached high school football after being fired by Tampa Bay, and discussed the critical importance of earning the effort of your players. He earned a rousing standing ovation for his presentation.
Gruden is an ambassador to high school football across the nation in his travels with ESPN, according to Redskins President Bruce Allen.
See a complete wrap-up of the Coaches Clinic, and full coverage of the Redskins in Richmond in the next edition of the Hanover Herald-Progress!
