The longest tenured player on the Redskins' roster, Kedric Golston says the team's defensive line is talented and ready to reach the same goal.

Kedric Golston's longevity dates back to when Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs was in his second stint with the Redskins.

The 10-year veteran has worked alongside several players he said helped him early on in his career along the way including Cornelius Griffin and Phillip Daniels among others.

This year, though, he's part of what may be the Redskins' best front-seven from a talent standpoint in years.

But despite all the positive talk surrounding them, nothing has been achieved yet.

"I think the best thing about it is as a group, we understand that's just talk," Golston told Redskins.com. "Names on paper don't win football games. Coming out here, growing together as a unit, competing each and every day to make each other better, so that's what I think is exciting about that. You've got a bunch of guys who are working towards the same goal."

Golston, who just completed his 10th training camp with the Redskins, said the changes in amount of contact over the years have made him sharper entering the season.  

"From when I first came in, obviously it's a different kind of approach with not having true two-a-days and with more of a walkthrough practice in the morning and a physical practice in the evening," he said. "When I was younger I'd come out here and didn't have to worry about getting in the hot tub just stretching and getting fresh legs. Nowadays, you've got to do a lot to prepare for practice, but the mental part of it is a little bit easier, because you understand the focus and the attention to detail it takes to be successful."

At 32-years old, Golston, who is the second oldest player on the team, uses the offseason to refine his routine.

"A lot of stretching, your diet, just trying to make sure that everything is in balance," the Georgia product said. "Football is a violent game where your body takes a lot of wear and tear, so at the end of the day, you've got to figure out those that your body might be compensate for and try to strengthen them to prevent injuries down the road. Pilates is a major part of that, too, strength training, conditioning. Eating is a major part of it trying to keep the inflammation out of it and staying properly hydrated."

Golston also believes that current defensive line coach Robb Akey is different in a lot of ways from and former defensive line coach Jacob Burney, but that the former head coach at the University of Idaho has several strengths that he brings with him to Washington.

"Akey hasn't had the experience in the NFL, but he's a guy that's been coaching defensive line for a long time," Golston. "Guys that care about their players, care and love and appreciate defensive line play. Coaches that just want their players to be accountable for their actions."

As the Redskins head back to Loudoun County, Va., to finish their preseason slate, they'll eventually cut down their roster to 75 players and then 53 before the season starts.

While the determination on who will make the team has yet to be made, and how positional rotations will work, Golston is expected to play some sort of role on the defensive line.

"You've got [Jason] Hatcher, who is like a savvy veteran, [Chris Baker] and Kedric," said nose tackle Terrance Knighton recently. "You've got [Stephen] Paea who's very explosive, moves side to side very quickly. You've got Baker who can give you a little bit of everything. You've got Ricky Jean [Francois], who's just athletic in every phase of the game. When different guys are out there, you're going to get different things. We'll have a wave of guys during the game and during practice, and it gives the O-line trouble because they never get the same thing over and over."

RELATED LINKS:
--Golston Uses Experience To Guide Leadership
--Terrance Knighton: Redskins' Defense 'Organized Chaos'

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