On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan addressed the media following a minicamp practice at Redskins Park.
On wide receiver Donté Stallworth's tryout:
"I like Donté. I think he brings a lot to the table. We wanted to see what type of shape he was in. I thought he did an excellent job today with the way he worked and what he brought to the table. So hopefully he has the same type of practice tomorrow."
On Robert Griffin III's rehab timeline:
"Well, like I said, we listen to the doctors. The doctors will be able to tell you more about that than me. I just shared with you what they had said. So, when the doctors do clear him, then we'll practice him."
On being a part of a child's Make-A-Wish experience:
"It was great. I got a chance to spend a little time with him. He was excited today. I got a chance to meet him. You can tell he was really, really excited to be around Robert and a bunch of the players. He was pretty quick, too. I asked Bruce [Allen] if he signed him to a two-year contract instead of a one because he was pretty impressive in there. We do a good job evaluating running backs and he did a great job today."
On reports the child's signing bonus was unlimited candy:
"That's what I heard. [Laughs] That's we he wanted, so we gave him whatever he wanted… It was really good to get him out here today. I had a chance to get to talk to him a little bit on Thursday and we told him we drafted him, told him he was a first-round pick. He said he was excited to come out here and work out with the team. We told him we were going to give him a play, but he had to get it in the end zone if he was going to have a chance to make it. He looked pretty fast... You always want to take some of these younger kids, the way they interact with the players is kind of fun to see. Within 10 minutes. you can see he felt comfortable with a number of the players and wanted to be part of the group. I think he had a fun day."
On when Griffin III will be seen next by his physicians:
"I'm sure that physicians will be seeing Robert all the time; Dr. [James] Andrews, Dr. [Christopher] Annunziata, Dr. [Anthony] Casolaro. But the big thing is when we go to camp. He'll get a physical and see where he's at."
On Plan B if Griffin III has a setback:
"We've got our plan right now. What we're doing right now in practice every day is our plan for this year. We've got three quarterbacks practicing and doing quite well. Hopefully, Robert's good when he's full speed, ready to go. When that date is, I don't think anybody knows, but the doctors are going to look at him and tell us when his ready to practice. When he is, we'll see what he can do."
On the learning process for the young defensive backs:
"What we try to do with these OTAs and this minicamp is try to get people really comfortable with the system and know it inside and out, so when they do go to Richmond they don't have to think, they can react. You take the three guys in the secondary, all guys are adjusting very quickly. It took Phillip [Thomas] a little longer because he missed the first few days, but he's adjusted well. Hopefully we come back in July, and all these guys feel very comfortable in the system. They study for the next five weeks when they're away and come in here ready to compete."
On the importance of training camp reps for Griffin III:
"It's nice for everybody to get reps in training camp and that's what we do. But there's a number of people right now that are injured, but until the doctors clear them, they're going to go through rehab. When that day is, we're just going to wait and see. When the doctors feel like he's ready to go, we're going get a chance to practice him. We'll see what he can do. I don't think anybody knows though. We talk about this question every day and nobody knows for sure, but we're trying on July 24th or 25th, in that area, and we'll find out."
On if he expects other injured players to be ready for Training Camp:
"I think so. I think everybody looks pretty good. There might be one of two guys, I'm not going to go into detail, that I have a little bit of question about. But a majority of the guys, I'd say about 90 percent of them will be ready to go."
On if the safety position is the most unsettled:
"You say that, but you're never really sure with what's going to happen with injuries. Do we have depth? We have more depth now than we've had in a long time. We still have a number of guys that are competing for a position, guys that are second team or third team that we believe have a chance to compete for the first position. If you were a first teamer last year, you're going to come in as a first teamer. We'll let the competition begin."
On running back Alfred Morris' approach this year compared to last year:
"You can see he's a lot more confident in the system. It's very natural for him to make the right cuts. You don't see that too often in running backs. His second year, I can't say he's made a big jump, but he sure is a lot more comfortable is everything he's doing – pass protection, running the football, blocking responsibilities. That's what you like to see, especially that type of experience. But a lot of times guys don't pick things up as quickly as he has, and he's done a great job"
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On linebacker Brian Orakpo and tight end Fred Davis returning after missing the stretch run last year:
"'Rak, just the way he practices is like he's possessed. That's what you like to see. You can tell he misses the game, being out as long as he was last season. You can tell that he is looking forward to having a great year. He's done everything you ask a guy to do in the weight room, rehab. He's really looking forward to that opportunity. I think Fred is feeling the same way. I think Fred is ready to do. I just didn't think it was in his best interest to play him today and tomorrow when he still has an extra five weeks of recovery time. He's going through the proper treatment. He's really getting stronger and we don't want to push him against anybody for a few weeks. But he should come back, full speed, ready to go. It will be good to have him back."
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On if Stallworth fits the mold for his type of receivers:
"I didn't want to lose Donté a year ago. I did call him up and I told him I thought he made a mistake – giving him a hard time. Before he had signed, he was contemplating what to do and he had decided to go to New England. I really thought that he made a mistake. I thought he would have been better being with us just because I liked what he did, what he brought to the table. And so when it didn't work out for him this year, I was hoping that we could get him back. He had that accident and went thought obviously a little tough time there, but I was happy to see him out there today. I thought he made a couple plays today that he looked very good. Hopefully we'll get a chance to sign him in the next couple days."
On if he spoke with Stallworth shortly after his accident:
"No. I think, like everybody, that you know we were hoping he was well, and we found out that he was OK. But you never know for sure. A number of people had talked to him and they said he was fine."
On if the team intends to sign Stallworth:
"Yeah… I would say that right now after today, we'll see where he's at, but he impressed me today."
On if he has to put together two plans depending on whether or not Griffin III practices:
"No… Like everybody, we've got 90 guys ready to go. Sometimes a guy is going to sprain an ankle, you go with the next guy and you never know what's going to happen out there. You know, people come and go. But you have to have some depth and that's why you have to have these OTAs and these minicamps. You've got nine weeks that you get a chance to evaluate some people, teach them the system. You get a chance to see what they do in these preseason games. All the guys are working extremely hard. That's what I like to see. We get guys in here on time, guys getting treatment, guys getting better. Like I said, at least 90 percent of our guys should be back ready to go right at the start of camp. That's what you're hoping for, some guys with some experience that we're glad to get back."
On wide receiver Leonard Hankerson:
"This is the first time he's really been healthy getting into an offseason, and that's what I like to see with him. He's come in, he's competing. He's got a lot of ability. He was pretty tough on himself last year. He still made some excellent plays. He left some on the field. Hopefully he can keep on making strides. He's got the ability to be an excellent receiver."
On Hankerson being better at one receiver spot as compared to the other:
"Anytime you get a big guy with speed at X or Z, you feel pretty lucky. Sometimes guys might be a little bit shorter, shorter stride where they can only be a Z receiver or slot receiver. He can play either outside position, probably play inside as well because he has the ability to make people miss. He can straighten up a guy just like a basketball player, cut insides or outsides. He has the flexibility to play three different positions, which is a big plus for him… I think he has the ability to play all three, and very few guys can do that."
On cornerback Chase Minnifield:
"Well, he's well. He's ready to compete. I really liked him last year. It was just a shame; the last practice that we had, he had that injury. I thought he had made some real good strides after his first year. But he looks healthy now. For him to get a couple practice days in, for him to take the next five, six weeks to really hone in on being in the best shape possible, having a good feel for our system, we'll get a chance to evaluate him."
On if he can trust Minnifield despite his history of different knee problems:
"I don't get too involved with that because I really don't understand the ACL, the PCL, the MCL. The doctors say when they think he's ready, and they feel like he's ready to go. He's worked extremely hard to get himself in great shape. And him coming back just in the first couple of days, it's been very impressive. It doesn't look like there's any setback where he's favoring anything whatsoever. That's why I'm excited. He's got five more weeks to keep on getting better and do what he needs to do to make our football team."
On cornerback DeAngelo Hall's role teaching young defensive backs:
"What you have to do, especially for these older guys, is really teach people how to practice. A lot of guys come in and they don't know how to practice as a pro – how to finish plays, attention to detail in meetings, not too many missed assignments – kind of setting the barometer of what we expect in the future. What these veterans do from the first day is [say], "No, we don't practice this way. This is what we do. This is how we finish." A lot of times it's by example; sometimes it's verbal. DeAngelo does a good job doing that."
On the importance of Hall returning this season:
"You always want great players. You want guys that are hungry and you want guys that want to be here. I think DeAngelo wants to be here, one of the reasons why he decided to sign back with us even though [he was] taking a pay cut. You appreciate that from an organization standpoint, and you appreciate a guy that's hungry. He wants to play football. He proved it. So, hopefully he has the type of commitment that he's had to be in the best shape like he's been doing and have a great year this season."
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On if safety Brandon Meriweather is expected to return for training camp:
"Well, according to the doctors, he's ready to go in July. They don't think there's any question about it. He's full speed, ready to go. Hopefully there is no setback, but right now the doctors have told me that they believe he'll be ready to go once we go to Richmond."
On safety Jordan Pugh:
"He's OK now, but he's got a balance issue, so the doctors didn't want him practicing today or tomorrow. But he'll be ready for camp. A little bit unusual inner ear infection that he does have, but the doctors advised him not to practice. I didn't talk to him, but he is supposedly here."
On offensive lineman Jacolby Ashworth:
"Wrist sprain. He was on the side running, but he was out of practice today as well."
On the unnamed kicker/punter trying out today:
"We got a punter in here who can punt and kick off, and we try to bring in some competition and we'll see how he does. I get to know him a lot better once he makes our team."
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