Echoing comments from head coach Jim Zorn last week, Jason Campbell said on Monday that the Redskins need to play "more tough" in the team's three remaining preseason games.
"We want to have more of an attitude when we get to the line of scrimmage," he said. "Play a little bit harder and play a little bit faster."
The comments come five days after the Redskins' 23-0 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason opener.
Zorn has mentioned several times the day after the game he felt some of the younger players had played "soft" against the Ravens.
"Coach Zorn wants a different approach," Campbell said. "He wasn't speaking to everybody when he said that, but at the same time when you speak to one, you speak to all. What we have to do is lift each other up and compete. Whether it's preseason or regular season, you have to go out there and give your best."
The Redskins return to preseason play this Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedExField.
"This week, we're looking to come out and play a lot better than how we did last week--as a whole," Campbell said. "Not just as a group, but as a whole team."
Against the Ravens last Thursday, Campbell played two offensive series and completed 3-of-6 passes for 38 yards. He converted three first downs, but he was not able to guide the offense across midfield on either drive.
Zorn said he was impressed with Campbell's decision-making in his limited action against the Ravens.
Zorn pointed to the game's first play when Campbell looked off the first receiver and ended up throwing a short pass to Ladell Betts in the flat. Betts turned it into a 12-yard gain.
"Jason looked at his first progression and ended up throwing to his fourth progression on the route for a first down," Zorn said. "That tells me a lot--how far Jason has come along.
"The rest of the game, he was very solid the way he controlled the offense and the line of scrimmage and the offense. He played with a lot of confidence."
-- BARNES, HENSON GET ROOKIE TREATMENT
Rookies have had it relatively easy most of Redskins training camp. They may be looking over their shoulders now, though.
Kevin Barnes and Robert Henson were taped to a goalpost following Monday afternoon's practice at Redskins Park.
It appears Albert Haynesworth, Cornelius Griffin and London Fletcher were among the instigators.
Fletcher helped round up Barnes and Henson, and Haynesworth and Griffin pulled them aside.
"Don't fight it," Griffin told Henson.
Makes sense.
"Better to just go with it," Henson said.
For Barnes and Henson, the worst part of it may have been when a bucket of cold water was dunked over their heads.
Fifteen minutes later, Henson and Barnes were the only ones left on the field. Finally, Andre Carter and Phillip Daniels arrived to let them loose.
Henson and Barnes were both in good spirits.
The rookie hazing may not be over, though. After all, there are 15 other rookies on the Redskins' roster.
Would they dare try to haze Brian Orakpo and Jeremy Jarmon?
"Oh, they're going to be getting it, too," DeAngelo Hall said. "We couldn't find them, so we decided to get them a different day."
-- ALRIDGE STILL OUT
Anthony Alridge continues to be sidelined with a sprained toe. He sat out his 11th consecutive practice on Monday.
Alridge suffered the injury during the Aug. 8 intra-squad scrimmage.
"He is going to get out of the boot he is in on Tuesday, and then we'll start working him on some low-impact rehab," Jim Zorn said. "Then we're going to start revving it up so he can get back on the field."
Alridge is unlikely to play in this Saturday's preseason game vs. Pittsburgh.
