Usually in Jim Zorn's practices, the starters on both sides of the ball usually line up and compete against the opposing second-team.
On Tuesday morning, Jim Zorn and Greg Blache went head-to-head on several series with their front-line players.
The result was a spirited practice session at Redskins Park.
There was Pro Bowler Jason Taylor matching up against Pro Bowler Chris Samuels.
There was Fred Smoot and Marcus Washington trash-talking and trying to intimidate the offense.
There was Mike Sellers, looking to bowl someone over with his 280-pound frame.
There was Randy Thomas, raising his arms high after the offense got the better of the defense on one play.
The Redskins completed their 34th training camp practice on Tuesday morning, and coaches and players often look to change things up to break up the daily grind.
"We have them going one versus two a lot, but in those special category situations we wanted the [first-team units] in there," Zorn said. "They created the intensity by trying to stop each other. It made the drill very successful. We got a lot out of it."
Trash talking by Smoot and Washington picked up the pace of practice.
"This is the training camp grind, so to have those guys lift up and still have that kind of enthusiasm--you've got to have fun or it gets really boring," Zorn said. "The want to win comes out when that sort of thing happens."
Added Andre Carter: "It makes it more fun, whenever you have a loud-mouth corner like Fred Smoot talking all of the time. These are the dog days, and this was fun. It was like kids playing the game as if they were in high school.
The practice got a little more physical than Zorn would have liked.
Jason Campbell, who is off limits to tacklers, absorbed a hit from Taylor and a two-hand touch by Washington.
"I don't want Jason touched, and [the defense] knows that," Zorn said.
-- SMITH SIGNS ON
The Redskins have re-signed defensive end Dorian Smith, the team announced on Tuesday.
Smith takes the roster spot vacated by Kevin Huntley, who was released by the team.
Smith, 6-3 and 260 pounds, spent part of the 2008 offseason with the Redskins. He signed on with the club as an undrafted rookie free agent.
He played his college ball at Oregon State, where he totaled 72 career tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 15 sacks and two forced fumbles.
-- LANDRY HAS MRI
As a precautionary measure, LaRon Landry had an MRI on his injured hamstring on Monday. The results revealed a lingering strain.
Landry continues to sit out practices.
"We're still just in the process of working him through, getting him to feel better every day and working the treatments," Jim Zorn said.
