Redskins’ Smith frustrating Norman early in camp
Alex Smith is frustrating Josh Norman.
Norman likes having Smith with the Washington Redskins, but practice time against the veteran quarterback at training camp hasn’t been as beneficial as the big-money cornerback had hoped. That’s because Smith has been so on-point with his decision-making and throws that Norman isn’t getting a whole lot of work in team drills.
“You’re in great position, you get there top of the route, you’re ready for your play to be made and it doesn’t come,” Norman said. “But the ones you are a little step behind on and you’re almost there to make it, he throws it. It’s those games, cat and mouse, man. It’s cat-and-mouse games that it just sucks when you’re the mouse.”
Norman feels like the mouse early in camp but hopes facing a quarterback like Smith each day benefits him in the long run. Entering the third season of a $75 million, five-year contract, Norman is balancing the lack of work he’s getting during 11-on-11 time with his usual halfhour plus of individual drills after practice as one of the last players on the field.
“That’s what you’ve got to do to be the best, to be great like him,” said undrafted rookie safety Quin Blanding, who worked out with Norman following practice Sunday. “It just shows he wants extra work no matter all the work he’s done in practice. It’s always find ways to get better, and that’s what he’s doing.”
Norman is known for his post-practice regimen, whether it’s going for jump balls or catching in rapid succession out of a JUGS machine. But none of that compares to team snaps, where Smith is avoiding Norman the way he would in a real game.
“I’m just staying the course and trying to understand that your technique is not flawed, continue to do what you do even though your chances are not coming,” Norman said. “But when they do come, try to be better than the quarterback in making a play. He’s so precise right now, so he’s not making mistakes, and that’s the biggest thing you’ve seen. Even in practice, he’s not making mistakes. It’s hard to try to key in on that.” TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS Autos
Coach Jay Gruden approves. His offense is built around quick decisions and finding the right receiver to throw to, and that’s not usually by challenging Norman.
“Josh is getting plenty of work,” Gruden said Tuesday. “We’re not going to throw a flat route out to Josh Norman and let him pick it. That’s just commonsense, so Josh is going to have to wait for somebody else to throw it to him.” Chargers’ Williams hurt: Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams (Calvert Hall) injured his leg during the fourth practice of training camp Tuesday, potentially dealing another blow to Los Angeles’ depth in the defensive secondary.
But coach Anthony Lynn is cautiously optimistic that his team’s latest injury isn’t serious.
Williams, a Baltimore native, was hurt while defending receiver Mike Williams in a red zone drill. Trevor Williams had to be helped off the field by teammate Jahleel Addae.
After getting attention from the training staff, he left Jack Hammett Sports Complex on crutches with his left foot in a walking boot.
The injury and Williams’ reaction to it were foreboding, but Lynn was hopeful he hasn’t lost his starting cornerback for an extended period.
“You’re holding your breath there,” Lynn said. “I think he sprained his ankle, but I don’t think it’s bad. I mean, it’s the fourth day of training camp. Hell, wehave coaches around here limping. Coaches are sore, so I can’t imagine how the players feel.”
After the Chargers’ history with catastrophic injuries in the past few seasons, Lynn won’t exhale until Williams undergoes further tests.
Williams started five games as a rookie, and he started 15 more games last season. He made the first two interceptions of his career along with 56 tackles and generally provided outstanding coverage. Seahawks’ Baldwin sitting out: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin missed a third straight practice on Tuesday while dealing with a knee issue.
Coach Pete Carroll said the team is going to give Baldwin a couple of weeks off.