Training Camp Tracker

By Steve Yanda

COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

36

Days until the Redskins host the Dolphins on Sept. 9

at FedEx Field.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

What: Scrimmage with Baltimore Ravens

When: Noon

Where: M&T Bank Stadium.

TV: MASN

SUMMER STORY LINES

Strong on the Weak Side

During the offseason, the defensive player who drew the most praise from the coaching staff for his development was Rocky McIntosh. The second-year linebacker out of Miami watched game film, worked out and studied his role as much as any other player. With Marcus Washington on the strong side and free agent pickup London Fletcher in the middle, McIntosh was a sure pick to field the weak-side spot. Lost in the equation is Lemar Marshall, who started 15 games at middle linebacker for the Redskins in 2006 and recorded 70 tackles. With the addition of Fletcher, Marshall will move to the weak side, where he started 14 games in 2004. But he finds himself stuck behind McIntosh, fighting for a starting job he knows will be difficult to snatch. "I can't control that," Marshall said. "All I can control is my performance on the field. I'll show them all I can show, and let the rest happen." Marshall said he feels comfortable moving away from the middle linebacker position and that it's just the little things like reading the linemen from the weak side that he still is trying to smooth out. "It's just the football I.Q. on the really little things that help you play faster," he said. "It's different at both positions."

FRESH FACE

Rookie linebacker H.B. Blades was more prophetic on the first day of training camp than he ever could have imagined. "It's everything I expected it to be," Blades said after the first practice session on July 27. "Everything is fast all the time, and they don't wait for you just because you're making mistakes." Blades soon found out his coaches and teammates also tend not to wait for rookies who are sidelined with minor injuries. Blades sat out several practices with cramps early in camp and lost valuable playing time in front of the evaluators who will decide his future. All the sixth-round pick out of Pittsburgh can do now is stick to that adage about being seen and not heard. "I'm not talking, just listening," he said. Blades acknowledged that the special teams may be the place in which he can make the most immediate impact, given the logjam at linebacker. "There are only so many starters," Blades said. "You have to contribute in some other way."

QUOTABLE

"I'll play right guard, left tackle, wherever they need me to."

Tackle Jon Jansen, on the growing number of injuries to the offensive line

INJURY REPORT

OL Todd Wade did not participate in drills. Bubba Tyer, director of sports medicine, said Wade was given a day of rest. . . . WR Carl Berman (hamstring) and LB Dallas Sartz (hamstring) performed individual agility drills but did not participate in team activities. . . . G Randy Thomas (knee) sat out most of practice but did participate in 11-on-11 drills toward the end of the session. . . . FB Pete Schmitt (bruised left shoulder) saw limited action in offensive drills. . . . T Chris Samuels (right knee), RB Clinton Portis (right knee), WR Mike Espy (bruised left knee) and TE Tyler Ecker (groin) did not practice.

Ecker, Espy, Portis, Samuels, Sartz, Schmitt and CB Jerametrius Butler (hamstring) will not play in today's scrimmage.

NEXT UP

Preseason opener

at Tennessee Titans

8 p.m., Aug. 11

LP Field, Nashville

TV: NFL Network