In Middle, Rabach Is the Nerve Center

Ray Brown, who set a modern record by playing on Washington's offensive line at age 43, marveled at Rabach's technical proficiency. Brown reviewed film each week as part of the staff, assessing a position that lacks statistical quantification.

"I think his awareness of when guys need help and where he needs to lean the protection is really key," Brown said. "I thought he was a Pro Bowl player last year. He came on like gangbusters and was locking guys up. Very few better than him come to mind. Immediately at center I think of Olin Kreutz [who has been to six straight Pro Bowls with Chicago], but Casey is actually a bigger guy, he runs just as well, he's great out in space and he could probably be a heck of a guard if he had to."

Rabach projects a carefree attitude -- playing the role of a country bumpkin from Wisconsin who revels solely in the simple pleasures of brats and beers -- that belies a heady core. Intellect is part of the job description, and Rabach reviews film at home and at Redskins Park. "Studying? Me?" he says, before relenting. "No, it's amazing what you can pick up from film study."

On game day, Rabach must sort through stunts and pre-snap motion with NFL defenses that are more wily than ever. In college at Wisconsin, Rabach would yell "Ringo" if pressure was coming from the right and "Lucky" for the left -- that was it. Now, facing hyper-fast hybrid defenses, each decision of whether to call say "Ram" or "Rocco" carries distinct variations that dictate who is blocked, how teammates slide and adjust, which gaps are filled.

Bugel allows Rabach the freedom to direct the blocking from the trenches based on his observations -- "Not every team lets you do that," the center said -- and on those occasions when the physical and mental aspects of Rabach's job mesh, the satisfaction is enormous.

"What I really like is third down, and you know the defensive coordinator has dialed up his best blitz, his best coverage scheme," Rabach said. "If I can find a way to snub it, there's no greater feeling. You know they're trying to rock you and get you to call it one way when there's really going to be pressure coming the other way. But from film study and practice you know where the pressure is really coming from, and you make the right call and you put everybody in the right position and you knock them in the teeth. That's a pretty awesome feeling."

Redskins Notes: Gibbs continues to adjust practices to account for the heat. Early in camp, sessions were cut short several times, limiting important 11-on-11 drills that usually come at the end of practice. Now, when the heat forces shorter sessions, the team plans to adjust its schedule to get in its hardest full-squad drills early, then curtail individual drills, which would be moved to later in practice. . . .

Despite another summer of oppressive conditions, Gibbs vows to never practice in a bubble. "I will not see the bubble, that's my prediction," Gibbs joked. . . .

Fullback Mike Sellers (knee) returned to practice. . . .

The duration of training camp is closed to the public after last night's Fan Appreciation festivities. There is one practice this afternoon, and no sessions tomorrow, as the Redskins will travel to Tennessee for Saturday's game. The players are off Sunday.