Healthy Linemen Provide Redskins With a Solid Start

"I've been through coaching changes and when you make changes everyone always says, 'Hey, we're going to be better,' " he said. "With this one I think we at least won't lose any ground."

When asked to explain why, he replied: "We have most of the team back and a lot of our coaches are back. We have the same rushing offense. There's still a lot of continuity."

What he left out was the fact that this team has his voice again. Which is also true for Thomas, who despite his gregarious, almost intimidating personality, has helped plenty of young linemen on the team. Perhaps no one in the organization can take more credit for the sudden development of tackle Stephon Heyer last season. It was Thomas who incorporated Heyer in his workouts, pushing him to work harder, to get stronger.

Now Jansen and Thomas are back. And even though Thomas is not taking part in any contact drills, he said he is resting simply as a precaution. If there were a game today, he'd be playing. He joked that in two of the last three years when he went down with what essentially became season-ending injuries, the Redskins went on playoff runs in his absence.

"Maybe you need to get hurt every year," someone said.

Thomas glared. Then he rolled his eyes.

"You know, I was 3-0 as a starter last year," he said. "They should have just introduced me in that playoff game at Seattle."

Right now, they'll take the opening game against New York.