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Aging Defensive Line Will Try to Hold Its Own
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"I think we got a lot done," Zorn said. "We could have probably slapped in a few more plays, but it wouldn't have helped. I think what we did here in these five practices [is] got the nucleus down. What I told the group right after practice is, 'Okay, we know where we are because of these five practices. We know where we want to be and now we have to work towards closing that gap.' "
Several players expressed optimism in the early progress made implementing a new offensive system, and praised Zorn's energy and approach.
"We're having a good time out here," center Casey Rabach said. "We just kind of touched on the playbook this weekend as far as what will carry over into the regular season, but Coach Zorn definitely brings some enthusiasm to the practices and to the meetings and we're all here having fun right now."
Zorn said the learning has carried over off the field as well, where he now has more duties with the press.
"With the media, this is my first time," Zorn said. "Nobody has punched me in the face and nobody has got after me or anything like that, so it has been great allowing me to start learning what it is like to have to answer questions."
Step for Step
It was just a simple play during the final day of minicamp: A screen pass to running back Clinton Portis. But when Portis reversed field and starting safety LaRon Landry ran him down, the friendly jawing started.
The trash talk continued in the locker room after practice and bets started being placed, so the two stars headed back outside for a 40-yard dash to end any speculation.
"I didn't want him to think . . . you know, I was running sideways and he ran me down and 'ooohhh,' you know what I'm saying," Portis said. "Don't think you got it, bro."
With teammates gathered on a nearby hill to watch and Zorn still being interviewed near the main building, the two raced on a practice field. Portis jumped to an early lead, but Landry had a late kick and seemed to take the 40-yard race in a photo finish.
"You know the defensive backfield, we knew we were going to win, that's why I put out my money there," cornerback Fred Smoot said. "Clinton got the burst but [Landry is] a defensive back and we used to chasing people. He had to go get him and that's what he did."
The race didn't stop the trash-talking though.
"About the 25-yard line I came straight up looking at the sky cause I knew I was gonna win, you still down trucking. Come on, man," Landry said to Portis, who stood by laughing.
"If he want to feel like he won, he can feel like he won," Portis said. "We gonna keep running until it's just hands down [that] I won it."
As he walked inside, Portis joked he hoped the sprint would count as an organized team activity. When told, Zorn laughed and said that wouldn't happen.
"Nope," Zorn said. "He was on his own, that was strictly voluntary."
