The success of the Washington Capitals has the entire D.C. area engrossed in hockey mania, and the Redskins are no different. The Caps are one game from winning the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, and that’s putting a bit of pressure on the other professional sports teams representing Washington.
“It’s pretty crazy,” linebacker Mason Foster said. “We’ve got to get something going like that for the Redskins because these fans are amazing. To see them out there in the streets watching the game or even when they were in Vegas, they’re watching at Capital One Arena. It’s exciting and we’ve just got to keep the ball rolling.”
Foster is going on his fourth season in D.C. and is all aboard the Capitals’ train. He was the Fan of the Game earlier in the playoffs and led the “Let’s go Caps” cheer inside the arena with his kids, who have fallen in love with the game. Foster has met Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson and owns a T.J. Oshie jersey. There are plans to get the personalized Capitals jersey that was gifted to Foster with his No. 54 signed, framed and hung in his home.
There’s a feel that the bar has been raised for the other organizations as athletes see the type of response a title-contending team gets from the fan base. The Redskins haven’t reached the Super Bowl since 1991, the Wizards haven’t been in the NBA Finals since 1979 and the Nationals have never played for a World Series title.
“The way that they handled themselves this season and fighting back after losing in overtime and things like that,” Foster said, “keep bounding back, keep playing hard throughout all the adversity, I definitely think it’s something you want to continue on.
“Let’s carry that on in the football season. It’s cool to see a whole city kind of rolling like that. I think it would be amazing out here for D.C.”
Linebacker Preston Smith said that, for selfish reasons, he kind of hopes the Capitals lose to the Golden Knights on Thursday. He wants to attend Game 6 in Washington and watch the team win at home. Smith respects the way the Capitals have won with the knowledge of the thin line between winning and losing.
“It’s great,” Smith said. “It’s great for the D.C. environment because now it puts pressure on other teams to be great.”
Safety D.J. Swearinger added, “They’re dominating, you’ve got to love it. It’s for the city. We’re right behind them. [It’s] definitely got to motivate you anytime a team in your city is balling [and playing for a] championship. Playing the way they’re playing, it’s got to motivate you and all the other teams.”
The Redskins wrap up organized team activities Thursday with mandatory minicamp beginning June 12.
On schedule: Running back Chris Thompson has been a regular on the sidelines during organized team activities as he continues to rehab from a fractured right fibula. Coach Jay Gruden said he’s on track to be ready for training camp next month. “We are just going to play it by ear, but he’s made unbelievable progress,” Gruden said. “He’s a lot further along than anybody anticipated except me because I knew he’d rehab quicker than anybody. He’s in great shape. We’re not too concerned.”
DNP: Thirteen players did not participate in Wednesday’s session — Thompson, Zach Brown, T.J. Clemmings, Trent Williams, Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, Manasseh Garner, Brian Quick, Jordan Reed, Stacy McGee, Pernell McPhee, Phil Taylor, Keith Marshall. Tyler Catalina and Kapri Bibbs were back after missing last week’s open media workout.
Still making plays: Second-year wide receiver Robert Davis continued to make plays Wednesday after a strong showing last week. The 6-foot-3, 217-pound sixth-round pick had one of the best plays of the day by beating the defense and catching a deep touchdown pass from Colt McCoy. Gruden said he expects a significant step forward from Davis. “We kept him mainly on the practice squad and activated him late last year,” Gruden said, “and [he] made great strides throughout the year — his size, speed, his ability to block, run. He’s got all the things you want as a receiver in the West Coast-type offense … run after the catch.
“Now it’s just about him lining up and being comfortable in the route tree and who he’s supposed to block, when he’s supposed to block them and also help us out on special teams. So, he’s done excellent. He had a little bit of a toe [injury] there for a little bit, but I think he’s healthy now, and you see him run, and he’s got a chance to really explode on the scene.”
Ankle-breaker: Rookie running back Derrius Guice drew audible reactions from onlookers after catching a ball in the left flat during an 11-on-11 period deep in the red zone. The play looked to be over as Guice was near the sideline with a defender bearing down on him. However, the LSU product got his feet underneath him and cut back inside to leave linebacker Jerod Fernandez falling to the ground. That was another example of the explosive plays the organization hope for from the running back who fell deep into the second round of the draft. Rob Kelley is still getting the first reps with the first team, but Guice is getting his share of snaps with that group.
‘Quiet assassin’: Trey Quinn, the last overall pick in April’s draft, has made a positive impression during three weeks of OTAs. He’s learning the slot from Jamison Crowder and seems to, ultimately, be in the mix to make the team. That’s not a huge surprise after Quinn led the NCAA with 114 receptions last season. “Trey has come in here, and I haven’t heard him talk a whole lot,” Gruden said. “He’s very quiet. He’s a quiet assassin and he just goes out there and is very detailed in his routes. [Receivers coach] Ike [Hilliard] has done a great job with him, and Trey, when the ball’s in the area, he’s got strong hands. Very quarterback-friendly target. He can run the option routes.
“He can also line up in different spots, so Trey is a guy that we’re going to rely on to be able to play multiple spots, be tough enough in the running game to block safeties from time to time. He’ll do whatever is asked of him, I know that, and maybe even return some punts. We’ll see, but I’ve been very impressed with Trey.”
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