In recent years training camp at Redskins Park resembled center stage at a Ringling Brothers circus.

With Albert Haynesworth and Donovan McNabb sent packing, there are no superstars on the 2011 Redskins team. The focus of the media along with the dwindling camp crowds is on the weather and the economy, not the antics of a select few.

Frankly, Redskins training camp has been very boring and the players like it that way.

"I'm OK with camp being a little boring," third-year linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "The focus is on the field, not off it."

All that should change a bit Thursday afternoon as the free agent veterans can start participating at practice and the Rex vs. Beck QB controversy starts. Sentiment for each appears to be split between the media and fans, but it is believed Mike Shanahan is a big John Beck fan and he's the one with all the say.

The so-called "boring ball" by the Redskins will likely carry over to the pre-season and regular-season games. I expect the 2011 Redskins to operate with an ultra-conservative offense and an aggressive defense resulting in low scoring, close football games.

The Chicago Bears have had success with that style of play for decades. It's a blue-collar approach to football. Play hard, be smart, and wait for the opposing teams to beat themselves.

With that approach to football games, the ball has to bounce your way more times than not to be successful. It may work for the Redskins, or it may not. One thing is for certain, Shanahan wanted to create competition at every position and he's accomplished that for the most part.

Some training camp news and notes:
- RB Ryan Torain injured his wrist and he's expected to miss two weeks. Torian has never played a full season in the NFL.
- QB John Beck's passes are starting to look crisper and tighter. The first few days of camp his deep passes had a Kilmeresque look to them. The soreness is gone and it shows.
- WR Malcolm Kelly is fighting for a job and he's managed to stay healthy to this point. Three more weeks of uninterrupted practice time and he may just make the team.
- The Redskins re-signed LB Rocky McIntosh, S Reed Doughty and DL Kedric Golston.
- First-round pick LB Ryan Kerrigan was moving around better today. He bruised his right knee the first day of camp and hasn't participated in drills since.

For Redskins news on Twitter, follow @Redskins_Live, and follow me on Twitter @NFLSkins.

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-- EDWARD SHEAHIN
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Fans showed up in droves early and often at Redskins Park on Saturday for their first look at the 2011 Washington Redskins.

The weather cooperated with a slight breeze to keep the 90-degree temperature manageable for the three-hour morning practice session.

It wasn't difficult to detect many of the players were having trouble working out the soreness from Friday's practice this morning. Slight limps, tight throwing arms and a lack of giddy-up were all the result of the teams first practice yesterday in nearly seven months.

Within the first half hour players had worked out their kinks and ready to state their case for a roster spot.

Players who caught my eye Saturday (good and bad) were:

WR Malcolm Kelly: He looked sharp running routes and catching the ball and was a fan favorite. They cheered his receptions as they understand he needs to have a flawless and healthy camp to make the roster.

QB John Beck: He has that "swag" about him you expect from a starting QB. Unfortunately his deep passes in 11-on-11 drills were either overthrown or under thrown. The timing is not there yet. It will come.

RB Ryan Torain:He ran the ball hard, looking a cougar chasing prey down a mountain. If he can stay healthy for 16 games (which he's never done), he has the potential to be a 1,500-yard runner.

C - Will Montgomery: With the release of Casey Rabach, the starting job is his to lose. He reminds me a great deal of Jeff Bostic. Never an overpowering blocker, but he'll rarely get beat with a quick move.

CB Kevin Barnes: He's a completely different player this year. He blankets receivers in practice. I'm not certain new FA CB Josh Wilson will beat him out. Barnes has to carry his confidence into the preseason to stick as the starter.

DT Chris Neild: I was always told if a coach isn't screaming at you, you should be concerned. Well, Neild received plenty of that attention from the defensive coaches. I imagine they have big plans for the human tank.

Some other camp news and notes:

- S LaRon Landry, S Kareem Moore, LB Robert Henson are on the PUP list and won't practice for a few days.
- LB Ryan Kerrigan has a bone bruise on his right knee and his status is day-to-day.
- Players only wore their helmets today, but went at it pretty hard in one-on-one drills.
- WR Jabar Gaffney has really impressed me with his grasp of the offense and route running. He's only been on the team for two days.
- Coach Mike Shanahan looks more relaxed. It could be a result of spending more time coaching instead of dealing with the AH circus?
- QB John Beck does a good job checking down to his 3rd/4th receiver options. The question is, will he have time to do so in games?
- The hot topic at camp is Mike Sellers move from FB to TE. "I know what Mike can do at FB. I want to see him as a TE," Shanahan explained. The Redskins may be forced to run the ball often in 2011 and Sellers size gives them more options.

For Redskins news on Twitter, follow @Redskins_Live, and follow me on Twitter @NFLSkins.

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-- EDWARD SHEAHIN
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It was hot and humid at Redskins Park on the first full day of practice. The media tents were in place and the fields were in pristine shape.

Only 60 of the 90 players signed were able to practice (the rest can not show until August 4 per the new CBA agreement). With limited numbers, players were forced to double-up on reps.

Despite the sweltering heat and limited roster attendees, the Redskins were "all business" right from the start.

As the players walked to the practice field, they weren't laughing and jostling with each other. They arrived at work ready to perform.

Gone were the sideshow attractions in Albert Haynesworth (New England) and Donovan McNabb (Minnesota). The distractions from Head Coach/VP Mike Shanahan's first year would no longer be the focus at camp.

"I don't want to talk about him," said linebacker Brian Orakpo, who will have more of a leadership role now. "I wish Albert (Haynesworth) well, but we are moving on."

Although there are no distractions, concerns still exist at Redskins Park. Despite QB John Beck's efforts to show strong leadership skills, not everyone who covers the team believes he or Rex Grossman can produce victories for the team.

It's obvious both Beck and Grossman have limited skills. Neither of them have strong arms or great pocket awareness. Basically speaking, they won't be asked to win games. Shanahan is hoping they won't lose them.

With a much improved defense expected in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's 3-4 scheme, the offense and special teams units should only need to produce 17-21 points a game to win half of the 2011 scheduled matches.

Here are some quick notes and observations from Day 1:

Rookie Round-up
-- First-round pick LB Ryan Kerrigan was immediately slated as the starting LOLB.
-- Second-round pick DE Jarvis Jenkins is enormous. I wouldn't be shocked if he plays DT on obvious passing situations.
-- Third-round pick WR Leonard Hankerson had trouble with the heat today. A bit surprising since he played at Miami.
-- Fourth-round pick RB Roy Helu is very thin but extremely quick. At his size, can he take the pounding of an every down back?

Veteran News
-- C Will Montgomery looks like he's ready to take over for Casey Rabach. Montgomery looks thicker and stronger.
-- WR Jabar Gaffney (acquired from Denver) was impressive running underneath routes. Since I expect the Redskins QBs to check down often, he could be a nice addition.
-- Third-year CB Kevin Barnes looks very comfortable in coverage. "I don't have to think anymore," he said. "I can just play."
-- ILB Perry Riley started next to veteran London Fletcher and looked as if he belonged. No hesitation or unsure as to where to line up. He is ready to start.
-- Beck was very accurate with his passing today. Very few balls hit the ground.

For Redskins news on Twitter, follow @Redskins_Live, and follow me on Twitter @NFLSkins.

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-- EDWARD SHEAHIN
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He walked into the store at Great Moments Sports Memorabilia in Frederick, Md., and immediately started quizzing Redskins fans on the history of the NFL.

"Do you know who Bart Starr is?" former Redskins defensive back Pat Fischer loudly asked an unsuspecting teen.

"No ... I think he was before my time," the young man hesitantly responded.

Without a flinch, Fischer immediately asked the teen, "Do you know who George Washington is?" As the answer "Yes ... " rolled off the teen's tongue, Fischer abruptly interrupted, "He was before your time, but you read about him." The room erupts in laughter and for two hours Fischer continued to quiz and joke with fans seeking to spend time with one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.

Now 71, Fischer has maintained his solid and compact physique some 34 years removed from his playing days. Famous for his strong play against some of the NFL's top receivers in the 1960's-70's, Fischer took some time to discuss his coverage secrets.

On covering Dallas Cowboys' speedy receiver Bob Hayes ...

"Play deep, than move back," Fischer said with a laugh. "He was the best and never got the credit he deserved."

On being 5-8 and covering Philadelphia Eagles receiver Harold Carmichael, who was 6-7: "I got plenty of help ... from my team and from above!"

The modest Fischer has a deep appreciation for those he was pitted against. But the 17-year scrappy vet with 56 career interceptions receives his own props from some of the games best.

Jim Brown, considered the game's greatest running back, has acknowledged publicly that there was only one player who tackled the beastly runner and knocked him backwards. That player was the Redskins hard-nosed defensive back, Pat Fischer.

Fischer's eyes lit up when he proudly talked about his tackle of Jim Brown. It was as if he was replaying the tackle over and over again in head while telling his account of the story.

Fischer was asked to talk about his brief time playing for legendary coach Vince Lombardi in Washington: "He was amazingly proficient. He was successful because he was able to demand and get the most from his players. He wasn't one of those coaches who believed in two-and-half hours on the practice field. His practices were and hour-and-half, but you executed and ran the entire time."

With former teammate, linebacker Chris Hanburger, entering the Hall of Fame this summer, Fischer was asked if he was planning on attending the induction ceremonies. "Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss Chris' big day."

Out of curiosity I asked Fischer how owner Daniel Snyder treats him and the other veterans. Fischer had nothing but positive things to say about Snyder: "He has always been good to me and the former senior players. He was a fan before he was an owner and has great respect for us."

With so many former players suffering from injuries and the toll on the bodies following an NFL career, it was nice to see an energetic vet who appeared to have a strong lust for life in his senior years.

What a perfect ambassador for senior NFL veterans. Everyone should be so lucky to spend an afternoon with Pat Fischer.

For Redskins news on Twitter, follow @Redskins_Live, and follow me on Twitter @NFLSkins.

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-- EDWARD SHEAHIN
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With the lockout now entering its third month, the time is right to start thinking positive. With billions of dollars at stake, the lockout will end some time before September. So let's move forward accordingly.

Seldom the optimist, I will attempt to speak positively about a team in rebuilding mode and use my crystal ball to make some predictions about the Redskins 2011 season.

Here are 10 bold predictions for the 2011 Redskins, based on the current roster. Assuming the Redskins keep their checkbook closed and avoid high profile free agents upon the lockout ending, here is what I anticipate:

1) Rookie WR Leonard Hankerson is a touchdown scoring machine. Void of blazing speed, he somehow manages to find the end zone. Expect Hankerson to be the No. 1 red zone option for the Redskins this season and don't be shocked if he approaches double-digit TD receptions.

2) With Roger Craig like running skills, rookie RB Roy Helu (right) will grind and muscle his way to nearly 1,000 yards rushing. Helu will also contend for rookie-of-the-year recognition with New Orleans Saints RB Mark Ingram and Cincinnati Bengals WR A.J. Green.

3) QBs John Beck and Rex Grossman will end up splitting time throughout the season as coach Mike Shanahan plays the hot hand (or the lesser of two evils).

4) First-round pick Ryan Kerrigan will finish in the top 5 in tackles for the Redskins if he plays stand-up OLB. Expect sack totals to be a modest 5-7 for the season, but Kerrigan's presence will allow OLB Brian Orakpo to reach the teens in sacks.

5) With a new attitude and maturity, TE Fred Davis will end the season as the Redskins starter. Expect Davis to have more receptions than incumbent starter Chris Cooley.

6) DL Albert Haynesworth will not be released. He will be traded for a third- or fourth-round pick to an AFC team. If released, Haynesworth would likely sign with Philadelphia or Dallas and haunt the Redskins years beyond what he already has.

7) QB Donovan McNabb will be released after the Redskins attempt to trade him. With a large contract there won't be many teams seeking McNabb's services. Upon his release, Arizona, Minnesota and Buffalo will vie for his services.

8) S LaRon Landry was having a Pro Bowl season in 2010 until he was beat deep on the first play of the game against Philadelphia during a Monday night blowout. Soon after, Landry suffered a season-ending injury. Landry will return to finish what he started in 2010 and will start in the 2011 Pro Bowl.

9) The Redskins defense finished 2010 as the 30th ranked team in the NFL. With better personnel and another season in the Jim Haslett defensive scheme, the Redskins will cut that ranking in half in 2011 and finish in the top 15.

10) Despite all the positives surrounding the franchise, the 2011 Redskins will likely finish last yet again in the NFC East. A repeat of the 6-10 season in 2010 would be a positive step as the team is expected to turnover the roster with 20 or more new players.

Of course many of these predictions can and may change depending how long the lockout looms. Additionally, how the Redskins management deals with free agency and trade possibilities will impact the end results.

For Redskins news on Twitter, follow @Redskins_Live, and follow me on Twitter @NFLSkins.

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-- EDWARD SHEAHIN
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