Alex Smith is frustrating Josh Norman.Norman likes having Smith with the Washington Redskins
Cheap Josh Norman Jersey , but practice time against the veteran quarterback at training camp hasn't been as beneficial as the big-money cornerback had hoped. That's because Smith has been so on-point with his decision-making and throws that Norman isn't getting a whole lot of work in team drills."You're in great position, you get there top of the route, you're ready for y
our play to be made and it doesn't come," Norman said. "But the ones you are a little step behind on and you're almost there to make it, he throws it. It's those games, cat and mouse, man. It's cat-and-mouse games that it just sucks when you're the mouse."Norman feels like the mouse early in camp but hopes facing a QB like Smith each day benefits him in the long run. Entering the third season of a $75 million, five-year contract, Norman is balancing the lack of work he's getting during 11-on-11 time with his usual half-hour plus of individual drills after practice as one of the last players on the field."That's what you've got to do to be the best, to be great like him," said undrafted rookie safety Quin Blanding, who worked out with Norman following practice Sunday. "It just shows he wants extra work no matter all the work he's done in practice. It's always find ways to get better, and that's what he's doing."Norman is known for his post-practice regimen, whether it's going for jump balls or catching in rapid succession out of a JUGS machine. But none of that compares to team snaps, where Smith is avoiding Norman the way he would in a real game."I'm just staying the course and trying to understand that your technique is not flawed, continue to do what you do even though your chances are not coming," Norman said. "But when they do come, try to be better than the quarterback in making a play. He's so precise right now, so he's not making mistakes
Cheap Derrius Guice Jersey , and that's the biggest thing you've seen. Even in practice, he's not making mistakes. It's hard to try to key in on that."Coach Jay Gruden approves. His offense is built around quick decisions and finding the right receiver to throw to, and that's not usually by challenging Norman."Josh is getting plenty of work," Gruden said Tuesday. "We're not going to throw a flat route out to Josh Norman and let him pick it. That's just common sense, so Josh is going to have to wait for somebody else to throw it to him."Norman is still isolating elements of his game to work on at age 30, going into his seventh NFL season. He had no interceptions last year and dropped more than a handful of prime opportunities, so at practice he's working on the little things that turn a broken-up pass into a pick."Being in place is the first part, but finishing the ball should be something that already is established and ingrained in you," Norman said. "It's just that six inches from making a play to not making a play."Trying to close the gap on those inches is what goes into Norman's extra work after practice. And in the process, he's helping young defensive backs like Blanding and Kenny Ladler develop the same kind of habits."You fix the mistakes and then when it comes again, you don't make the same mistake," Blanding said. "You've got to be ready to work no matter if it feels like a great day of practice or if it was a bad day of practice. You've got to put that aside and you've just got to work. You've got to keep on working, and that's what he does."NOTES: RB Chris Thompson, who's recovering from surgery to repair a broken right fibula, took his first snaps in team drills Tuesday. ... LB Mason Foster was limited at practice by a strained stomach muscle.Bye week blues With the Redskins on an early bye, this week offers an empty space in the otherwise weekly routine of the 17-week season akin to a missing tooth that draws you to explore the gap with your tongue again and again despite the fact that there’s nothing there.Redskins fans this weekend are reduced to two pastimes — looking for intriguing matchups in the Week 3 schedule, and rooting against our divisional foes.Unfortunately, none of our divisional foes look like definite underdogs in their Week 3 matchups, allowing Redskin fans the opportunity to see our team advance in the divisional standings even as the players themselves relax on the beach in Cabo.Eagles - TitansPhilly has played three tight games this season
Mason Foster Jersey , scoring 18, 21 and 20 points.The first two games were played with Nick Foles under center, and he seems to have fallen back to earth after his magical playoff run of 2017.Wentz looked talented but rusty in last week’s hard fought win against the Colts, meaning he is likely to improve weekly as the season progresses.Tennessee has a 2-1 record, indicating that they have the stuff needed to threaten the Eagles, but Mariota has been out most of the season with an elbow injured in Week 1, and was forced into action in last week’s 9-6 victory over Jacksonville.In the NFL.com weekly Pick’em, 86% have picked the Eagles to win.Let’s go Titans!Detroit - DallasDallas has played very good defense and very bad offense this season.In three weeks, opponents have put up only 53 points against Dallas.Unfortunately, Dallas has put up 41 on offense.The passing game has been anemic, and because Dak has been no threat as a passer, opposing defenses have been able to focus on stopping Zeke Elliott.The Cowboys’ only victory came against the NY Giants, and they lost to an otherwise winless Seattle Seahawks team.Normally all of this would bode well for the Redskins bye week, but the Cowboys’ opponent, the Detroit Lions, have had a similar season to the Cowboys through the first three weeks, first losing to the Jets and 49ers before suddenly putting on their big boy pants and beating the Patriots in Week 3.The winner of this game will be 2-2, with renewed hope for the season.The loser will be 1-3 and starting to think about the 2019 draft. In the NFL.com weekly Pick’em, the vote is split almost evenly
Cheap Alex Smith Jersey , with 52% favoring the Lions on the road.In the battle of silver & blue, I’ll be rooting for the visitors this week.Saints - GiantsThe late game in the division is the one that offers some hope for a blowout of such proportions that Redskin fans can push the recliner back and enjoy the contest with laughter and a six-pack.Still, in a Drew Brees-Eli Manning matchup, it’s hard to feel totally secure that the Giants won’t muster something special to win the day, especially playing at home in New Jersey.The Saints have reverted to form in 2018, not bothering to play defense — relying instead on trying to win track meets.They lost to the Bucs 48-40 in week 1; beat the Browns 21-18 in Week 2, and came up big against the division rival Falcons 43-37 last week.Who knows?Maybe Sean Payton’s defensive traffic cones and crash dummies will be all Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard and Saquon Barkley need to get on track.After scoring a combined 28 points in the first two games, the Giants put up 27 in a ‘get well’ game against the Texans.If the Saints can win this game and go to 3-1, they will drive the first nail into the Giants’ coffin by setting them back to 1-3 at the end of the first quarter of the season.Here’s hoping that in New York today, the Saints come marching in for a win.A couple other interesting matchups:Tampa Bay - ChicagoTwo teams that have surprised by overachieving through three games.One team will win, and move to 3-1, while the other will walk away 2-2 and face questions about what it means for their season.Who will make the difference for their respective team, Mack or Fitzmagic?Ravens - SteelersThe Ravens could bring the Steelers to a critical juncture by going into PIttsburgh and beating Big Ben and Antonio Brown.If the Steelers drop to 1-2-1, they will face a tough battle to turn the season around in the coming weeks without Le’Veon Bell under contract.Reminder: Even after the bye week ends, Redskins fans have to wait an extra day to see the team in action, as the Week 5 game against the Saints will be played on Monday Night.It’ll be a long eight days!
