Redskins Ready for Youth at Receiver

When it comes to training camp in Redskins Park, it's pretty easy to find the question marks, or -- probably a better way of putting it -- areas in which the team needs to improve. The defense is dominant, and it is already showing as much in practice. And you more or less know Clinton Portis is going to be the rock of the running game.

Washington's aerial attack, however, is where most of the focus will fall in the preseason, even with Washington's questionable offensive line scrambling to gel. In addition to the stupendous amount of attention quarterback Jason Campbell will receive for the rest of 2009, the receiving corps bears watching as well.

Incumbents Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El began camp atop the depth chart, but that could easily change if either -- or both -- of the Redskins' second-year receivers, Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, show the kind of improvement head coach Jim Zorn is counting on. In fact, he's already hinting at replacing Randle El on the outside, which would slide him into the slot.

"These young receivers are coming after [Randle El]," said the second-year head coach after one of Washington's afternoon session on Sunday. "I think he's really more comfortable inside, and I do see our young guys improving, so that competition during preseason is going to heat up as we go on."

That sounds an awful lot like Zorn's planning on using Randle El in the slot, but he stopped short of saying the guard had changed just yet.

"He is our starter," Zorn said of the soon-to-be 30-year-old Indiana University product. "It's up to the other two guys to unseat him. They are all competing. You're going to see all those guys play during the preseason because we have to find out who is going to rise up."

Competition is good, and the ideal outcome is that everyone comes out a better football player. With the youthful zeal Thomas and Kelly should have at this point in their respective careers, and the consistent professionalism Randle El has displayed throughout his seven-year career, don't expect anything negative to emerge from the healthy competition.

Moss was asked if there would be any issues with Randle El possibly losing his job on the outside, and he echoed the above sentiment about what kind of person and player "Twaan" is.

"He's not that type of guy," Moss stated.

"If there is something going on, if he's mad about it, I think he shows it by playing on the field. He's one of those guys that you never really see him mad you never see him get outside his character so I don't think he is taking it on differently."

Randle El truly is much better suited in the slot. He's smallish and more quick than fast. He's also a very versatile and cerebral player, so he's able to adapt to anything the coaching staff throws at him.

Both Thomas and Kelly, on the other hand, fit better as taller possession receivers, which is a great fit opposite Moss, the Redskins' deep threat. The question now becomes who will step up and allow Randle El to slide to the slot, and the smart money is on Thomas -- due to drastic improvements already seen from last year.

"He didn't know what to expect [last season]," Moss said of his young teammate. "So, now he knows what to expect a little bit more, and he's watched the guys in front of him, so he knows to approach the game.

"Yes, he looks a lot better than last year and a lot more focused," Moss went on. "His routes are sharper, he's catching the ball with more emphasis, he just seems well rounded right now, like he knows what his purpose is, and he wants to show everybody what he is here for."

Thomas, meanwhile, is saying all the right things -- that he's confident, without being cocky, and is continuing to focus on his on-field improvement. He's acknowledged competition between Randle El, Kelly and himself, given due respect to his teammates and stated it is his goal to be the number-two wideout in Washington. He has admitted a lack of professionalism on his part last season, but that is behind him.

For now, Thomas is putting particular emphasis is on route-running.

"Coming out of college, I was pretty raw with certain things," Thomas said. "But I used last year and the offseason to critique how I run my routes."

"I've worked a lot on balancing my speed, coming in and out of my breaks, and learning to come off the line without taking too many cross steps," Thomas continued. "All in all, to just be fluid with my routes (will help)."

All that being said, we'd be remiss to count out Kelly. It would seem Campbell has a liking for the Oklahoma product.

"We're going to try and get him the ball," said Campbell of Kelly.

When the dust finally settles, it's entirely possible the Redskins have a solid, four-deep, receiving corps -- something that might allow Washington to explore more three-receiver sets. You can bet that would be just fine with Zorn, Campbell and the Redskins' rabid fan base, all of whom know the defense and running game are just going to need a little help in order to make 2009 a rousing success.