ASHBURN, Va. -- Jim Zorn has been working on the details ever since he was hired as the head coach of the Washington Redskins in February. On the eve of his first training camp with the team, Zorn is confident he has gotten all the details taken care of.
"I don't think I'm going to go, 'Oh gosh, I forgot to get footballs!"' he said. "I do think we'll be ready to go."
Redskin players reported for camp Saturday. The team's first training camp practice will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
"I'm not nervous at all," Zorn said. "I'm very excited."
Washington should have a nearly full complement of players on the field for Sunday morning's practice.
The Redskins have deals with all 10 of their draft picks and are generally healthy. Cornerback Carlos Rogers and defensive end Erasmus James will miss the start of training camp recovering from knee injuries, but Zorn said both are hoping to return in August before the end of camp.
Zorn said wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and safeties Kareem Moore and Vernon Fox will be limited in early practices. All three are recovering from knee surgeries.
Zorn also said the team would be carefully watching offensive linemen Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas and Pete Kendall. Jansen (broken leg) and Thomas (torn triceps) missed most of last season with injuries, Samuels is recovering from elbow surgery and Zorn said he wants to make sure Kendall's knees hold up.
"It will be these guys that we monitor daily," Zorn said.
Zorn has been working with the team in offseason mini-camps and workout, but he will really put his stamp on the team now that training camp is beginning.
"With a new coach, it's hard to say what to expect, even if somebody tells you," Randle El said. "He doesn't have to burn us out the first two weeks. Hopefully, that's part of his plan."
Zorn's plan includes longer practices than his predecessor, Joe Gibbs. Zorn said the team's morning practices will be nearly 2½ hours long, with another session in the afternoon lasting an hour and 45 minutes.
Linebacker London Fletcher learned about the expected practice schedule from a group of reporters Saturday.
"There's no use complaining about it," Fletcher said, laughing. "I've got to do it, whatever it is."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
