Option offense on full display for Redskins with RG3 at the helm

The look and feel of the Washington Redskins’ offense with Robert Griffin III quarterbacking is beginning to crystallize after five days of practice, each of which included many 11-on-11 team drills,

It’s no surprise that coach Mike Shanahan will run the option with Griffin and rely heavily on the keeper game for which his offenses are known, but now the product is on display. The scheme showcases Griffin’s speed and running ability, and the Redskins’ defense has adjusted accordingly.

After a full offseason with Griffin quarterbacking, defenders expect him to frequently keep the ball and try to escape the pocket. At the very least, they have to respect that. That knowledge has resulted in some busted plays because the backside defenders know to stay home and contain Griffin.

The Redskins, however, believe teams that don’t regularly practice against this offense won’t be as effective against it as Washington’s defense is.

“It’s going be really hard for other teams and guys who aren’t used to it,” defensive end Adam Carriker said. “The first day, I was all over the place. Now I’m getting used to it a little bit. I can kind of get a feel for it because of what the O-line does. I can feel if it is a boot or if it is a run based on how he’s blocking me. Guys who aren’t used to that, and they’re trying to read the quarterback? Good luck.”

Griffin doesn’t mind the Redskins defense’s adjustments because it’s preparing him for all scenarios.

“Nobody will be better at it than [outside linebackers Ryan] Kerrigan and [Brian] Orakpo,” Griffin said. “Those guys know it, and it helps me get better, so that I know no matter what look I get, whether I get the edge, don’t get the edge, kind of get the edge, I can run the play accordingly.”

Black back in the game

After spending the 2011 season out of the NFL, Jordan Black was planning for life after football when the Redskins called him this week.

The offensive tackle had scheduled a Monday meeting with a real estate broker in Houston to discuss opening some gym franchises. He canceled that meeting, though, and attended the Redskins’ walk-through Tuesday morning.

“I’m thrilled,” said Black, 32. “I still have football in me. My heart is still in the game, and it was hard to be away. I’m just glad to be here.”

New Orleans released Black last Sept. 3, and he didn’t catch on with another team. Being out of the league gave him a greater appreciation for the sport.

“I’m in a position where I can look back, and all the things we love so much about the game, I’m so much more aware of it,” Black said. “It just makes it such a fulfilling experience for me.

“It was the little things,” Black continued. “I said to my wife one day: ’I’m going to miss putting tape on my fingers before games. I’m going to miss the feeling of putting gloves on, and overall just being part of something that’s so big.’ The NFL, that’s just a huge thing. It’s hard once you go away from the game to not miss it.”

Black doesn’t have much time to be sentimental, though. He reported to Washington weighing between 275 and 280 pounds. He wants to get up to 290 by the end of training camp.

To do that, he’s on a diet that amounts to 7,000 calories per day. An active man his age can consume up to 3,000 calories per day without gaining weight.

Extra points

• Coach Mike Shanahan on Tuesday evening did not know results of the MRI right tackle Jammal Brown had on his left hip. He expected to learn them Tuesday night.

• Fullback Darrel Young is expected to miss up to two weeks with a strained left hamstring. “Just running a [pass] route, it stiffened up on me,” Young said.

• Receiver Josh Morgan is day to day with a strained hamstring. He missed Tuesday afternoon’s practice.

• Practice was interrupted by thunder and lightning after approximately 90 minutes. The team relocated to its indoor practice facility, and fans were sent home.