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Malcolm Kelly (12) is taking advice from Santana Moss
If he can stay on the field, WR Malcolm Kelly will give QB Jason Campbell |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN--
Malcolm Kelly darted across the middle of the secondary during an 11-on-11 passing drill Monday, snared quarterback Jason Campbell's pass and burst up the field.Such a common play in practice normally wouldn't elicit a second thought, but this particular one was significant. It prompted a Washington Redskins player looking on from a few yards away to gleefully shout: "He's baaaaack!"
Indeed, Kelly's full participation in the second round of organized team activities is a welcome sight for the Redskins this week.
Following an injury-marred rookie season and offseason microfracture surgery on his left knee, the 6-4, 227-pound receiver finally seems positioned to contribute to a passing attack that sorely needs a big target that can also stretch the field.
"I was just anxious to get back out there and actually run a route, have the ball hit my hands and cut upfield," Kelly said. "It has been a long time, but I'm ready for it."
The Redskins are depending on Kelly to validate their reasoning for selecting him 51st overall in last year's draft despite already having drafted pass catchers Devin Thomas and Fred Davis earlier in the second round.
Washington hoped that influx of targets for Campbell would jump-start the team's passing attack, but that didn't happen. All three got scant playing time as rookies, and Washington ranked 23rd in the NFL in passing yards per game (189.1).
Kelly's knee problems, which existed before the Redskins drafted him, flared up during training camp, and he had arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 4. He was never fully healthy as the season progressed, and the practice time he missed early on proved costly.
He was active for only five games and caught only three passes for 18 yards--hardly what he or the team envisioned after he amassed 2,285 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in three years at Oklahoma.
"You don't want to be sitting over there, watching everybody else play, especially when you've been making plays your whole life," Kelly said. "It's a pride thing. If you're not out there making plays then you get down on yourself. That's just what really pushes me every day."
Kelly opted to have surgery in January, hoping to get his knee fixed once and for all. A small portion of bone in his knee was shaved down during a procedure he believes marked a turning point in his recovery.
There was an additional mental toll, though, from missing so much time last season and sitting out minicamp and the first round of OTAs. Redskins veteran wideout Santana Moss helped keep Kelly's spirits up by relating some lessons he learned his rookie season, when torn left-knee cartilage cost him 11 games.
"You've got to go through hardship just to learn and see how it feels," Moss said. "I told him I experienced that when I first got in the league. I didn't know how to take it because I was young at the time. Now that I'm older, I look back on it and say it built me to be who I am now. You've just got to accept it and keep moving."
Kelly has done that. He said he could have participated in workouts early last month, but owner Daniel Snyder and executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato wanted him to be cautious and sit out.
Still, Kelly has been trying to make up for lost time by working with Campbell one-on-one after informal weight lifting sessions during the last few weeks. Campbell likes what he sees.
"You use a big guy on shorter plays because their frame is so big, especially when you've got linebackers and big corners," he said. "I think he's going to help us because he's a big guy with a big frame. He's going to catch the ball."
Coach Jim Zorn has been impressed by Kelly's explosiveness coming off the line of scrimmage, something Zorn said many receivers Kelly's size do not demonstrate. He commended Kelly on Monday after he ran a crisp slant route.
"His hands are absolutely awesome," Zorn said. "He's one of those guys who can pluck the ball with one hand out of the air. What I'm looking for is to help improve him as he moves down the field, as he's coming out of breaks, because he is tall."
Kelly's height is an asset lacking among the team's top three receivers. Moss and Antwaan Randle El are 5-10, and Thomas is 6-2. If Kelly is involved in the game plan and productive, he could be especially valuable in short-yardage situations.
Of course, getting on the field is the first step.
The fans "are going to see a ballplayer," Kelly said. "That's why they drafted me."
Note:
Running back Clinton Portis and fullback Mike Sellers practiced yesterday after missing Monday's voluntary practice. Cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Kevin Barnes also returned after missing Monday due to illnesses.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
