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Lloyd's focusis catching on

July 31, 2007 12:35 am

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

ASHBURN--You probably remember him more for throwing his helmet than for scoring touchdowns.

Actually, take a second and try to remember one of Brandon Lloyd's touchdowns from last season. Stumped? Looking for answers? Well, right now you probably feel the way the Redskins coaches felt for much of last year.

Lloyd, of course, did not score any touchdowns. The wide receiver did not catch many passes, either (23, for those scoring at home). After signing a six-year, $30 million free-agent contract, he was as disappointing as bad milk.

After all, he was just 25 years old, and he had increased his yardage totals in each of his three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He had flashed solid hands as well as breakaway speed that would make your car jealous.

Then it all went splat.

"Maybe some of us overlooked his frustration a little bit," wide receiver Antwaan Randle El said. "We knew it was there and you could see a lot of it come out. But we understood it after a while, making some of the plays he made in San Francisco and then coming here and not having the opportunity, it really slowed him down."

Lloyd's low point came late in the Redskins' Dec. 3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, when he threw his helmet and drew a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

After that game, Lloyd had a closed-door meeting with head coach Joe Gibbs. He lost his starting spot to Randle El for the rest of the season, and on Sunday assistant head coach-offense Al Saunders said Randle El is still the team's No. 2 option behind Santana Moss.

But as is so often the case at this time of year, Lloyd's story has begun to switch from regression to redemption.

During the offseason, he worked out twice a day, six days a week, in Scottsdale, Ariz. During a press conference in April regarding the NFL draft, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was not asked about Lloyd, but went out of his way to mention that he had seen Lloyd in Arizona and was pleased with his training.

Lloyd said he has added 8 pounds of muscle, and the increased bulk has been noticeable at training camp this week.

"I'm not using this camp to get in shape," Lloyd said. "That's what I was doing in the past. When I was younger, I was coming into camp and then getting in shape. This way feels a lot better."

Lloyd said he's not concerned about being the No. 3 receiver, because the Redskins run so many three-wide sets. He said he will contribute any way he can.

"It's tough to go through what he went through, and being the guy he is, he kind of expressed his feelings or expressed what he's going through physically or emotionally," Moss said. "The team had a chance to learn him and he had a chance to learn what the team expects out of him, and I think he's looking forward."

It should help that the Redskins' three top receivers have now had a full season to work together, as well as half a season to work with quarterback Jason Campbell.

Last season Lloyd said he struggled against the barrage of Cover-2 defenses that were thrown at the Redskins. He said he excels in man-to-man situations, where he can zip past his defender.

But considering the struggles of the Redskins' passing attack last year, the unit can expect to see more of the same. So Brandon Lloyd will have to adjust in more ways than one.

"We're counting on him and we invested a lot in him, and I would certainly hope that he has a great year," Gibbs said. "Hopefully, he steps up."