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Portis still in a daze

November 21, 2009 12:36 am

BY RICH CAMPBELL

ASHBURN

"We're for Clinton getting well," coach Jim Zorn said. "I think he is, too. It just takes continual communication, and I want to be involved in those conversations--not so much to see how fast can we get him back, but just to make sure the young man is improving and getting better as we go along."

Portis has not practiced or spoken to reporters since suffering a head-to-head collision in the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago. He is still experiencing blurred vision at times.

He said recently on his weekly radio show that this is his second concussion and his first since joining the NFL.

Portis was expected to meet with the same specialist who evaluated concussed Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook earlier this week. Westbrook visited Dr. Mark Lovell, a neuropsychologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

Portis also has been meeting locally with Redskins team physician Dr. Anthony Casolaro. Zorn was not certain whether Portis will travel today with the team to Dallas and attend tomorrow's game.

Montgomery to get call

Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (sprained ankle) did not practice yesterday and is officially considered questionable for tomorrow's game. He missed all three of the Redskins' practices this week.

"Albert was on the treadmill today working," Zorn said. "It will be a game-time decision whether he can go or not."

The Redskins are likely to activate reserve defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery tomorrow for the first time this season, even if Haynesworth is active. They can't risk Haynesworth suffering a setback during the game and not having a bulky defensive tackle to combat Dallas' powerful offensive line.

This season has been a huge disappointment for Montgomery. He played in 14 games and started six last season, but he fell out of favor with the organization this year, which is the last of his contract.

"I'll be ready, but I can't sit around and just expect [to be active] because if I don't play, it will be a letdown," Montgomery said. "I just ain't thinking too much about it."

BUGEL PROUD OF LINE

Left tackle Levi Jones provided an instant upgrade in making his first start of the season in last Sunday's victory over Denver. Offensive line coach Joe Bugel likes what he has seen from Jones in the month since Jones signed as a free agent, and he believes Jones may have a future with the Redskins beyond this season.

"You'd think so, because I think football is real important to him," Bugel said. "I think he realizes this is an audition for him, and he's going to play his rear end off. I like guys like that.

"He came in, and he was no-nonsense. He just didn't want to be part of the scout team. He said, 'Buges, I came here to start.' I told him, 'Hey, stick around. The way we get injured, you may be in there tomorrow.'"

Bugel addressed the state of affairs on the offensive line yesterday following the unit's best performance of the season. Washington rushed for a season-high 174 yards behind its fifth starting-line combination of the season.

"I'm real proud of the group," he said. "Any time you can go, I think it was 69 or 70 plays, with no holding penalties, no turnovers, you've really got a chance to win. We were really excited about our run game."

Right guard Chad Rinehart made his third career start after being demoted earlier this season, and he played better, Bugel said.

"I thought during that time when he wasn't a starter, watching him on the scout team servicing the defense, he was doing a heck of a job," Bugel said. "He was staying after practice and getting extra work. It came to the time where the kid deserved a chance."

DAVIS BECOMES DEDICATED

Tight end Fred Davis' decision to skip his vacation during the bye week and remain at Redskins Park to practice his blocking seems to have paid dividends.

Davis had his best blocking performance of the season last Sunday against Denver. It's a stark contrast with how he repeatedly was beaten and overmatched during the first half of the season.

"I feel a lot stronger and more confident in my technique," Davis said. "I feel like I'm in the right position to get the job done."

Davis cancelled his bye-week trip to the West Coast to remain in Ashburn and work with tight ends coach Scott Wachenheim on blocking fundamentals after starting tight end Chris Cooley broke his right ankle. Davis suddenly developed a sense of urgency.

He and Wachenheim covered everything from hand placement to footwork to where Davis should focus his vision.

"The last two games he has really blocked better than he has since I've gotten here," Wachenheim said. "He just has really kind of rededicated himself to the season. He has become more serious, more focused. He knows he's going to play.

"Fred is like most of the athletes I have coached--they learn by doing. Now, with Chris out, he's getting more repetitions in practice. It's just allowing him to improve every week."

Davis was primarily a pass-catching tight end in college at Southern Cal, so blocking was often an afterthought. He still doesn't remind himself of blocking fundaments during games because he wants to focus on his role as a receiver, so his improved blocking is an encouraging indication.

"It just takes time to come naturally," Davis said. "Once you get the opportunity to do something at full speed like that, it helps you out a lot."

Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com