Malcolm Kelly has left Texas and settled in the East Coast, to learn about the West Coast. The West Coast offense that is.
Kelly, a Longview High School and University of Oklahoma product, started his NFL career with the Washington Redskins this week. A mini-camp at Redskins Park, the training facility of the Redskins in Ashburn, Va., concludes today.
Bill Wood/Washington Redskins Photo |
Longview's Malcolm Kelly, right, and first-year Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn hold Kelly's new jersey after the University of Oklahoma wide receiver was introduced last week. Kelly was picked by the Redskins in the second round of last weekend's NFL Draft.
|
Among Kelly's first assignments as a pro is learning the West Coast offense first-year head coach Jim Zorn is installing. The West Coast offense emphasizes short passes as a way to control the game's tempo, a role usually designated for the running game in most offenses.
It will be a change for Kelly, who played on a spread offense at Oklahoma that had a strong running presence for two years from tailback Adrian Peterson, the 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Vikings.
It will be a radical change from what Kelly did with the Lobos from 2002 to 2004.
"With Malcolm, it was fades, go's and posts. He was our big-play guy," said Longview head coach John King, who was Longview's offensive coordinator when Kelly played for the Lobos. "He'll deal with disguised coverages, and better athletes covering him in the NFL.
"But overall, I think it will be more of a mental adjustment than physical. It will come down to learning the playbook."
Kelly was drafted in the second round by the Redskins in the NFL Draft on April 26. Considering that the Redskins had already selected a receiver, Michigan State's Devin Thomas with the 34th overall pick, Kelly said it was somewhat of a surprise the Redskins selected him. Kelly participated in the press conference with the Redskins' draft choices on Monday.
"At first I did, but I didn't count on it," Kelly said at the conference. "It was a new offense they were bringing in and I knew that they were going to need a lot of playmakers out there."
Last month, Kelly held two pro workouts at the University of Oklahoma, in which he ran the 40-yard dashes between 4.46 and 4.69 seconds. Times 4.6 and above are generally considered below-average for NFL receivers.
Zorn said there is more to Kelly than times in the 40-yard dash.
"There won't be anybody that will put more threat on a wide receiver in that burst off the line of scrimmage. He will get down the field very, very quickly," Zorn said at the press conference.
"One thing we saw as we worked him out is he is willing to go up for the ball and in the red zone is such a big target. I know he has this attitude, he is wanting to go and get it."
Kelly stood out this weekend by his helmet, and what was missing. Zorn is making the Redskins' rookies play with helmets that lack the familiar Indian-head logo. The last time a Redskins' coach used this ploy was Jack Pardee in the 1970s.
Redskins' receivers coach Stan Hixon said it's too early to tell if Kelly will push veteran receivers Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Hixon said Kelly will have to mature, learn the system and get used to the speed.
King agrees with Hixon's sentiment.
"He won't get 100 receptions this year ... probably not," said King, with a smile. "It may take him a year to adjust. It's a tough adjustment for all receivers in the NFL."
One adjustment Kelly has already made was the idea of playing for a team that was the enemy, until last week.
"I know a lot of people asked me if it would be a problem playing for the Redskins being from Texas in Cowboy territory. The way I look at it is that I grew up a UT (University of Texas) fan and went to Oklahoma," Kelly said at the conference.
"Every time it came to the Red River Shootout time you knew who was the enemy and who was on your side. I will be able to do it again."
NOTABLE
The Redskins' first preseason game is Aug. 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, which will be broadcast nationally on NBC ... The Redskins open the regular season on Sept. 4, visiting the New York Giants, which will also be broadcast nationally on NBC ... The Redskins visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 28.
