RICHMOND — Jay Gruden believes that his Redskins are ready to compete.

"I have great expectations for every one of our position groups really,” the Redskins’ fifth-year head coach said the day before training camp opened. “I don't think we really have any glaring weakness.”

Gruden then went through each position group and gave some reasons for optimism. And a lot of his optimism was based on some players who either missed games due to injuries or who played through injuries and were less effective than normal. Among those he mentioned were OT’s Trent Williams (missed six games, knee), Ty Nsekhe (missed five games, core muscle), and Morgan Moses (started every game but was hampered by ankle injuries).

Those three players are going to start practice on the field and not on the PUP list. However, they will not be participating fully, at least not early on.

“We’ll have a plan for those guys,” said Gruden. “Mainly get them through individual get them some limited team reps, early if any, and then just slowly adjust their roles as they feel better."

The players on the “plan” include the three tackles plus TE Jordan Reed, OT T.J. Clemmings, and rookie LB Shaun Dion Hamilton.

Reed and Hamilton participated in a substantial amount of today’s initial training camp practice. In particular, Reed looked sharp, as good as he did a couple of years ago. He is hopeful that offseason procedures to both of his big toes will go a long way towards keeping him on the field.

Williams and Moses were running well in individual drills although neither participated in the team portions of practice.

If most or all of the players are healthy, Gruden’s high expectations are warranted. They have taken steps to fix their biggest weakness last year, stopping the run, by drafting Daron Payne and Tim Settle to augment the addition of Jonathan Allen last year. The offensive line, anchored by Williams, Moses, and Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, should be solid. The addition of Derrius Guice at running back should take care of another weak spot. There is no one dominant receiver but there are several players who can contribute.

Some say that cornerback is a “glaring weakness” for Gruden’s team. That may be but there are reasons for optimism that Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau will be able to fill the holes caused by the departures of Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland.

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