Greetings folks for our first Redskins Live Chat. I have several questions ready to be answered but there's room for more so fire me an email at skinsmailbag@washingtontimes.com. We'll get started at 2 p.m.

Hey everybody. It's time to get started. As I said on 'The John Thompson Show' last week, the Washington Times has officially entered the 21st century of team-specific pages, video reports and now, live chats. It started with the Nationals in spring training and continues with the Redskins. This is Day 5 of training camp and the Redskins have one practice today (4 p.m., which is open to the public). So if you're into watching guys stretch and play special teams and run pass patterns, the workout will be right up your alley. I'll answer all the questions in the next hour -- they don't have to be just about the Redskins.

We've been hearing a lot about the rookie free agent DE from G'town, Alex Buzbee. I'm just curious about how he's faring in training camp and if there is any feedback about him from his teammates and the coaching staff. If he doesn't make it to the active roster, is he a lock for the practice squad?
Hussam

Hussam: Buzbee has looked good in the early days of training camp. The way he moves through the tackling dummies during individual drills shows he's got quickness. Gregg Williams was asked about yesterday and said like all rookies, he's going through the transition of working against veterans with the pads on. The best-case scenario because Buzbee is an end is practice squad.

Ryan: OK, so this is a *Redskins* live chat... but what do you think of the Vikings?
Robert, Springfield

Robert: Ah, the Vikings. My boyhood team and a team I still follow. It's not going to be a pretty season in Minnesota, chiefly because of the quarterback situation. The decision to trade Daunte Culpepper will really haunt Brad "Mr. Football" Childress this year. Tarvaris Jackson is a second-year player who played I-AA football and the transition is even greater for a player like that. He simply isn't ready to start. The Vikings' lone hope is that they create a lot of turnovers and that running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor gobble up the yards.

Ryan: Can you comment on the impact Fred Smoot will have returning to the Redskins? Why do you think it didn’t work in Minnesota?

I think Smoot, back with the Redskins after two forgettable (on the field) and memorable (off the field) seasons with the Vikings will have an impact with the Redskins because he's an upgrade over Kenny "Toast" Wright, the team's sometimes No. 2/sometimes No. 3 corner last year. As for what happened in Minnesota, Smoot couldn't stay healthy and didn't really fit into the Vikings' style of soft coverage. He's more of a jam-you-at-the-line and aggressive corner.

Ryan: Joe Gibbs' coaching comeback is now in its fourth year. How much more of this does he have left in him, especially if the Redskins don't make the playoffs this season?
-- Gary Fogel, Reston

Gary: I might in the minority here but I think Gibbs will coach the duration of his contract (2007 and 2008). He committed to this for five years and five years only and I don't think he wants to leave the team until they're headed in the right direction. Granted, they may still stink after the 2008 season but at least Joe can tell himself he's tried for five years. If they go 7-9 or 8-8 this year, Joe will come back because he thinks the team is close to making the playoffs.

$17 million guaranteed? That's a lot for a rookie who's not even guaranteed of a starting job! There's no way LaRon Landry isn't one of Gregg Williams' starting 11, is there?
-- Donald Sanger, Falls Church

That's a lot of money for a guy who hasn't played a down in the NFL yet but that's the going rate for the No. 6 pick. But unlike past rookies, I think Landry is semi-guaranteed of starting the opener if he makes up for the four days of camp he missed. Gregg Williams intimated as much during rookie camp that he expects Landry's transition to be quicker than Sean Taylor and Carlos Rogers.

What changes do Gregg Williams and the Redskins defense have to make this year to be a more effective unit?

Williams said yesterday what the players have said the entire off-season -- the Redskins are banking on the simple is better. He has scaled back some of the vaunted "packages" that confused opponents in 2004 and 2005 but only confused the Redskins defense last year when they were terrible. We won't know for sure what this entails until the first regular season game but I expect more blitzing once the corners prove they can shut down receivers in man coverage.

What team will be the biggest disappointment this year (playoff team last year) and the biggest surprise this year (sub-.500 last year)?

Biggest disappointment: It probably be classified as such because they were 8-8 last year, but the Giants are in for a steep decline. Strahan's hold out is just another thing going wrong for Big Blue and the list includes Tiki Barber's retirement and Eli Manning's inconsistency. Among the other 2006 playoff teams, expect New England, the Jets, Indianapolis, San Diego, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans and Seattle to all be there.

Biggest surprise: I think Arizona could make some noise because the Cardinals will be able to score. Now if they can just make some defensive stops.

Ryan: How do you think Cris Samuels being injured will affect the chemistry being created along the line? If he is out for four weeks, can he be ready for the season?
Andrew, Silver Spring

Andrew: Specifically, Samuels' injury could hurt the chemistry development with new left guard Todd Wade. Wade's new to the position and was just four days into working with Samuels in full uniform and almost-full contact. If he comes back four weeks from today, that will be two days before the preseason finale against Jacksonville (Aug. 30). I doubt he plays in that game. The season opener is in 40 days (Sept. 9) so they have some time to play with. I think he'll be ready for the opener.

Who do you think will have the biggest impact on their new team this year….McGahee in Baltimore, Green in Miami or Lewis in Cleveland?

Trent Green in Miami will have the biggest impact on his team because he is a big-time upgrade from the cast of characters the Dolphins started last year. That probably won't translate into a lot more wins, though. Same goes for Jamal Lewis in Cleveland. Willis McGahee will have a big chance in Baltimore to improve the offense. But come playoff time, the Ravens will still need to use the forward pass occasionally.

Hey Ryan, Even though the Nats are pathetic, baseball is still dominating the news these days (Barry Bonds, Cal's HOF induction, today's trade deadline)... Are there any die-hard baseball fans on the Skins, and what teams do they like? I seem to remember hearing Renaldo Wynn is a big White Sox fan.
-- Steve Koren, Rockville

Steve: Wynn is probably the most outspoken baseball fan on the team -- the one who shows his allegiance by wearing hats and jerseys. A majority of the team are more into their college teams and the NBA. Speaking of the Nationals, it will be interesting to see down the line when -- or if -- they're in contention in the new ballpark how much coverage that will take away from Redskins training camp.

Who from this year’s draft will have an immediate impact?

For the Redskins: Aside from Landry, I wouldn't expect any of the drafted players to play a big role, except on special teams. I thought TE Tyler Ecker was a solid choice to make the team as a blocker but his groin injury might hurt his chances. LBs Dallas Sartz and H.B. Blades have missed time because of injury. QB Jordan Palmer seems ticketed for the practice squad unless his brother Carson has some pull and Cincinnati claims him off waivers in September.

For the NFL: Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch is replacing Willis McGahee as the Bills' workhorse running back and will get every chance to win Rookie of the Year. Chicago TE Greg Olsen could become an instant target for Rex Grossman.

I saw Gregg Williams say yesterday he thinks Sean Taylor is the "best" athlete he's seen. Does he break out this year?

If Sean Taylor ever ran for political office, he should hire Williams as his PR director. I asked Williams point-blank yesterday whether Taylor needs to become a better tackler and he naturally spun his answer by saying his tackle totals have increased every year. But thankfully for Taylor, the league doesn't keep "missed tackles." The next step for Taylor -- the best way to get his next contract -- is by creating turnovers and scoring touchdowns.

OK, that's look like all of the questions and I have to run out to the Park for another practice. Appreciate the questions and talk to everybody next Tuesday -- Ryan