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Former Hoya Alex Buzbee Aiming for Spot on Washington Redskins Roster |
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Written by Media Relations
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Thursday, 23 August 2007 |
Washington, D.C.--Even though former Georgetown University football All-American Alex Buzbee has made it through three-plus weeks of preseason training camp with the Washington Redskins of the National Football League, he knows that he still has a long way to go.
And regardless of what may happen for Buzbee – a three-time All-Patriot League selection at defensive end who ranks second all-time on the Hilltop in career sacks – he feels fortunate to have had the opportunity.
That said, playing in his first NFL training camp has had its ups and downs. “The first week was tough,” Buzbee said over the phone earlier this week. “It was nothing that you can really prepare for. Just the physicality of it really picked up from the mini-camp with no pads. I got whupped up a little bit, I’ll admit that. It took a while, but each day I felt like I was growing and getting better.”
Buzbee has settled into the life of an NFL player for now, but he knows that there is still a long road ahead of him. He will be on the sidelines with his Redskin teammates this weekend when they play at home against Baltimore and then, hopefully, when the team closes out the preseason at Jacksonville on August 30.
Now that the team is in weekly game preparation, he practices in the morning and works out in the early afternoon before having the afternoon to himself.
In two preseason games, Buzbee has been active. He played on the defensive line and special teams during the Redskins loss to Tennessee in the opener. And then he started the second half and played most of the third and fourth quarters, respectively, at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. He finished that game with three tackles.
“I thought I had a pretty good game,” Buzbee said.š “I was called for an offsides penalty that the coaches got on me pretty good about, but it’s a matter of technique and that’s something I’m learning.”
Learning is something he’s done quite a bit of in the last month. Unlike college, when he makes the right play or the correct read, he doesn’t necessarily hear much from his coaches. Even in those instances, the coaches will find some way for him to do even better. It’s an adjustment, but one that he tries to take in at every chance.
“They’re not going to give anyone too much credit,” Buzbee said. “The offsides call was bad, and I’ve got to work on it. If I’m messing up, it’s more of a technique thing.” Buzbee was able to visit Georgetown one day last week to visit his old teammates. It was good to be back, he said, but he hopes the next time he visits, it will be as the first Hoya to appear on an NFL roster in some 50 years.
“I’ve been tested mentally and physically more than I ever have in my entire life,” Buzbee said. “It’s been a great experience so far, but I’m going to keep working hard to make sure it goes on.”
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