Brennan upset with performance

Colt Brennan said tabloid rumors of a relationship with entertainer Jessica Simpson are false, adding that he doesn’t even know her.

That revelation left Brennan to talk about more pressing matters, such as his 4-for-12 performance in the Washington Redskins’ preseason opener at Baltimore on Thursday.

A year after throwing for 411 yards and three touchdowns in the preseason, Brennan entered training camp intent on challenging Todd Collins for the backup quarterback job.

“Obviously, I was a little disappointed because I wanted to come out and kind of show how well I’ve progressed and gotten better,” Brennan said after practice Saturday morning.

Brennan played the entire second half (23 snaps), and the Redskins generated only four first downs and 64 yards.

The Redskins’ best second-half drive (six plays, 22 yards) ended with Brennan throwing an interception.

“Things never really gotten going for me, and when you’re down like that it makes you a little less confident,” he said. “But we’ve got three more chances to get it going, so I’m excited about those chances.”

Working against Brennan is that he is playing with mostly third-team players.

“It’s more difficult [to evaluate] because he had a couple of routes that were just wide open - no one around and the exact pattern and coverage we wanted - and we had a protection whiff,” offensive assistant Chris Meidt said. “All of a sudden, he’s pocket scrambling, and I thought he did a great job avoiding the rush and getting three to four yards and protecting the ball. It’s a bit unfair, but at the same time when the plays are there you have to make them.”

Brennan wouldn’t say playing with bubble players hurts his chances of passing Collins, who was 8-for-11 for 70 yards.

“Last year I had great success in the same environment,” Brennan said. “You have to produce when you’re not in an environment that caters to you.”

Smoot works at safety

Cornerback Fred Smoot was used at safety on the Redskins’ second defensive possession against Baltimore, a role that could continue during the regular season. Smoot teamed with Reed Doughty after starters LaRon Landry and Chris Horton departed.

“One thing that he has is the mouth for a safety - he can definitely communicate,” safeties coach Steve Jackson said. “He’s a natural ballhawk. He’s been in this scheme for so long, and he knows all the calls and he’s a savvy veteran back there.”

Said Zorn: “You get a corner on the field in a short area, it can help you. We’re just working on those [types] of things as an experiment to see who can help us.”

When he was actually healthy, Shawn Springs dabbled at the position late last year. Jackson said the move isn’t an indictment on the progress of Kareem Moore.

“Not at all,” Jackson said. “What it does is it gives you an extra roster spot, and it gives us the ability to show different things and looks with the same personnel on the field.”

Improvement expected

The Redskins will be on the field six consecutive days before playing Pittsburgh on Saturday, and Zorn was satisfied with the 80-minute practice Saturday morning and expects improvement this week.

“To their credit, I really had a sense that our football team practiced with real purpose today and they were trying to get better and they did get better,” he said. “I was very pleased with how everybody worked.

“Younger guys or guys that are fighting to make this team got a true taste for what the pace is [Thursday]. I think we’ll improve in these next five to six days. Our tempo is going to improve, and the pace and intensity with which people practice [will improve].”

What kicker battle?

The Redskins’ kicker competition came to a grinding halt after Shaun Suisham and Dave Rayner combined for one kickoff (by Rayner) against Baltimore.

“It’s not frustrating; that’s the way things fall sometimes,” Suisham said. “I went out and felt great going into the game, but sometimes opportunities don’t arrive. But things have a way of working things out. I’m sure I’ll get a bunch of kicks in this week.”

Injury report

Running back Anthony Alridge (toe) and offensive tackle Scott Burley (quad) did not practice, and linebacker Robert Henson was absent to be with his pregnant wife in Texas.

Receiver Santana Moss (hamstring) and defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander (oblique) were limited to individual drills.