Redskins lineman Compton ready to contribute in Washington

RICHMOND — Tom Compton’s technique has always been praised by coaches. Fresh off a year in the weight room, he’s hoping to show his size and strength have caught up.

Compton is a second-year offensive lineman with the Redskins. He spent most of last year on the practice squad but was bumped up to the full roster at the end of the season so he wouldn’t be poached by other teams.

The year was intended to give the South Dakota alumnus time to bulk up and prepare for the demands of the NFL.

“I really didn’t have much downtime,” he said. “It gave me a lot of time to work out and get stronger and faster.”

He hasn’t been eased in at this year’s training camp. Filling in for injured left tackle Trent Williams, he’s gone up against star linebacker Brian Orakpo on several occasions.

Compton also has demonstrated his versatility. While he’s officially Williams’ backup and the heir apparent at the position, he’s played two other positions during camp.

Last week he got work at right tackle. On Monday, he briefly filled in at left guard when backup Josh LeRibeus was injured.

“Anywhere they want me,” Compton said of his abilities. “The more you can do, the more you’re an asset. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

He said he’s even practiced at center on a handful of occasions, though never in live drills.

The camp is a big one for Compton, as coach Mike Shanahan and the Redskins’ staff evaluate whether he’ll be able to reach the potential they saw when they picked him with a sixth-round selection in the 2012 draft.

“You can see he’s an athlete,” Shanahan said. “He picks things up fairly quickly. I like what I’ve seen, and this preseason will be big for him. We’ll get a chance to see what he can do against other football teams, and we’ll put him in game-type situations as much as we can.”

Compton’s ability to absorb information is an asset, as coaches appreciate having a player who can substitute at multiple positions.

Left tackle is another story, though. It is one of the most prominent positions in the league, as immortalized in the book and film “The Blind Side.” Whether Compton is the long-term answer there is something the Redskins will need to find out.

Williams is bullish on the future for his understudy, and said that Compton is one of the smartest players he’s worked with.

“He progresses every year,” Williams said. “He looks a lot better this year than last year. He’s a very attentive player — he learns very quickly, picks things up fast. I think he’ll be a good lineman in this league for a long time.”

That career starts with a preseason test Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans.

Starters play only the first drive or two in the preseason, and with Williams still recovering from a wrist injury, Compton will likely see extended action on Thursday.

He said he’s working to make sure he can play on either side of the line, something that comes down to footwork.

“If you’re on the left side, you’re used to having all your power come off the right foot, and vice versa on the other side,” he said. “People can get really comfortable with that being the dominant leg, so the big thing is making sure you don’t fall into the trap of feeling weak with the other leg, because that’s everything as a tackle.”

Indications are he’ll get plenty of work this preseason at both positions, as the Redskins try to groom the second-year lineman into an NFL star.

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