<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>he lack of playing time suggested a theory; maybe even a conspiracy. Shawn Springs had ticked off the Redskins in the offseason by staying away from the early part of organized workouts. They had considered trading him after all. So they played him sparingly in the season opener. And Springs took note, too, letting one teammate know how many snaps he’d played that day. But the Redskins insisted nothing sinister was at play. For them, it was simple: their defense needed a healthy Springs. “He’s playing some of the best football since I’ve been here,” Redskins assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams said. “He’s been able to stay healthy, he’s been productive. ... The way we managed it early in the year was very smart. I didn’t want to wear him out so we would have him at this time of the year.” And their defense has succeeded in part because Springs, slowed by a groin injury this summer, has stayed healthy all year, playing in 16 games for the first time since 2000. He’s not only healthy entering the playoffs, he’s on a roll: Springs ended the regular season with four interceptions in the final four games. “The last month I’ve been getting interceptions,” Springs said, “but during the middle of the season and early in the year, that was better than this last month.” Not that it’s been an easy season for Springs, having to deal with his father being in a coma. “He’s motivated by a lot to play football and that’s coming out in his play,” corner Fred Smoot said. From a physical standpoint, Springs has had a much easier year than last season, when the sports hernia kept him out of seven games. That’s enabled Washington to be more aggressive, using more man coverage to go with its blitzes. To slow Seattle’s potent passing attack, Springs, facing his former team, and Smoot will be counted on for tight coverage. “Shawn has enabled us to play the style of play that we wanted to play,” Williams said, “because he is able to hold up by himself out there with nobody helping him. A lot of offenses don’t even try him anymore.” One key difference from the playoff loss in Seattle two years ago is Springs’ health. In that game, he was coming off a groin injury that sidelined him for the playoff win over Tampa Bay. It was later discovered to be a sports hernia. “I’m a totally different person out there,” Springs said. “I feel a whole lot better and I can see it over last year.”</div> Source: Examiner
