Help Please!

I've been a redskins fan since 1991. I've lived and died with every win and loss like most skins fans have. Usually I can take a 9-7 win for what it really is--a win--but not this particular win. I have NEVER in my life came away from a Redskins win with such a sour taste in my mouth. That taste reeks of horrific, untimely, and non-imaginative play calling inside the red zone by Zorny Boy. Oh...and by the way....the boos you heard at FedEx were definitely justified. I bet Zorn was so vain that he probably thought the boos were all for him. Well...most of them were....but not only for him. The anguish expressed by the Redskins faithful throughout Sunday's narrow win represented so much more than discontentment about the offense. Those boos were a reflection of the mediocrity that the Redskins organization has exemplified from the front office down to the players on the field. Those boos reflected a piss poor three playoff appearances since 1991, poor free agent signings, poor stadium experience, and the perceived acceptance for being a 2nd rate franchise

The Redskins are kind of like the hot girlfriend that cheats on you every year but the undying faith you have for her keeps you coming back hoping that some how, some way things are going to change. And as for this past Sunday it's obvious things aren't changing, at least for this season.

The Offense

Lets flush out all the estrogen and lets get beyond the emotional aspect of the game because there were positives from Sunday other than finding out Suisham is automatic on 20 yard field goals.

Campbell's Performance- Definitely an improvement from the Giants game as far as making plays with his feet, and seeming to find a rhythm. Cooley remains Jason's favorite sure-handed target as he caught 4 balls for 40 yards during the second possession after going three and out in the first. To convert a 3rd and 2 from the skins 22 yard line in the 2nd quarter, Campbell ripped off his ankle shackles and used his feet to run for 14 yards down to the Rams 8 yard line. I definitely had an issue with the 5 yard bullet pass to Devin Thomas, Campbell had room to run and maybe should have took his chances doing so. Towards the end of the 1st half there could have been better time management, with 2:40 to go Jason was still calling plays out of the huddle deep in his own territory. He should have been in full fledged hurry up, some can argue this is a coaching issue but I disagree. The possession after the Donnie Avery fumble, Jason held the ball entirely too long while standing in his own end zone on 2nd down. He narrowly avoided a safety as he was sacked at the 1 yard line. Overall he had a good day moving the ball he finished 23-35 for 242 yards and no interceptions. Unfortunately you need touchdowns to consistently win in the NFL and Campbell finished with none of those, but that's not entirely his fault. Hey Mike Sellars!!!......you just got a contract extension right? catch the ball when its thrown to you!

The infamous RED ZONE-Vinny Cerrato has a show on sportstalk 980 every Friday ironically called "Inside the Red Zone". I think Vinny should change the show format to have fans fax in their best red-zone plays. In the first quarter after the offense went 3 and out on the first possession. I wrote in my game notes

You don't make a statement on offense by going 3 and out on the opening drive. This smells of a close defensive game.

And boy was I right..... 5 attempts inside the 2o yard line and Suisham gets extra point practice only without the touchdowns. This isn't a new phenomenon, Campbell and the offense has had scoring issues going back to the Gibbs 2.0 days. Campbell can lead a team up and down the field but seems to choke inside the 20. That's due to being over coached by an inexperienced play caller who is too meticulous on every aspect of the offense that it hinders Jason's ability to feel comfortable on the field. Where is your imagination in the play calling Zorn! You can't run dive plays to Clinton Portis between the guard and center every time you get a first down inside the 20. How about a fake reverse along with that iso play? Or fake dive to Sellars and pitch it out to CP? How about stretching out with 4 wides and running the draw. You have to do the unexpected in this league or else your not going to score.

The Defense

Once again the D carries the team to salvation. Great pressure by Haynesworth and Griffin, especially late in the game

Horton- Acknowledging that his game has improved Blache said "I wish he had a great read on that 58-yard run too". The good out weighed the bad however as Horton created a crucial turnover deep in Redskin territory by causing a fumble on WR Donnie Avery. Later in 4th Chris broke up a desperate throw on 4th down by Rams QB Bulger essentially ending the game. Horton's motor is similar to Polamalu's in that he seems to always be around the ball.

Cover Corners- Coming out of the Giants game there were concerns on how well our corners really were. They made Manningham a household name with missed tackles and blown coverages. With Smoot being out with a rib injury it only made those concerns even worst because Tyron had to step in. Yet again they made a nobody into a star by allowing Lauren Robinson to catch 6 balls for 54 yards and a touchdown. I'm not sure if its the scheme that's forcing them be ten yards off the WR or its by choice but I do know it needs to be addressed. It's going to be interesting to see how Blatche will scheme for the 6'5'' Calvin Johnson next week in Detroit.

K.T. Skinsington