A Silver Lining... Relax

[SkinzDeep]

Since when does a win feel like a lose? When your team barely beats one of the worst teams in the NFL? When your team can't score a touchdown against one of the worst defenses in the league? When your play calling is as predictable as the tides? When your players are mouthing off at fans after a game via twitter accounts?

So where is the silver lining you ask? It lies right beneath the offensive frustrations, the untapped potential, and the built up animosity from this team. It seems like every week we find ourselves grinding our teeth at stalled drives and gnawing at our finger nails in the 4th quarter's closing minutes. So I've asked myself over and over, when will this end? The answer, soon!

So again, where is the silver lining? As bad as we looked in the redzone yesterday, the fact is that we were there. We moved the ball the way we knew we would and put ourselves in position to score. Unfortunately we weren't able to cross the goal line, but at least we had many opportunities. Looking back at last years games we may have scored more touchdowns at this point, but we definitely didn't move the ball as well as we are moving it now. This offense is clearly better than last years offense and we will figure it out sooner rather then later.

For everyone that is concerned about not scoring a touchdown against the lowly Rams, I can't disagree. However, the fact that we had several very good drives in Sunday's game proves that we are almost where we need to be offensively. Last year we couldn't start a drive, let alone finish one. Now, we are starting and sustaining drives. The final piece to the puzzle is finishing them and doing it consistently.

Campbell is in control this offense like we need him to be. He is doing it with his arm and his legs. He is making smart decisions and finding the open receiver. I my opinion, JC single-handedly won this game for us. Our running game was good and probably should have been better emphasized, but it wasn't and Campbell took control.

As bad as our offense looked and appeared is disarray at times, we are close. It's only two games into the season so there is time for optimism. I feel confident that we will right this ship and very soon. As I look ahead to the Lions I see a rookie quarterback and a defense much like the Rams. If we are on track the way the offense appears to be (between the twenties) then we will find success and the endzone several times against the Lions defense.

There is no doubt in my mind that we'll figure this out and put it together. The only question is when and I truly feel that is will be much sooner rather then later.

[herb mul-key]

I believe in JC..he has the skills...he needs to get on a roll and Zorny needs to let him play...QB's that have success have a real say in the offense...Zorn is over controlling things on offense!

[wshngtn1]

Good post. I agree. We shouldn't abandon the team now...we are getting close to where we want to be.

[Braxford]

We should definately not abandon this season and I have liked the drives but the lack of red zone efficency is driving me NUTS!! The Skins have got to get their red zone offense together before the meat of the division schedule though or there will be trouble.

[[[ghost]]]

Our 3rd Down defense is one of the worst. But other than one run, our Run Defense is pretty good. Having a premiere DT and MLB will do that. And you can see its effects on Griffin who is also playing phenomenal.

[[[ghost]]]

We should definately not abandon this season and I have liked the drives but the lack of red zone efficency is driving me NUTS!! The Skins have got to get their red zone offense together before the meat of the division schedule though or there will be trouble.

We're a team that thrives on running it in the Red Zone.

You know this. I know this. ES knows this. The whole NFL knows this.

That is why a mediocre defense like the Rams can stop us. They know we want to run left. So they stack.

Common sense would tell you to keep the defense honest, and play action the other way. Instead, we continue to do the same thing.

The runs to the left are fine. What works for us should be used. The Patriots are good at throwing intermediate passes. The Giants love to run downhill. The Pokes love to get their OL to move as a unit forward, to open up running lanes.

All of these teams have a specialty. And they keep defenses from focusing on that by opening up other plays. Brady throws to Moss deep just to get safeties to back up. The Giants throw to Steve Smith on quick slants to keep LBs honest. Romo will roll around everywhere to keep the DL from trying to take on teh OL and forgetting about a mobile QB.

[Skins PR]

Good post. I agree. We shouldn't abandon the team now...we are getting close to where we want to be.

You can't possibly think that!!!!!!

[Dan T.]

A couple of positives I took out of the game...

1. Antwan Randel-El seems to have gotten the hint that his punt returning technique wasn't cutting it. Aside from one seemingly unnecessary fair catch, he looked really good returning punts. That could be huge as the season goes on. Also, his catch of the laser thrown by Campbell deep into Rams territory was AMAZING, and should silence all his critics for another week. He's found a home as a slot receiver.

2. Welcome to the NFL Malcolm Kelly. We finally got a glimpse of what he can do in a regular season game. It was good to see him targeted on a fairly regular basis Sunday. Now, there's this little thing called a fade route... Learn it. Maybe Jim Zorn will call it once within the next 50 red zone chances.

3. It's nice to have an NFL-quality punter. Hunter Smith boomed a kick out of his own end zone, a rare treat for Redskins fans accustomed to shanks from that field position.

4. Cornelius Griffin is back! He should thrive lining up next to Mount Haynesworth.

So those were some positives I found after my head cleared from banging it repeatedly on the coffee table in frustration.

[Gho$t]

We looked so good driving DOWN the field, but once we got to the red zone it was like a big force field just stopping everything for us lol.

I was so upset we couldn't score a TD, i really wanted one lol.

[clarkskin]

I agree. While there are certainly cases to be made by those who want to throw n the towel, I believe as you do. I think the fact that they are moving the ball is a huge positivie. JC looks like he's in command and the o-line has protected him reasonably well.

The red-zone thing is a hurdle. There is no reason to believe they can't get it in the end zone. Dropped balls, bad calls, breakdowns, etc. are all teaming up against us. I'd be a lot more concerned if we had 50 yards passing for the game or something like that which would have been reflective of an offense that was total crap.

But thenagain, when it comes to the 'skins, I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy.

[McD5]

Good post. I agree. We shouldn't abandon the team now...we are getting close to where we want to be.

??

[Nickclone]

I blame Zorn for bad play calling and not given JC a chance, but I also blame the refs for their crippling and consistently bad calls.

[Catatonic]

Good post. I agree. We shouldn't abandon the team now...we are getting close to where we want to be.

Hah, and where is that???? 6-10 and last in the NFC East?

[DGREENHULK]

I can't see giving up on the team this quick...Really I can't ever see giving up on the team but I see some think about giving up alot.....

[Loyal2Washington]

OK now reality sets in. We still can't complete a pass over 15 yards that doesn't include YAC. RZ offense is still an embarrassment. Our run game is exactly what it was to end the season last year and after 18 regular season games and 8 preseason games Zorn's play calling is what it is, there's no magic wand.
Campbell won that game really? Did you see our D play that 4th quarter. Forcing a TO, that the offense promptly turned into a three and out, and then shutting down the Rams again with great field position after said three and out. Throw in the D saving Zorn's rear end to finish off the game and Campbell had little to do with that victory.
Oh and if Asotgwe doesn't drop that INT in the endzone in the 1st, the pass of Devin Thomas hands, we'd really be singing the blues.

[englitdaudelin]

Compare this game to the first game. Compare this game to last night's Giants-Cowboys game.

We sustained drives far better throughout the game, and avoided most of the inane mistakes that killed drives against the Giants. So, we looked improved. Or...we looked like crap, since we scored more touchdowns against a FAR better defense, in the Giants, than we did yesterday.

Or maybe both.

Similarly, our defense did a far better job against the Giants than the Cowboys did...which hopefully augurs well for a surprise in the NFC East.

So I'd love to get excited about a win. But the inability to score more than three times--forget 9 points, just THREE scores--is a problem.

I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid yet, but I'll take a long, interested look at the jug in the fridge.

[ddub52]

I never thought Id say this, but I feel like Zorn isnt going to let JC be what he should be. It seems that Zorn is determined to run the ball inside the 10. Maybe because JC cant throw a fade route? I dont know. I thought we brought in MK and DT for that reason.

[Biggeesmoove]

I never thought Id say this, but I feel like Zorn isnt going to let him be what he should be. It seems that Zorn is determined to run the ball inside the 10. Maybe because JC cant throw a fade route? I dont know. I thought we brought in MK and DT for that reason.


As long as Zorn wants to think for JC "on the field", Jason won't reach his full potential. According to another article I read, JC saw that Zorn's call from the sideline (the 4th and 1 call to Portis in the redzone) faced the appropriate play call on defense. Since Zorn doesn't let Campbell audible in the red zone, Campbell couldn't get out of the play. Campbell KNEW what to do (and probably would have scored with the right audible), but his hands were tied by Zorn.

[HighOnHendrix]

As long as Zorn wants to think for JC "on the field", Jason won't reach his full potential. According to another article I read, JC saw that Zorn's call from the sideline (the 4th and 1 call to Portis in the redzone) faced the appropriate play call on defense. Since Zorn doesn't let Campbell audible in the red zone, Campbell couldn't get out of the play. Campbell KNEW what to do (and probably would have scored with the right audible), but his hands were tied by Zorn.

If this is the case about him not being allowed to audible inside the twenty, then I'm even more sad than I was yesterday. I've given him the benefit of the doubt for a long time, but Jim Zorn is now officially an idiot of a play caller in my book after going for it on nearly every 4th and short that comes down the pike. It's great that he has the balls to go for it, but some judiciousness would be prudent. He tried like hell to give that game away, I'm just glad the D stepped up and shut StL down at the end.

EDIT: And just for the record, I think all the coaches around the league thinking for their players on the field is detrimental to the game. I have said this here before, but I think it needs to be said again. If it were up to me the speakers would be ripped out of the helmets and the QBs would all have to call their own plays again. These guys live and breathe football from the time they are in elementary school, yet they have to be spoon-fed plays into their ear? Come on.

[Doctorfro]

Everyone was screaming for a fade route yesterday. What about the old fashioned bootleg roll with short pass to the TE? That used to be a Skins bread and butter years ago. Is that play no longer effective in the current NFL?

[ddub52]

Everyone was screaming for a fade route yesterday. What about the old fashioned bootleg roll with short pass to the TE? That used to be a Skins bread and butter years ago. Is that play no longer effective in the current NFL?

Everytime we bootleg its unsuccessful

[polywog999]

If this is the case about him not being allowed to audible inside the twenty, then I'm even more sad than I was yesterday. I've given him the benefit of the doubt for a long time, but Jim Zorn is now officially an idiot of a play caller in my book after going for it on nearly every 4th and short that comes down the pike. It's great that he has the balls to go for it, but some judiciousness would be prudent. He tried like hell to give that game away, I'm just glad the D stepped up and shut StL down at the end.

EDIT: And just for the record, I think all the coaches around the league thinking for their players on the field is detrimental to the game. I have said this here before, but I think it needs to be said again. If it were up to me the speakers would be ripped out of the helmets and the QBs would all have to call their own plays again. These guys live and breathe football from the time they are in elementary school, yet they have to be spoon-fed plays into their ear? Come on.
By giving the Rams the ball with very little time, deep in there own territory, without any time outs, we might have done the right thing. If we kick a field goal It could have been blocked/returned. If we made it, we could have fumbled the kickoff. The kickoff could have been returned for a T.D., Hey stranger things have happened.