The Washington Redskins - Offseason Champs, In season Chumps

Another week goes by and, especially in the first half, the Redskins still look like a minor-league version of an NFL team. They are slower, less disciplined, less passionate, less intelligent, and less functional than any other team in the league, including the Raiders and Browns. For what seems to be the 10th or 11th game in a row, the Washington Redskins came out of the gate in first gear while their opponents were in 4th or 5th. The defense, the strong suit of the team, allowed an opening touchdown drive, including 2 offsides penalties on 4th down that allowed the Falcons to go for the touchdown versus getting the gimme field goal that they were lined up for. The Falcons lined up on 4th & 1 with no intention of every snapping the ball, something that was apparent to everyone in the stadium and at home, but apparently not to Haynesworth and his teammates. That play summarized the entire season, game over!

OFFENSE

The Offense was downright pitiful, they were as bad as any NFL-caliber offense that I have ever seen. They can't get more than 2 or 3 yards on first down and allow their quarterback to be tossed around like a rag doll on almost every play in the first half. Though they came out much better in the second half, it seemed to be a combination of two factors; improved play from the Offensive line and Campbell and the fact that Falcons lost focus and let them back in the game. Though they did move the ball some in the second half, and the offense seems to be much better under Sherm Lewis, they are still not good enough to make any major difference in the game. Jason Campbell, as much as he was battered by the pass rush of Atlanta, still makes the same mistakes and is hesitant, at least 2 of the sacks that he took were on 3-step drops that he pumped on instead of just delivering the ball to his receivers, the mortal combination of a hesitant quarterback and a putrid offensive line is the reason that this offense is as bad as it is. Just once I would love to see Campbell put some heat on one of those throws and try to force it in there, he never wants to make a mistake which causes him to never make any plays, every other quarterback in the NFL has 2 or 3 throws a game where he just throws the ball up and gives his receiver a chance to make a play or gets a penalty that keeps the drive going, Campbell, pumps 3 times, spins around and takes the sack, simply unacceptable for an NFL quarterback to be this indecisive, no matter how bad his offensive line is, he needs to keep his head up and make plays. Aaron Rodgers gets sacked 4 or 5 times a game and still put up 300-plus yards and 2 touchdowns, why can't Campbell do that? Is he not bright enough? Is he so scared that he can't make a mistake that he is unwilling to make the tight throw? I'm not sure why it is but It seems to be that he is so worried about everything that he can't play at this level, I think it's safe to say that he will not be a starter in the NFL in 2010.

The play calling was much better in the 2nd half yesterday but was horrible on the 4th & 1 play that Zorn seemed to change, take a timeout and then call a ridiculous screen pass that was never going to work instead of giving the ball to Betts, as they did on the previous touchdown, and have him follow Sellers behind Rabach and Dockery, a play that had worked a few times before and probably would have been better than a screen pass that was destined to go nowhere! It seems to be evident that Jim Zorn is not the best playcaller in the league and the fact that he took a timeout before that call just make things worse, a bad play call and worse time management. The coaching on this team is just as bad as the play, this is evident in the fact that the defensive players can't tackle (we'll get to that), the special teams players can't block or run, and the offense can't do anything...in a word, Pitiful!

SPECIAL TEAMS

This unit, one that used to be good at blocking and kick coverage, has completely collapsed in the past 4 games. Every-time Cartwright took the ball in the endzone he was immediately surrounded by 4 or 5 Falcons who seemed to be unblocked and gave him no room to mount any kind of return. The coverage was a bit better but not as good as it needs to be on a team that struggles to play the field position game as their offense is non-existent and their defense can't hold up for the entire game. The return abilities of Randle-El, once a big part of his game, is now completely gone, he calls for a fair catch even when he has a 10-yard cushion between him and the line of defenders, he needs to let go of this position for good, try Thomas or Tryon back there, they can't be any worse.

DEFENSE

The most solid aspect of this team is, and will continue to be, the defense. It is the only part of the team that looks like an NFL-caliber unit and, in spite of giving up 3 big plays, usually plays consistently and holds up their part of the deal every week. This week they were shredded on the ground by Michael Turner, a big and quick back, that carved them up on 2 big runs that put the game away. The runs were not a result of a total team breakdown but more of a lack of tackling that is scary. LaRon Landry, as skilled as he is (the 3 & short play that he stopped for no gain is a great example) still tries to go in and deliver the big hit instead of wrapping his arms around the opposing players legs and bring him down, something that is instilled in any player that has ever put on a helmet down to Pop Warner leagues. The fact that he, along with DeAngelo Hall and the other defensive backs (excluding Rogers who is a very good tackler) seem to not understand that tackling is done with your hands, not your shoulders. The coaches need to make them run tackling drills in practice all day on Wednesday so they don't forget how to do it in the game.

The defensive line continues to be the biggest glimmer of hope on a hopeless team. They are good against the run (except for the 3 big runs) and constantly provide a push and collapse the pocket, not allowing the quarterbacks to get comfortable. Haynesworth has shown why he got paid so much money by consistently pushing the pocket even-though he's lined up against 2 or 3 pass blockers, something that has allowed Carter and Orakpo one-on-one situations that they are converting. Orakpo is probably the best draft pick the Redskins have signed since they drafted Cooley. He is quick and strong and seems to take losing very badly, not something that I can say about a lot of guys on this team who seem to take it as part of what they do, losing is what they do best.

The linebackers have been very good this year, McIntosh got an interception yesterday and has been playing very good football all year, he and London Fletcher have been the 2 most consistent players on the defense and have been, by far, the most productive 2 players on the entire team. The secondary is another story. Though they did not give up any big plays in the air yesterday, Landry once again made one of his typical stupid plays that cost his team yards and momentum and missed on several tackles, especially the one in which he missed Turner who then went on to run over Hall and, 60 yards later, walked into the endzone. The other corners, continue to play off the line of scrimmage 10 yards, even when it's 3 & short, they give such a big cushion that the receivers simply run up 6 or 7 yards, turn around, and are guaranteed a first down, this is mind-boggling to watch, why don't they ever press? Any offensive coach that plays against the Redskins is probably thankful that the corners don't press, with the pass rush that this defense has, it makes all the more sense to play tight coverage so that the quarterback has to hold the ball a second longer and will allow Orakpo, Carter, and company to get to him and will force more sacks and turnovers, can't understand why they don't do it, but it doesn't look like that will change anytime soon.

The defense was OK, especially in the 2nd half, but far from the 4th-ranked defense that they are on paper, and far from being good enough to carry the team to a victory.

OUTLOOK

The overall outlook for this team is bleak to say the least. They will probably win 2 or 3 more games all season and then, the big question will be whether Dan Snyder realizes that his model does not work and hires a GM and lets the GM make all of the decisions, especially who the coach is going to be. IF this does not happen, and I have a feeling that it won't, nothing will change for this franchise. They will continue to be the laughing stock of the NFL as demonstrated in yesterday's broadcast where Siragusa and Johnston often ridiculed the players and chastised the operations of the team by correctly pointing out that they were "hoping" that their already porous and old offensive line would stay intact and had no Plan B if that wasn't the case. This is why this team is as bad as it is and the cushy relationship that Snyder has with some of his players gives them too much power and renders the coach, whoever he may be, powerless and without any chance of getting them to play to their potential, much less practice on a consistent basis. The entire operation at Redskins park is devoid of any coherent strategy and is run much like a fantasy football team, get the big names and plug in the holes with spare parts that aren't good enough to play in the Canadian Football league, no chance they can play in the NFL.

This season is dire and is spiralling down towards a 4-12, 5-11 season that will not seem to get any better until the owner realizes that his way doesn't work and that this team needs to get better players, more depth and for god's sake some speed! Every other team in the NFL has 8 or 9 players that have blazing speed, the Redskins have Moss, Tryon and nobody else! Hopefully (this is truly wishful thinking) the Redskins will look at the Washington Capitals as the model of what they need to become, a team that stunk for 2 or 3 years and re-built with the draft and young players and are now one of the best teams in the NHL and with the potential to be that for many years to come. As long as the Redskins look to win now every year and disregard their lack of depth and their lack of speed, we will continue to see the carousel of coaches with nothing but headlines in March and April to show for it.