Struggling Skins enter stretch
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 18, 2008
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| Jason Campbell was sacked three times and rarely had time to throw the ball downfield in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys. (Evan Vucci/AP) |
ASHBURN —
Zorn concerned with the O-line’s lack of success
The feel-good vibes have started to fade, replaced by a harsh reality: The Redskins are struggling at the wrong time of the season. They entered November having won six out of seven games. They started to create space between themselves and other NFC playoff contenders.
And now?
“It’s gone,” Redskins fullback Mike Sellers said. “There’s no cushion.”
“We have to improve,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “You can’t tread water in this league for very long. You have to be swimming. And we’re not swimming yet. We haven’t put the hurt on anybody.”
A big reason for the lapse, at least in Sunday’s 14-10 loss to Dallas, was poor pass protection. Washington allowed three sacks — each by a different lineman — and every lineman had his problems.
“The individual battles aren’t getting won enough,” Zorn said. “Had we won this game, we’d still be saying we need better pass protection. Even when Jason [Campbell] was getting rid of the ball he was still getting hit. That’s tough.”
Zorn said they likely won’t make personnel changes. It doesn’t help that left tackle Chris Samuels remains bothered by his knee. He was beaten for a sack Sunday, but was whipped on a few other occasions as well.
“I have some pain, but I can’t make excuses,” Samuels said. “I have to play better.”
The players and coaches blame technique for the issues. But scouts and talent evaluators the past couple years have said the same thing: The line is better run-blocking than pass protecting. Dallas, and Pittsburgh in the previous game, also has explosive talent.
Sunday, this prevented Washington from throwing downfield much. In the second half, Campbell attempted just two passes that traveled at least 10 yards in the air — one went for 24 yards to Antwaan Randle El; the other was a deep incompletion to Santana Moss. And the longest pass he attempted in the first half went 13 yards.
Dallas played tighter coverage because of all this, creating problems on short routes.
“It’s frustrating when you can’t call them and you feel like it’s time,” Zorn said. “And you don’t feel you’ll get the time in the pocket.
