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News, notes and analysis
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
11/04/09 5:11 PM EST
...Coach Jim Zorn said Antwaan Randle El will be deep on the first punt return vs. Atlanta, but that DeAngelo Hall and Santana Moss would also return punts. It's the same thing that happened in Philadelphia and it's what Zorn said on his radio show two weeks ago. However, he started to hedge a bit on his radio show this week citing Randle El's production as a returner (5.2 yards per return).
But Zorn was strong in his statement today.
"Antwaan Randle El is our punt returner," Zorn said.
We do know that the Redskins would prefer someone else to return punts. But Moss is not a legitimate option because of injury concerns. Nor does he want more than one or two a game. Hall does not want to do it fulltime either. Not to mention he's only returned 13 punts in the NFL. We've known special teams coach Danny Smith long enough to know that it would take a lot for him to put in Hall as the fulltime guy. Despite Randle El's recent fumble, Smith trusts his decision making and ball security.
But the other two will be used to create a spark.
By the way, Randle El does not think he's missed any holes. That may be the case; but his penchant for trying to find big holes prevents him from squeezing through the tiny ones where he might be able to pick up more than five yards. He's at his best when he makes one cut and goes.
...Linebacker H.B. Blades already was doing some work on the side today during practice. He'll still miss Sunday's game vs. Atlanta. By the way, he and Byron Westbrook hurt their knee on the same play, a punt return, vs. Philadelphia.
...Zorn said he did some soul searching during the bye week (in addition to riding his bike and going to Luray Caverns in Virginia).
"We all do," he said. "It's hard. We've had a lot of criticism in the last several weeks and different events that we've had to work through."
...Quarterback Jason Campbell admitted that playing on the road right now might be easier for the offense.
"The reason I say that is because if there's a bad play or a throwaway we know why we have to do it," he said. "The fans don't understand. They just think everything is always open. You don't have to worry about hearing negativity. On the road you can regroup on the sidelines and move forward."
Our take: That might be true, but it makes it seem as if you're paying too much attention to the fans and the booing in games. That isn't good for any team, but this might be a bit too honest -- and revealing.
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