Zorn’s Redskins have taken command of game’s final quarter
As the Redskins gathered on the sidelines during the two-minute warning, guard Pete Kendall turned playcaller. He suggested running a bootleg pass to Chris Cooley, who vowed to pick up a first down.
And one more first down would end the game. Coach Jim Zorn agreed, the Redskins ran the play; Cooley gained 26 yards and the Arizona Cardinals never touched the ball again.
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Consider it a welcomed change for the Redskins. Their four years under Joe Gibbs was lowlighted by blown fourth-quarter leads, including three last season. But through three games this year, Washington has dominated the final quarter.
The Redskins have done this through more aggressive playcalling, stout defense and better execution.
“That came back and bit us for sure,” center Casey Rabach said of the blown leads. “Coach Zorn is of a different mind of playcalling when it comes to that situation than Coach Gibbs was. It’s good to see and things have been working out well for us.
“We’re not being passive hoping to hold off and win a game. It’s us being who we are, staying on the field and winning games.”
The Redskins have outscored the opposition 21-0 in the fourth quarter. How rare is that? In the past 15 years, they’ve only outscored their opponents twice in the final 15 minutes.
Also, in the fourth quarter, Washington has 21 first downs to eight for its opponents. Against Arizona, the Redskins consumed six minutes and 26 seconds on one drive, which featured five pass attempts — one was a touchdown nullified by a penalty. After the Cardinals went three-and-out on its next possession, the Redskins started with two runs. Then came the Cooley play. For the quarter, they had three first downs passing and four running.
“There was a good chance they can get themselves in position to score,” Zorn said. “We didn’t want to give the ball up. But you can’t pass every time in that situation either.”
A similar play occurred vs. New Orleans. Facing a fourth-and-2 at the Saints’ 26-yard line with 1:58 to play, quarterback Jason Campbell hit Santana Moss on a slant for eight yards. The Redskins took a knee twice and the game ended.
“Jim learned from [Seattle] coach Mike Holmgren and Coach Holmgren never takes the throttle off,” said corner Shawn Springs, who played for Holmgren in Seattle. “We love it. We’ve got an offense that’s gonna put the pedal to the medal, just like Indianapolis and New England.”
