Skins winning ugly against bottom of NFL
ASHBURN – They celebrated the recovery of Jason Campbell and praised the defense. It’s what the Redskins needed to see: their quarterback gutting out a win; their defense shutting an opponent down. And their top running back fell two yards shy of 100.
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The Redskins hope Sunday’s 16-13 comeback win is the start of something. Even if it came against winless Tampa Bay.
But there’s also reality: The Redskins just finished a three-game stretch in which they played three of the worst teams in the NFL. They went 2-1 and averaged just 13 points per game vs. St. Louis, Detroit and Tampa Bay.
» Rookie Jeremy Jarmon continues to develop and adds a lot of quickness inside. He should be a bigger help in upcoming games. But he’s still learning to play end in the NFL. He got suckered on a bootleg on the first snap of the second half and is not yet stout at holding his ground. That’s where veteran Phillip Daniels still can help. He’s very powerful at the point of attack. But Jarmon gives them needed quickness when lining up at tackle in passing situations. Those young legs will benefit Washington as the season progresses.
Those three teams have been outscored by a combined 188 points in their other three games. But the Redskins (2-2) scored as many points as they allowed (39) vs. this trio.
That’s hardly cause for celebration. Or confidence for that matter. They’ve faced three straight defenses currently ranked in the bottom half of the league and two offenses in the bottom five.
But the Redskins say Sunday’s win felt different than the 9-7 one over St. Louis.
The players were given the day off, but those who came to Redskins Park were much more upbeat than they were after the Rams win two weeks ago. They see signs of progress, even if it’s not always reflected in the score.
“The Rams was more relief,” safety Reed Doughty said. “This week we accelerated. We didn’t play well in the first half, but we made big plays in the second half and proved to ourselves that even though we’re down, we’re not out.”
“I really don’t think you can say when it’s a turning point until down the road,” center Casey Rabach said. “I hope it’s a turning point. If our defense continues playing like that and we eliminate turnovers, it definitely can be a turning point.”
They even felt better offensively, with Clinton Portis rushing for 98 yards and the passing game producing a big second-half touchdown.
“I can’t say we’re not getting better,” receiver Santana Moss said. “We are. It might not look that way from the way we play at times. The thing we have to do better now is put a whole game together.”
Moss’ 59-yard touchdown pass was a measure of progress, at least for the receiver.
“I was just happy he didn’t overthrow me,” Moss said of Campbell. “He’s getting the feel for me now. I give him those looks every day in practice when he overthrows me like, ‘Come on; five years, you should know me now.’ But you can’t really judge in practice all the time. … He didn’t do anything different. He just made a play.”
Redskins coach Jim Zorn said this is not the way the Redskins have to keep winning, by grinding out narrow wins and with little offense.
“I’m not going to accept that possibility,” Zorn said. “We’re not going to be happy with that. We’re going to keep pushing. It’s my responsibility.”
