Some used the word embarrassed. Others scratched their heads over what’s gone wrong. Clinton Portis, as he sat in his car ready to leave for the day, opted for a different spin on the Redskins’ offensive woes.
“If we get on track,” he said, “We’re going to be dangerous.”
Now would be a good time to get on track. With four road games in five weeks — starting Sunday at undefeated New England — the Redskins (4-2) need their offense to do something it hasn’t done enough of this season.
Produce.
And it starts with the running game. The Redskins have not averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry since the second game. They’re 16th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (114.7) and 25th in yards per carry (3.6).
“The foundation of your team is the run game,” Redskins assistant head coach/offense Al Saunders said. “As good as the defense is playing now, if our choice is to play field position ball then we have to be able to run the
ball.”
The Redskins admitted they used a conservative game plan in Sunday’s 21-19 win over Arizona. Coach Joe Gibbs said, in hindsight, he wishes they had been more aggressive at times. The offense went three-and-out
three times in the fourth quarter.
Losing the right side of the offensive line in guard Randy Thomas and tackle Jon Jansen has had an impact, particularly in the run-blocking. Current starters Jason Fabini and Todd Wade are not as adept at opening cutback lanes.
Oftentimes, the Redskins will have the left side shove their guys back with the backside linemen needing to block the linebackers to create a cutback alley. However, Fabini and Wade have not always succeeded in that role.
“If you miss a block, or you don’t cut a guy off backside … It’s the little things,” center Casey Rabach said. “Cohesiveness is a factor.”
Portis said the offense isn’t crisp in practice, either.
“You watch our defense at practice and they’re flying around, they’re quick, they’re smooth,” Portis said. “We have dropped balls in practice. We have turnovers in practice. We’re doing the same things in practice that we’re doing on the field. We have to iron it out.”
Gibbs denied this was the case. The players also say they haven’t lost faith in the system.
“I never doubt what coach Saunders puts up,” receiver Santana Moss said. “His offense has worked for too long to doubt it. It’s up to us to make plays.”
