Washington trying to increase scoring
Others lobbied on their behalf, touting them as first-half league MVPs. At the time, running back Clinton Portis led the league in rushing; quarterback Jason Campbell hadn’t tossed an interception. And the Redskins’ offense was moving the ball better than expected.
There’s just one problem. The Redskins (6-3) point total hasn’t matching their success at gaining yards. They rank 26th in points scored; 11th in total offense.
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“They’re just scratching the surface,” said Brian Billick, former NFL coach and current FOX analyst.
That scratching has resulted in growing pains. Here’s why they’ve struggled to score:
Explosion » The only player with a gain longer than 31 yards from scrimmage is receiver Santana Moss. Portis has consistently grinded out yards and has eight runs of 20 yards or more. But his longest is 31 yards. Of the best runs by the NFL’s top 13 rushers, that’s the lowest figure. All seven of his touchdowns are less than 20 yards.
“They can’t score fast,” one NFL talent evaluator said. “If they don’t hit Moss or he gets hurt, it’s a steady grind-it-out offense.”
ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski agreed.
“There really isn’t that one guy that really changes what you do defensively,” he said. “Going into the [Nov. 3 Pittsburgh] game, 76 percent of their throws were less than 10 yards down the field. Sometimes they’re not going to get those explosive plays because they’re not trying to get them.”
Red zone » The Redskins rank 23rd when it comes to scoring inside the 20. They either don’t convert their opportunities — in four games, they’ve scored touchdowns on a combined four of 18 trips. Or they don’t get enough of them — in the other five, they’re 10 of 12.
“This is not a team with big, tall receivers,” Jaworski said, “They’re hindered by not having that receiver where they can throw an alley-oop or a corner with a fade throw or body up with an undersized corner and make it a jump ball.”
The Redskins need injured receiver Malcolm Kelly’s 6-foot-4 frame.
“If he can mature, he gives you a great balance,” Billick said.
Cooley has not been used much in this area and his lone touchdown pass came off a receiver pass.
“He’s one of the better tight ends in the NFL,” Jaworski said, “but he can’t physically dominate in the red zone.”
Redskins coach Jim Zorn said one problem with the red zone offense is speed. He’s already having a hard time getting the Redskins to play faster in the middle of the field. It’s even faster in the red zone.
“Now you’re asking them to take a double leap,” Zorn said, “and that’s what’s been difficult.”
