Jon Jansen officially regained his job Monday.
The senior Washington Redskin has started four consecutive weeks since replacing injured Stephon Heyer. A big reason the Redskins are running effectively on both sides, some wondered why the Redskins ever benched the right tackle after nine seasons.
Coach Jim Zorn finally conceded Jansen is the permanent starter even with Heyer’s shoulder healed. Zorn says he’s “pleased” with Jansen, but it always seems faint praise. The first-year coach resisted fully committing to the team elder until now. It was strange because Zorn isn’t one with hidden agendas like some past coaches.
But, Zorn finally conceded. When the offensive line is opening holes regularly and running back Clinton Portis leads the NFL in rushing en route to a potential 2,000 yard season, it’s best not to tinker with success.
“Jansen’s going to be right there. The group’s working well together,” Zorn said. “It’s unfortunate for Stephon, but I’m not going to mess [with the line.]”
Notice how balanced the Redskins have been with Jansen on the right side lately? They were running left regularly the first two games. Sure, Samuels is a five-time Pro Bowler, but team sources said Heyer was still learning the system and missed too many blocks. Jansen kept his mouth shut. So did his linemates on the closest unit on the team. But they knew Jansen made it a better line and Heyer’s injury proved it.
Jansen has certainly slipped some. Two major injuries, including a broken ankle in the 2007 opener to miss the rest of the season, have cost him a step. For someone who started 50 college games before being taken in the 1999 second-round plus 116 with Washington, Jansen is used to playing.
However, Jansen needed to learn it’s not a given. Zorn wasn’t happy with Jansen’s pass blocking, and in a West Coast Offense that’s a bigger sin than run blocking. However, the Redskins are now a “Smashmouth West Coast Offense” where running is more important, especially with Portis excelling and quarterback Jason Campbell suffering a groin injury on Sunday.
“There are things that I’ve done well, things I need to keep improving on,” Jansen said. “[Sunday] was one of my better games this year and in a couple years. I still look at it and say there are a handful of things I have to improve on.
“I’ve really improved my pass protection, which was the knock on me. So that was one of the things I wanted to go out and prove, that they’re not going to take me out because of my pass protection. I knew it wasn’t going to be anything with my run [blocking.]”
This is Jansen’s victory stroll. It’s probably his last season in Washington because Heyer will get his chance next year and Jansen is too expensive to remain as a backup.
Jansen is a throwback to the days of Riggo and the Hogs, though. Fans should enjoy the moment. He certainly is.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
