ASHBURN – The switch at the top was supposed to end games like this. And a game like this is what led Jim Zorn down the path to unemployment.
A year ago the Redskins lost to Detroit, losers of 19 straight. They wound up with a new playcaller and a lame duck coach. But Sunday’s 30-16 loss to St. Louis, losers of 17 of its previous 18, will bring no such change. It dropped them to 1-2, but it does not signal anything other than what everyone already knows: Rebuilding is difficult.
Redskins notes» Running back Clinton Portis told coach Mike Shanahan that his right wrist was hurting him, which is why he hit the ground without being hit on his 27-yard run. After the game, Portis said he felt fine. Shanahan also said that it was part of the plan to give Ryan Torain more work on first and second downs and Portis on third down. » However, Shanahan said Monday that knowing Portis’ wrist was sore played into his decision not to give him more carries in the second half. Portis carried two more times after that 27-yard run and just once in the second half. “His right hand was bothering him and he felt like he didn’t have the ball security,” Shanahan said. “He couldn’t secure it very well and he was afraid he was going to have contact on that side. I asked him the same question and that’s what he shared with me.” » Punter Josh Bidwell will undergo an MRI on his hip Tuesday, two days after he couldn’t punt vs. St. Louis. Bidwell hurt the hip in pregame warm-ups and was helped from the field. Former Redskins punter Hunter Smith will be among a group of punters working out for Washington on Tuesday. A groin injury limited Smith to 13 games last year. He averaged 41.3 yards per punt.» Shanahan said he’s not sure if left tackle Trent Williams (knee/toe) will be available to play Sunday. He missed Sunday’s loss. He’s also uncertain about receiver Anthony Armstrong (groin) and safety Chris Horton (ankle).
It’s a year later. And, yes, it’s made a difference. Last year: panic. This year: patience.
What we’ve learned1. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall did not back up his talk last week about this being “his team” and “his defense” » Hall wasn’t always in man coverage, but played it enough and did not have a good game. He not only slipped on the quick toss to Mark Clayton, leading to a 30-yard gain, he also whiffed on a tackle attempt to allow a third-and-20 pass to become a first down. On another run he did not come off the block with the urgency needed to make the play. 2. Linebacker Andre Carter will continue to struggle » It’s not about him; he’s just not a good fit in this scheme and it fails to emphasize what he does best, which is get upfield after the passer. Carter has a hard time changing directions, getting him in trouble in space against backs and receivers. He’s also getting blocked too often by tight ends, opening up alleys. If he’s not able to apply much pressure, it’s worth seeing how Lorenzo Alexander can do with more time. If Carter is a good rusher with his hand in the ground, why not find some ways he can do that?3. The Redskins aren’t a good team » Period. Yes, that comes as a shocker, but they have many issues that won’t be solved any time soon. They’ve now lost 20 of their last 27 games dating to the midway point of 2008. This is why they can’t fall back on the excuse that they somehow overlooked St. Louis. No, they didn’t. They were beaten. St. Louis controlled the game and even won with its best offensive player, Steven Jackson, on the sidelines for the second half. This rebuilding job will take a couple more years to complete.4. The red zone offense needs help » Sunday, they ran nine plays inside the Rams’ 20-yard line. Not once did they throw a pass into the end zone. They were balanced, running five times and passing four, but they’re relying on players to make defenders miss. The Redskins lack enough players who have that skill.Find out more in John Keim’s Redskins Confidential blog.
“You’re not going to be a new team together and come out the first three games and be in midseason form,” Redskins receiver Santana Moss said. “That’s a no-brainer. … This is a different coach, a different team. [Last year] is something I hope we can leave in Detroit and leave in last year. I don’t even go there.”
Nor does anyone else. The Redskins’ belief in what they’re doing is much stronger than it was the previous two years. The players belief is that the foundation is built on cement; in the past, it was on quicksand.
“If anyone can get us back on the right track, it’s Mike Shanahan,” Redskins end Phillip Daniels said.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t significant growing pains.
“All of us are learning something new, even the coaches,” Daniels said. “Coach [Jim] Haslett ran a 4-3 before. He’s learning in this scheme, too. Guys have to be patient with it. It ain’t going to happen overnight.
“You have to have a lot of guys in those schemes to work. It’s tough to come in your first year and learn those schemes.”
Shanahan hasn’t wavered in his belief that the 3-4 is the right defense to play, even if some players privately know it’s not the best fit — yet. The Redskins do have some looks that are more like a 4-3 and those haven’t been effective either. Offensively, they’re learning a new offense and they also have six new starters, including four on the line.
“We’re all out there trying to learn this thing, too, trying to learn on the fly,” corner DeAngelo Hall said. “[But] I don’t think nobody is worried about anybody jumping off the ship or panic mode or anything like that. Not at all.”
However, the Redskins also are entering a rugged stretch, with their next three games at Philadelphia — quarterback Donovan McNabb’s homecoming — and home vs. Green Bay and Indianapolis. The latter two are picked by many to reach the Super Bowl.
“We need to figure out something fast,” corner Phillip Buchanon said. “We’ve got a tough three weeks.”
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