Skins’ record is among NFL’s best, but close games still nag team
As Redskins coach Jim Zorn tried to generate some post-game enthusiasm, he was greeted by half-hearted claps. He told his players they had the next day off — and got polite applause. He shouted out their record. More soft clapping.
“The energy was not there,” Zorn said.
And the scene was telling. At the midway point, the Redskins are a tired team. They’re also one that’s tired of not beating lesser teams by more than a touchdown. After Sunday’s 25-17 win over Detroit the Redskins are 6-2, but clearly not satisfied. Their defensive boss, Greg Blache, said on Comcast SportsNet Sunday that the defense played like the “south end of a north-bound skunk.” And player after player glumly stated what must improve. Occasionally, they had to remind themselves that they were four games over .500.
“We have to justify our 6-2,” linebacker London Fletcher said. “‘Why aren’t we blowing teams out?’ We’re not a great team; we understand that. We’re a good team who has the potential and ability to be great.”
The Redskins have the sixth-ranked defense and the seventh-ranked offense. However, the defense has only forced eight turnovers and recorded just 10 sacks. The result is long drives for the offense, one reason it ranks 23rd in points.
The Redskins rank 15th in the NFL in red zone scoring with 14 touchdowns on 24 trips. Untimely penalties have hurt, but they’re still on pace for only 92 penalties, their second lowest figure since 1997.
“The real concern is that we can concentrate in critical situations because we’re leaving things on the field,” Zorn said. “It may be that way all year I don’t know. There’s slight improvements, but not enough for us to feel ecstatic.”
After winning at Dallas and at Philadelphia to cap a four-game streak, expectations heightened. The Redskins followed that with a loss to previously winless St. Louis; a lackluster win over Cleveland and a narrow escape at winless Detroit.
“We always struggle with teams that [we] expect to come in and win and dominate,” Redskins corner Carlos Rogers said. “I don’t know what it is. That’s something we have to get better at to be considered a team that people talk about.”
But quarterback Jason Campbell wants his teammates to stop worrying about winning by lopsided scores.
“This is not high school and it’s not college,” he said. “Any team can beat you. It’s all about getting the W. It’s good to know we have a lot of room for improvement and to hear teammates say we can do better. It shows they won’t get complacent. Down the road this will help us if guys thinking about improving and not settling.”
