Offensive coordinator knows it’s just part of the job ASHBURN — A little more than four minutes into Kyle Shanahan’s weekly media session, a Redskins spokesman announced one more question could be asked of the offensive coordinator. But Shanahan dismissed the help. There were more questions. He had more time.
And so he continued. Besides, he didn’t want to be shielded. He understands the gig: When a team is shut out and allows a franchise-record 10 sacks, the offensive coordinator comes under fire.
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– Craig Stouffer and John Keim
| Notes |
| » The Redskins have struggled to prevent big runs. Washington has given up nine rushes of 20 yards or more this season. With 10 apiece, only Carolina and Oakland have surrendered more. The incoming 49ers have given up only one. “You’ve got to take it as a whole,” defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “You’d like to do better. You’d like to do better in all phases, but the long run last week was disappointing to me. It’s been a series of things.” After missed tackles against Philadelphia and Carolina’s creative schemes, Haslett blamed coaching for Buffalo running back Fred Jackson‘s 43-yard burst. Keyaron Fox had practiced at middle linebacker but was in the game to replace injured Rocky McIntosh and missed his assignment. “Some people coming late to where they have to be,” defensive tackle Stephen Bowen said. “We may get double-teamed, and then it comes off; we have to stay in that gap. It’s about all of us being accountable and doing our job. We’re able to do it. Everybody seemed to do it in the beginning of the year. We just have to get back to doing it.” |
| » Left tackle Trent Williams was limited, though coach Mike Shanahan said he set his injured ankle “back a little” by working Wednesday. Williams has missed two consecutive games. If he plays, Sean Locklear said he would be able to move to left guard — a position he last played in the 2004 Senior Bowl — and that would allow Will Montgomery to return to center. Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (toe, knee) did not practice. Tight end Fred Davis (ankle) was limited. |
“I expect to get criticized,” he said. “I expect it from you guys. I expect it from my wife, and I expect it from myself. It’s embarrassing. I’ve never been shut out before, and I don’t ever want it to happen again, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to man up and deal with it.”
Yes, even from his wife.
“She was pretty short with me,” he said. “She said run the ball more.”
In truth, it’s not just Shanahan who handles the offense, though he’s ultimately the one who calls in the plays to the quarterback via the headset.
But it’s a collective effort during the week to put together a game plan, and his dad, coach Mike Shan?ahan, said he is “heavily involved” in the operation on Sundays, whether suggesting plays he wants to run or in the philosophy.
“When it comes to calling plays,” Kyle Shanahan said, “it’s not like you’re just dialing them up. You see me with that big sheet. That’s something that we work on as a staff.”
Mike Shanahan had never endured a shutout — in college or the NFL — until Sunday. The offense now ranks 19th in total yards and 26th in scoring. But it also has been slowed because of injuries to five starters, not to mention a quarterback change. Before the injuries, several talent evaluators or scouts said the offensive talent was low.
“It’s not going to happen right away,” Mike Shanahan said. “It takes time for those guys to work together.”
In some cases, the play calls failed vs. Buffalo because of quarterback John Beck’s slow decisions. This enabled the Bills’ front four to apply heavy pressure.
“We did have quick throws. We just didn’t get rid of them,” Shanahan said. “He’s got to learn to get rid of the ball.”
Against Buffalo, nothing worked: On six of Ryan Torain’s eight runs Sunday, there were three Bills players on the other side of the line of scrimmage as he started to run. Once, two players had penetrated at least two yards deep before he even got the handoff.
The players say the calls aren’t the issue. In Houston, with better talent, Kyle Shanahan called plays for an offense that ranked third and fourth in the NFL. But last week’s opponent, Buffalo, has no high draft picks among its skill players yet ranks 10th overall. It can be done.
“Whatever they call we go out and try to run to the best of your ability,” right tackle Jammal Brown said. “We have to run the ball and make plays. Whatever they call we still have to execute. It’s on us. It’s not on Kyle. He gives us the play, and we have to go block.”
Ultimately, player support matters most to Kyle Shanahan.
“That’s what it all comes down to,” he said. “If the players got confidence in you and believe in what you’re doing, then you’ve got a chance. I believe in these guys, and I think they believe in me, and we just gotta go to work.”
