Samuels’ injury forces offensive line reshuffle
ASHBURN – The Redskins’ offense needs changes, which is why a consultant arrived in town last week. This sort of change isn’t what they had in mind; and it can’t be good for the future.
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Meanwhile, cornerback Carlos Rogers said the responsibility for this season’s sluggish start does not end with the players and coaches.
Left tackle Chris Samuels will miss Sunday’s game vs. Kansas City because of a neck injury suffered in Sunday’s 20-17 loss at Carolina. It’s uncertain how much time he will miss. Coach Jim Zorn said Samuels has spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.
This setback forces a reshuffling of the offensive line, which already is minus right guard Randy Thomas for the season.
Stephon Heyer will move from right tackle to replace Samuels; Mike Williams will shift from right guard, where he started Sunday, to right tackle, his natural spot. Zorn said he’s not sure who will play right guard: Will Montgomery or Chad Rinehart.
The real change involves performance.
“We ain’t got [anything] going right now,” Redskins receiver Santana Moss said. “As far as changes, we have to go out there and play better. … Yelling ain’t going to do nothing. Everybody is [ticked]. But what the hell is that going to do?”
And now players are wondering about the direction of the franchise.
“They’re going to need to build again to turn this thing around because, it’s not really just the coaches, it’s players, too,” Rogers said.
But it doesn’t end there.
“There’s a lot of problems, from personnel to coaches to whatever,” said Rogers, who possibly will become an unrestricted free agent after the season, depending on what happens to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. “There’s a lot of things we need to iron out. Until we address those issues and turn them around, we’re going to be the same going up and down. Not only does it start with the players and coaches, it starts with ownership. They bring everybody in and they’ve got the last say-so on everything. So that’s where it starts, I guess.”
But for this weekend, the only changes involve the line — and the offense. After all, the Redskins could not call a lot of play-action passes because of the pressure allowed by the front five. The running game has not produced enough, with one run by a running back over 15 yards this season.
Add it up and it’s a frustrated team. Even the normally upbeat and optimistic Zorn, his job security now a main topic of conversation, appeared beaten down.
“I want to win,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for. We’ve lost two tough games. I feel bad. I’m hurting and our team is as well. These are guys with resolve and I’m a man of resolve and we’re going to get back at it.”
“You guys make it seem like we’re the worst team in America,” Cartwright said. “You make it seem like we’re 0-5. Our fans make it seem like we’re the worst team in America. I heard a guy on the radio [Sunday] saying, ‘I’ve been a fan for 20 years, they can just stay in Charlotte.’ Well, fine then. If you’ve been a Redskins fan for 20 years, are you a loyal fan or a fair-weather fan? But don’t give up on us.”
Cartwright has been around for several bad seasons since joining the Redskins as a seventh-round pick in 2002. He’s endured double-digit loss seasons three times. With 11 games left, he knows — hopes — that anything can still happen.
“You’ve seen [teams] turn around and win nine or 10 games straight,” he said. “We’re very capable of doing that. Next thing you know, you guys will be praising us. But if you want to continue to dog us, that’s fine. It’s us against the world.”» Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels tore his right biceps, but he will continue to play. Daniels and coach Jim Zorn both said the injury can’t be made worse by playing. He would need surgery at the end of the season, however, to repair the biceps.
“It’s just something you have to deal with,” Daniels said.» The Redskins cut punter Glenn Pakulak Monday, one day after he averaged 42.4 yards on five punts vs. Carolina. Starting punter Hunter Smith is hopeful about returning Sunday vs. Kansas City. Smith said he will test his leg more during the week. They also re-signed defensive end Renaldo Wynn, whom they cut on Saturday to make room for Pakulak.
