Bro Sweets Ain't Crazy About 'Skins Offense

Maybe Jim Zorn's offense is a bad fit for everybody. Following the Thursday night season-opening shellacking by the Giants, some scouts wondered if quarterback Jason Campbell was the exact wrong fit for the West Coast scheme Zorn brought with him from Seattle. The answer, it seems, is a resounding yes.

And the same holds true for running back Clinton Portis, apparently. Based on the post-game comments, some 'Skins fans have had it with Coach Janky Spanky and his inability to get out of the backfield. But, again, that could be a by-product of Zorn's system. At least to hear Portis tell it:

In an interview Wednesday, Portis, Washington's top back since the 2004 season, said he wished he "could go to a team for one week with the best offensive line, or the team with the best scheme, and switch places with their back and see how others would do in this system."

[After the loss to the Giants] Portis was open about his frustration having to dodge "all the people in the backfield, fighting just to get back to the line of scrimmage, and people [are] looking around like, 'Oh, he just missed it.' I'm dodging people getting the handoff, because nobody's really respecting us as a passing team."

It's hard to argue with that logic: Campbell was just 15 of 27 for 133 yards against New York, and managed just 5.2 yards per completion during the preseason. It's much easier to formulate a defensive game plan when the offense is one dimensional. Whatever, Zorn seems unfazed. When informed of Portis' comments earlier this week, he offered this.

"Do I need to say anything to him? It depends on if it was tongue-and-cheek or serious as a heart attack," Zorn said. "I would say this: He has not shown any frustration at all out at practice. He's been everything that we've wanted him to be as we've started the football season." ...

I mean, yeah, it is hard. He's right about that. But it's not because of the scheme or where the passing game is. Those kinds of things, he might be concerned about 'em, but he doesn't have to be concerned about 'em. And I don't see him being concerned about 'em. He hasn't expressed anything like that to me."

To summarize: Clinton Portis is troubled by the sorry state of the passing game, along with just about everybody else not on the 'Skins' coaching staff. Jim Zorn declares that Portis has nothing to worry about; the scheme's not the problem, although he doesn't offer any hint as to what it might be. (My guess: the passing game.)

No need to panic, though: Vinny Cerrato, the man behind the man behind the man, is pulling the strings. No way this ends badly.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

9-13-2008 @ 4:08PM

Butcher said...

I haven`t been impressed with the Skins offense for a couple of years now.

9-13-2008 @ 4:41PM

Slobberknocker said...

Um, in case you missed the memo, there's a whole new administration in town. Al Saunders is taking guff for his 700-page playbook in St. Louis now while Gregg Williams concocts his exotic blitzes in Jacksonville.

This offense belongs exclusively to Jim Zorn and Sherman Smith. What it will ultimately turn out to be is entirely up to them and the players who execute it

Can we give all the doom-and-gloom talk a rest until at least after New Orleans? I know we live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society, but claiming that the sky is falling gets us nowhere.

In the preseason, Portis was quoted as saying how happy he was with how the new offense is so dynamic. We were all making plans for the Super Bowl after the Hall of Fame game, right?

That just goes to show why they play 16 games that count. Giants fans were jumping off the bus after their first two last season, and what does that tell us?

Hide the cyanide for at least a few weeks, huh? Sure, Portis is frustrated. Redskins fans everywhere are frustrated. But check in after the home opener and I guarantee you that if we win and win big there will be nobody -- nobody -- jumping off any cliffs, including Clinton.

If we lose, however, the most popular man in DC will be named Colt. At least until they decide to put him in...

9-13-2008 @ 4:19PM

Calm the heck down people! If we lay an egg at home against Reggie & Co., then panic.

9-13-2008 @ 4:56PM

bob said...

I know it sounds fanatical - and heck, I'm Giants fan and don't care much for Washington - but I really think Colt Brennan could really excel in the system. I know he has knocks against him, but i think the offense in Hawaii had so many options on every play tht the Zorn offense would be a good fit for him...and he;s extremely accurate throwing the ball and he ius used to taking three steps and getting rid of it. Just a thought

9-13-2008 @ 7:00PM

REDSKINSRICK said...

IM A TRUE DIE HARD SKINS FAN, BUT IF JASON LOOKS LIKE A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS ON SUNDAY THEN WE NEED TO SWITCH HIM.HELL ITS A NEW OFFENSE BUT WE ONLY HAVE A SMALL WINDOW TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR CURRENT ROSTER.

9-13-2008 @ 7:01PM

DARRELL said...

Listen, all this talk about Jason Campbell isn't warrented!! The passing game as well as the run game isn't working. As I watch the games, the problem I see is the offensive line!! The line can't protect Jason nor open holes for Portis!!!!

9-13-2008 @ 8:35PM

Slobberknocker....Good point on the Giants.

9-14-2008 @ 12:01AM

atlas said...

Portis should stop his whining? He is over rated and over paid. He has a couple of entire seasons with the Redskins where he averaged a whopping 3.9yds per carry. What a great team mate, Portis blames his mediocrity on his team mates.

9-13-2008 @ 9:22PM

sikeoskin said...

dont right the skins off just yet, as we know they were dead in the water 2 out of the last 3 years and still made the playoffs this team seems to pull together when people start to doubt them.

9-14-2008 @ 4:10AM

GUSTAVO said...

Ok, let me start by saying that i wasn't gonna comment but after reading this garbage...i just had to. First off, hail to the redskins and F all who oppose. Secondly, its just one week. Joe is the best off.line coach(legend) so back off. As far as CP goes...look, the true skins fans love everyone who wears that burgandy and gold. No matter what. I definitely appreciate everything he does for us. Picks up the blitz better than anyone. BUT, (big but) don't complain CP. We are all in this together. Nobody is bigger, greater, or above the burgandy and gold and if they feel like they are, then they should get to steppin...bottom line. For all you haters out there, stop writing your bull and HAIL TO THE MUDA F'N REDSKINS

GUSTAVO FROM FALLS CHURCH VA

9-14-2008 @ 10:47AM

Hey, I am 'skins fan in Northern VA. Love the 'skins, but IMO Portis is bad news. He has not exactly set the world on fire while with the 'skins, regardless of the offensive system. Portis is all about Portis, he should STFU and play.

9-14-2008 @ 4:42AM

KB said...

man f the redskins and the giants and philly man...all just stepping stones for the cowboys on their path this year. only team i'd say looks like they have a chance against dallas this year in the nfc east is philly and that's IF Mc Ribb can go without getting hurt

9-18-2008 @ 4:22PM

F KB and those brokeback cowgirls