The Washington Redskins went into Carolina Sunday and came home with a 20-17 loss. You know what that means? Another week of people calling for the respective jobs of head coach Jim Zorn and quarterback Jason Campbell. It's certainly justifiable to at least question Zorn and Campbell to be the leaders of a playoff team, but there is no way either one is the biggest problem on the Redskins. That dubious distinction lays collectively with the offensive line. And, just think, the Redskins decided to upgrade an already solid defensive front by selecting Brian Orakpo in the first round. Michael Oher went 10 picks later, and he's having a very solid rookie campaign for the Ravens as a right tackle.
Hmm ... right tackle. The same place that is currently a sieve for the Redskins. Stephon Heyer seems like a nice enough guy, but he's a pretty terrible NFL right tackle. If we can second-guess the draft pick, it's pretty clear that Oher would have fit the Redskins much better than Orakpo.
Granted, Orakpo is having a fine rookie season. He's going to be a good player and has made several good plays this season. It's just that the need to replace Heyer at right tackle was greater than the need to add another player on defense.
It's just not Heyer, though. The whole line is struggling right now. Campbell was running for his life on the majority of his drop-backs. Clinton Portis is far too talented to only average three yards per carry (19 carries for 57 yards) against a Panthers defense who ranked dead last in the NFL against the run heading into the game -- allowing an awful 5.4 yards per carry.
Mike Sellers -- who got into a little tiff with Portis this week about his lack of run blocking -- needs to bear some of the brunt as well. He's not hitting the hole as a lead blocker hard enough to clear room for Portis.
The Redskins did lose Chris Samuels to injury early in the game, which only further outlines the lack of depth the Redskins have on the line. Losing the left tackle made them even worse than usual.
The blocking was so bad the Redskins were unable to mount a legitimate touchdown drive all day. They scored a 10-yard touchdown off a Carolina turnover (a two-play, 13-yard drive) and then a one-yard touchdown after a DeAngelo Hall interception return set them up perfectly.
Regardless, everyone in the Washington area should be prepared to hear many complaints about Zorn and Campbell this coming week. They have now lost to the 1-4 Lions, the 1-3 Panthers, their rival Giants and barely squeaked out home victories against the winless Bucs and Rams. With a 5-game stretch like that, it's hardly surprising the coach and quarterback would come under intense scrutiny. Each job brings extra scrutiny. It comes with the territory.
The biggest problem on the Redskins is the terrible offensive line play. The biggest problems we'll hear about the rest of this season are the coach and quarterback.
That's not exactly fair, but life isn't always fair.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-11-2009 @ 6:15PM
geraldr5 said...
The biggest Redskin problem is spelled s-n-y-d-e-r!
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10-11-2009 @ 7:11PM
Lou said...
I don't know what to say--Except some changes must be made soon... GO 'SKINS!!!
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10-11-2009 @ 8:08PM
bohm107w said...
This article is exactly right...lousy draft choices (see the two incompetent wide receivers they've picked up over the last few years), a truly offensive O-line, overpriced free agents (Haynesworth only the most recent one), and capping it all, a meddling mercenary owner and a sycophantic GM. Oh, but it'll all get better soon...they have a "Consultant" on site to "put another set of eyes" on the problem. Jim Zorn has the potential to become a good head coach, but he does not have the tools with the current crowd...and he probably will not get the chance, as he may not last the season. Also, as likable a guy as he is, Jason Campbell is just not a top-level QB, and certainly doesn't have the skills to do it on his own. I'm just a fan, but it appears to to me that the 'Skins will be fortunate to make it to 5 and 11. Too bad for a once-great franchise.
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10-11-2009 @ 8:21PM
carol and sandy said...
The problem is OUR COUSIN VINNY! He would'nt know a legitimate draft pick even if it bit him in the blank. Maybe he should go over to Six Flags or is he head of operations there too. Try callling Bobby Beatherd instead of Sherm Lewis or firing the coach and the quarterback.
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10-11-2009 @ 9:31PM
helmheadwwii said...
Get rid of Zorn and Campbell. this team reflects Zorn's whining and Campbells play. Zorn is not a good head coach, period. This team has not scored 30 points since he has been here. Vinny needs to go as well. He is a scrub.
As far as Snyder goes, take a look at the years 93-98 before Snyder bought the team. They were even worse under the Cooks and Casserly.
I said it after the first game and I will say it again, this team sucks and its going to be a long year. I wouldn;t waste the money going to see this team, even if the tickets were free.
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10-12-2009 @ 12:26AM
jjohnblack53 said...
Jason Campbell is not the problem. Daniel Snyder needs to clean house starting with his front office. Vinny Cerrato needs to go. They need to find someone who knows how to evaluate talent. It is probably too late for this season so now would be a perfect time to start rebuilding starting with the offensive line. Maybe they can make some trades and get some upper level draft picks.
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10-12-2009 @ 12:58AM
floridacat2 said...
It is just as I predicted at the start of the season when I seen that coach Z was staying with Campbell..Don't know why the coach is so in love with this guy. Look at the past few years with Campbell. They don't have a deep threat, and Campbell going to just sit there and not throw the ball away and get a sack. GET RID OF THE BALL!!! Why is that so hard to do if you see your going to get sacked. I knew we was going to waste this season with Campbell. If he would at least put Todd Collins in there I guarantee we would be at least 4 and 1. I hate being right sometimes..
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10-12-2009 @ 2:03AM
George Wines said...
the promblem i think with the redskins is the hole coaching staff. Jim zorn. is no coach. he is a hassben use to be quaterback. trying to be a coach. he needs to be gone. sooner then later. Bring someone in to give this team some leadership. that they do not have. If snyder does this now we might save some of the season. If not bag heads will be at fedax field.
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10-12-2009 @ 2:44AM
footballman3x said...
Come on Colt McCoy!!! Lol if this season does turn out like it looks it will then i am hoping we will draft him, and then get either a speedy back or linemen. Oh and fire Zorn he hasn't done anything. Gibbs built a foundation and handed Zorn the keys to a pretty talented, very playoff ready franchise and Zorn just set them back a few years.
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10-12-2009 @ 2:51AM
chrisl4064 said...
Fedex sucks anyways. This team is doomed until Snyder changes his ways...
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10-12-2009 @ 7:40AM
Shelly said...
The skins will NEVER win a championship with Snyder at the helm. Remember Giggs first season with the skins, he started 5-0. Everyone was calling for his dismisel. But Cooke believed in him and Thanks the Lord he did. 3 Superbowl rings later.......... The problem really lies with the Offensive front line. Fix that first! Then Portis can get some holes, and maybe (just maybe) Campbell will have some time to throw.
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10-12-2009 @ 10:01AM
chrisl4064 said...
Zorn is no Gibbs. Zorn is what everyone thought he was, a QB coach, so not his fault. This is on the front office soley based upon personnel moves, both players and coaches.
10-12-2009 @ 10:05AM
MR H said...
As always, a losing team with the pitiful offense of an offensive minded coach reminds us all that it's the owner's fault. While Mr. Snyder has made some poor choices, ok mostly poor choices, he has handed the checkbook to those entrusted with building a good team. Well I guess he holds those purse strings since he signed Zorn. I think he is working on signing Joe Jacoby and Russ Grimm. Oh, they're not old enough. How about Sonny??? He can probably pass as well as Jason Campbell and he knows when to throw the ball away. He also reads defenses better than Zorn or Campbell. Get rid of the expensive deadwood Mr. Snyder anyway you can and go ahead and start rebuilding starting with Zorn, Campbell and Hanesworth.
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10-12-2009 @ 10:36AM
BadMojo said...
You can sum up the whole season on one move. You have a starting right guard, excuse me, an INJURY PRONE starting right guard in Randy Thomas. Low and behold he's on IR again. (who didn't see that one coming)so what does Vinny do? He makes the smart move any NFL GM would make. He signs another undersized running back to the 53 man roster for a total of 5. This guy is so inept at his job he makes Charlie look like frickin Einstein! VINNY MUST GO .COM
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10-12-2009 @ 11:02AM
James said...
Well...there's clearly one fact that everybody that knows anything about football has to agree on
and is...if those 5 boys up front, 6 depending on your line formation...if they can't block and maintain that block for any lenght of time no matter who's calling the plays, who's taking the snap or who's getting the hand offs...It's a pretty safe bet that you're not going to get any where...Period.!!!
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10-12-2009 @ 2:15PM
rkbujinkan said...
The foreskins will never win anything. Your sorry team has and always will suck. GO COWBOYS!
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10-13-2009 @ 4:26PM
ettev6791 said...
Hmmmm the cowboys arent that much better d-bag. At least we have won a playoff game in the past 10 years. Do us all a favor and throw yourself off a bridge. Thanks!!!
10-13-2009 @ 12:19PM
king20646 said...
Redskins fans only. This articles spells it out like it is. If no holes open up for your runners. If no one is blocking the pass rushers. Then how can the Runningbacks or Quarterbacks do there jobs? Is this the coaches fault or the front office that didnot address this problem in the off season?
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10-13-2009 @ 4:56PM
bozrunsny said...
Skins suck! Go Big Blue
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10-14-2009 @ 1:31PM
b4homesweethome said...
After the first year of jason cambell, I gave my tickets to my daughter after 40 years as a ticket holder. I became old and could not survive the torture that the team was forcing me to endure. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Jason is not a NFL quarterback. I am now a richer man, not having to pay so much of my retirement income for tickets, and the torture is gone when I attended the games. I can now stay home and suffer with no outrageous expenses, i.e. beer,hot dogs, etc. I miss the old RFK crowd. Oh well, life goes on. I hope they get better in the future.
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