Sherman Lewis Faces Big Task in Trying To Revive Washington's Offense

Since the Washington Redskins made an attempt to replace Jim Zorn with Mike Shanahan, it figures that owner Dan Synder remains open to an in-season coaching change.

For now, Zorn has been stripped of play-calling duties and offensive consultant Sherman Lewis will be calling the shots. The Redskins' sputtering offense continues to deal with confusion at quarterback and along the offensive line -- Washington ranks 29th in the league with a 13.2 points per game average; the defense, on the other hand, is allowing just 16 points per game, fifth-best in the NFL.

When Washington (2-4) publicly dangled quarterback Jason Campbell during the offseason while searching for replacements that included Jay Cutler, it was clear that Campbell's standing and confidence were jolted. On Sunday, Zorn benched him for backup Todd Collins at halftime of Washington's 14-6 home loss to the previously winless Chiefs.

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Now Lewis, a couple of games in as Washington's offensive consultant, is changing hats as he prepares for his first game as the team's offensive coordinator -- he must manage and massage pieces. The Philadelphia Eagles come to Washington next Monday night in a game the Redskins' NFL peers, and the nation's football fans, will scrutinize.

A complete lid-lifting for all to see the team's futility? Or a reversal of fortune for the Redskins' offense?

Either way, it is clear that Zorn is dangling.

He said he still has confidence in his play-calling. He said giving it over to Lewis is "hard, and that he is concerned about cohesiveness for his offensive players.

And then when asked if he knew what Lewis had planned, Zorn answered: "Not directly, no.''

That's nuts.

Here is what Lewis will do:

He wants Campbell to remain the starter over Collins. He will keep the install of the running game, pass protections and other philosophies the same, though he will immerse himself in the implementation of Washington's passing game. His play-calling will emphasize stringing together first downs and getting the players to understand that each call is an elaborate extension of the other.

He will also bring fresh ideas to the Redskins' red-zone offense -- a desperately needed change -- and focus attention on that.

Zorn, by struggling to fix the Washington offense over his 22 games as head coach, has put himself in this box.

He finally got there by directing his offense to six measly points against a Kansas City defense that is nothing special. It's been a landslide of offensive failure, and it falls on Zorn.

Zorn knows this. He also knows that the Redskins have played all six games this season against teams that had not won a game, including a loss three Sundays ago at Detroit, where the Lions were coming off an 0-16 year and were in the midst of an 0-2 start.

The constant blunders left Washington with no choice but to try something different.

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TAKING THE HIGH ROAD

I had the chance to visit with Thomas Jones in the Jets locker room Sunday, after his franchise record-setting 210-yard rushing day in a 16-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Jones ran the ball 22 times and Leon Washington had 15 carries. Quarterback Mark Sanchez threw 29 passes -- and five interceptions.

Clearly, the Jets would have had a better chance of winning if Jones had been given the ball more. That's just logical -- he was hot. There is no scenario where Jones should not have had at least 30 carries.

It was stunning to see Jones break off the longest run (64 yards) of his career in the second quarter, and then minutes later, top that with a 71-yard scoring run. This for a 31-year-old running back, who is in his 10th pro season, and squabbled with the Jets during the offseason over a contract extension that he did not get.

The Jets figured that NFL running backs begin to decline around age 30, so they wanted Jones to prove exactly what he still had in the tank.

Jones took the high road when reminded of that.

"When you are a 10-year veteran in this league, and you play running back, you are going to get questions about what you have left -- it's guaranteed,'' Jones said. "Nobody realizes how much work you put in working in the weight room, they don't know how much you study film really hard and try to gain that edge. They just see your age and figure you will drop off. I wasn't going to let that happen. I know it's about the results.

"The age and all that talk does not matter to me when I am on the field. I play for my teammates, my family, for all of the people that are important to me. I have great passion for the game. That is why I look at the rushing yards [Sunday] and know it doesn't matter as much -- we lost.''

Just when the Jets were ready to begin phasing Jones out, he's forced them to take another long, hard look -- especially if this 3-3 team, that was once 3-0, still think it's playoff-caliber.

Giving the football to Jones 25 to 30 times a game could solve plenty of their problems.

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RAIDERS BLITZ AWAY

The Raiders entered Sunday's game against Philadelphia concerned about their ability to block the Eagles' blitzes. They did. And then they turned the tables on the Eagles with an assortment of their own blitzes that led to Oakland's 13-9 upset victory.

Defensive coordinator John Marshall gained credit for implementing a plan that brought blitzing pressure from the linebackers and cornerbacks, from inside and outside. It was uncharacteristic from the Raiders, and the Eagles were surprised.

There was more emotion and drive behind the Raiders than usual, a team executive said.

"When you get called out like the Giants did to us after that last game by saying [that] playing us was like playing a scrimmage, that leaves a sour taste,'' the executive said. "Those quotes were posted in the [Raiders'] building. We were coming off three really bad games including Houston and Denver before that.

"I think this is where the character of players like Greg Ellis and Richard Seymour comes through. It's one of the benefits of getting veteran, quality players like that. Both of those guys really helped the team unite, prepare and focus to give this response.''

The Raiders loved quarterback JaMarcus Russell's composure against the Eagles, as well as little things like receiver Louis Murphy never quitting on his three downfield blocks during tight end Zach Miller's 86-yard scoring catch and the way fullback Gary Russell rose as a blocker and pass catcher.

Finally, they were giddy over second-year defensive end Trevor Scott's two sacks. The Raiders have been waiting on him to return to his encouraging rookie form.

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GIANTS LICKING THEIR WOUNDS

Since Sean Payton was once the Giants' offensive coordinator and an architect of their 41-0 shellacking of the Minnesota Vikings in a 2000 NFC playoff game, the Giants know what this "scientist'' can do to a defense when given time for extra preparation. And that is exactly what Payton, now the New Orleans Saints coach, had since his team enjoyed a bye before meeting the Giants.

It showed.

Payton carved up Giants' defense by spreading the field, exploiting matchups and moving Drew Brees around in the pocket to help negate the Giants rush.

This game showed how much the Giants miss injured safety Kenny Phillips (left knee), who is lost for the season, and linebacker Michael Boley (right knee), whom the Giants hope can return by their Nov. 8 home game against San Diego.

The Giants also learned:

• The Saints are a quicker, stronger bunch than they had expected. Particularly receiver Marques Colston.

• That the Giants' linebacker group, minus Boley, is susceptible in pass defense.

• That running back Ahmad Bradshaw needs extra work in understanding his pass-protection responsibilities.

• That they need to work harder to avoid playing hurry-up, fast-paced footballe. Rather, they'd prefer to gain early leads and build double-digit play drives, thus producing grind-it-out games that better fit their strengths.

The good news for the Giants is that there's no chance they'll see the Saints again before the playoffs.