Redskins’ offense making small gains
Kevin Wolf/Associated Press
Carlos Rogers intercepts a tipped pass in front of LaRon Landry and Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald.
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By Brian Hunsicker
Published: September 21, 2008
The offense looks more comfortable and more confident, the tenets of head coach Jim Zorn’s West Coast Offense becoming more prevalent. Quarterback Jason Campbell hit on his first eight passes; though all were short, all kept the offense progressing down the field.
As far as they’ve come, they’re nowhere near finished.
“I don’t think we scored enough points,” guard Randy Thomas said. “We got one called back. Even before that, we left a lot of points on the field. We put two drives together, fairly long, but we need more than that. We can’t put that kicker in a
position to make a 53 yarder.”
That kicker, Shaun Suisham, missed a 52-yard field goal with three and a half minutes remaining that would have given Washington a two-possession lead.
Instead, the Redskins relied on their defense, which had come through all afternoon. The pass defense had one major mistake — a 62-yard touchdown reception by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who got behind the Redskins’ zone defense — but largely kept Arizona in check. Aside from that long gainer, Washington held both Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin under 50 yards receiving.
In six days, the Redskins will face their biggest test. Though they were successful against Arizona, Washington will face a more balanced and more potent offense. Replicating Sunday’s performance will be a difficult feat, and Washington can ill afford drives grinding to a halt in the no-man’s land between the 50-yard line and the opponent’s 40.
The current trajectory of the offense, and the Redskins as a whole, may just be such that they’ll be able to pull it off.
Sunday was another positive step in that direction. Washington’s numbers were not as gaudy as they were in the win over New Orleans: On Sunday, Campbell had 193 yards passing and the Redskins’ top two running backs combined for 91 yards on the ground. But eye-popping stats have never been the goal of the West Coast Offense; instead, it aims merely to move the ball with consistency.
In another week, that goal will be paramount. Though the Redskins have faced star-studded offenses throughout the early part of their schedule, none has had three legitimate scoring threats as Dallas does with receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten and running back Marion Barber.
Washington’s defense will get no better help than relying on its own offense. Keeping the ball and keeping it out of the Cowboys’ hands will be the biggest determining factor on whether the Redskins can get out of Dallas with a win.
And if they do, we will know for certain that Zorn’s offense has truly taken flight.
Brian Hunsicker covers the Redskins for the Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger. Reach him at 703-878-8048 or via e-mail at .
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