Redskins Rehash... the Maroon & Black Mile...

Another week, another disturbing loss to a winless team where the Redskins popgun offense was unable to take advantage of opportunities... and a defense bent and bent and bent until they couldn't hold off the opponent any longer. A 14-6 game without a touchdown by either team-- and a 2-4 mark that has the Redskins on the threshold of a nightmare.


A new sheriff in town-- Sunday night the buzz was that recently added to the kitchen Sherman Lewis would be calling the plays...and Monday it became official. After being in town less than two weeks, the not completely familiar with the players or system retiree is being given the keys. This space will not make light of Lewis' bingo escapades... but I'm sure it took him at least a month to settle into Meals on Wheels. Lewis was a longtime offensive coordinator in Green Bay- yet rode shotgun as then-coach Mike Holmgren made most of (if not all of) the tactical choices. I've always been wary of offensive coordinators assisting offensive coaches... they don't have much autonomy and impact (see Sherman Smith, Don Breaux, whoever was OC during Spurrier's tenure) at all... and Lewis was an "executive VP" for a big chunk of his career. Can he help turn around an offense ranking 29th in scoring? And does this mean the endgame for im Zorn's twenty month regime?

Swapping Horses midstream-- after a scoreless first half, coach Jim Zorn replaced Jason Campbell with Todd Collins at quarterback... and wound up with mixed results. Despite a 42 yard pass on his first possession... Collins was only able to generate a pair of field goals (one on the heels of the big pass, another after a 78 yard scamper by Clinton Portis) and had a better passer rating than Campbell, but #17 gets the start Monday night against Philadelphia.

Third and Forever-- the offense converted just 2 of 14 third downs... and didn't move the chains on third down after halftime. The breakdown: 4 of 9 passing for 48 yards (and one conversion)...2 sacks and two fumbles...plus a two yard gain by Clinton Portis (on 3rd and 1 in the second quarter). A bigger problem facing the Skins was how many yards they had to gain to move the chains... an average of 4 and a half yards in the first half-- and 9+ yards after intermission.

What's a Haynesworth-- three tackles, two assists and half of a sack... but the image of the Skins 100 million dollar man is the defensive lineman running to the locker room before the game ended.

Tracking the Triumvirate-- 2008's second rounders added to their 2009 reception total... Fred Davis' 12 yard catch giving the group 18 for the season--just three shy of last year's total. Currently the firm of Thomas, Davis & Kelly is on a pace for 48 receptions and 384 yards. Much like the corner combo of Carlos Rogers and DeAngelo Hall-- when mixed together they make one adequate player.


Sending out an SOS-- the Redskins strength of schedule will get a major boost over the next two months...: the team's 2-4 start is even more precarious when one looks at whom they've played. Their first six opponents? A combined 8-27...3-26 when you take the NY Giantsout of the equation... with all three of those wins coming against the Skins. The next six weeks? Unbeatens Denver and New Orleans...not a team with a losing record and a combined 24-7. Brace yourselves...