Redskins Offense: What's the Problem?

I agree with Beem here. It's the line. Zorn himself said he had to change his playcalling to deal with the lack of pass pro. And he pointed out that several plays where they went short actually have a first read deep. JC is getting pressure and saving what he can. He does not have time to sit back and let a long route develop. So he goes short. The screens were called to try to relieve some of the pressure. If the line could block, you wouldn't need to do that.

During the off-season we need to completely rebuild the offensive line (excluding those I mentioned earlier) and try to bring in a #2.

I wholeheartedly agree with your first point, but strongly disagree with your second point. We've brought in David Patten, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, and Malcolm Kelly to become our #2 wideouts. Spend money on free agent linemen and linebackers and try to develop Kelly and Thomas. Bringing in a new wideout to play #2 would mean that either Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas would be relegated to the #5 wideout, James Thrash would be cut and Fred Davis wouldn't see the field until he got put on another team. Moss, Portis, Cooley, ARE, Davis, Kelly and Thomas should be enough weapons for Campbell.

I agree with Beem here. It's the line. Zorn himself said he had to change his playcalling to deal with the lack of pass pro. And he pointed out that several plays where they went short actually have a first read deep. JC is getting pressure and saving what he can. He does not have time to sit back and let a long route develop. So he goes short. The screens were called to try to relieve some of the pressure. If the line could block, you wouldn't need to do that.With 3 second round draft picks, we could have, and probably should have used one to address the O-line. This team has serious issues on both lines. The offensive line can't protect the QB for anything greater than a 3 step drop, and the D-line can't pressure the opposing QB without blitzing. Consider this - the Redskins haven't drafted an O or D lineman before the 3rd round since Chris Samuels in 2000. You reap what you sow...

I wholeheartedly agree with your first point, but strongly disagree with your second point. We've brought in David Patten, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, Devin Thomas, and Malcolm Kelly to become our #2 wideouts. Spend money on free agent linemen and linebackers and try to develop Kelly and Thomas. Bringing in a new wideout to play #2 would mean that either Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas would be relegated to the #5 wideout, James Thrash would be cut and Fred Davis wouldn't see the field until he got put on another team. Moss, Portis, Cooley, ARE, Davis, Kelly and Thomas should be enough weapons for Campbell.

I see your point, but I also hear people saying Thomas isn't an NFL caliber receiver (which I disagree with, but I sorta have a crush on the guy. Hope he starts developing), Kelly I've almost completely forgotten about, Thrash is also getting the term, "not NFL caliber" thrown around... Plus he's a little on the old side. And Fred Davis isn't even seeing the field anyway (which is bugging me a little as well).

To me it seems like we've brought in a bunch of "maybes" and no "definitelys" and what sucks even worse, is there's no real way to tell because most of these guys hardly get any playing time.

With 3 second round draft picks, we could have, and probably should have used one to address the O-line. This team has serious issues on both lines. The offensive line can't protect the QB for anything greater than a 3 step drop, and the D-line can't pressure the opposing QB without blitzing. Consider this - the Redskins haven't drafted an O or D lineman before the 3rd round since Chris Samuels in 2000. You reap what you sow...

Bingo -- Bammo.

They haven't drafted a defensive lineman in the first two rounds since Kenard Lang in 1997.

What, did they just think they can go around the league to other teams' trash heaps for all the D-linemen they need?

I think it's a combination. The line is playing bad, and that translates to Jason Campbell. When Campbell doesn't trust his line to give him more time, he puts more pressure on himself. And sometimes it gets to his head, I mean when the defense gets to his head then he doesn't start reacting properly, like he doesn't recognize where the blitz is coming from and doesn't make the proper adjustments, like adjusting the line call or audibling to a play that will counter the blitz effectively.

It also doesn't help that we don't have much wr depth. When Randle El had to leave the game we didn't have anyone that effectively replaced him. Thomas was in there but as we all know by now he can't be counted on to replace a guy like Randle El at this point yet. And where was Thrash? I didn't even see him tonight when Randle El left, and I thought that was strange, because he should be the guy to replace him.

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

Bingo -- Bammo.

They haven't drafted a defensive lineman in the first two rounds since Kenard Lang in 1997.

What, did they just think they can go around the league to other teams' trash heaps for all the D-linemen they need?

Well, there is FA. Rabach and Thomas were upgrades. I think Thomas especially was a good pickup, though injuries have killed him.

DL is hard to draft, I'm afraid. Unless you're in the top 10, it's something of a crap shoot. But they need to draft on the oline, especially with Buges there to coach em up. That's been a glaring error.

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

Good post.

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

That shouldn't have to be the trade-off.

The wideouts don't have a chance to get 20 yards downfield before the QB is running for his life.