Smoot Lays the Smack Down: WAS @ SF

Jim Zorn – This offense is boring, predictable, unproductive, and ineffective. We couldn’t pass or run the ball effectively. Don’t give me “49ers are surging” excuse. We couldn’t pass or run the ball effectively against the Bengals. Don’t give me the “system is fine but the execution is not” excuse. As a coach, you are responsible for ensuring that the players execute. Don’t give me the “we lack talent” excuse. This team had enough talent on offense to get the job done for 8 weeks and, suddenly, collapsed. As Ed Reed said, the offense is predictable. It sounds like teams got a bead on our offense after watching film and we, or rather you, have not adapted. I’ll give you another season since you’re a rookie, but you’re severely testing my faith.

The Offensive Line – The offensive line couldn’t maintain a pocket for more than 2.5 seconds or open running lanes. In short, this group was and is awful.

Greg Blache – Once again, your defense collapsed when we needed it most (i.e., the 4th quarter).

The Defensive Line – They didn’t pressure the quarterback or clog running lanes. Nuff said.

It's kinda funny, on one hand you say the offense is boring and predictable and let's not blame the execution, and then with your 2nd rant you blast the OL for not being able to open running lanes and pass protect.

The offense wasn't boring and predictable in the first half of the season when the OL was firing on all cylinders. Scoring was an issue all year I know, but early on it seemed like we were always just a play or two away from getting it figured out. Then the OL went to hell and the entire offense did as well. If we want to know what happened to the offense this year look no further than the big uglies up front.

It's kinda funny, on one hand you say the offense is boring and predictable and let's not blame the execution, and then with your 2nd rant you blast the OL for not being able to open running lanes and pass protect.

The offense wasn't boring and predictable in the first half of the season when the OL was firing on all cylinders. Scoring was an issue all year I know, but early on it seemed like we were always just a play or two away from getting it figured out. Then the OL went to hell and the entire offense did as well. If we want to know what happened to the offense this year look no further than the big uglies up front.

Overall, yes, I totally agree with that statement. But Moss' three BAD drops and Portis' fumble are piss poor execution. Portis will put one on the ground every once and a while, but that was really bad timing yesterday. And those drops by Santana were baffling. All three would have been first downs.

Moss always seems to be good for some key drops here and there. That's just who he is.

Yeah Portis fumbling yesterday couldn't have come at worse time, but I'm wondering why we're not using Betts more. Portis was clearly run into the ground this year, again. Why can't we use a true committee approach for once?

Betts had 61 carries ALL YEAR, while Portis was well over 300 again for the 4th time in 5 seasons in Washington. That just doesn't make much sense to me.

Next year we need Betts in there more, and if he's not a guy that Zorn trusts then get someone in here that he does. Portis had nothing left these last few weeks.

I didn't see the game, but 2-minute defense??? I was at the Rams game when our offense finally clicked only to have the D give up the game at the last minute, sounds like the same thing happened here.

Moss always seems to be good for some key drops here and there. That's just who he is.

Yeah Portis fumbling yesterday couldn't have come at worse time, but I'm wondering why we're not using Betts more. Portis was clearly run into the ground this year, again. Why can't we use a true committee approach for once?

Betts had 61 carries ALL YEAR, while Portis was well over 300 again for the 4th time in 5 seasons in Washington. That just doesn't make much sense to me.

Next year we need Betts in there more, and if he's not a guy that Zorn trusts then get someone in here that he does. Portis had nothing left these last few weeks.

I've been wondering that for awhile now. Is it about keeping Portis happy or winning games? I'm really not sure what's going on here.

Moss always seems to be good for some key drops here and there. That's just who he is.

Yeah Portis fumbling yesterday couldn't have come at worse time, but I'm wondering why we're not using Betts more. Portis was clearly run into the ground this year, again. Why can't we use a true committee approach for once?

Betts had 61 carries ALL YEAR, while Portis was well over 300 again for the 4th time in 5 seasons in Washington. That just doesn't make much sense to me.

Next year we need Betts in there more, and if he's not a guy that Zorn trusts then get someone in here that he does. Portis had nothing left these last few weeks.

Wow, I didn't know he only had 61 carries for the season. That's not good. I'm not sure why we're intent on shortening Portis' career by pounding him constantly (especially right after giving him $20M guaranteed) when we have a very good backup who has proven he can play at a high level.

Even if we just gave 3-5 of Portis' carries per game to Betts, that would average out to a little over 60 less carries in a season for Portis. Pretty significant as far as keeping him fresher for the duration.

I don't agree that the O-Line is to blame for all our offensive woes. I know that the pass protection wasn't stellar (to say the least) this year but there many, many times this year I watched Cambell check the ball down for little to no gain when he was not being pressured at all.

I know this is the west coast offense and it is predicated on quick passes and yards after the catch but I seriously believe that J.C. was not doing his part to allow his receivers time to get open down field.

As for Betts, he has been ineffective for 2 seasons now and I think it is time we draft some talent at the RB position. Portis is taking a pounding and who knows how long he will hold up. I have always liked Betts and Cartwright as Redskins but it is obvious that neither is the heir apparent.

Although Betts wasn't exactly bad in relief of Portis, it seems to be hard to find a situation where a team that isn't that great at running, like us in the 2nd half, can justify handing Betts the ball. He's too close to Portis. We don't have designed plays for Betts, because he's really just Portis lite. So a running play with Betts must seem like swallowing the bullet to Jim Zorn. We'll get Betts in the game a lot, but we're going to throw.

I'm not sure if that's the right call or not to change the run/pass ratio with Betts in, but it's certainly something we do.

I don't agree that the O-Line is to blame for all our offensive woes. I know that the pass protection wasn't stellar (to say the least) this year but there many, many times this year I watched Cambell check the ball down for little to no gain when he was not being pressured at all.

I know this is the west coast offense and it is predicated on quick passes and yards after the catch but I seriously believe that J.C. was not doing his part to allow his receivers time to get open down field.

As for Betts, he has been ineffective for 2 seasons now and I think it is time we draft some talent at the RB position. Portis is taking a pounding and who knows how long he will hold up. I have always liked Betts and Cartwright as Redskins but it is obvious that neither is the heir apparent.

No, the OL is not totally to blame, but it's a big part. As they say it all starts up front and when you can't open holes for the running game and you can't pass protect, it's tough to get anything going on a consistent basis.