Adam Schefter: What's Wrong with the Redskins

But don't you think that was by design? Wouldn't the interior receivers underneath be second in the progressions?

With Cooley especially, I could see how they figured they could take their chances with Cooley underneath knowing he didn't get into the endzone much last season. Ditto for ARE -- they took away Moss and Portis knowing they are the major scoring threats and gave us whatever we wanted yardage-wise between the 20's.In shotgun formations, the progression generally tends to be inside out. You know the old saying that nothing good happens when you throw late over the middle? Coaches usually teach the quarterback to look inside out because once the inside receivers show the defense what they are running, the window to get the ball in closes pretty quickly.

The time to use the outside guys in the passing game would have been inside the red zone, but given that our two trips to the red zone in this game produced exactly two attempts, not for Kelly or Thomas but for ALL receivers, into the end zone, you can imagine why we couldn't get them the ball.

You can't have two attempts at throwing a touchdown from the red zone in a game. The possession where we scored on the fake FG was proof of this. On first down we ran the ball. On second down, we threw a WR screen to Moss. Zorn needs to pick one, or the other, not both. Campbell had no chance to make a play on third down because the Giants just sent a creative blitz and got a hit on the quarterback. We completely pissed away that oppertunity for a TD, and scored on a gimmick.

The second time, the playcalling wasn't quite as awful, we just tried to run the ball and ended up losing 6 yards on first down. That's going to happen with a young RT like Heyer. But that caused us to use our second down play to get in a managable third down, which we did, except then Campbell didn't have anyone open in the end zone and was sacked.

In hindsight, we got as many points in the red zone (10) as the players earned on Sunday, but it could have been catastrophic if not for the fake FG. That play really bailed us out from a potential blowout.

In shotgun formations, the progression generally tends to be inside out. You know the old saying that nothing good happens when you throw late over the middle? Coaches usually teach the quarterback to look inside out because once the inside receivers show the defense what they are running, the window to get the ball in closes pretty quickly.

The time to use the outside guys in the passing game would have been inside the red zone, but given that our two trips to the red zone in this game produced exactly two attempts, not for Kelly or Thomas but for ALL receivers, into the end zone, you can imagine why we couldn't get them the ball.

You can't have two attempts at throwing a touchdown from the red zone in a game. The possession where we scored on the fake FG was proof of this. On first down we ran the ball. On second down, we threw a WR screen to Moss. Zorn needs to pick one, or the other, not both. Campbell had no chance to make a play on third down because the Giants just sent a creative blitz and got a hit on the quarterback. We completely pissed away that oppertunity for a TD, and scored on a gimmick.

The second time, the playcalling wasn't quite as awful, we just tried to run the ball and ended up losing 6 yards on first down. That's going to happen with a young RT like Heyer. But that caused us to use our second down play to get in a managable third down, which we did, except then Campbell didn't have anyone open in the end zone and was sacked.

In hindsight, we got as many points in the red zone (10) as the players earned on Sunday, but it could have been catastrophic if not for the fake FG. That play really bailed us out from a potential blowout.

I see what you're saying, but I wasn't really talking about red zone situations only. Yes, we weren't there often enough to make a good judgement either way. I'm talking about taking deeper shots downfield to the outside receivers (deep-ins, deep-outs, etc.) -- and as I've said before, to the observer watching on TV, it's difficult to see exactly what's happening with the wideouts because they are always out of the shot. I'd be interested to see exactly how many plays were drawn up that specifically targeted Kelly, Thomas, and Moss down the sidelines, 20 yards+, near or outside the numbers.

In the end, I suppose it's hard to make an assessment of the receivers when we're so hell-bent on pretending to be a power running team.

I see what you're saying, but I wasn't really talking about red zone situations only. Yes, we weren't there often enough to make a good judgement either way. I'm talking about taking deeper shots downfield to the outside receivers (deep-ins, deep-outs, etc.) -- and as I've said before, to the observer watching on TV, it's difficult to see exactly what's happening with the wideouts because they are always out of the shot. I'd be interested to see exactly how many plays were drawn up that specifically targeted Kelly, Thomas, and Moss down the sidelines, 20 yards+, near or outside the numbers.

In the end, I suppose it's hard to make an assessment of the receivers when we're so hell-bent on pretending to be a power running team.It's true that we'll never really know how good a job that the young receivers are doing in games where they aren't getting the ball much. I just have to assume that we simply didn't have enough balls to go around on Sunday. The solution seems simple: create more passing attempts, but Zorn seems like the kind of guy who is never going to throw more than 60% of the time no matter how glaring the defense is defending the run.

We should have success running on the Rams. They have pass rushers that we'll have to contend with.

The Giants didn't play all that great either. I'm kinda perplexed over those saying we got outclassed or dominated.

Do not understand it either . There seems to be alot of excuses out there for a lack luster preformance. Giants just looked a little faster and the Skin's played in Sloooooow motion.

Did anyone look at Zorn on the sidelines he looked like a defeated man in the 2nd quater.

Do not understand it either . There seems to be alot of excuses out there for a lack luster preformance. Giants just looked a little faster and the Skin's played in Sloooooow motion.

Did anyone look at Zorn on the sidelines he looked like a defeated man in the 2nd quater.

I didn't see "defeated." I saw Zorn looking downright angry. He was also shown chewing folks out in his anger. He had the same MO last year. As much as I like Zorn, I think this is a major failing of his. I don't think that players respond well to his public anger. If he wants to get angry, he has plenty of time to do so behind closed doors.

We could release JC and cut our losses, put in Collins (that once lead us to the playoffs), and sign Chase Daniel as our back up.

I didn't see "defeated." I saw Zorn looking downright angry. He was also shown chewing folks out in his anger. He had the same MO last year. As much as I like Zorn, I think this is a major failing of his. I don't think that players respond well to his public anger. If he wants to get angry, he has plenty of time to do so behind closed doors.

You like Zorn and Campbell? Wow... I saw defeat not anger in Zorn. But you are a fan of both so you will find excuses. J.Campbell gave up an interception and Zorn stands there basically consoling Campbel. That mentality is why Skin's will go 8-8 at best and Zorn and Campbell will be out of jobs and no NFL team wants Campbell.... Maybe he should get a bus ticket to Canada and play in the CFL or the new league..Cuz he is not NFL material!!!!!!!!!!!!

We could release JC and cut our losses, put in Collins (that once lead us to the playoffs), and sign Chase Daniel as our back up.

I wish no harm to no one but best thing is Campbell to get hurt. Last time we made playoffs he got hurt. Collins gave us a ride to Seattle... Zorn has no confidence in him at the goal line he picks a running play..

We could release JC and cut our losses, put in Collins (that once lead us to the playoffs), and sign Chase Daniel as our back up.

You think Collins can move when you have the DL/DE from Dallas, NY and Phi barreling down his ass? Collins had a nice time as a backup when Campbell got hurt and that's about it. Campbell has played in one game and was not given many resources as far as other WR's on Sunday. Talk to me at the end of the season.

You can do a search on my posts and see that I said I was "seriously pumped" about the emergence of Kelly and Thomas during the offseason. I bought into the hype about those guys.

But if there was ever a time when we needed them to step up and divert some attention away from Santana Moss, it was Sunday. You have to give the rookies the benefit of the doubt in year one. But it's year two now. These guys need to man up and show us why they were highly touted coming out of college.

Until then, they are proving the critics of Vinny Cerrato's talent evaluation exactly right.

I agree, all three of those guys have to demonstrate they're worthy of their draft position. While none of them played very much last year for various reasons, they had the opportunity to observe and learn, going into their second year they should be producing. Sometimes I think Zorn may be overcoaching these guys and expecting them to be perfect. These guys need to play, and it's up to the coaches to find the best way to use them and put them in positions where they can make a contribution.