[Rooster]

What a mess. The game was encompassed by negative energy from the start as both Channel 9 and Comcast Sports Net had technical difficulties with their production of The Redskins broadcast. To mask these difficulties they decided to inundate us with 15 minutes of straight commercials. After a while, I too started to feel for the endangered Orangutans. Watching 15 minutes of straight commercials is irritating enough. But watching The Redskins get completely dismantled by the Carolina Panthers 47-3 in their fourth, and most important, pre-season game is down right excruciating. When coaches take the time to set up a game plan for an opponent, you don’t expect to lose by 44 points. When you play your best players an entire half, you don’t expect to lose by 44 points. So why the hell did we lose by 44 points?!

There were issues on offense, defense, and special teams but most disturbing was the play of our offensive line. We had none. We might as well have marched the U.S woman’s gymnastics team out onto the field. Jon Jansen cannot play anymore. Period. He is a non factor against the pass rush and only adequate in run support. I actually thought Chris Samuels was the strong point of our line, at least until he was driven back 10 yards into quarterback Jason Campbell.

The quarterback play wasn’t much better. What Jim Zorn calls “inadequate” I call horrendous. Campbell, you have to get rid of the ball. I swear to God if I see one more pump fake I’m gonna lose it. Collins, you waste of a contract you. We could put Marcus Mason in your place but instead we have to watch your statuesque, uncomfortable looking self out there. And Colt is just Colt. A nice preseason novelty. My feelings on Colt are ambiguous. He is not gonna help the Redskins this year and thus should not be talked about from this point on.

Defensively I was awestruck. The product out on the field this evening had absolutely no resemblance to the solid unit that Gregg Williams had showcased only a year ago. In fact, I bet Gregg Williams is having a nice little chuckle right about know. Our defensive line was horrendous against the run. The Panthers had not one, but two long runs straight through the heart of our defense for touchdowns. We need a new safety and a capable corner who can start alongside Shawn Springs. Carlos Rogers continues to struggle when making plays on the ball. If Fred Smoot could play half as well as he could talk, he might be half decent. Dancing after making a tackle when your defense is getting absolutely abused? Are you kidding me?!

As you can see I am quite disappointed in tonight’s performance. While the Skins humiliating performance does not spell certain doom, it does raise a number of questions. The good news is the game does not count against our record. The bad news is this team opens up against the Giants in 12 days. If you thought the Panthers pass rush was scary, wait until our line has to match-up against the likes of Tuck and Umenyiora.