No Crossroads in Washington, Redskins' GPS Heads Straight to Crisis-ville

(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

To say head coach Jim Zorn and his Washington Redskins football team have reached a crossroads is an understatement.  Just three weeks into the season, Zorn is under fire by the media and Washingtonians alike.

With a 1-2 start that includes a déjà vu opening game loss to the New York Giants and the thwarting honor of ending the Detroit Lions 19-game losing streak, the Redskins passed the exit leading to the crossroads as their NFL GPS has taken them straight to “Crisis”ville!”  

There are those who will create the illusion of a “panic-mode” mentality or convince you that the organization is on the verge of self destructing.  Welcome to Washington, DC where the word steering has nothing to do with controlling a car.   

Despite the pressures that come with coaching a billion dollar franchise, Redskins coach Jim Zorn has barely batted an eye during the onslaught of negative media attention hurled his way. 

The always medium and somewhat reticent former NFL quarterback from Cal-Poly rarely strays from his surfer-dude approach to life.

Zorn showed that despite is relaxed approach to life, the pressure of winning does affect him.  Maybe not like most humans, but the strain was evident during the team’s recent loss to Detroit. 

After a game altering face masking flag was incorrectly reversed on a Santana Moss reception in the fourth quarter, killing the Redskins go-ahead drive at midfield, Zorn was livid.

Earlier this week Zorn showed a hint of frustration when a reporter asked him after practice, “Given the history of the owner, are you concerned about your job?”  A befuddled Zorn snapped back with a question of his own, “Why would I be concerned about my job three weeks into the season?”  

Zorn is correct, he shouldn’t be worried.  He and the Redskins’ players made life harder for themselves by losing to Detroit last week, but they can salvage a sour start to the season by taking care of business over the next three games.

To quote one of the most prominent figures Washington, no, the world has ever known:

"When written in Chinese the word "crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger and the other represents opportunity."  ~John F. Kennedy, address, 12 April 1959

Zorn’s job is in danger and he knows it.  We all know it, thus the reference to “Crisis”ville earlier in the article.  But there is an opportunity for things to get better real fast.

The lone win the Redskins have is one more win than their next three opponents have combined.  Tampa Bay, Carolina and Kansas City are all 0-3, and you think things are bad in Washington.  Try being a bad team with little talent and little hope.

Talent is one thing the Redskins are not short on.  Continuity, effort, play calling, preparation and accountability are the root of this team’s problems.

This week brought some change in the right direction as the team prepares for Tampa Bay. 

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