Washington Redskins' Roundtable: Week 11...DALLAS WEEK!

The Topic: The Redskins' offense seemed entirely unprepared for the Steelers' pressure defense. Opposing defense's will obviously see this on film. Two part question: Are the Cowboys capable of replicating what the Steelers did? And, if so, how can/will Zorn/Campbell and the rest of the offense counter it?

Travis Evans sees it very simply: We had a chance to win the Steelers game, we had a chance at dominating. It's the red zone; we suck in it.

Eric Moon puts the bulk of the responsibility on the Redskins' Offensive Line: They are definitely capable of mimicking what the Steelers did against the 'Skins. Dallas’ front seven has a lot of speed with DeMarcus Ware, Marcus Spears, Bradie James, and company.

Zorn needs to be creative with screen plays, quick hitters, and calling the right run play to counter the blitzes the Cowboys will throw at them. The major key will be the offensive line being able to pick up the blitz. It will be a true test for them because if they fail again and are unable to keep Jason upright and relatively clean it will be a long night for the Skins.

Ian Murphy doesn't see the same threat, or the same results: I am not convinced it was preparation that was the problem. I think the bye week coming up and the multiple injury issues on the team created a situation where the Steelers were just the better team out there.

The 'Skins looked tired and beat up but the effort was still there. You should see a very different team in the second half this week. The Cowboys are not the Steelers; nowhere is this more accurate than at the linebacker position.

The Steelers have a linebacking corps than moves seamlessly into position after the snap of the ball, and the Cowboys, while talented and experienced, don't have that perfection and discipline in their game or even on their team. 

Zorn and Co. spent the bye week auditing their own offense from head to toe and I expect will come out with some solutions to the red-zone problems they have been having. I also think the signing of DeAngelo Hall will bring the pick-six element back into the defense.

Mark Steven doesn't think the Cowboys can duplicate what the Steelers did: The Cowboys can’t duplicate the schematic superiority Pittsburgh enjoyed—Brian Stewart (or Wade Phillips, or whoever Dallas decides is coordinating their D this week) is no Dick LeBeau—but I fully expect them to adopt Pittsburgh’s “attack Campbell” approach and try to unsettle Jason.

Maybe Zorn has seen something different on film, but from where I sit, it’s a no-brainer how the Redskins should approach Sunday night offensively. Forget “balance” early—I’d come out firing.

Mark included more on this topic here: Redskins-Cowboys: WWJD

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