Can Midweek Maneuvers Move Washington in the Right Direction?

            The 2009 NFL season has not begun the way anyone in Washington would have hoped for.  After having marred their image with offseason litigation and ticket scandals, the team has picked up right where they left off in 2008 with embarrassing losses and even uglier wins that have made them one of the most heavily scrutinized teams in the league. 

            But with the acquisition of a proven winner in offensive consultant Sherman Lewis, along with defensive coordinator Greg Blanche’s vow to media silence, the coaching staff has shown that they are ready to get down to business.  And with a .500 record going into Sunday’s game in Charlotte against the winless Carolina Panthers, surely anything can happen.

            The 67 year-old retired bingo caller, Sherman Lewis, will have the difficult task of generating offensive productivity in Washington.  Head coach Jim Zorn has yet to develop the game plan that will form the identity of an offense that is currently ranked 27th in the league. 

            Jason Campbell has not been properly protected, and has made costly mistakes because of it.  All-Pro running back Clinton Portis has been outwardly frustrated, running decently on the field, and running wild off of it.

            By bringing in Lewis, the Skins are looking to add a calming presence from some one who has seen it all before.  Having started out as a backs and receivers coach for Bill Walsh’s west coast offense, one could guess Lewis’s first order of business will be to get Jason Campbell quicker and more comfortable in the pocket.  Lewis will also look to get more of the receiving core involved, especially No. 2 receiver Malcolm Kelly, who has only had six catches thus far

            Lewis went on to win his second Super Bowl as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.  Although Jason Campbell is not Brett Favre, he has played well in spurts, thrown well when protected, scrambled for good yardage, and led comeback drives.  If Lewis can devise an offensive scheme that protects Campbell (a huge "if" at this point), stretches the defense with big play capability, and incorporates the run, then this Redskin offense could be very good.

            On the other side of the ball, there is not much to say.  Even Greg Blache doesn’t want to talk about it.  This week, Blache informed team officials that he will no longer be talking to the media. 

            Besides a poor performance in the embarrassing loss to Detroit Lions, Blache’s defense allowed 3 Suisham field goals to be enough to beat the Rams and preserved Washington’s only lead in their win against the Bucs.  However, his defense has been torn to shreds by the media again this year.  His refusal to communicate with the media has show that his focus is not on defending his team, but in getting his team to defend.  Enough said.

            So here they are, 2-2 after being a few points away from 0-4.  Even after botching a schedule that has yet to place them against a team with a prior victory, Redskin fans are still clinging to hope.  Some fans have optimistically predicted that Campbell’s 57-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Santana Moss will be the turning point to the 2009 season.  The coaching staff has been taking action to see that those predictions come true.   

            But as we learned with Santana’s “Monday Night Miracle” performance in 2005, a great win can fade into the mediocrity of a disappointing season if you fail to coming up with the game plan that will win week in and week out.