Redskins Quick Hitters Week 5: Same old, same old

People who don't pay close attention to football games will heap more ill-considered condemnations upon QB Jason Campbell after this game, but the truth is that he completed 17 of 23 passes for 1 TD, no turnovers and a passer rating over 100. If your quarterback plays that well and you still lose to a bad team, that's because the rest of your team isn't getting it done. That was the case [again] today.

Campbell's fine play was all the more incredible considering the almost complete lack of pass blocking by Washington's battered and inept offensive line. Campbell was harassed all day and Head Coach Jim Zorn had no choice but to go to nothing but short, quick passes in order to prevent even more sacks and protect the health of his starting quarterback. Washington's front office has pointedly ignored investing in its offenisve line for years and the chickens have come home to roost. Everyone knew before the season that this would be a big problem if it wasn't addressed. It wasn't addressed and the result is as predictable as it was preventable.

OT Chris Samuels left the game with an injury on Washington's second play from scrimmage and his replacement, D'Anthony Batiste, was no replacement at all. I've written many nice things about Samuels over the years and there were those who disagreed with me. I'd ask those people now how they like not having Samuels around. You never notice a 6-time All Pro left tackle until you don't have him and his replacement is being treated by a speed bump by the defense [DE Everette Brown, in this case]. If Samuels misses even more time due to this or any other injury, this ugly season will become uglier still. 

The Redskins led 17-2 in the third quarter and gave up 18 unanswered points to lose the game. So the defense blew it, right? Well, no. Both Carolina touchdowns were set up by hideous errors by the special teams. The first Carolina TD came soon after the Washington kickoff coverage team allowed a 55-yard return to their own 40 yard line. The second TD came right after the punt receiving team botched a routine punt and gave the ball back to the Panthers inside Washington's 15-yard line. Caroline needed to travel less than 55 yards for two touchdowns.

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