A Troubling Sign for the Washington Redskins

While I am still, and am forever going to be, confident that the Redskins will hand the Lions their seventh defeat, something vexes me. While I was watching the Redskins' game against the Browns, and even against the Rams, I noticed a disparaging theme, and it went like this. First down: hand off to Clinton Portis. Second down: hand off to Clinton Portis. Third down: Jason Campbell passes to whomever.  

This worries me because this is what the "old" 'Skins, the Joe Gibbs Skins, used to do. Ride Portis for every first and second down and then throw. If you notice in the first four games of the season after the Giants game, Jim Zorn mixed it up and threw some on first downs, and even more on second downs.

This is what enabled holes to open up for Portis and is what ensured him 100-yard games virtually every time out.

Looking at the Rams' game and the first half of the Browns game, it appears the 'Skins have become content to ride Portis, forgetting about mixing it up on first and second down. This has had several consequences, including fewer attempts to get Santana Moss the ball. Look at the middle five games of this season and you'll see that so many of Santana's big plays came not on third down, but on first and second.

Examine the Giants' game and you will find the playcalling to be very similar to the Browns game as well. Run, run, pass. I know every pundit expected the 'Skins to jump out to huge leads against the Rams and the Browns, and then run Portis for the remainder of the game.

What the Redskins did, however, was quite the opposite; run Portis for the majority of the first half and wait for that perfect opportunity to strike downfield. Against a superior or equal opponent, I get this, but we have the superior firepower in Moss, Randle El, Cooley, and others in a game against a lesser opponent (Browns and Rams), so I don't see why Zorn has been so willing to not open it up against both. It seems he's almost determined to keep the games close.

I know I'm one of many who has been so frustrated watching the Redskins run and run and then pass, sometimes getting a first down, most of the time not, and then exploding and having a great offensive output when the game is on the line (see the last drive versus the Rams).

I've often laid awake wondering why they wait until the fourth quarter to attack like this, and I have no answer. It's what Joe Gibbs did, what Zorn did for his first game, and what I fear they're reverting back to. Remember, Jim, we've got weapons on offense in the passing game, too, don't be afraid to use them.

With that said, Redskins 38, Lions 17 this weekend.