Posted on 10/12/2009 6:53:02 AM PDT by pgkdan
"In the moments immediately after another unsettling defeat that prompted the Washington Redskins to question much about themselves, many team leaders were united on this: Changing the head coach alone will not solve their problems.
To be sure, many things are going poorly for the Redskins, as evidenced by a 20-17 loss to the formerly winless Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon at Bank of America Stadium. Washington was undone, in large part, by a strange sequence of events on a punt in the fourth quarter that resulted in a turnover that Carolina quickly capitalized on to score the go-ahead touchdown.
The play, on which punt returner Antwaan Randle El signaled for a fair catch, ended with the Panthers recovering the ball on the Redskins 12-yard line after Byron Westbrook was pushed into Randle El and the ball hit Westbrook's foot. Two plays later, Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart ran untouched through the right side of Washington's defense for a touchdown. Then quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith teamed on a two-point conversion pass.
With no timeouts -- Washington had used its third and final one with 8 minutes 1 second remaining because the play clock was running down as Coach Jim Zorn attempted to change a play he thought would fail -- and the passing game weakened by the loss of left tackle Chris Samuels early in the first quarter, the Redskins stalled on their next possession and did not get the ball back.
The Panthers (1-3) put away the victory behind the running of DeAngelo Williams and Delhomme...
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Are there any Redskins fans out there who care to chime in? I don’t think Zorn is our biggest problem but since we can’t fire the idiot owner where do you start with this team?
That happened last night in the Colts game too, a player on the return team was pushed into guy calling for a fair catch and it resulted in a fumble. This really needs to be a penalty IMHO. Otherwise it seems to be a smart special play team play right now.
Yeah but...if a fair catch is signalled everyone on the kicking team should steer clear of the receiver. Westbrook shouldn't have been in the vicinity to get blocked into Randle-El. I don't know but that was one screwed up play that really turned the game over to Carolina. Too bad the defense couldn't have stopped the TD and held them to a Field Goal.
Yeah, me. Here's my expert analysis:
It's The Snyder Curse.
The Redskins must change owners immediately.
All these years in the League, and he still plays like a dumb rookie.
Amen. Or at least we need a REAL general manager! Someone who doesn’t confuse running an NFL team with a Fantasy Football team. Snyder is a clown when it comes to running a team...a rich clown but a clown none the less.
You mean it was Randle El's fault that Westbrook screwed up?
Can’t remember who it was this morning on the TV news said that Zorn will be fired within the month, but it could happen in a week or two. I believe it was on Morning Joe...
Yeah, but when you are blocking you can't always see when the fair catch is being called or where the returner is. It seems like the smart play is stay engaged with the blocker and steer him into the returner. It is Westbrook's fault, but it also isn't right that this can be done. There will be a rule change.
A zombie team playing in a stadium named after a zombie bank—this would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.
His wind-up release is too slow for the West Coast offense, and worse, his field generalship is extremely lacking. Notice how he always has a deer-in-the-headlights look when he comes to the line of scrimmage. Whereas real field generals like Tom Brady, the Mannings, and others gesture with their arms while moving toward the player they're trying to communicate with, making sure the player is aware of the instruction, Campbell oh so wearily flicks a hand now and then, assuming the player is watching.
Jason is simply not directing or controlling the offense, he's thinking defensively and it shows.
Todd Collins would do better, but if I were Zorn I'd trade right now for someone (who's available) like Jeff Garcia, this offense could be so good with someone that could take it over and lead it.
I can't believe it wasn't a penalty. The Redskin player wasn't "blocked" into the punt returner, he was held and driven backwards for 8 yards and then pushed into the punter. The Panthers certainly didn't give the punt returner ANY room to catch that punt. It was complete BS.
As a Cowboys fan, I think Zorn is doing a terrific job.
They should have traded Portis two years ago. He’s averaging 3.7 yards per carry this year, and only has one TD for the entire season.
I don’t think the Haynesworth deal has been as valuable as Snyder thought it would be. It’s not even a close call, IMO.
Chris Samuels is a real good lineman, but he can’t seem to stay healthy.
I could go on down the list, but you get the point.
Which is perfectly legal by the rules. The rules only protect from a player getting block into the returner if the player is just standing there not blocking. As long as they are 'engaged', there is no penalty. There is no such thing as holding a blocker either, so that is not a penalty. This is a loophole in the rule and unless it is changed, more players will start taking advantage of it. If someone is blocking you, right now it is perfectly legal to throw him into the returner.
Randle El was not at fault this week...last week was a different story.
I agree, Jason Campbell is one of the biggest problems. Remember at Auburn he had Ronny Brown and Carnell Williams as running backs and threw very seldomly.
If his first and second options are covered, he panicks, he has no confidence to create a play.
Backup, yes. Starter, no.
I garee that Collins would do better. I've been saying that since about game 10 last season but don't think for a minute that Zorn has any say at all in who plays for this team. This is Danny Boy the Snyder's team and don't you forget it.
The little boy wonder should never had gotten this team...
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