Why bother?

There really isn't much to say about the Redskins loss to the Giants Monday night.

From the opening drive, it was quite clear the Giants were an experienced, sound playoff team. The Redskins are about as far from that as you can get.

When it was over, it was 45-12, certainly the most embarrassing Redskins loss of the year and rivaling the 52-7 walloping the Patriots put on the them back in 2007.

The talk going into the game, about Redskins players with the arrival of new GM Bruce Allen, was "These guys are playing for their jobs."

If so, a lot of guys lost their job today. There's not one player who had a good game. Marcus Mason -- who should not be playing for the Redskins next year -- had a decent game running the ball.

Also, I should mention that Fred Davis had a heck of a game as well. He continues to impress replacing Cooley.

The Redskins defense, especially, was eaten alive. The Giants completely owned the first quarter. They had a 10-minute drive. Most of the first half was controlled by N.Y. The second half wasn't much better.

The Redskins were better off not even stepping on the field. All there was Monday night was a giant embarrassment on national TV.

The witch is dead

Sing it now, friends.

Vinny Cerrato, the universally despised president of football operations for the Washington Redskins, resigned early Thursday morning.

Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. He's gone where the goblins go,
Below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!

By the way, I'm giggling like a schoolgirl that the best way to describe Cerrato is "universally despised." God.

But, the rumor is that the Redskins have hired for Tampa Bay general manager Bruce Allen to run the show. Allen is the son of former Redskins coach George Allen.

To me, it's pretty clear that Dan Snyder really wanted a big change. If he didn't want a change, he wouldn't have fired Cerrato (which is what happened, regardless of whether Cerrato "resigned.")

So, goodbye Jim Zorn. Goodbye Jason Campbell (probably).

Allen was the GM in Tampa for a long time. His former head coach in Tampa was Jon Gruden, who, coincidentally, is calling the Redskins-Giants Monday Night Football game this Monday night in D.C. Do you guys really believe in coincidence?

Look for Gruden in D.C. next year.

Jason Campbell deserves more time

As the season comes to a close, one of the more pertinent questions for the Redskins is that of their quarterback.

Do the bring back Jason Campbell, or do they go in another direction?

Earlier this year, I would bet some good money that the team was planning on going in another direction. After all, Campbell and the offense as a whole had not played well. Even last week, de facto GM Vinny Cerrato scouted both Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen and Texas QB Colt McCoy.

I myself have been long calling for Campbell to be benched. I still think he holds the ball too long and doesn't make quick reads and decisions.

But maybe it was too soon to start looking elsewhere.

Since Sherman Lewis started calling the plays and especially over the past four games, Campbell and the offense have thrived.

Has it saved his job?

It's undeniable that Campbell is not a perfect quarterback. He will never be a Brett Favre or a Peyton Manning. But he is better than Trent Dilfer, who quarterbacked the 2000 Ravens to a Super Bowl championship.

As the weeks go on, the more and more I think that the Redskins SHOULD bring Campbell back.

No, he probably will never put the team on his back and will it to a come-from-behind victory, but he's good enough to manage the game and won't lose many games by himself.

The Redskins have spent much of the last 15 years tearing everything down and rebuilding. Maybe it's time to just let things coast and see where it takes the team.

Sherman Lewis seems to be having an effect. Let he and Zorn run things awhile longer with Campbell in place.

But please, dear god, solidify the offensive line.

Orakpo's coming out party

On a big day in many ways, Brian Orakpo's performance stood out. The rookie out of Texas finally had a breakout performance, a game to remember.

Four sacks.

Whatever you want to say about the Redskins - they've definitely had a down season - Orakpo will be a great player. He already is.

All together, it was a great defensive performance by the Redskins. They totaled eight sacks. Orakpo led with four, Andre Carter had two and Lorenzo Alexander and Doughty had one each.

The offense performed as well as it had since Sherman Lewis took over the play calling. Quinton Ganther, the Redskins fourth starting running back this season, came through for two touchdowns.


Offensive thoughts

• Fred Davis came through again with two touchdowns. That tight end play next season should be interesting. I think the Redskins could come up with a very good two tight end set and create big mis-matches with Cooley and Davis. When Cooley was healthy, we never saw Davis. With Cooley out, Davis has suddenly shown up big.

Next season, Redskins need to use both tight ends better.

• Ganther was a bright spot. The Redskins continue to get more production out of backup running backs than they got out of Portis. Ganther ran for 50 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. Great, great play. He also had a few catches.

• Campbell's play -- 16 of 28 for 222 yards and two touchdowns -- was solid. He was pressured throughout the game but came out alright. He's still got to get rid of the ball quicker.

• I loved, loved, that the Redskins went for the throat up 27-13. Instead of settling for a FG, the coaches called a good drive to get another TD.

• Graham Gano -- the new kicker -- did a good job. Made some solid kicks and had two good kickoffs for touchbacks. I'll reserve final judgment for when he makes a pressure kick to win or lose a game. That'll tell me who he really is, but it was a good start.

Defensive thoughts

• I really can't say enough about Orakpo, but he had a tremendous game.

• The Redskins seemed to want to be more aggressive on defense -- more blitzes, lots of pressure. It worked, especially by the end of the game. The Raiders' offensive linemen didn't know who to block. Definitely worked out well for the Skins, who had eight sacks - the most in... as long as I can remember.

• I think this is a plus - Landry only got burnt on one double move. I really want to like the guy, he was a 6th overall pick, but the guy isn't impressing. The Redskins seemed to move him closer to the line and play him like a linebacker. I think this was a good move. Landry can hit well and has a lot of speed. Keep him up near the line of scrimmage.

Overall, a big victory and something to build off of.

Redskins finding new ways to lose games

For once, the Redskins offense showed up.

For once, Jason Campbell played well.

For once, the play-calling was perfect.

But the Redskins found yet another way to lose a game. In perhaps the Redskins most painful loss of the year, it was the kicking game and turnovers which burned the Skins late.

Points:

• I continue to be incredibly unhappy with the Redskins red-zone offense. It's almost like the Skins coaches are afraid to make a mistake. It's the same with the way the Redskins play with a lead. They have a lead and seem to not to want to make a mistake.
• You can't win too often in the NFL when you play scared.
• Shaun Suisham, for as well as he's played for the most part this year, the guy just can't make a field goal when it really matters. He failed against the Cowboys two weeks ago, and he failed today. His miss from 23 yards sealed the Redskins' loss.
• Laron Landry had a mixed game. He had several very good tackles up near the line of scrimmage. He's a natural strong safety, and he plays like it. But he got burned deep twice in coverage.
• I thought Jason Campbell played very well for most of the afternoon. It also helps that the Saints' defense is missing a few defensive backs. He threw for a career-high 367 yards, but his interception on a potentially game-winning drive was perhaps the worst possible thing that could have happened.
• I thought Devin Thomas had a terrific game - the best of his young career. He needs to do this every game, and the Redskins need to get him the ball and allow him to consistently have that success. It was also another good game for Fred Davis. I'm not sure how the Redskins will handle the tight end position when Chris Cooley comes back next year. Davis is a starter and potentially a Pro Bowl player. Cooley is already a Pro Bowler.

Question

How the heck did the Saints get the ball back in OT after Sellers' fumbled?

Sellers did fumble - not going to argue that - but the play was called dead. So Sellers stops even going for the ball. The Saints player - McAlister? - stops as well and picks up the ball about four seconds after the play was called dead. So the refs blew the whistle and Sellers stops going for the ball and the refs give the ball to the Saints? Maybe I'm wrong about this one, but I call that ridiculous.

Definitely a tough loss to swallow. The Redskins should have won this game. There were many plays in there - the punt where the ball hit Kevin Barnes and the Saints recovered; the strip after the INT that was returned for a Saints TD - that should have doomed the Redskins.

But the Redskins did play well today. They played well enough to win. I guess that's something.

Offense offensive

When a defense plays as well as the Redskins defense did against the Cowboys, one would expect that team to win.

And the Redskins defense did a very good job against the Cowboys offense.

As usual, however, the Skins offense and special teams let the defense down.

Kicker Shaun Suisham missed two field goals, his first two all season. His two kicks would have given the team at least a two-score lead, changing the game.

In the second half, the Redskins burned two timeouts unnecessarily. Timeouts that the Redskins needed in the closing seconds.

"It's on me," said Jim Zorn, talking about the missing timeouts in his post-game press conference.

Yes, yes it is.

Game balls

• While it's hard to single out someone on the Redskins' defense, Andre Carter really had a great game pressuring Romo and stopping the run

• Rock Cartwright knew he'd be getting some carries Sunday, but with Ladell Betts out with an injury, Cartwright was all the offense had. He totaled career-high numbers: 67 rushing yards and 73 receiving.

• London Fletcher led the team again in tackles with nine and had a key interception. The Redskins didn't exactly stop the run well, but overall, they stopped the Cowboys when they needed to.

Goats

• Suisham's game was disappointing to say the least. Some kickers are clutch - Matt Stover comes to mind - but then some kickers are simply un-clutch. Suisham hadn't missed a kick this season, but today, when it really matters, he couldn't hit two.

• Zorn made too many bad decisions. The second-half timeout issues, combined with clock mismanagement to end the first half, did not look good for His Medium-ness.

I'm also growing increasing annoyed with Zorn's eternal optimism. The team failed to score a touchdown in the game - AGAIN! - and Zorn was all about how hard the team played.

Zorn, get real. The team is now 3-7 and the schedule is not going to get any easier. Come on. Let's start re-thinking how the Redskins are trying to attack teams.

That's going to be the key going forward. The Redskins need to re-think their offense, because what they've been doing this entire season is not working.

Betts should start over Portis

The Redskins beat the Broncos. Yes, yes. Now, let's get one thing straight.

Betts, not Portis, should start against Cowboys
I don't even care if Clinton Portis is healthy or not.

Betts showed more explosion and burst than Portis has shown at any point this season. Remember that run where Betts bounced off several defenders, as well as doing a little Moss-esque spin move, and picked up 15ish yards? Could you imagine Portis trying to do that this year? He wouldn't have bounced off the defenders, and the only spin move he has done is spinning toward the ground on the way down.

Hearing Zorn at his press conference Monday, it doesn't sound like Zorn was as impressed with Betts (and Cartwright) as I was, but Zorn said that Portis wouldn't play Sunday unless he practiced this week.

Considering Portis hasn't practiced since the preseason, I think it's a good bet that Betts will be starting Sunday in Big D.

If Portis is indeed unhealthy - which would explain a lot of things about his play this season - let him sit and get healthy.

Either way, let's ride the horse that beat the Broncos, as far as he'll take us.

A few Betts links

Betts gets better with more carries

Betts isn't better than Portis, people

Betts not better than Portis, but certainly a better fit

Theismann wants Betts in, Randle El out

Quick reaction: Big win, good win

It figures the Redskins would beat the Broncos.

The Skins have been playing bad teams all throughout the first half of the season - five straight games against winless teams and all - and the Redskins have just two wins and six losses.

But the Broncos - 6-2 - come in, and suddenly the Redskins find themselves a rhythm on offense and win 27-17.

Maybe this second half of the season will be good for the Skins after all.

Sunday, Washington finally found the combination of offensive linemen and running backs for a great running game. A season high 174 rushing yards, mostly behind Ladell Betts.

Jason Campbell didn't make any mistakes. I would not say he played well by any means, but he did not make any mistakes.

But the play of the game might have been when Brian Orakpo knocked Kyle Orton out of the game. Orton had burned the Redskins with two deep 1st-quarter throws.

But Chris Simms was not ready for primetime, completing just 3 of 13 passes for 13 yards and an INT. His play, or lack thereof, allowed the Redskins to stay in the game.

I want to take nothing away from Ladell Betts. He should start again next week in place of Clinton Portis. But Levi Jones made an immediate impact for the offensive line. His play in left tackle allowed Stephon Heyer to move to right tackle (his natural position), and the running game exploded.

DeAngelo Hall needs to shut up

Ladies and gents, I give you DeAngelo Hall after the loss, talking about his skirmish with the Falcons:



I have been a fan of Hall, but this, combined with his poor tackling, hasn't exactly endeared him to me.

Even if Mike Smith did grab him in a "harmful" way and everything happened as Hall said, it's time to just let it go.

Just let it go.

(Thanks to RealRedskins and CSN for the vid).

It almost was

For once, the Redskins' defense could not save the Redskins.

The Falcons, behind Michael Turner (166 yards), were able to run - quite literally - over the Redskins for a 31-17 victory.

The Skins were down 24-3 at halftime, but were able to pull back to 24-17. So close, yet so far. Turner went long on another TD run on the Falcons' next drive and Atlanta pulled away.

First, some points:

1. Ladell Betts should start next week over Clinton Portis, even if Portis is healthy. Betts showed way more speed and power than Portis had all season. Start Betts. Sit Portis.

2. The defense really let the team down. Haven't seen the running defense exposed so badly.

3. Campbell continues to be a lame-duck QB. He won't be around next season. I'd bench him as well. Right now, I trust Todd Collins much more than I do Campbell.

Some other quick thoughts...

I love that Marko Mitchell got into the game and made a few catches. I'd bench Antwaan Randle El and put in Mitchell a lot more. Not sure if Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas will ever make it here, now. Randle El continues to add very little to this team.

Jim Zorn looked like he was bored from time to time on the sideline. I don't think he's very happy right now without being able to call plays.

DeAngelo Hall may be a very good cover corner, but he can't tackle worth a lick. Hall missed more than a few tackles today. Ditto for Laron Landry, who has no excuse. I know Landry is playing out of position, but the guy needs to wrap up players, not go for the big hit.

I have a feeling that unless the Redskins make some significant changes to the way the offense works (big name changes, or something similar), I think the team is seriously looking at a 2-14 season.

Doing the same thing has gotten the Redskins to 2-6. They can't keep doing the same thing and hoping something clicks.

Things that need to change

Since the Redskins' season is nearing its halfway point (bye week this week, and the team's 8th game next week against Atlanta), it's as good a time as any to go through what I'd like to see from the team for the rest of the season.

It appears increasingly unlikely the Redskins (2-5) will turn their season around. At this point, they'd need a good 7-game win streak to turn it around, and looking at the team's upcoming schedule, that seems highly unlikely.

With that in mind, here are some things I'd like to see in the coming weeks ...

1. Who is Marko Mitchell?
The rookie receiver stood out in the preseason. That is to say that no one else played well. But Mitchell does have some promise. He's tall, he's fast and he seems to have good hands. I'd go so far as to say that he's played better than either Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas in his one year than they have in their two. So let's get him some reps. Antwaan Randle El is not long for this team, that much is clear. Get Mitchell some reps.

2. Free Brian Orakpo.
It's fairly obvious that the Redskins were fooling themselves thinking that Orakpo was going to be some fierce defensive end/linebacker combo linebacker in the mold of some Pittsburgh linebackers of old. I think the Giants picked up a linebacker - former Virginia LB Clint Sintim - who could be that guy for them, but Orakpo - from his first day on the team - always seemed to be more comfortable on the line. I still say that any play that doesn't have him on the line is a wasted play. In Orakpo's place, try out Chris Wilson. He's a former defensive end who has looked decent as a linebacker.

3. Time for a curtain call, Mr. Portis.
Truthfully, I feel really bad for Clinton Portis. The guy came to Washington coming off a pair of 1,500-yard seasons with Denver. He was young and dangerous. In Denver, he was a smallish, quick, break-away running back. When he leaves Washington, he'll still be relatively young (he's only 28), but god, what did the Redskins do to him? He has lost at least two steps (did you see his long run a few weeks ago? He had one guy to beat and a blocker, and still got caught from behind), and he's not small or quick. He beefed up for Gibbs' offense, and took pounding after pounding. He's injured every week, and it shows. I do think the guy has been a warrior for the Redskins, but the Redskins have burned him out.

It's time for the team to look at younger options. I'd even like to see Ladell Betts get more carries.

4. It's Collins time - yeah, I said it.
Todd Collins, that is. I've seen enough of Jason Campbell over the years here to know that he isn't going to be the guy - ever. He's never been consistent, but he's had flashes of genius that have buttered our opinion of the guy. Truth is, he hasn't improved in any way since his first year in the NFL. Collins won't be the Redskins' guy in the long term, but I do think that he'll give the team a better chance to win this year. Next year? Probably try Colt Brennan and finally see what he has, and bring in a veteran for some insurance. Draft a big-time QB in 2011 if need be.

5. Pray for our offensive line.
Seriously, I am pretty sure there is nothing that can be done about this group of fat guys. Stephon Heyer is obviously not a long-term answer at left tackle. He might be decent at right tackle, but the Redskins probably will be looking for a premier LT in next year's draft. Luckily it's looking like they'll have a relatively high pick to spend on that LT. Mike Williams hasn't looked horrible (that I can remember), but he hasn't exactly looked like a former 1st round pick. It's hard to count on anyone on that line right now. Randy Thomas has been injured quite a bit over the past few years. Chris Samuels sounds like he'll retire. Casey Rabach isn't getting any younger. Dockery has been solid, but that's about it. Questions with no answers right now.

PR nightmare

The Redskins have a PR problem. A big PR problem.

First of all, the Redskins lost to the Eagles Monday night. Sorry for my late commentary on that - I was out of town without a computer or a permanent internet connection. Also, to be honest, I'm not sure what else needs to be said about this year's team on the field. They've been ripped by everyone near and far, and ripped for everything - talent, coordination, play calling - everything.

And while I'm still calling for the Redskins to be "blown up," the real shame for the team right now is the public relations hell storm that is or is about to be called down.

As has already been cited, the Redskins have been suing their own fans because they simply couldn't afford tickets anymore. But now, as the team continues to lose game after game, the Redskins' security forces seem to taking away many of the fans' freedoms at the game itself.

The team recently has banned signs inside FedEx Field. To prevent injuries, the team says. I'm sure it has nothing to do with various signs criticizing the team. The Redskins already have banned bags, so, you know, if a fan wanted to wear a paper bag on his or her head, that wouldn't be allowed. Also, media can no longer interview tailgaters in the FedEx Field parking lot.

So what of it?

It's a bad showing all the way around for the Redskins. They have a public relations nightmare on their hands, and it seems like they're in complete denial.

On a side note, it seems like they're in complete denial about a lot of things this season.

It's quite clear that the Redskins don't want to see their fans complain. I can understand why, but sometimes you just have to admit that something isn't working and move through and past it. Admit failure and move on. This team seems unwilling or unable to do this. The team acts like everything is just fine, and maybe it's because the team technically can turn it around and make this a successful season. Maybe once the team is at 2-9, they'll admit things just aren't working.

But taking away fans' ability to show displeasure with the team is a bit over-zealous. Taking away signs, making fans change "Anti-Snyder" T-shirts, or turn them inside out, is ridiculous. Read about fans' experiences at FedEx here.

As for the team itself, I think it's about time some young guys started playing.

Boy, I wish we had a young QB to try out and see what he can do. Someone, perhaps, like Colt Brennan or Chase Daniel? What a waste.

How to lose control of a perfectly good football team

It really is amazing how fast things can go from "Horny for Zorny" to "FIRE HIM!!!!"

Just a few months ago, Zorn was entering his second season, offseason spent bolstering his team's talent. 2009 was to be a playoff-run year.

Now, the team is a mess. They've faced six straight winless teams and won just two games.

Thank god for the Tampa Bay Bucs, or they might be the worst team in the NFL. And I'm not totally convinced that if the Bucs played the Redskins again, there wouldn't be a different result.

One of the worst things about this year's team is that the defense isn't very bad at all. The Redskins' defense is ranked fifth overall, third for pass defense. They had five sacks Sunday against Kansas City (1-5). Another absolutely wasted defense. Last year the Redskins finished with the fourth-ranked defense. A waste.

Adios Zorn
A year ago, Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato hired Jim Zorn as an offensive coordinator while looking for a new head coach. Zorn was brought in to call plays and manage the offense. But when Cerrato and Snyder couldn't find another coach they wanted, they offered Zorn a shot at the head coaching job.

A year and a half later, with the offense sputtering, they've taken play calling away from Zorn. So what exactly is Zorn going to do now? Is he a good game manager? All he's wanted to do was to call plays. He had never called plays before he came to the Redskins. But he comes to the Skins and they unexpectantly make him the head guy.

Snyder and Cerrato went looking for the next Mike Tomlin and unfortunately found the next Jim Zorn. Oops.

The team is a mess.

What exactly will taking the play calling away from Zorn do? Isn't this just a precursor to firing Zorn midseason? The problems with the offense go way beyond play calling. Snyder and Cerrato already brought in "consultant" Sherman Lewis to take a look at the offense. Now they take the play calling duties from Zorn. Is there any other way to undercut the man's authority and his responsibilities?

Speaking of problems with the offense ...
Why the hell did Cerrato/Snyder dump Chase Daniel when they put Colt Brennan on IR? The Redskins have no young backup on the team. With Brennan on IR, Todd Collins looks like he's going to be the guy from here on out. Which does nothing good for the future of the team. When Cerrato stashed Brennan on IR, it would have been a great idea to keep Daniel around to learn. But instead, Daniel is now in New Orleans and probably infinitely better off than he was here.

Jason Campbell is done. It's becoming very clear that his five-year experiment is over. The problem remains that there is no one ready to take over for him.

I'd like to see what Brennan has, but it's looking more and more like we will never see what Brennan has because he's injured in this critical situation. The Redskins might be forced to draft a young QB without first seeing what Brennan can do. And if the Redskins do draft a young first-round QB, Brennan might as well be as good as gone.

One thing is clear
This team is a mess.

We'll see how it all shakes out, but I don't expect to see Zorn last past the bye week, which comes after Monday night's game against the Eagles.

It's a shame, too. The defense is good enough for a playoff run. But the offense is bad enough to lose the rest of the team's games.

Redskins doomsday clock at 11:59

Jake Delhomme sealed Sunday's Panthers win - Carolina's first of the year - and may have sealed Jim Zorn's fate at the same time.

There aren't a lot of words for the Redskins loss. Team Zorn was up 17-2 at one point, but Carolina came back to win. It's hard to put into words just how bad this loss was. 17-2 was the largest lead Zorn has ever had. Now it's the biggest lead he's ever lost.

It would be very easy to say that Zorn needs to be fired. It's becoming more and more clear that Zorn isn't cutting it on offense.

But it's not just Zorn.

Greg Blache's defense leaves a lot to be desired. They're pretty good once the opposing team drives the length of the field to get into the red zone over and over again, but all the time on the field leaves the team tired at the ends of games.

Special teams were a big factor in Sunday's loss to Carolina. They gave up a huge kick return and also gave the ball away on a punt return after a Redskins player touched the ball.

And it's not just the coaches.

Is there one player on the offensive line worth his weight? Maybe Dockery. Maybe Rabach. Samuels was injured early in Sunday's game (he never returned) and the Redskins couldn't pass block from there on in. Heyer got blown up multiple times by Panthers end Julius Peppers. Samuels' replacement, Batiste, also got blown up multiple times.

QB Jason Campbell was sacked five times and never looked comfortable. He completed most of his passes, but the plays that he missed were more memorable that any passes that he completed.

The Redskins receivers fail over and over again to establish themselves, fail over and over again to separate from defensive backs. None of the young guys - Thomas, Kelly or Davis - appear ready to be standouts any time soon. Moss isn't getting any younger, and opposing teams can shut him down if they concentrate on him. Cooley, who has be dependable all season, caught zero passes against the Panthers.

And it's not just the players.

I could go through this with almost every single aging starter for the Redskins (and there are many aging starters). It's an organizational problem, and it goes straight to GM Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder. The entire organization needs to be cleansed.

The Redskins haven't been in rebuilding mode in more than a decade - it's time.

The Skins are now 2-3, losing two out of their last three games. That's two losses to previous winless teams. That's two losses to two of the worst teams in football.

I don't see Zorn surviving long. But I hope Snyder has the courage to tear the organization apart. It's in serious need of an overhaul.

The doomsday clock is now at 11:59.

Another unnecessarily close win

You know what the Redskins really needed Sunday against Tampa (Bay)?

They really needed to put up 30+ points and look dominant against a team that was starting a new quarterback and a defense that had been walloped frequently this season. The Lions aren't the worst team in football - the Buccaneers are.

But the Redskins' struggles against the winless Bucs -- a 16-14 bittersweet victory -- pointed out all of this team's flaws.

And there were positives as well as negatives. The running game was a bit more effective, the passing game less so. The pass rush a little more effective, the rush defense a little less so.

The Redskins have proved they can compete against the worst teams in the NFL. Even win, if they really try hard. They're 2-2. Time to take what they've done in the first quarter of the season and learn. The team isn't destined for failure. But they could be, easily.

Some stuff to take away from Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Jason Campbell, who are ye?
Campbell and the Redskins had less than 100 passing yards in the first half and finished with just 170 yards. By the end of the game, he had managed to throw three interceptions. He finished with his lowest passing percentage of the year (54.5%). All in all, he looked a rookie version of himself. Which isn't good for a fifth-year player.

It kind of looked like Jim Zorn and Co. wanted to be a little more aggressive - Campbell threw deep a few times, connecting with Moss once on a 59-yard TD - but there is being aggressive and then there is making bad decisions, which is what happened.

It's hard to imagine Campbell having this kind of performance again. The guy is very protective with the ball -- to a fault. Everyone has bad games, and his wasn't good. But I do like the aggressive play. Keep up trying to get deep. Just leave out the INTs next time.

The defense has to improve
Cadillac Williams and the Bucs ran over, under and through Albert Haynesworth and the Redskins defense. Haynesworth himself had zero tackles. Greg Blache's defenses in the past have been excellent at stopping the run, but this year, maybe because of an emphasis at getting after the QB, the rushing defense has not been good.

In total defense, the Redskins were 4th last year, but now are 12th. And that's after adding to the defense. It's a sad trend, and hopefully something the Redskins can improve upon. The Skins did improve in one area Sunday: they were the worst team in the league as far as giving up third-down conversions, but Sunday, they allowed Tampa Bay to convert just 2 of 15 third-down attempts. But that may have more to do with the QB the Bucs started - Josh Johnson - who doesn't seem much like an NFL QB.

On the plus side, the Redskins are the fourth-ranked scoring defense, giving up just 15.5 points a game. Unfortunately the team's offense is still awful.

Smaller thoughts
I like DeAngelo Hall. I like his playing style. I like his INTs. I do NOT like his celebrations. Get ahold of yourself, Hokie. ... Wither Malcolm Kelly/Devin Thomas/Fred Davis? They've been highly unproductive, and they're going to start costing some serious money soon. But it's never about the receivers. Receivers are very easy to find. It's all about the quarterback, offensive line and the offensive coordinator or whoever calls the plays. They are the cogs that make offenses go. Not running backs or receivers. ...
Speaking of running backs, Clinton Portis had a good day Sunday. But he still doesn't look explosive or anywhere close to it. Not sure how long the Redskins can keep him around. It won't be a popular decision, but it's time to move on. To who? Not sure that guy is on the team yet. ...
I thought Reed Doughty played very well at safety. He's impressed me with his tackling. Solid, not spectacular, but simply solid. ...
Chris Cooley had a heck of a game. He seems to be the only offensive set piece the Zorn and Co. seem to know how to use effectively. Though I'm not sure how much more mileage they can get out of those bubble screens. Reminds me of Gibbs-era screens to Santana Moss. ...
Speaking of Moss, I wish he would be just a little more consistent. One game he catches 10 passes, and the next he catches two. A lot of that has to do with the QB and the play caller, but gosh. ...
I was happy to see Brian Orakpo on the line more against the Bucs. He's a tremendous passrusher. Finished with a sack.

The Redskins travel to Carolina this week. Another game the Redskins will probably be favored to win. Another game the Redskins will play another unnecessarily close game.

Want to guess when the last time was that the Redskins had won by more than two touchdowns?

It's been more than two years. Oct. 7, 2007, against the Detroit Lions. 34-3.

That's what the Redskins really need right now. To completely obliterate a team. A team just like Carolina.

For the good of the team, Snyder must make a decision

Danny Snyder and Vinny Cerrato's special relationship has been well documented.

It's a relationship that has spanned almost 10 years and over that time, the Redskins have been nothing if not mediocre. Some years a little more, some a little less. But doubtlessly mediocre.

And it's a relationship that, for the good of the Redskins, must end.

The roster
The Redskins have the oldest roster in the league with an average age of 27.60 and average NFL experience of 5.55 years.

But who on the roster right now is absolutely isn't expendable? Certainly not Campbell. Portis hasn't converted a third- or fourth-down (and 1) seemingly all year. Maybe Samuels or Dockery on the line. Not sure about any of the receivers. Maybe Moss, but he's wildly inconsistent. Anyone on defense? Maybe Haynesworth, but he hasn't proved his worth yet. Neither has Orakpo.

Everyone else could be replaced.

While we're talking about Orakpo, why the heck did we draft him to play a typical linebacker? He's a passrushing fiend, yet we have him playing basically a drop-back, read-and-react linebacker? Makes no sense.

Why does Cerrato have five running backs on the roster? We have Portis, Betts and Cartwright - who are basically the same type of back and very little upside - and then Alridge, who the Redskins haven't used yet but has a lot of upside. Betts and Cartwright are veterans who are not needed. They're good running backs, but provide the same thing that Portis brings to the table.

Campbell is not a West Coast Offense QB. Not sure why Cerrato brought in a WCO coach to teach a deep-ball passer how to run a WCO. Collins is too old to be anything other than a backup right now. Brennan has a lot of upside but really hasn't shown it quite yet. Oh, and he's on IR. Daniel showed a lot of upside, but Cerrato decided to jettison him.

Alright, I'll say it
First off, Snyder must fire Cerrato, and this time not bring him back. It'll be a tough decision to fire Cerrato, but it's something that Snyder must do if he wants the Redskins to ever get better on the field.

This team needs a complete overhaul. It's full of aging veterans - take a look at the defensive line (Wynn, Carter, Daniels) - who, while they have great experience - aren't exactly helping this team out right now.

It's pretty clear that Campbell probably won't be the Redskins starter next season (unless for some reason he has a great rest-of-the-season. Maybe take the time now to overhaul the team. It's going to take some time, but in the longhaul, it'll be worth it. Fix the offensive line first. Then get a quarterback who can make quick decisions and run the team from the line of scrimmage. He doesn't have to necessarily have a big arm. Don't worry too much about the running back or receivers - they are very easy to find.

Defensively, I think there are some key young guys in place. Horton and Doughty are playing well. Orakpo has potential, but please, use him wisely. I like Rocky McIntosh. The Redskins need to find a replacement for Fletcher, who is getting a little up there.

All is not lost
This year isn't over by a long shot, and the team can turn it around and avert disaster. I don't necessarily think Zorn is a bad coach. I just think he's trying to do too much and failing at everything. If he wants to truly be a head coach, he can't be the one calling the plays. He also can't be coaching QBs.

He has to manage the game.

The team needs to do a better job at using the weapons it has. Use Fred Davis more. The guy is a great athlete, but he's only had five catches in his two-year career. Create a few packages a game for him. Use Kelly and Mitchell more on high, deep stuff. There's some young talent there.

Use Alridge with what he does best. Get him out in space and let him run. He's the only speed runner on the team. Use that.

Use Orakpo better. Have him be pretty much a pass-rushing linebacker. Bulk him up. Don't worry about dropping him back in coverage, that's not what he does well. Move him around and blitz him from multiple angles to confuse offenses. The guy is a weapon. Use him.

Play some more bump-and-run on the defense. Be more aggressive. Attack with Landry more. The guy is a rocket when blitzing. He is a natural aggressive safety, should be playing close to the line and attacking it. Don't drop him back in coverage too much, you're taking him out of the game.

If the Redskins start looking like they'll be out of the playoffs, which I'm not saying they'll be, look for some big changes on the way.

The team can turn it around this year, but they must start playing smarter football.

Quick reactions, Redskins-Lions

Ladies and gents, we now know who the Washington Redskins really are. It took an embarrassing loss to figure it out, but it's finally done.

Yes, the Redskins lost to the Lions 19-14 Sunday afternoon. Yes, Detroit broke their 19-game winless streak against the Skins.

And oh boy, I was enraged. I felt anger and pain, but most of all, I felt confused about where the team is headed.

Some points:

The Jason Campbell show is finished.
Until now, I was unsure whether Campbell would continue to be the starting QB of the Washington Redskins after this season. His performance against the Lions solidified my belief that he will not be. Yes, he put up ok numbers Sunday, but not when it mattered. And he never really seems to be in charge of games like a starter should be.
I wish that Colt Brennan wasn't on IR so that we could see if Brennan has what it takes. Alas, we've probably wasted Brennan's time on the team yet again.

Jim Zorn is on very thin ice, but not finished. Yet.
I'm sure most fans would like to see Zorn gone right now, and I think that he is calling some piss-poor plays (especially in the red zone). But it's not time to kick the head coach off of this island. I think if this season turns south, it'll be the end of Zorn's tenure here, and I can only blame Zorn. He chose to attach himself to Campbell. He chose to keep the play calling duties despite the fact he had never been an offensive coordinator before, much less a head coach. Nothing about his tenure in D.C. has been good.

What happened to the defense?
The Lions were able to drive up and down the field pretty much at will. Detroit continually took advantage of the Redskins' defensive backs and completed 55 percent of their third-downs. (The Redskins completed just 20 percent.)

I do believe that Mr. Greg Blache is in denial about how poorly his defense played against Detroit. The Lions held the ball for over 36 minutes and had drives of 99, 74, 86 and 84 yards. Those are whoppers of drives.

If this is a reflection on how the defense will perform, the team is in trouble. On top of this, Haynesworth's hip injury is a huge concern.

Some (too few) positives

• I don't think the Lions are as bad this year as people are making them out to be. Blache pointed this out in a post-game interview. They lost to the Vikings, who are unbeaten. They lost to the Saints, who are unbeaten.
• Santana Moss still proves he's the Redskins' best receiver. He had 10 catches, 178 yards and a touchdown. That's double what he had coming into the game. He needs to be consistent for the Redskins to have any success.
• Hunter Smith is awesome. The Skins haven't had too many good punters over the last 20 years. Hunter the Punter averaged 45 yards per punt, with a long of 58 yards. Simply excellent.

A question
Is it too early to talk about "blowing up" the team? I'm talking about a complete overhaul. New QB. New RB. New coach. A new general manager. Everything.

Redskins vs. Lions (PRESSURE!)

The Redskins take on Detroit Sunday with as much pressure on the team as there has ever been.

Jim Zorn is under pressure to get his offense going. Portis is under pressure to prove he's not over the hill. Campbell is under pressure to throw touchdowns, not just completions. The defense is under pressure to stop offenses.

The Lions, as I've mentioned, have what's considered among the worst defenses of all time. And Campbell has had great success against Detroit in his career. The Lions haven't won a game since 2007, a streak of 18 games now.

But many experts are predicting that Lions will break that streak against the Redskins. Why? Because the Redskins are an easy target. They haven't performed well against opponents they should dominate.

I don't think the Lions will win, not with Matt Stafford quarterbacking them, and certainly not in his rookie year. I think the Redskins defense will be able to pressure and confuse Stafford into mistakes, but the question is whether the Skins offense will be able to beat the Lions defense.

I say yes. Big-time. The Redskins should be able to control the game, rushing and passing. Though Portis is questionable with bone spurs, the Skins seem to have good depth with Betts, Mason, Cartwright and now Alridge, whom the Redskins re-signed this week.

30-17 Redskins.

Jason Campbell against Detroit

I read an article this week from Sports Illustrated about how Detroit's pass defense has been very bad since 2007, and apparently the Lions are only getting worse. The Detroit Lions have the worst pass defense in the history of the NFL.

That got me wondering how Redskins QB Jason Campbell has performed against the Lions over his career. I knew that he had done well in the past, but I had no idea how well.*

Campbell has played two games against the Lions, but those games make up most of his career-high single-game totals.

In 2008 alone, he set career highs in completion percentage (82.1), average yards per attempt (11.7) and passer rating (127.4). He also threw for 328 yards, a season-high and second only to a 2007 game in Dallas where he passed for 348 in a loss.

His numbers against Detroit are simply out of this world compared to his numbers against everyone else.

Campbell	vs. Detroit	Everyone else
Yards per game	288	202
Completion Perc.	80.7	60.6
Yards per pass	10.1	6.6
Passer rating	126.4	80.2

The passer rating stat stands out. 126 is a phenomenal, elite number. His 10.1 yards per pass is very large as well.

Another number stood out - 0. Campbell has never thrown an interception against Detroit in his career. He has thrown three touchdown passes.

What do the numbers mean? They provide good hope going into Sunday's game at Detroit. The Redskins certainly need all the offense they can muster.

On another note
Check out this video from the NFL Films folks. They had Jim Zorn mic'd up last Sunday against the Rams. The communication between he and Campbell is great. I'd say this is definitely one of the best videos I've ever seen on the Redskins. Perhaps the best.


*Numbers are averages and thus a little off. They should be close enough to the real numbers not to make much of a difference. I spent 2 hours on this and you'll like it, damn you.

Quick reaction to win over Rams

Usually when a team wins, it's a moment to celebrate. But the Redskins' win Sunday against the Rams felt empty.

The Redskins controlled the game, but the team went 0-for-5 for scoring touchdowns in the red zone. The Skins racked up 362 total yards and Jason Campbell performed well enough. Clinton Portis ran well enough, but neither scored any touchdowns.

Truthfully, the Redskins were lucky to come away with the win. It took the defense stopping a last-second deep ball before the win was guaranteed.

Some quick thoughts

• Shaun Suisham was not very good last year - he was last in the league in field goal percentage. This year, he's turning into the offensive MVP. Crazy times.
• I was not impressed with Jim Zorn's play calling, especially in the red zone. I don't understand why, if you have a quarterback like Campbell, that you create an offense like you have Chad Pennington starting. Doesn't make sense. Campbell can throw the ball 60 yards flat footed. Throw some deep balls. In the red zone, the Redskins came away with nothing. They have to solve that.
• The Redskins defense is still coming into shape. They gave up some big plays Sunday, but played well when it was necessary.
• I'd like to see more of Ladell Betts. He's looking good again after an injury hurt him last year.

Disappointing win. The Lions come to town next week, and the Redskins will be heavily favored to win that one as well.

The Redskins' offense will have to wake up.

I'll have some more on the game later this week.

The test cometh

The Giants game is in the rear-view mirror, and we've come to the trap game.

What's a trap game?

The Redskins are expected to destroy the Rams. Not to just win - that would be too easy - but to actually rout them. The Redskins are such locks to win that, among media members who predict game results, the Redskins were picked to win by each and every person.

That's a tough situation to be in. Fans expect 300 passing yards from Jason Campbell, and 100 rushing yards by Clinton Portis. Oh, and for the defense to harrass Rams QB Marc Bulger and blow up the Rams running game.

This is the same situation that the Redskins went into against the Rams last year, and the Rams came away with the underdog win, a win which started the Redskins' slide out of playoff contention.

What do the Redskins have to do to beat the trap? And should Jim Zorn be worrying about his job if the Redskins lose?

Jason Campbell must make good decisions.
Contrary to popular belief, Campbell doesn't have to throw for 300-plus yards against St. Louis and he doesn't have to throw for three-plus touchdowns. He does, however, have to play with confidence and not make stupid mistakes. The problem is, Campbell has rarely looked calm and confident in his time with the Redskins.

The offensive line must do its job.
The OL has to keep Jason Campbell upright as well as open up running lanes for Portis and Ladell Betts. The line did a decent job against the Giants, who have one of the best defensive lines in the game. Against the Rams, the Redskins should have a chance to establish an identity. The Redskins are always seem to be more confident - and perform better - when they get the running game going.

Portis must be consistent.
Portis got off to a strong start last week, carrying the ball 34 yards on the Redskins first play of the game. After that, though Portis had 15 carries for 28 yards, which ain't good at all. In years past, the Redskins have gone as Portis has gone. If he had a good game, the Redskins had a good game. That is to say that the Redskins QBs haven't led the offense, Portis has. I don't think it has to be that way, but that's the way it has been. Portis doesn't have to be crazy good, but Campbell has played better when Portis is doing well.

The defense must assert itself - pressure pressure pressure
Albert Haynesworth can dominate. The Giants did a good job of limiting him, but Rams don't have the Giants talent on the line. Haynesworth needs to control the middle of the defense, and the Redskins need to attack Bulger, pressure him into mistakes, and take advantage of the mistakes.

What the Redskins need to be wary of is underestimating the Rams and allowing Bulger and running back Steven Jackson go wild. Jackson has the potential to control the game. That would be a real surprise, with the Redskins' additions on the defensive line.

Really, though, it comes down to Campbell. I think if the Redskins lose this game against the Rams, there will be a significant amount of pressure on Danny Snyder to dump Zorn and to not re-sign Campbell.

Quick hits

• Campbell needs to show that he has learned in his years in Washington. If not, there's nothing to save him.
• Portis has to show that he's not over-the-hill. He didn't have a great game against the Giants, but the Rams' defense shouldn't be close to the Giants' D.
• Who's going to make an impact at receiver for the Redskins? Randle El was the leader last week in the slot. Will any of the second-year players step up? Will Moss have an impact? He was shut down against New York.
  
• Rookie Orakpo had a so-so game against New York. He should have a better game against St. Louis. The Redskins should use him as an attacking linebacker. He can rush the passer much better than he can drop into coverage.
  
• Maybe the Redskins will have a punt return against St. Louis. They had just one against the Giants - for zero yards.
  

After reviewing the tape ...

Alright, I forced myself to re-watch the Giants game. I had meant to do it Monday or Tuesday, but whenever I thought I'd sit down and watch it, I either did not have time, or I found anything and everything else that I had to do.

Here's what I saw:

The Redskins defense kept the team in the game.
Yeah, no duh, right? While coordinator Greg Blache's defense seems to be in the "bend-but-don't-break" variety, they did a good job of stopping the Giants when they reached the red zone, forcing FG attempts instead of giving up very many long touchdowns. Fans have complained that the Redskins cornerbacks play too far off the opponents receivers, but they do that so that opponents won't be getting behind the defensive backs and scoring many long touchdowns. Giants QB Eli Manning, however, did a good job of moving around in the pocket and avoiding the Redskins rush for the most part. But the Redskins defense did enough to allow the team to win. Jason Campbell and the Redskins offense gave up a touchdown on offense when Osi Umenyiora sacked Campbell, creating a fumble and returning in for a TD.

Along those same lines ... DT Albert Haynesworth is indeed a monster.
The Giants had almost no success whenever they tried to run near Haynesworth, and they attempted to double-team Haynesworth almost all night. The Giants did have some success running the ball, but only when they ran away from Haynesworth and/or Haynesworth was out of the game.

Orakpo had a decent game. London Fletcher was all over the field.
When I watched the game the first time around, I thought that rookie LB/DE Brian Orakpo was virtually invisible, but Orakpo held up fine. He didn't stand out, but he didn't give up any major plays that I noticed. I still would like to see him rushing the passer way more than dropping back in coverage, which is his weakness, but he's a work in progress.

Fletcher was credited with 18 tackles, which currently leads the league (Yeah, Week 1). He had a great game helping to slow down the Giants running game.

Too many missed tackles, though.
On Manning's first half touchdown pass to WR Mario Manningham, Manning did a good job of checking into a quick WR screen to counter the Redskins all-out blitz. It was one-on-one coverage, and Manningham beat CB Fred Smoot's tackle (which would have resulted in a punt) then beat DE Andre Carter's tackle, then beat CB DeAngelo Hall's attempted tackle. Great run after catch, but putrid tackling. Combined with misses from Chris Horton and LaRon Landry earlier in the game, the Redskins had six missed tackles at this point. Too many.

Does Jim Zorn trust Jason Campbell?
Whenever the Redskins were backed up deep in their own red zone, the Redskins usually tried running the ball twice, and then attempting a quick screen or dump off. On their first possession of the second quarter in backed up, the Redskins ran in all three downs, not even attempting a pass to pick up the first down. Perhaps Zorn is justified, when Campbell makes bad decisions like trying to throw the ball after he's already cross the line of scrimmage and ends up throwing an interception. And the Redskins attempted just one deep pass, a mixed up bomb to Santana Moss, where Moss went a different direction than Campbell threw. Bad times.

Offensive line did a pretty good job ... Campbell not so good.
The Redskins offense as a whole did not play well, but the team's offensive line was not to blame for the most part. They kept the dangerous Giants defense off Campbell almost all game.


Campbell, though he had a good passer rating, did not play as well as the rating. He looked a little lost, a little flustered, and a little confused. He turned the ball over and it cost the team deeply. He also must do a MUCH better job of feeling the pass rush and know when to step up, and when not to.

On sack-fumble-TD for Umenyiora, as announcers pointed out, he had a lot of space in front of him to step up. That's something that a pro QB has to feel.

The Giants have a good defense, so I'll give him a bye this week. But he won't get any pass from fans if he doesn't light up the Rams defense for some real numbers and touchdowns.

Playcalling bone to pick
After Hall's INT late in the third quarter, why wasn't the first play after that a shot into the end zone, looking for a touchdown?

Instead, the Redskins handed off to running back Clinton Portis, and Giants DE Justin Tuck split between tackle Stephon Heyer and guard Randy Thomas (Heyer was left looking for someone to block) and stopped Portis for a 5-year loss. All of that momentum gone in a flash. The next play is a 9-yard screen to Portis. Decent, and getting back the yardage lost. I'll accept it. Then Campbell uses the Redskins' second timeout of the half, leaving the team only 1 for the rest of the game. Not that timeouts are important at the end of the game, right?

And then on third and six from the 8 yard line, Campbell is sacked because he couldn't get rid of the ball fast enough. Poor play calling, poor execution. The Redskins settle for a FG.

Other bits...
Carlos Rogers dropped another easy interception early in the first quarter. Hit his stone hands and bounced off them, laughingly. ... Cedric Golston and Lorenzo Alexander are no substitute for Haynesworth in the middle. They played okay, but don't provide the push of Haynesworth. ... When will Landry ever live up to his potential? He had a decent game vs. Giants. Missed too many tackles for my liking, but his deflection caused Hall's INT. ... I like the look of Campbell in the shotgun. He seems to have more of a feel out of that situation. ... What do you think about using the trick field goal play so early in the season? Holder Hunter Smith scored on the run, but now that play is on film. Will that matter? Think the Redskins will use it again later in the year? ... The Redskins ran to their left side the vast majority of the time, right behind Chris Samuels and Derrick Dockery. Casey Rabach got pushed back quite a bit by the Giants DTs. ... I personally don't mind the end-around/trick pass play to Antwaan Randle El on the second play of the season. I just didn't like the execution. Randle El should have thrown that pass away, or at least not tried dancing around. ... WIth six minutes left in the half, the Giants had outgained the Redskins 203-68. The Redskins had just 26 passing yards. ... TE Chris Cooley had a good day, despite putting a scare into the team with a fumble that was called back after a replay. He has been an excellent value draft pick for the Redskins.

What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 5

The Redskins lost, but it's okay.

The Skins did indeed fall, 23-17, in New York against the Giants. The Redskins - especially in the first half - didn't look like a complete football team. New York controlled the game and the Redskins never led. But it's not so bad.

What we learned:

1. The Giants are really good.
Maybe I am overestimating how good the Redskins are, but the Giants looked like a very, very good team. Their defense is their calling card, and they had three sacks, harassed Jason Campbell all day, and shut down the Redskins' running game. That's not to say the Skins didn't have their chances against the Giants, and I'm not absolving them of the loss simply because the Giants are good. But the Giants do have a great defense, and Eli Manning ain't too shabby either. They are the conference favorites, and they showed why on Sunday.

2. The offense is a work in progress (again).
It wasn't just one thing. It was everything, but the problems Sunday could have a lot to do with the Giants' defense. The Redskins had trouble protecting Campbell as well as running the ball. That added up to the Redskins having trouble moving the ball, especially in the first half. The team's top receiver, Santana Moss, had just two catches for 6 yards, and one of those catches was for -2 yards. Clinton Portis managed 62 rushing yards on 16 carries, but he gained 34 of those yards on his first carry of the day. The team did make a late push, and maybe against a lighter defense, the Redskins might have been able to show more. But one bright spot on offense ...

3. Randle El is a heck of a slot receiver.
The Redskins demoted Antwaan Randle El from a starter to a third receiver, similar to what he did in Pittsburgh. The spot opposite Moss went to Malcolm Kelly. Randle El responded with seven catches for 98 yards, one of his best games as a Redskin. One of the best things about Randle El is his speed and quickness, and he showed those attributes to the max. While he didn't work too well as an outside receiver, he's absolutely perfect in the slot.

4. Training camp reports are highly suspect, but the defense isn't THAT bad.
Reports out of training camp said that the Redskins defense was super. Well, maybe that had more to do with the Redskins offense than the defense. The Giants were able to keep drives alive, especially in the first half. What's worse, the Redskins missed several tackles. But, the defense did a good job of holding the Giants to field goals instead of giving up touchdowns. And in the second half, the Redskins defense kept the team in the game, including an interception by DeAngelo Hall. But where was rookie Brian Orakpo? The guy was all over the field in the preseason, he disappeared Sunday. Maybe the DVR will explain some things.

5. The kids aren't all right.
Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly and Fred Davis had a combined one catch - Kelly's 6-yarder. Is this just another symptom of the Redskins' poor offense? I'd hate to think the Redskins wasted three second-round draft picks.

The Skins open at FedEx Field next weekend against the St. Louis Rams, which presents a better matchup with the Redskins than the Giants do.

Hey, at least it's football season.

The Redskins have no shot against Giants

Let's get one thing straight right out of the gates: The Redskins will lose Sunday against the Giants. The Redskins will start the season 0-1; the Giants 1-0. It is almost inevitable.

You disagree? Why? What gives you any clue that the Redskins are any better than the Giants, a team that cruised past D.C. twice last year? The Skins couldn't score more than a touchdown in both games. Do you think the Redskins improved that much? Or the Giants fell that much?

Do you honestly believe that receiver Plaxico Burress - who is no longer with N.Y. - meant that much to the Giants? Let me remind you that Burress did not play when the teams met Nov. 30, and the Giants still won 23-7.

Will Albert Haynesworth make that much of an impact? Gosh, I hope so, because the Skins will need all the help they can get. I can already see Giants running back Brandon Jacobs literally running over Laron Landry. Again.

I can already see the Redskins stuffing the line of scrimmage with nine players, and Giants QB Eli Manning doing some sort of trick and abusing DeAngelo Hall for 55 yards to Hakeem Nicks.

I can already see Jason Campbell being flattened over and over again by the Giants superb defensive line, which, despite its relative thinness, has been pretty adept at shutting down the Redskins' rushing attack. (The Skins averaged just 3.3 yards per rush last season against the G-men.)

Why can I see all of these things? Because they've all happened before. The Giants have had the Redskins' number. Let's face it.

But, there is hope. Haynesworth, a monster defensive tackle, was brought in to stop the Giants from doing what they Giants like to do - run the ball down your throat, and then play-action pass you to death. If Haynesworth and the defense can stop the Giants running game - no easy task - then the Redskins might have a chance. Manning isn't his brother.

Offensively, I have less confidence that the Skins will succeed. QB Jason Campbell has been known to get flustered under pressure, and that's exactly what the Giants do. Rush the passer. They even drafted a kid out of Virginia - Clint Sintim - who is very, very good at rushing the passer. The Redskins will need to get their ground game going against the Giants to have success, in my opinion. I don't see it happened, but there's always hope. The Redskins need to challenge the Giants with the deep pass.

Honestly, though, my prediction?

Giants, 30-14.

Preseason complete - Cut time

Let's get one thing out of the way - the preseason is finally over.

Now the real games begin. When the Redskins play the Giants next Sunday, the games will count, and every score will matter.

There's only one thing - the Redskins can't keep all the players they've had throughout the preseason. Friday night, the team had 75 players on the roster. By Saturday night, the team had just 53. Check out the full list of players who were cut right here.

Some quick notes on the surprise cuts:

Quarterback situation: The team had to make a decision on Chase Daniel and Colt Brennan, and it seems that the Redskins have picked Brennan. Daniel was cut seemingly because he was too short - at about 6 feet - to play QB. Sunday, Daniel was signed to the Saints roster. It's a great place for Daniel, and I think he has the potential to contribute in a season or two of sitting behind Drew Brees, who at about 6-feet, has been an All-Pro QB for New Orleans.

Running back situation: The team kept four running backs - Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright and Marcus Mason. The team let Anthony Alridge and Dominique Dorsey go. I don't much like this move. Mason adds nothing to the team that Portis, Betts and Cartwright don't already have. Alridge and Dorsey have speed and different running styles than any of the Redskins current backs.

Others: I liked defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, a rookie free agent from Miami. The Philadelphia Eagles quickly scooped him up. Good move by them, and congrats to Dixon. ... I'm a little surprised that offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was cut since he was signed with a little hoopla and had starting experience with Carolina. But, according to training camp reports, he didn't perform well here at all. ... The Redskins kept just five wide receivers. None of the cuts were surprising. Keith Eloi, Trent Shelton and D.J. Hackett had done nothing to separate themselves in the preseason.

Here are five players who signed to the Redskins practice squad Sunday:

• Safety Lendy Holmes
• Fullback Eddie Williams
  
• Wide receiver Trent Shelton
• Defensive end Rob Jackson
  
• Defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky

Not exactly sure what the Redskins saw in any of these players, but maybe that's why they pay the Redskins for these things, and not me.

UPDATE: The team apparently has signed former Giants QB Andre Woodson to the practice squad. Another player where I'm not sure what the Redskins see in him other than "Oh, hey, you know the Giants offense inside and out" type of thing. He completed less than 40 percent of his passes this preseason with zero TDs and 2 INTs. Pretty piss-poor. But, hey, he is 6-4.

But hey, the preseason is finally over. Time for the real games.

What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 4

The Redskins lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 24-17 Thursday night in the teams' final preseason game.

The Skins starters played sparingly, and (I believe) seven starters did not play at all. So I'm not even going to bother talking in detail about how the starters played. The "first-team" defense was so-so, the first-team offense was decent. Campbell looked comfortable, which is saying a lot considering Campbell almost never looks comfortable.

This being the final preseason game, the matchup belonged to backups. Todd Collins, the Redskins No. 2 QB, did not play. It was basically Chase Daniel vs. Colt Brennan for the Skins' No. 3 QB spot.

So what did we learn?

1. Anthony Alridge lost the ball, and probably lost a roster spot.
OK, I'll admit that I liked the way Alridge ran the ball last week against the Patriots. I liked his speed - something the Redskins' backfield didn't see much of last season. Unfortunately, Alridge fumbled the ball returning the Jags first kickoff, and Jacksonville recovered and quickly scored a touchdown putting the Redskins down 10-0 before the Skins offense touched the ball.

The other two running backs, Marcus Mason and Dominique Dorsey played well - I'll probably give the edge to Dorsey - so, that one mistake will probably cost Alridge his job with the Redskins.

2. The Redskins third-string QB situation is too close to call.
Daniel and Brennan both played well, but Daniel's night started out awkwardly because he came in after Campbell, leading the Redskins' second-team offense against mostly Jacksonville's first-team defense. It wasn't pretty. Daniel barely had time to throw - and in many cases didn't have time to throw - in his first-half action. Brennan relieved Daniel in the third quarter and faired better. Brennan was solid but not spectacular. He said after the game:

"I thought I managed the ball well--I didn't throw an interception today everybody!--so we're making progress."

Brennan had to leave the game midway through the fourth quarter because of a leg injury (did not seem serious), and Daniel came back in. He played much better against the Jags' third stringers than he did against the first, leading the Redskins down the field and throwing a TD to Marko Mitchell.

It'll be a tough decision on who the Redskins keep, and who they let go. I think the team will keep Brennan and try to stash Daniel on the practice squad. I'm not sure that will work out. My opinion? Try and keep both. They have talent.

3. The kicking situation is not settled.
Shaun Suisham and Dave Rayner are battling for the Redskins kicking job this season, but unfortunately, the Skins are just too bad on offense for the kickers to get many field-goal tries in. It will come down to the wire, and I think the team will probably keep Suisham because they're comfortable with him, even if he is one of the worst kickers in football.

4. Joe Theismann should be replaced as a broadcaster.
I love the guy as a Redskin, but as a broadcaster, it's just sad. And annoying. A few of his gems: (Talking about Campbell): "He stands there like a tree in a forest" trying to say that he sees above everyone. uh-huh. After Suisham kicked a 48-yard field goal: "I guess you could say he has a leg up right now." Yes, that was bad, Joe. "Pacman (Jones) is headed to the CFL" No, he's not Joe. They said no to Pacman. Joe also was talking about "that other league" referring to the UFL. Eesh. Oh, and pronouncing Reed Doughty's last name "Doherty" over, and over, and over again.

Some other (small) things we learned ...
Marko Mitchell, who caught a TD from Daniel in the fourth quarter, will make the team, and perhaps get a lot of playing time during the season. ... Defensive end/linebacker Chris Wilson had a tremendous game rushing the Jags QBs ... I thought backup fullback Eddie Williams did not have a good game, missing blocks. Mason didn't have much room to run. ... One-time starter-now-backup safety Reed Doughty has impressed me this preseason. I didn't like him last year, but he's come to play. Reminds me of former Redskin Matt Bowen. ... Second-year cornerback Justin Tryon had a good game with an interception, and looked really fast returning the pick. ... Rookie linebacker Robert Henson finally stood out on defense. Thought he might be on the bubble. Still might be, but he had a good game. .. Receiver Keith Eloi had a great catch from Daniel, but I think he'll still be among the cuts.

What to expect against Jaguars

Thursday night, the Redskins will play at Jacksonville.

It's the last preseason game, which means that all of the starters will play a quarter or less.

What this means is that, for an average fan, this game is almost meaningless. The important people in Thursday's game will probably be players you have never heard of. The game is, however, very exciting for all of us armcharm-GM types. The backups will play most of the game.

What to expect ...

It's Colt vs. Chase, Round 2.
I believe tonight will be the final battle of the Cult against the Church. If Colt Brennan plays poorly tonight, and Chase Daniel plays well, look out. Daniel could push Brennan out. I don't think it will play out like that, though. I do think that both quarterbacks are raw, but talented and should be kept on the roster. Brennan still has a leg-up on Daniel because of the extra ear.

I expect both quarterbacks to play well. I don't expect to see much of Jason Campbell or Todd Collins.

Watch the running backs.
Marcus Mason, Dominique Dorsey and Anthony Alridge are fighting for 1 or 2 roster spots. Probably only one. I think all are fine backs, and maybe the Redskins will release one of the more "secure" running backs - perhaps Ladell Betts - in order to give one of these three a shot.
Thursday night, whichever one of these runners plays the best will probably win a job. Mason has the best all-around potential, but Dorsey and Alridge both have great pure quickness and speed, something the Redskins have lacked at the running back position in quite some time.

The other camp battle.
The Redskins' field-goal kicking situation is still up in the air because the team just hasn't been able to attempt too much kicks. Shaun Suisham probably still has the leg-up on the job because the coaches are comfortable with him. Dave Rayner was brought in to battle with him, but Rayner hasn't attempted any kicks in a game from long range.

The competition might come down to Thursday.

Starters play little, and hopefully no injuries
Many starters - Clinton Portis, Albert Haynesworth, for two - will not even be playing Thursday. Most of the starters will only play a series, probably. The team is trying to avoid injuries, now, as it gears up for the regular season.

Roster cuts, Round 1 (80 to 75)

Tuesday, the Redskins will have to cut five players to get under the NFL mandated limit of 75.

UPDATE: The team made the cuts early. None of the players listed are really surprising, save perhaps Alfred Fincher.

Since there is still one preseason game to be played, and backups will probably get most of the work, the team will need depth at positions. The team is also going to have to cut another 20 players before the end of the week.

Instead of trying to figure out who the Redskins are going to cut - or who I would cut - here five bubble players who I feel need to make the team, somehow. These are guys whose status with the team is still up in the air.

• 1. Anthony Alridge, running back. My feeling is that the Redskins need some youth (and speed, more importantly) in their running back corps. No, he's not Marcus Mason. The Redskins don't need another strong runner. They need speed and dynamic ability. Mason is a strong runner, and Alridge is not a full-time runner. But Alridge brings another element to the table that Mason just doesn't have. It will be unpopular, but it's the right thing to do. Will Jim Zorn keep four running backs? Or will Ladell Betts and/or Rock Cartwright go? I just don't see Betts or Cartwright leaving, so the it will come down to whether or not Zorn wants to keep another running back around. I say he has to.
• 2. Antonio Dixon, Defensive tackle. I like what I've seen from his big guy out of Miami. He's made quite a few solid stops. The problem, again, is that the Redskins seem to be fairly deep at this position, and a rookie free agent has a hard time of stick around.
• 3. Marko Mitchell, wide receiver. No surprise, and I don't think Mitchell is even on the bubble anymore, but maybe he is. Mitchell has stood out more than anyone else in camp. He'll probably take the 5th wide receiver spot. It doesn't sound like Zorn will keep six receivers on the team.
• 4. Dave Rayner, kicker. Truth be told, I haven't seen this guy kick. All I know is that Shaun Suisham was the worst kicker in football last year and yet he's still fighting for a spot on the team. He missed a 52-yarder against the Patriots, and while a 52-yarder is no easy kick, it's yet more ammo against Suisham. I'm of the opinion that anyone - anyone - has to be better, right?
• 5. Chase Daniel, quarterback. Mayhap my opinion of Daniel will change Thursday against the Jaguars, if Daniel throws two interceptions and looks like he doesn't know what he's doing. The Redskins have the same problem with the quarterback position as they have with the running backs: old, established talent vs. young bucks. Todd Collins is solid. Then there are Colt Brennan and Daniel. Brennan and Daniel should make the team, but both won't, unfortunately. Daniel should get more extended playing time Thursday, and if he has another huge game, he could push Brennan out. My feeling, though, is that the Redskins will attempt to keep Daniel on the practice squad.

There are a few things I want to point out, real quick. There are no players from the offensive line on this list, nor are there players from the defensive backfield or linebackers. Quite frankly, no bubble players have stood out to me. Who has stood out for you?

What we learned, Vol 1, Chapter 3

The final score was Patriots 27, Redskins 24 - but it was a preseason game, and the final score really doesn't matter.

What we learned from Friday night's game:

1. Jason Campbell is just fine, thank you much.
Campbell looked solid in his first extended playing time of the year, completing a mix of passes against the Patriots, who will probably have one of the best defenses in the NFL. He wasn't perfect, overthrowing Santana Moss on a deep throw that would have been a touchdown because Moss was open by 4-5 yards. But it was a solid showing, which Campbell needed.

2. Still don't know about the receivers.
Moss will be the No. 1 receiver, that is for sure. But after that ... The Redskins seem to really want to get Malcolm Kelly into that No. 2 roll, but he dropped end-zone fade routes. To be fair, the throws weren't great, but Kelly was drafted to make those sort of catches. After him, Devin Thomas was solid, if not spectacular, as was Antwaan Randle El. The man all of these receivers might have to look out for is rookie Marko Mitchell. He stood out on a 33-yard touchdown from Colt Brennan, and has been surprising throughout the preseason. If he keeps playing like he has, he'll move up the depth chart quickly.

3. The Patriots have a great offense.
The Redskins seem to have a pretty good defense, but New England made the Skins' defense look like swiss cheese. Using quick, accurate, mid-range passing, Tom Brady and the Patriots consistently drove the field on the Redskins, who couldn't really seem to get much pressure. But Brady was getting rid of the ball pretty quickly. Not even really sure Brady was hit until Albert Haynesworth knocked him out of the game in the second quarter.

4. The Redskins have running back issues.
The team will probably only keep three running backs on its roster ... and that's a big issue. Clinton Portis is the starter. Ladell Betts seems entrenched as a third-down back/No. 2 rusher. Rock Cartwright is the special teams demon/kick returner. After that, there's Marcus Mason, Dominique Dorsey and Anthony Alridge.
Alridge I expected to be cut any day now, because he's been injured most of camp and hadn't seen the field until the Patriots game. Well, he played and led the Redskins in rushing with almost 50 yards on nine carries, showing off his speed and elusiveness.
Dorsey has been an upgrade over Randle El on punt returns, and has looked decent as a runner. He's another guy who has shown off his speed.
And then there is Marcus Mason, who isn't quite as fast as Dorsey or Alridge - or quite as elusive - but has a little more build to him that allows Mason to run through tackles a big better. He was perhaps the most impressive runner from Friday night, scoring a 1-yard TD on the Patriots first-team defense.

Quite a problem. And no easy solution. Cartwright plays on all of the special teams and is a leader there, but Mason, Alridge and Dorsey have all shown the ability to run the ball and provide a bigger spark than Cartwright.

What to expect tonight against Patriots

It's preseason, week 3, which usually signifies a longer stay on the field for Jason Campbell, and he needs it. The starting quarterback has played, probably, 15ish snaps. I could go add it up, but I won't.

Look for Campbell to play a half. And perhaps the Redskins starting offense can score a touchdown. For a change.

Five other things to look for against New England:

1. How much time will Todd Collins get?
After his performance last week, rookie Chase Daniel has been getting a lot of good press. Coach Jim Zorn probably won't play a lot of Collins, if at all. The team knows what Collins can do. He's not going to surprise anyone. He's solid, but aged. The Redskins want to see what Daniel can do, and they want to see what Colt Brennan can do. Brennan has had two bad games in a row, making ginormous mistakes at bad times.

2. Who's the No. 2 receiver?
OK, Santana Moss is No. 1. No doubt about that for now. But the team seems desperate to get Antwaan Randle El out of that second receiver spot and into the slot receiver/third receiving spot that he performed so well in when he was with Pittsburgh. It looks like Malcolm Kelly might be getting a shot at No. 2, if he can stay injury free. Devin Thomas has been slipping, and looks like he's at No. 4.

3. How well will the first-team defense stand up against Tom Brady and the Patriots?
All through camp, this defense, with its pass-rushing additions, has been talked about as being fantastic. I, myself, have said the defense has looked pretty dang good in preseason games. Tonight, the defense will get a strong challenge from Brady and the Patriots, who did a pretty good job of dismantling the Redskins the last time the two teams met. In that 52-7 bombing, the Patriots did a good job of attacking the Redskins' flats. We'll see if Pats coach Bill Belichick goes for the same thing (though, it being just a preseason game, Belichick probably won't bother game-planning).

4. Will anyone on the defense below the first team stand out?
Maybe I haven't been paying too close attention, but has there been a standout on defense, who isn't a starter? Chris Wilson might be the closest thing, delivering a bone-jarring sack in the Pittsburgh game. Kareem Moore has showed something, it's just a little hard to figure out what, right now. Haven't seen much in the secondary.

5. What becometh of Dominique Dorsey and Anthony Alridge?
The two running back speedsters haven't shown much so far, though they haven't been given too many chances. Dorsey has looked explosive on punt returns, but he hasn't been given too much shots. Alridge has been hurt all camp, and has shown absolutely nothing. The Redskins don't have too much in pure speed, so Dorsey and Alridge were brought in to help in that department. Alridge will get his first playing time of the season tonight.

The game is on nationally on CBS. Enjoy the show.