Redskins making their point without scoring

[HOGWILD21]

It was a great day for touchdowns in the NFL. The average winning score on Sunday was 34 points. Eleven teams topped the 30-point barrier.

The Washington Redskins, once again, were not one of them.

Coach Jim Zorn's team managed a 20-17 win over Seattle, which actually raised the team's points-per-game average up to a middling 18.3, ranking 27th in the NFL.

The only teams scoring at a more tepid rate — Cincinnati, Oakland, Kansas City, Seattle and Detroit — have a combined record of 7-47-1, coincidentally the same number of victories by the Redskins (7-4).

"I would love to have that change," Zorn said. "But I don't want to go in our meeting and say 'Guys, we've got to rise up. We're 27th. C'mon men.' It can't be like that. We just got to continue to press on, and at some point I'm hoping that we develop a higher level of point production because we're better."

Zorn paused, then finished a bit of candor: "Maybe we are only that good right now. I don't feel it, but something's not happening."

The win over the struggling Seahawks allowed the Redskins to keep pace with Dallas (7-4) and Atlanta (7-4) in the NFC wild card race, but the road gets tougher with games against two of the top defenses in the league. Washington hosts the New York Giants (10-1) on Sunday and travels to Baltimore (7-4) a week later.

"Who knows?" quarterback Jason Campbell said. "It may be 10-9 games because the defenses are so good on both sides."

Throughout the season, the Redskins have struggled to convert yards into points. They've compensated with a healthy advantage in time of possession (32:25 per game) and by taking care of the ball (10 turnovers, tied for second fewest in the NFL). Clinton Portis, with more ailing body parts than even he can count, has retaken the lead as the league's leading rusher (1,206 yards), and the defense has risen to No. 1 in the NFC.

But why can't this team score more often?

Zorn drummed his fingers on his podium as he discussed the red zone miscues against the Seahawks. A pass dropped by Mike Sellers on third-and-1 in the fourth quarter. A mis-kick by Shaun Suisham, who could only hit the crossbar on a 43-yard field goal attempt. Some calls the coach wishes he had back, including a play in which Campbell was flushed out of the pocket, and a pass to the end zone that Malcolm Kelly had to drift out of bounds to catch.

"I'm irritated thinking about it right now," Zorn said of the call why rapping the podium again to show his frustration.

Zorn also said Campbell is sometimes overcompensating for a problem from earlier in the season. Instead of zeroing in on one receiver, the quarterback will now give up on his first option too quickly.

"Remember at the beginning of the season I couldn't get him off that receiver?" Zorn said. "Now 5 yards down the field, he's looking for No. 2 and No. 3."

Campbell agreed that the offense has much to work on, but he noted that the Redskins are 7-4 without having played an all-around, complete game.

"We still have a lot of run for improvement," Campbell said. "With five games to go, you just want to get hot at the right time."

Coaches who are still in the hunt at Thanksgiving usually turn on the intensity during the season's stretch drive. Zorn, in his first year, doesn't plan any changes at practice, but he's going to make sure his players don't let up.

"Through my animation and my loud voice, I'm not going to allow them to take a step back," Zorn said. "I'm going to push hard."

[Mike Bass]

MB: great find Rob!!

The only teams scoring at a more tepid rate — Cincinnati, Oakland, Kansas City, Seattle and Detroit — have a combined record of 7-47-1, coincidentally the same number of victories by the Redskins (7-4).

MB: This is not good going into the playoff push...thank gawd for our D but we are going to have to open games up a bit or we are going to lose some of the close ones.

"I would love to have that change," Zorn said. "But I don't want to go in our meeting and say 'Guys, we've got to rise up. We're 27th. C'mon men.' It can't be like that. We just got to continue to press on, and at some point I'm hoping that we develop a higher level of point production because we're better."

Zorn paused, then finished a bit of candor: "Maybe we are only that good right now. I don't feel it, but something's not happening."

MB: I love Zorn and his upside as a coach but he has to find that "something that's not hapening" and make adjustments to it....That's his Job... It may not be too late but it is getting to where he should know what's wrong.

The win over the struggling Seahawks allowed the Redskins to keep pace with Dallas (7-4) and Atlanta (7-4) in the NFC wild card race, but the road gets tougher with games against two of the top defenses in the league. Washington hosts the New York Giants (10-1) on Sunday and travels to Baltimore (7-4) a week later.

MB: Too close for comfort!!

Zorn also said Campbell is sometimes overcompensating for a problem from earlier in the season. Instead of zeroing in on one receiver, the quarterback will now give up on his first option too quickly.

"Remember at the beginning of the season I couldn't get him off that receiver?" Zorn said. "Now 5 yards down the field, he's looking for No. 2 and No. 3."

MB: Finding a happy medium may/hopefully come to Campbell in the Giants game if this is the problem, if he finds it and receivers ala Kelly and Thomas steps up we can really be dangerous on offense.

Coaches who are still in the hunt at Thanksgiving usually turn on the intensity during the season's stretch drive. Zorn, in his first year, doesn't plan any changes at practice, but he's going to make sure his players don't let up.

"Through my animation and my loud voice, I'm not going to allow them to take a step back," Zorn said. "I'm going to push hard."

MB: This is what made Gibbs so great in December and hopefully we can get the same out of JZ... I think that he has it in him.

[HOGWILD21]

MB: I love Zorn and his upside as a coach but he has to find that "something that's not happening" and make adjustments to it....That's his Job... It may not be too late but it is getting to where he should know what's wrong.



I was thinking the same thing MB.wE ARE ALREADY IN WEEK 12.HE SHOULD HAVE FOUND IT ON THE BYE WEEK.WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IS LET JC SCRAMBLE.HE HAS DONE GREAT SCRAMBLING.

[NCSKINSFAN]

I would rather win most of my games by one point than a few of them by a lot of points. A win is a win! If the Redskins keep on winning then what's the problem? Back in 1987 we called it winning ugly. We won 13 games by 7 points or less. We then go on to score 42 points in the Super Bowl.

[Mike Bass]

I would rather win most of my games by one point than a few of them by a lot of points. A win is a win! If the Redskins keep on winning then what's the problem? Back in 1987 we called it winning ugly. We won 13 games by 7 points or less. We then go on to score 42 points in the Super Bowl.

This is true if we keep on winning them...I just hope that keeping it close in the next five games stays in our favor.