Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Week 1)

5. Clock Management
I hate to add on to another man's list, but I can't ignore this one. I was as upset about every other aspect of the game as anyone else, but the clock management at the end of the half and especially the end of the game was absolutely infuriating.

We're nothing short of lucky that we managed to score at the end of the half, completely in spite of poor clock management.

Do we not even have a 2-minute offense? A 4-minute offense? I swear it was like Zorn didn't even realize it was the 4th quarter or that this game actually goes on the record. The play calling was atrocious and the timeout management was like they weren't even sure how the system worked.

The sense of urgency, the playcalling and the time management was reminiscent of either a preseason game or a 3rd quarter drive.

I can almost live w/ the other bad parts of the game, but the clock management was horrible. I don't really give him a free pass b/c he's a 1st yr head coach. When there's only 6 minutes left in a game and your down by 2 scores you'd better be in your hurry up offense. I know they had one b/c at the end of the game w/ about 1 min left they used it. Wasn't pretty but they used it. It was pretty bad. John Madden was trying not to be too critical but he couldn't help himself.

I think the reason it's so infuriating is that it seems relatively simple. I'm not saying I could be a coach in the NFL or understand the game half as well as these guys do, but it just seems like the goofed on really, really simplistic stuff.

Maybe it's more of a mindset. There seemed to be no sense of urgency. You're down by 2 scores with less than 3:00 on the clock and there's no hurry up, still huddling, still casually walking up to the line, Zorn is still on the sideline squinting and staring and calling 5 yard dives up the middle JC hitting receivers in the middle of the field for a gain of 4 yards.

It seems SO simplistic and such a dumb thing to screw up on which I guess is why it's so maddening. It's not like it felt like two offensive or defensive geniuses scheming and playing a hard fought game. It felt like the Giants were an NFL team and we were complete amateurs, totally fucking clueless as to what to do next.

Agreed. Zorn does not deserve a free pass here. He looked overmatched last night and over his head. DS and Vin wanted the guy they felt comfortable with and they got him. On a personal level I can understand it, because even when I watched the post game interviews I was taken with the man. But he has never been a head coach on any level and you saw last night that the learning curve remains steep for him. He even looked Sonny in the face in the locker room and indicated he had total control of the clock at the end of the game. The guy gives a good interview, but we've retarded the offense yet again and maybe ruined Jason Campbell for good. Anyone else notice that the best looking throws he made all night were the ones down the field (including that one that James Thrash should have caught at the end of the game), could we incorporate that into the offense? Apparently DS&V made it a priority to find someone to help Jason Campbell's development in their extensive interview process. But I guess it didn't cross their mind that just bringing in a "QB Guru" to run a new offense might not be as good as keeping Al Saunders and retaining some offensive continuity (Gregg Williams first choice apparently, retain the staff for the good of Campbell's development ... maybe that guy understands football ... novel concept). Zorn might be fine, but it might take a while. I wonder if he'll even get the time? No one else has gotten that luxery.

Good thread, I'll add my own shots:

1. Jason Campbell: Trust what you are seeing out there. On that swing pass you attempted to Betts early in the game that got batted down you had Cooley open over the middle and you looked him off and instead made a more difficult attempt to Betts. Don't lock on... settle down and trust your reads and get the ball out! Things are there, you're just not trusting what you're seeing.

2. Jim Zorn: The 4 minute offense was non-existent. Where was the tempo? Too many times we took way too long getting in and out of the huddle. Ever heard of a guy named Chris Cooley? Get this guy involved early and often! When 2 passes go his way all night something is seriously not right.

Anyone else notice that the best looking throws he made all night were the ones down the field (including that one that James Thrash should have caught at the end of the game), could we incorporate that into the offense?

i totally and emphatically agree...ill give zorn till week six...to at least prove he has some wits about him. Im with you on pretty much everything you said SC.
sigh..the sad thing is there really arent that many other coaches out there right now.

Nice feature Smoot. Will it be four every week? As well as a Smackdown how about a Pat on the back each week too?

I agree completely about Springs. Even if he was extremely limited and only got in a few plays, having him in uniform changes what the offense thinks we can do.

i totally and emphatically agree...ill give zorn till week six...to at least prove he has some wits about him. Im with you on pretty much everything you said SC.
sigh..the sad thing is there really arent that many other coaches out there right now.
I didn't want a retread coach (Fassel and to a lesser degree Williams or Bellick) so we are gonna have to live with on the job training.

I don't like going negative, but since I know you're not a Chicken Little, I'll play along..

1. Carlos Rogers, good God man have you ever caught a football before in your life? If he caught 60% of the INT he has dropped over the years he'd be a pro bowl CB but he acts like the ball is on fire. I'd be more tolerant of you playing 15 yards off of the ball and still getting beat if you'd do positives to offset that.

2. Casey Rabach-He got blown up all night. When the middle of the line gets no push, the running game is dead. He's got to improve and quickly.

3. Shawn Springs-2 words, man up. I'm tired of you missing games by being nicked. There's a reason why you are considered injury prone and a diva, it's because you act like one. Monday you get kicked in the calf and Thursday you can't play thru it with 10 days to recover for the next game?? Pathetic.

4. Coach Z-Playcalling, D-. You preach aggression, let's see some. Clock management, D-. You preach tempo, let's see some.

5. Redskins fans-Chill.

About the fans... Its hilarious that its all of these "non-traitors" calling the season over and calling for Colt Brennan to start after 1 game. Wow.

like a bunch of damn over-emotional menapausal women. Get your damn ovaries in check!

I'm SO with you on Springs SS. It's a BRUISE. I mean damn, Jansen was playing with two broken thumbs a couple seasons ago.

It's funny regarding Springs. People say he should have been out there playing with his injury, but Taylor plays with his injury and people say he shouldn't have. Who's to say that Springs would have faired any better than Taylor?

Blache should have yanked Taylor out of there early on. I did notice more of Evans as the game went on, but early on JT was clearly a liability and he just looked gimpy all night.