Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Redskins vs. Rams)

I'm tired of everything getting tossed back on Jason even when he plays a solid game. JC was a pretty good RZ QB early on in his career, plus he adds the threat of being able to run. How about a naked bootleg, or spread them out 4 wide and let JC operate out of the gun where he seems so comfortable?

I'm sorry but the RZ issues are all on Zorn at this point. He's shown zero imagination and he's not utilizing his best RZ weapons. He keeps putting the handcuffs on the offense in the RZ when he just needs to let it rip. He's going to lose whatever confidence the team has in him really quick if this keeps up.

You should read Boswell's article in today's Wash Post. He basically says the O wasnt good at scoring under Gibbs and now with essentially the same guys they arent good at scoring under Zorn. Its the players, not the coaching. Think about it, the Moss & ARE are midgets so they get lost in the RZ. They only have 1 RB that's a threat so he's easily keyed on and stopped. JC throws a hard ball at close range which creates problems. Cooley as the only receiving threat is then double teamed and neutralized. The O can move up the field fine but just doesnt have the horses to be successful in the RZ.

Someone here made a good point that I hadn't really though of until watching the game again this morning. Why do we wait until we get in the red zone to go for the end zone?


During the preseason, especially against the Patriots, it seemed like we were previewing that type of offensive philosophy. But, so far in the regular season, we haven't really seen the Redskins try for a home run shot down field. I think that might be the answer. Heck, Zorn needs to have this philosophy: if I'm going to go down in flames, I'm going to at least open things up...live by the sword, die by the sword.

Who knows? Maybe trying more huge passes down field will open up a better red zone offense, running attack, etc.... it couldn't hurt.

Or too much imagination. 3rd down option pass from Portis? How about a fade to Mitchell or Kelly from Campbell? Simple, yet effective


Its funny you mention the fade. Kelli Johnson asked JC about running the fade during CSN's post game show yesterday and JC's response was "we are working on it". I almost fell out of my chair.

You should read Boswell's article in today's Wash Post. He basically says the O wasnt good at scoring under Gibbs and now with essentially the same guys they arent good at scoring under Zorn. Its the players, not the coaching. Think about it, the Moss & ARE are midgets so they get lost in the RZ. They only have 1 RB that's a threat so he's easily keyed on and stopped. JC throws a hard ball at close range which creates problems. Cooley as the only receiving threat is then double teamed and neutralized. The O can move up the field fine but just doesnt have the horses to be successful in the RZ.


I can understand going with the line of thinking that its the players, and it very well could be. But, I think if it is the players, it's because they have the mentality already instilled in them that they are a low scoring team that will win close games each and every year. That was one downfall with Gibbs 2.0...he basically said that about his team (although he was absolutely right and calling a spade a spade.)

And I know I'm talking about another era in football, but the Redskins had small receivers when they won their first Super Bowl in '82. Riggins was the man go to back, and Donnie Warren wasn't exactly Chris Cooley. But, I do understand what you're saying in regards to the West Coast offense and wide receivers. With so many crossing patterns, you do need a big target receivers who will go cross in the middle. Has to be tougher when the receivers are shorter.

JC throws a hard ball at close range which creates problems.

Your the 2nd person to make this idiotic comment! WTF guys, he hits D.Thomas and Sellers right in the hands, and your blaming JC because he throws too hard? If you cant catch....you shouldnt have a job in the NFL. I understand dogging him when he under/over throws someone, but now we have issues with how hard he throws? Please.....thats a joke!!! BTW, Favre has made a pretty good name for himself throwing the ball ALOT harder. JC throws a beautiful ball, its always a nice tight spiral. Quit making excuses for NFL'ers who clearly cannot catch!!!!

And if your quoting the paper I apologize, but SBXVII always says this stupid crap.

Someone here made a good point that I hadn't really though of until watching the game again this morning. Why do we wait until we get in the red zone to go for the end zone?

I say this without having watched any coaches tape, so some of it might come out of ignorance. But there is zero verticality to this offense. Everything is 12 yard crossing routes. They took shots to Kelly (should have gone, bad throw) and Thomas (bad route). But I'm not saying you throw bombs that have a low success rate, but how about some 20 yard digs or something. It is a very compressed offense. And they blame that on teams taking away Moss, but I think it is a lack of imagination on the offensive staff. Or maybe just stubbornness and desire to run some pure WC passing tree. It is possible to have verticality in a WC scheme, though, just look at the Eagles under Reid.

Your the 2nd person to make this idiotic comment! WTF guys, he hits D.Thomas and Sellers right in the hands, and your blaming JC because he throws too hard? If you cant catch....you shouldnt have a job in the NFL. I understand dogging him when he under/over throws someone, but now we have issues with how hard he throws? Please.....thats a joke!!! BTW, Favre has made a pretty good name for himself throwing the ball ALOT harder. JC throws a beautiful ball, its always a nice tight spiral. Quit making excuses for NFL'ers who clearly cannot catch!!!!

And if your quoting the paper I apologize, but SBXVII always says this stupid crap.

I think the point is that there is a time for hard balls and a time for easy balls. JC typically throws a hard ball and struggles with the easy balls.

BTW, not only does Sellers have a job iin the NFL, for some unexplicable reason the Redskins just gave him an extension but that's another thread.

Your the 2nd person to make this idiotic comment! WTF guys, he hits D.Thomas and Sellers right in the hands, and your blaming JC because he throws too hard? If you cant catch....you shouldnt have a job in the NFL. I understand dogging him when he under/over throws someone, but now we have issues with how hard he throws? Please.....thats a joke!!! BTW, Favre has made a pretty good name for himself throwing the ball ALOT harder. JC throws a beautiful ball, its always a nice tight spiral. Quit making excuses for NFL'ers who clearly cannot catch!!!!

And if your quoting the paper I apologize, but SBXVII always says this stupid crap.

Boswell did say that, but you are right, it is BS. Your Favre comparison is pretty good. The bottom line is that Mike Sellers is a good blocker but nothing else and Devin Thomas is not an NFL receiver. Thomas should never be on the field when we could instead of Kelly out there. They will continue to do it, because they drafted the guy high and they want to see if he has anything, but I am convinced now that he is a major liability whenever he is on the field. Kelly makes the team better.

We really did not learn much about Campbell this week. He left some plays on the field, he had guys let him down at other times. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket at times, but when he could throw on rhythm he was good. We're still in wait-and-see mode, but right now the offensive coaching is the heart of the issue.

Or too much imagination. 3rd down option pass from Portis? How about a fade to Mitchell or Kelly from Campbell? Simple, yet effective

Yeah wrong kind of imagination there. That was high school crap.

You should read Boswell's article in today's Wash Post. He basically says the O wasnt good at scoring under Gibbs and now with essentially the same guys they arent good at scoring under Zorn. Its the players, not the coaching. Think about it, the Moss & ARE are midgets so they get lost in the RZ. They only have 1 RB that's a threat so he's easily keyed on and stopped. JC throws a hard ball at close range which creates problems. Cooley as the only receiving threat is then double teamed and neutralized. The O can move up the field fine but just doesnt have the horses to be successful in the RZ.

I did and I still have the same opinion.

We now have Kelly, Thomas, and Davis, bigger guys that should be quality RZ targets. Get them all in there along with Cooley. I don't buy this crap that we don't have targets.