The Redskins Are Close

[12thMan]

It seemed like yesterday we were enduring the August sun and training camp predictions. Anything and everything about Brian Orakapo, Marko Mitchell, or Marcus Mason was newsworthy and commanded our attention. Now two games into the regular season and we're sharply focused on a Redskin team like a couple of know it all interns bickering over how to treat a patient who just got wheeled into the emergency room. While the situation may require medical assistance, what's ailing the patient is not life threatening. Not even close.

I asked myself if I were the fan of another team, who happens to catch all the Redskins games live, what would be my honest assessment of this team and where do I see them going. Because grading something -anything- is difficult when you're so emotionally invested in the outcome. So I'm taking a step back. Where's that damn Paintrain thread when you need it!

I really don't want to rehash the team's epic failures in the red zone, because it's been well documented here and elsewhere. In fact, it's been talked about over and over and over again. I don't think there's one person breathing today that will put more pressure on Jim Zorn this week than Jim Zorn. We saw the offense open up from week one to week two. Coach Zorn just needs to take the next step, and I believe he will.

Besides coach Jim Zorn the other Redskin causing angst among the faithful is Jason Campbell. Right now Campbell is ranked 15th in the NFL in passing. Let me throw a few names out there for perspective. Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, and Aaron Rodgers, who by the way, has been sacked 10 times already, all rank below Campbell statistically. For all the critcism he's been receiving, some warranted some not, you would think he's chucking the ball in the air like Jake Delhomme. So let's be a little honest here, Campbell has been solid and probably a little more given the dropped passes he's had at critical moments thus far. I'm not a Jason Campbell apologist, but I sometimes wonder if the tables were turned and Campbell wore another uniform how many trade threads would be requesting for him to come play for Washington so that Zorn can "coach him up."

This team just needs to keep on winning until they find the easy button. If winning ugly is the formula for now, I'll take it. I'd much rather be going into week three bitching and moaning about Zorn than going into week six or seven bitching about Zorn. There's no way Moss will continue to be ineffective that much longer. Especially with the way Cooley and Kelly have started. I think Sellers and Thomas catch those balls next time. And honestly, I don't think losing Randy Thomas will be that big of a deal. He hasn't played a ton of downs over the past few years anyway, and when he has he wasn't exactly dominant, so I don't see any major disruption along the offensive line regardless of who they plug in to replace Thomas.

All of that being said, the Redskins will handle their business in Detroit. I'm not calling for a close game either. The Redskins are 7-2 in indoor facilities in the last six years, including 2004 and 2008 wins over the Lions at Ford Field. The defensive line found another gear last week and should only get better as the season wears on. And I think --hope --Zorn opens up the offense inside the twenty. I won't predict a final score, but I think the Skins by 17 points is doable. From there, I think they finish the season with six losses.

Here's to a big, big win in the Motor City this weekend!