Charley Casserly's Take on the skins Redzone Problems

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think Casserly makes a valid point. Cooley is our only true red zone threat. With the way teams key on him down there it's surprising that he has as many TDs as he does.

You can't fix this by saying... well just throw more bombs before you get to the red zone. That's really not addressing the issue.

I agree that we'll need to find another red zone threat. But would you agree that they should take more shots from outside the redzone, when the NFL through pass interference rules, is begging teams to do it?

[mheisig]

Sounds like we need some large receivers and/or a line that can bust open some massive holes for CP.

Didn't we have one of the best redzone offenses in the league early on in the season? Cooley seemed to be catching short TD passes right and left. Perhaps teams have figured that out and have just shut him down since we have no other viable threat.

[MTK]

Of course I'd like to see us take more shots down the field, but with ARE being out and Moss not at 100% I think that's really hurt that area of the offense.

[rypper11]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Of course I'd like to see us take more shots down the field, but with ARE being out and Moss not at 100% I think that's really hurt that area of the offense.

Moss seems like another player with his new shoes. Hopefully he'll connect a few times downfield Thursday.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by rypper11

Moss seems like another player with his new shoes. Hopefully he'll connect a few times downfield Thursday.

Yeah but they still don't seem to be sending him deep. Even with the altered shoe he's not 100%.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by redsk1

He is young and going to make mistakes but they noted the skins have only one redzone threat...Cooley. Well guess what..these teams know that. After that who else? His sources say JC really needs a big WR threat to become more effective.

This was me a few days ago in another thread:

Originally Posted by Southpaw

Cooley has size and strength, and he is the best receiving threat in the red zone, but the problem is every team in the league knows that. Every time Campbell went to Cooley in the endzone yesterday, he was triple covered. I'm actually surprised that Cooley was able to have such good receiving numbers, since there were Bills drapped all over him, all day long.

But Washington still needs a true possession receiver. A big receiver with good hands that can bail Campbell out when his passes are a foot or two off the mark. Something which Santana Moss seems unable to do. I don't know how or where they'll find this guy, but they need to do it ASAP.

It's not rocket science. Every team in the league has figured out that Cooley is the only legitimate red zone threat. And yet the coaching staff hasn't done anything to combat this situation.

[redsk1]

I really don't know much about Mix. However, he was dumped by the NYG. Sometimes people, mis-evaluate talent but usually not. I don't think he is the answer.

Someone alluded to last year or earlier this year being pretty good in the red zone. We were good when our oline was intact at the end of last year and could run it and we were good til teams "figured it out" and started doubling Cooley earlier this year.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by redsk1

I really don't know much about Mix. However, he was dumped by the NYG. Sometimes people, mis-evaluate talent but usually not. I don't think he is the answer.

I don't know if you remember, but Ricky Sanders was a NE castoff. We know what he did afterwards with us.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by SFREDSKIN

I don't know if you remember, but Ricky Sanders was a NE castoff. We know what he did afterwards with us.

Well if Mix turns out to be great he could solve this problem

Until then, however, we are going to continue to have trouble in the redzone for the aforementioned reasons.

I still contend that it would be worthwhile looking at a receiver in the first round. With our last three first round picks busting out (Howard, Westbrook, and Gardner) odds say we are due for HOF'er

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by redsk1

I really don't know much about Mix. However, he was dumped by the NYG. Sometimes people, mis-evaluate talent but usually not. I don't think he is the answer.

From the info I read on him, the Giants liked him, but the only WR spot he played was the X, which for the Giants is Plaxico Burress. It also appeared the NYG fans weren't happy with him being let go. I'm not saying he is the singular solution to our Red Zone woes, but when you have a 6'5" WR matched up against a 5'10" corner you have to take a shot at a fade. Even if Mix doesn't make the play, it may force the defense to adjust or shift, which may open Cooley or someone else. DBs are always taught to take away the slant inside the 10, and if you have short WRs the DBs can really cheat on the slant because the fade is extremely difficult to throw to a shorter WR.

Based on where we are with our WR corps right now we need to find out if this kid can make plays. If he can great, we found a WR. If not, we will at least have had a chance to evaluate if he can develop and is worth keeping around. He also played with Campbell at Auburn and JC lobbied to get him here. It would go far in showing confidence in JC by giving Mix a chance.

[dmek25]

all we need is a tall receiver. yeah right. the answer to everything. to me, size has nothing to do with getting open. it seems to me that Steve Smith scores his share of touchdowns. whats he? all of 5' 9". Marvin Harrison scores a bunch,. and he is barely 6 foot tall. our line is the problem. once in the red zone, it always seems like Campbell is running for his life. we need to see more of Portis in the red zone. if anything, he has the knack for finding pay dirt

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by dmek25

all we need is a tall receiver. yeah right. the answer to everything. to me, size has nothing to do with getting open. it seems to me that Steve Smith scores his share of touchdowns. whats he? all of 5' 9". Marvin Harrison scores a bunch,. and he is barely 6 foot tall. our line is the problem. once in the red zone, it always seems like Campbell is running for his life. we need to see more of Portis in the red zone. if anything, he has the knack for finding pay dirt

Good points. It seems like the smaller recievers Harrison, Smith catch alot of their td passes by big plays (not all, but alot). Big plays...meaning 25 yards or more. We have a problem w/ that too no doubt.

I don't disclude smaller recievers it just seems like the bigger WR are better threats to score when the ball is in the red zone. Just my opinion. I think what other teams said was our lack of a big play WR hindering JC, not necessarily a big WR. I do think a big talented play making receiver would be a tremendous benefit. They don't grow on trees though.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by dmek25

all we need is a tall receiver. yeah right. the answer to everything. to me, size has nothing to do with getting open. it seems to me that Steve Smith scores his share of touchdowns. whats he? all of 5' 9". Marvin Harrison scores a bunch,. and he is barely 6 foot tall. our line is the problem. once in the red zone, it always seems like Campbell is running for his life. we need to see more of Portis in the red zone. if anything, he has the knack for finding pay dirt

Yeah, I've always dismissed the importance of a tall receiver. The Rams in '99 seemed to do just fine with Bruce, Holt, and Az-Hakim -- all 6'0 or less.

A lot of it has to do with your offensive scheme, which, I don't think anyone can define what the Redskins' scheme is or is supposed to be.

As for the red zone problems, another thing that needs to be done is drop the 'jumbo' package. Joe Theismann was a guest on the John Riggins Show this afternoon, and he's another former player who's gone on record to say that you need to spread things out a bit, and that the Redskins don't have the players to line up everybody in one spot and bulldoze the defensive line.

Give Campbell better protection, get Campbell to be smarter with the ball, and the redzone issues get resolved. Throw in a 6'2 or 6'4 wideout if you want to, but all the height in the world won't matter when your QB keeps throwing the ball to the wrong guys while he's running for his life.

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

As for the red zone problems, another thing that needs to be done is drop the 'jumbo' package. Joe Theismann was a guest on the John Riggins Show this afternoon, and he's another former player who's gone on record to say that you need to spread things out a bit, and that the Redskins don't have the players to line up everybody in one spot and bulldoze the defensive line.

Joey T. hit it right on the head, the Skins under Gibbs 1 always had a bruiser back like Brandon Jacobs. My solution on the redzone is feed the ball to Sellers till he gets it in, he's proved that he can run it, now give him the chance to pound it in.

[SFREDSKIN]

Here's what Paul Woody from the Sporting News has to say:

The team's red zone offense borders on abysmal. The Redskins can get the ball inside the 10, but then they hit roadblocks. They can't get enough of a push off the line to run the ball. They can't find enough room in the compressed area to make the passing game work. TE Chris Cooley is their most effective red-zone receiver, something teams have figured out. The lack of a big receiver all but eliminates running fade routes. Also, injuries to the receivers limit their practice time with QB Jason Campbell on timing routes across the back of the end zone.

Todd Yoder has been adequate filling in for FB Mike Sellers (back), but Yoder is strictly a blocker. Sellers gives the team the option of sending a 284-pound back into the middle of the line as a runner. Sellers can push the pile, which is something the team needs near the goal line. ...