Redskins Offense: What's the Problem?

[SirClintonPortis]

I have to say it's the O-line. There's simply no time for Campbell to go deep when fast pass rushers are chasing him down(i.e DeMarcus Ware).

[JWsleep]

I agree with Beem here. It's the line. Zorn himself said he had to change his playcalling to deal with the lack of pass pro. And he pointed out that several plays where they went short actually have a first read deep. JC is getting pressure and saving what he can. He does not have time to sit back and let a long route develop. So he goes short. The screens were called to try to relieve some of the pressure. If the line could block, you wouldn't need to do that.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

I agree with Beem here. It's the line. Zorn himself said he had to change his playcalling to deal with the lack of pass pro. And he pointed out that several plays where they went short actually have a first read deep. JC is getting pressure and saving what he can. He does not have time to sit back and let a long route develop. So he goes short. The screens were called to try to relieve some of the pressure. If the line could block, you wouldn't need to do that.

With 3 second round draft picks, we could have, and probably should have used one to address the O-line. This team has serious issues on both lines. The offensive line can't protect the QB for anything greater than a 3 step drop, and the D-line can't pressure the opposing QB without blitzing. Consider this - the Redskins haven't drafted an O or D lineman before the 3rd round since Chris Samuels in 2000. You reap what you sow...

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

With 3 second round draft picks, we could have, and probably should have used one to address the O-line. This team has serious issues on both lines. The offensive line can't protect the QB for anything greater than a 3 step drop, and the D-line can't pressure the opposing QB without blitzing. Consider this - the Redskins haven't drafted an O or D lineman before the 3rd round since Chris Samuels in 2000. You reap what you sow...

Bingo -- Bammo.

They haven't drafted a defensive lineman in the first two rounds since Kenard Lang in 1997.

What, did they just think they can go around the league to other teams' trash heaps for all the D-linemen they need?

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Bingo -- Bammo.

They haven't drafted a defensive lineman in the first two rounds since Kenard Lang in 1997.

What, did they just think they can go around the league to other teams' trash heaps for all the D-linemen they need?

Well, there is FA. Rabach and Thomas were upgrades. I think Thomas especially was a good pickup, though injuries have killed him.

DL is hard to draft, I'm afraid. Unless you're in the top 10, it's something of a crap shoot. But they need to draft on the oline, especially with Buges there to coach em up. That's been a glaring error.

[70Chip]

The receivers are the problem. Vinny Cerrato's failure to properly evaluate Kelly and Thomas has set us back terribbly. I'm waiting tor the leaks to start soon about how worthless these two are in terms of work habits, etc. as a prelude to dumping them In the offseason) and signing a veteran or two. The team always defends busts right up to the point when they stop defending them.

I think Zorn and his staff can succeed, if we fire Cerratto and bring in some one else or perhaps promote Morrocco Whatshisface that everyone loves so much. Vinny is hopeless. I listen to him and he can't get a sentence out without mentioning Notre Dame or San Fransisco and how great his times were there. He doesn't even like the Redskins. He needs to go.

[Jake2008]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

With 3 second round draft picks, we could have, and probably should have used one to address the O-line. This team has serious issues on both lines. The offensive line can't protect the QB for anything greater than a 3 step drop, and the D-line can't pressure the opposing QB without blitzing. Consider this - the Redskins haven't drafted an O or D lineman before the 3rd round since Chris Samuels in 2000. You reap what you sow...

I hated that we drafted 3 recievers with our first 3 picks instead of addressing both lines where we had a bigger need in a more important position. But the FO fell in love with these guys who they had valued as first round picks even thou the other 31 teams had passed on them for reasons that we are now finding had merit.

Hopefully this year they will address the lines. But I predict we will draft towards the middle where there won't be a no brainer choice and end up with another offensive weapon that the FO just can't pass on.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by JWsleep

I agree with Beem here. It's the line. Zorn himself said he had to change his playcalling to deal with the lack of pass pro. And he pointed out that several plays where they went short actually have a first read deep. JC is getting pressure and saving what he can. He does not have time to sit back and let a long route develop. So he goes short. The screens were called to try to relieve some of the pressure. If the line could block, you wouldn't need to do that.

i think the problems are a combination of everything, when you have problems are every level of your offense they compound each other.

seems every week coach zorn is pointing out plays where we had a long ball called then explaining for one reason or another why it never materialized. just speculation on my part but aside from pass pro problems and a lack of depth at wr, i think JC only throws the long ball if he has single coverage and he actually sees his man open. JC might be too gun shy given gibbs pounded it into his head to protect the ball and throw sideline.

the play he lofted it up to moss who almost made a play on the ball was JC throwing it up there b/c he had to given the situation.

Maybe JC is being too selective when he wants to throw the long ball, only wanting to let it go when a guy is wide open?

i dont know, but we have problems now that he run game has slowed down.

go skins!!

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by over the mountain

i think the problems are a combination of everything, when you have problems are every level of your offense they compound each other.

seems every week coach zorn is pointing out plays where we had a long ball called then explaining for one reason or another why it never materialized. just speculation on my part but aside from pass pro problems and a lack of depth at wr, i think JC only throws the long ball if he has single coverage and he actually sees his man open. JC might be too gun shy given gibbs pounded it into his head to protect the ball and throw sideline.

the play he lofted it up to moss who almost made a play on the ball was JC throwing it up there b/c he had to given the situation.

Maybe JC is being too selective when he wants to throw the long ball, only wanting to let it go when a guy is wide open?
i dont know, but we have problems now that he run game has slowed down.

go skins!!

With JC always being told to check down, I wonder if he's doing it too much. I don't buy this, never having time to go long stuff. The line is not blocking well, I DEFINITELY agree with that, but it's a lot harder to block when you wait to throw long until later in the game because you have to because you're behind and nothing else is working. If you start throwing long occasionally early in the game, the "D" does'nt start stacking the line right away which opens up the run and shorter passes. If people on this board are saying we don't throw long because we don't have time, I would imagine DC's are saying the same thing. Makes it pretty easy to gameplan us. Whether it's completed or not you have to take a shot and you have to do it earlier than we've been doing it. Our offense is pretty easy to read right now. The Redskins don't go long. It's kinda like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. Well you can't complete a long pass if you don't THROW a long pass. Give your quarterback and receivers a chance to make a play. We're taking that away ourselves by not attempting it. And I don't mean calling it then checking down. Throw the damn ball. That's what sends the message.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

With JC always being told to check down, I wonder if he's doing it too much. I don't buy this, never having time to go long stuff. The line is not blocking well, I DEFINITELY agree with that, but it's a lot harder to block when you wait to throw long until later in the game because you have to because you're behind and nothing else is working. If you start throwing long occasionally early in the game, the "D" does'nt start stacking the line right away which opens up the run and shorter passes. If people on this board are saying we don't throw long because we don't have time, I would imagine DC's are saying the same thing. Makes it pretty easy to gameplan us. Whether it's completed or not you have to take a shot and you have to do it earlier than we've been doing it. Our offense is pretty easy to read right now. The Redskins don't go long. It's kinda like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. Well you can't complete a long pass if you don't THROW a long pass. Give your quarterback and receivers a chance to make a play. We're taking that away ourselves by not attempting it. And I don't mean calling it then checking down. Throw the damn ball. That's what sends the message.

They don't have to stack the line in order to get pressure on Campbell. They can do it with just four down linemen. Hell, Pittsburgh did it with just three.

It doesn't matter how early in the game you start to throw it downfield. I've said it over and over -- Campbell is running for his life before the receivers have a chance to get deep.

Our line has allowed 14 sacks in the last three games, and when Campbell isn't sacked, he's being pelted, knocked down, and hit on just about every other throw. The line play is just plain bad. And that will cause everything on offense to stagnate.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

They don't have to stack the line in order to get pressure on Campbell. They can do it with just four down linemen. Hell, Pittsburgh did it with just three.

It doesn't matter how early in the game you start to throw it downfield. I've said it over and over -- Campbell is running for his life before the receivers have a chance to get deep.

Our line has allowed 14 sacks in the last three games, and when Campbell isn't sacked, he's being pelted, knocked down, and hit on just about every other throw. The line play is just plain bad. And that will cause everything on offense to stagnate.

I don't know what game you were watching but the Steelers linebackers were all over Campbell. Somehow other teams find a way to move the pocket or roll quarterbacks out to buy time. They do that because their line is'nt holding back the rush. Right now we could'nt block a defensive line of cubscouts and if we don't find a way to stretch the field it's only going to get worse. Campbell hit Moss right in the hands with a pass and he dropped it. Somehow he found time to do it. It's not easy because our line sucks but to just give up trying the long ball would be offensive suicide. Why do you think we're getting so much pressure? There's been no threat of the long ball. There is no doubt it starts with the line, but we have what we have. Whether it's max protection or whatever, we better find a way to get it done. We can hardly even complete intermediate to short passes because we don't stretch the field and defenses are playing up on us. If the defensive front four were the only problem, we should be able to run draws all day long. Maybe I'm using the term long ball to much. Even intermediate, 20-30 yard passes would help tremendously. I guess what frustrates me is the attitude of , we can't do that...... well what CAN we do?

[mooby]

I think it's a combination. The line is playing bad, and that translates to Jason Campbell. When Campbell doesn't trust his line to give him more time, he puts more pressure on himself. And sometimes it gets to his head, I mean when the defense gets to his head then he doesn't start reacting properly, like he doesn't recognize where the blitz is coming from and doesn't make the proper adjustments, like adjusting the line call or audibling to a play that will counter the blitz effectively.

It also doesn't help that we don't have much wr depth. When Randle El had to leave the game we didn't have anyone that effectively replaced him. Thomas was in there but as we all know by now he can't be counted on to replace a guy like Randle El at this point yet. And where was Thrash? I didn't even see him tonight when Randle El left, and I thought that was strange, because he should be the guy to replace him.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

[JWsleep]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

Good post.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I'm just not prepared to say Kelly, Thomas, and Davis are done. To write off an NFL receiver after half of their rookie season is not fair. We essentially spent a high first round pick on these three guys. If we don't give them a chance to develop, we deserve to lose.

As for the offense in general, I guarantee our offense will be more dynamic, unpredictable and effective if we start attempting to go deep. I'll take few sacks for a few 20+ yard throws any Sunday.

That shouldn't have to be the trade-off.

The wideouts don't have a chance to get 20 yards downfield before the QB is running for his life.