WPost Email: Like the Rest of the Offense, Gardner's in a Funk

[MTK]

Redskins wide receiver Rod Gardner appeared set for a breakout season after his performance in Week 3. Gardner caught 10 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns, but, like the rest of Washington's offense, has limped along since.

Gardner has caught a total of 11 passes in six games since then, has failed to reach even 50 yards in a game and has three touchdowns in that span. Part of the problem was surely the weak play of Mark Brunell, who was stripped of his starting quarterback duties this week, as Brunell regularly failed to complete even 10 passes in a game or throw for more than 100 yards. But Gardner has also been guilty of dropping passes and failing to get open. He failed to catch a pass Nov. 7 in Detroit -- the first time in his NFL career he was held without a reception -- and has not had more than three catches in a game since facing Dallas.

"I don't know the reason, [for the slump]," Gardner said, "but [after] the Dallas game it was looking promising and obviously the offense has really struggled since then, and it shows. It's a rough time right now."

Gardner has not been effective on trick plays this since either, something he has excelled at in the past. A former quarterback, he has failed on both of his pass attempts this season -- including one in Sunday's loss -- and has been stuffed on end-arounds and reverses as well.

"I get giddy and happy when I'm ready to throw it," Gardner said, "because you know I love to play quarterback, I still have it in me. . . . Man, I wish I could have competed that one Sunday, but it didn't work. It's killing my quarterback rating."

-- Jason La Canfora