Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Redskins vs. Rams)

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

Rak had some good pressure at the end to seal the deal

[GridIron26]

Here's my take on the game, although I missed almost first half of the game..

Pretty much same thing you guys said about Zorn's play calling.. It's so predictable, that even we, fans could figure it out all the way.. Everyone knows we would always run to our left side, we need to start to learn how to trust Heyer and whoever, Reinhart or Montgomery, takes over.. Experiences will teach them.. Or at least give them some help with Cooley and Fred.. For god's sake, use play actions with them on the field.. Either one of them will overmatch with the opponent man, use their athleticism.. Let's hope he knows where to work on this week, good thing it's only 2nd game..

It's very disappointing to hear this stuff about Moss.. I have always admired him for his speed.. If Moss continues this through out the season, Zorn should try and sub Moss for Thomas few plays sometimes.. Give it few chances, Thomas has the talents to do it.. We just need to put balls in his hands sometimes.. Michell has to come in few times too, to see what happens when he has ball in his hands.. He took advantages of his chances in the preseason; I don't see any reason not to try him out few times, other than blocking.. He's tall and speedy receiver, we have to develop him now.. This links to Zorn, once again.. He needs to learn how to try different things with different players, they all have talents - find a way to use them..

I loved how Zorn changes up our RBs.. I'm expecting this to continue through out the season, Portis would still have some in tank at the ending of season..

As for defense, I didn't see anything special.. Although our secondary is quickly becoming our weakness.. This is not good news at all, we shelled out big buck to Hall, right when we should have put that money into Rogers.. We are lucky to have Horton, I believe.. He and Rogers are what's keeping this secondary up.. D-line, they are starting to move it around a little bit, but I think we still could do more than that..

[Redskin Warrior]

Danny has to be licking his chops Shanahan, Cowher, Billick, Holmgren on the market. I bet Danny sitting by the phone saying to himself keep on fu**ing up Zorn.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Carter is getting some good pressures though, better than nothing

It's true, maybe my beef is with the secondary. Are we missing Springs THAT much? It's basically the same secondary that dominated last year and this year we're getting bitched on almost every third down.

Even though Carter is getting good pressure, I was just thinking we'd see a few more sacks with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo.

[dmvskinzfan08]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Isn't Holmgren still out there as a GM or HC, maybe we keep Zorn as OC and Holmgren helps get him straight.

I was thinking that just the other day. The turnover wouldn' be that bad because he probably runs some of the same plays Holmgren did at Seatlle. Holmgren just called a better game. Bring n Holmgren and knock Zorn down to QB coach or coordinator?

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by Kalisto2010

Bugel taking over is the best idea I've heard all day. I've always wanted him to be the Redskins coach.

Buges is not the answer so stop fooling yourself. He has his hands full now with Randy Thomas going down.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I didn't see any of the game today since I was traveling and have only seen some highlights but it's disappointing to see that we squeaked one out vs. the awful Rams and some of the same play calling questions remain. When SS and Matty, two of the more level headed posters when it comes to panic and change are advocating making a move, that gets my attention.

I don't think Zorn has it. I'll say it and stand behind it, he's over his head. Some people have it, some don't. I honestly believe that if Shanahan came in during the season, he'd be able to pick up where things are, put JC in the no huddle/shotgun as the base offense and we'd see a difference immediately.

I will say this if you did not see the game than refrain from making any judgements about Jim Zorn and him not having it. He didnt fumble in the red zone ( Moss) He didn't drop a TD pass ( Sellers) He did not get a roughing the pass call ( Orakpo or Jarmon) when we just recovered a Rams fumble in Rams territory. It requires a total team effort to win games in the NFL. Zorn needs to be more agressive in the Red Zone and let Jason make a decision with the ball. He has to trust his QB with the Rock.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by Darrell_Green_28

No matter what, I think we still play to the level of our opponent.

It very well appears to be some Truth to this.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

My bigger problem in the red zone than the plays is the personnel packages that Zorn is using. On several occasions inside the 10, Zorn took Kelly out of the game. You have got to be kidding. Kelly is only our biggest target, and supposedly has the best hands on the team. He should NEVER be out of the game when we're inside the opponent's 10.

I agree we had 1 WR and 2TE sets trying to run the ball when our O-line got no push. Lets try spreading them out 4wr wide and let JC make the play or QB draw.

[skins89moss]

Zorn had guts and confidence to go for it on 4th and 1. If we make it we run the clock out and maybe punch it in. This would be confidence for our entire offense. If we don't make it they have no time outs and must get to our 30 yard line for a fg shot. Our O-Line was given the chance to make a statement that we can blow people off the ball to win the game. Well the O-line got stuffed and we could not get 1 yard. You have to be able to run the ball in the red Zone to be a successfull running team. If you cant get 1 yard than what does that say about our O-line ? I guess we are not physical enough up front and thats why we dont get the long runs very often. Where is Big Mike Williams when you need him. Oh Sellers got his contract extention but his blocking was suspect today.

[skins89moss]

Zorn had guts and confidence to go for it on 4th and 1. If we make it we run the clock out and maybe punch it in. This would be confidence for our entire offense. If we don't make it they have no time outs and must get to our 30 yard line for a fg shot. Our O-Line was given the chance to make a statement that we can blow people off the ball to win the game. Well the O-line got stuffed and we could not get 1 yard. You have to be able to run the ball in the red Zone to be a successfull running team. If you cant get 1 yard than what does that say about our O-line ? I guess we are not physical enough up front and thats why we dont get the long runs very often. Where is Big Mike Williams when you need him. Oh Sellers got his contract extention but his blocking was suspect today.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

It's true, maybe my beef is with the secondary. Are we missing Springs THAT much? It's basically the same secondary that dominated last year and this year we're getting bitched on almost every third down.

Even though Carter is getting good pressure, I was just thinking we'd see a few more sacks with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo.

Bulger threw some real nice passes on 3rd down. He was throwing some before the guy even came out of his break. The corners got beat but they didn't give up anything deep and they pay the other guys too. I can't bitch too much about the corners. STL had 114 yards passing.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by skins89moss

Zorn had guts and confidence to go for it on 4th and 1. If we make it we run the clock out and maybe punch it in. This would be confidence for our entire offense. If we don't make it they have no time outs and must get to our 30 yard line for a fg shot. Our O-Line was given the chance to make a statement that we can blow people off the ball to win the game. Well the O-line got stuffed and we could not get 1 yard. You have to be able to run the ball in the red Zone to be a successfull running team. If you cant get 1 yard than what does that say about our O-line ? I guess we are not physical enough up front and thats why we dont get the long runs very often. Where is Big Mike Williams when you need him. Oh Sellers got his contract extention but his blocking was suspect today.

I hadn't actually thought about it, but the 4th and 1 would have been an excellent time for the "heavy jumbo" package, and just bull-dozed for the yard. Would have made a good statement, even I felt the offensive line got several key 3rd and shorts in the middle of the field.
During the game I wanted Jason to fake the handoff and run it, or throw the tight end screen, but afterwards we found out Jason was playing on a hobbled ankle (kudos to Jason, cuz I for one could not tell at all).

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Before we run Zorn out of town.

- We put up 362 yards
- 7/15 46% on 3rd down.
- JC was 23 of 36 0 INTs 63.8%
- Not counting the kneel-down, we had 7 drives. 4 were 13+ play drives, 1 was 9 plays, only two 3 & outs

I know we're playing the Rams, but Spags is a D guy and it's not outside the realm of possibility that his D will be getting better week-to-week.

Also, these are not Zorn's fault:
- JC two bad throws on deep balls that would've likely been TDs (Kelly & Thomas)
- Moss fumble inside 10 yd line
- Sellers dropped TD

I remember the Gibbs' 80s well. I remember Mark Moseley being the MVP and a few 15-14 & 12-10 wins in those days. Let's take the W and hope Zorn looks at film and improves the RZ offense over the next couple of weeks.

The missed play to Kelly was horrible and I also think it was maybe the last good play call that Zorn had all day. Run personal, two tight, and take a shot to Kelly. He was clearly open but underthrown. Awful.

Now on Thomas, it is hard to know these things, but I am thinking he was supposed to stem that route inside at the start to give Campbell more room between himself and the sideline. Thomas basically ran himself out of the play by getting too close to the sideline (plus it was called to the short side of the field, but it may also have been a sight adjustment by Campbell because it looked like he made a call to Thomas before the play). Thomas is such a horrible route runner that I have trouble blaming any QB for something that happens on a throw to him. Devin Thomas = Taylor Jacobs.

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

Good call. I thought it would work, but he does not look good at linebacker. I have not re-watched the game either, so GTripp can probably comment better, but it does not even look like Blache has used him much as a rush player from SLB (which was the main argument for why he would work at that position). He looks so much better with his hand down.