The Official "Lets Open Up The Offense Jim Zorn" Thread

[billyredskin]

If we become one dimensional, we are screwed. We HAVE to get those rookie wide receivers up to snuff with the offense so they can contribute and open things up for Santana and Antwann down the field.

[deathGRINDx]

if it isnt broken, dont fix it. i would like to see more passing as well, but with the way were running and how our offensive line is playing, im thrilled. and this is coming from a guy who was lobbying for the redskins to draft a running back in the 1st round in 2009.

[Lotus]

Here's what Zorn said on Matt Terl's blog on Redskins.com:

The assembled media seemed determined to find out if Zorn was disappointed not to be throwing more, until Zorn finally pointed out that the team would likely revolt “If I go in to the meeting today and say, ‘Guys, we’re changing it — the West Coast is a passing game. I forgot.’”

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by johnerotten

zorn is calling the game as the defense dictates it,imho.the lions have a shitty team,i can't see him not opening it up against them sunday.

Agreed. For as easily as their defense has been shredded this season, it wouldn't surprise me to see Zorn throw a little more just to try to get some live game passing rhythm going. I guarantee Pittsburgh's #1 goal will be to stop Portis the following week, and they have the talent to do it. I'm not saying they will, but they could. The passing game is going to need to click a little better if we want to win that MNF matchup week 9.

[#56fanatic]

I am not so sure about "opening it up". Portis is having a spectacular year and Campbell is very efficient with what he is doing. Another thing is what teams are doing to us defensively. It looked to me that the browns were taking away the deep balls. If they play the safeties back, then we are going to run, that is just fact. I think this week and next you want see Portis carrying the ball 30 times. It just worked out that way with Betts being out and Alexander having just been signed. Ultimately if we are going to run the ball 30 times a game, portis will have about 20 and the back up will have 10+ carries. I think our D and ball control offense right now is a big key to our success. Our D is staying rested with the 5 to 7 minutes drives. Our time of possession in dominating most games and keep offenses on the sidelines. We do need to work on putting points up, no question. Lets not forget that this is a new offense, and Zorn is learning his players also. Teams we are playing are a little soft up front, and Zorn is going to expose that. When we play teams that are a little stout on the run, we will probably open up our passing game a little to give portis some running lanes. it all works together.

[70Chip]

They just need to take a few more downfield shots, especially between the 40s. The short stuff makes less sense if teams are stacked up against the run. Surely their are plays there to be had that we aren't exploiting.

[DynamiteRave]

I sure hope at some point Zorn decides to open it up. Whilst, running on 3rd and 3 isn't a terrible decision, you want to have Portis back there when you do, not Rock.

Also I'm not very fond on doing it more than once or twice a game. Anything further than 3rd and 3 you need to be throwing, not running a draw play.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

JC tweaked his groin yesterday and I think Zorn just wanted to protect him the rest of the way. And with Brown's D that was awful against the run why not just pound them all day long?

Excellent point. I think the injury to Campbell, the success of the running game and the poor field position dictated more runs than passes. Right now the offense is very low risk relative to turnovers. If they open up the offense, the risk of turnovers will be higher. The team is having good success with the current approach. Why change? I'm not saying that I don't want them to take shots down the field, I just like the cautious approach, picking their shots downfield.

[skins009]

To be a superbowl contendor the skins need to improve in two areas. Passing offense and defensive sacks. Our defense currently only has 9 sacks. The Steelers already have 25+. We get these two areas improved and we'll be in the mix.

[ecupirate08]

if it aint broke don't fix it. If portis continues to be the best RB in the league why not control the clock and pound the ball. That way we can keep other teams from seeing all we have to offer and save it for when it really matters....

[JoeRedskin]

We are still in the first half of the season. IMO, teams are still shaking themselves out and seeing who is for real and who are pretenders. At this point, the good teams are winning anyway they can and, in doing so, learning how to win in a variety of ways.

Right now, just win. Win by one point, win by 30, it doesn't matter. At the end of the season, THAT's when the offense needs to be running on all cylinders. Although clearly he would like to pass more, Zorn is being smart. He is letting the team win any way it can. In return, the players are doing enough to win, taking responsibilty for winning, and building the team up so that it can win in any number of ways - by running the ball (Cleveland), by passing the ball (New Orleans), come from behind (New Orleans, Philadelphia), holding onto a lead (Arizona), in a close one (Cleveland), away (Dallas, Philly), home (New Orleans, Cleveland), with the offense aggresively running out the clock (the "Victory Formation"), with the Defense protecting a lead (Dallas, Cleveland).

December, not now, boys and girls, is when the team needs to win convincingly over teams like Detroit and Cleveland. December is when divisions are won and lost & playoff momentum is gained.

Just ask the Giants.

[Lotus]

Excellent point Joe Redskin.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

December, not now, boys and girls, is when the team needs to win convincingly over teams like Detroit and Cleveland. December is when divisions are won and lost & playoff momentum is gained.

Just ask the Giants.

It doesn't hurt that by early October all of our division road games had been played and we walked away with a 2-1 record.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

For me, it's not opening the offense up more.

For me, it's stalling just outside of the red zone. It seems we can gash teams from our one yard line all the way up to around the other team's thirty-five yard line. It seems once we're IN the red zone, we do OK.

It's just getting there that's bothering me.

Whether it's a dropped ball or just a bad play, we always seem to stall about ten yards too far for Suisham to make an easy kick or for us to score a TD. If anything I have to say about the playcalling, we could have had at least two TDs late in the game off of playaction. EVERY BROWN was playing the run and yes it was working, but just ONE deep ball would have put the nail in the coffin.

[tatrave]

I say don't show too much offense untill it is necessary like against Dallas, Pittsburgh, and the G-Men later on in the season