Comments on: Monday Morning Apologist: A win is a win

By: LASKINSFAN

LASKINSFAN — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:56:32 +0000

Since all of my football experience is from the backyard and the couch, I tend not to be critical of play calling by people that know the game much better than me. But, could someone put a play action pass on first down on Zorn’s laminated play card. They have set the play up for two weeks now. I think the other teams see the pattern to run on first down and will likely bit on the fake already. It is also interesting how each time the Skins got first and goal on Sunay, it was always around the 7 yard line. Be nice to start first and goal from the 2 for once. I disagree with the pundits critical of the decision to go on fourth down at the end. Worked the downs before that and the defense is good enough to hold the Rams down (as they did). However, I had the same thought; a bootleg to the right with a fake handoff to the left would have been a nice change up. Interesting that Zorn will call the fake FG, but the offensive play calling seems unimaginative. Finally, what was up with Danny Smith telling Zorn not to call the timeout as quickly as he apparently wanted to with about 3 minutes left. Was Zorn really unable to figure out the strategy at that point without Smith’s help. Happy with the win and overall dominance of the Rams, but frustrated with the mistakes and play calling.

By: Rich Tandler

Rich Tandler — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:12:52 +0000

The O was even worse in that game. Two of Hall’s FG’s were from 40 yards or more. A few turnovers added to the ugliness.

And the O stunk all the up until there were about four minutes left in the next game in Dallas. And then Brunell and Moss lightining struck twice and the offense was pretty decent for the rest of the year (up until the playoffs in TB, that is).

By: Boss Hog

Boss Hog — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:34:38 +0000

Yeah, Rich, count me in the apologist camp as well. A win IS a win. I was in Canada on Sunday so I could only catch the radio broadcast (over the internet), so maybe that explains why I’m not as infuriated about this game as some. But I also remember another early season 9-7 win that almost felt like a loss: Week 1 in 2005 at home against the Bears. We were coming off a 6-10 season, and the Bears were 5-11 the year before. Watching the game with my Eagles fan friend, he was chuckling for three straight hours, and even though we won on a short FG from John Hall, the consensus between both of us watching was that the game had conclusively demonstrated one thing only: that neither the sluggish Skins nor the lowly Bears were doing anything that year.

Of course, 2005 eventually turned out to be the best Redskins season of the century — we went 10-6 and won a playoff game. In fact, just 6 weeks after the 9-7 debacle, we put up 7 touchdowns in a 52-17 thumping of the 49ers. Meanwhile, the pathetic Bears turned out to be much better than we thought — they went 11-5 and won their division.

The point is, Weeks 1 and 2 are still too early too judge anything. Teams can fall apart quickly in the NFL, as we learned last season, but they can get hot quickly, too. Sure, a blowout would have been a lot more fun, and more encouraging too, but I’ll take the W for now — who knows, but it may be the difference between 9-7 and 10-6 by the end of the season.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:07:28 +0000

I just don’t understand why Zorn does what he does, sometimes! I have never coached a game in my life. I do know, however, that if you are going to go for it on 4th and a foot you don’t run to the left!! All we had to do was a QB keeper and lean over the line. I know that doesn’t always work, but it works more often that running to the left against a stacked goal line D!!

By: Rich Tandler

Rich Tandler — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:18:13 +0000

I think you’re right. I have attempted to erase memories of that game from my brain.

By: Chip

Chip — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:02:49 +0000

Rich – How can you forget the Giants tie game from the 90s? You know, the one with the Westbrook helmet toss and the Frerotte headbutting himself out of the game. I’m pretty sure that was a naked bootleg. That’s why he was so excited.