Redskins, Zorn Build Momentum

[1niksder]

Starters Sharp in 2nd Preseason Win : Redskins 17, Bills 14

By Jason Reid
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 10, 2008; Page D01

The Washington Redskins went back to FedEx Field yesterday, which marked another first-time experience for Jim Zorn. He is growing accustomed to taking new steps in his rookie season as a head coach, and Zorn's on-the-job training continued in Washington's preseason home opener against the Buffalo Bills.

Zorn remained undefeated as the Redskins jumped to an 11-point lead and held on for a 17-14 victory in front of 69,532. Running back Clinton Portis, defensive end Jason Taylor and running back Ladell Betts were among the key veterans who made their preseason debuts as the Redskins improved to 2-0.

"Very impressed with the starting unit," Zorn said of the offense. "I thought Jason Campbell was poised. Very impressed with our run game. I was really excited that Clinton Portis came in. You watch as you see the suddenness of his moves, and his ability to move and then re-accelerate, you can see what kind of a special back he really is."

Navigating the preseason with as few injuries as possible is the top priority on every team's to-do list at this time of the year, and Washington received a scare when wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and Anthony Mix went into the locker room for X-rays. The receiving corps is thin because rookies Devin Thomas (hamstring) and Malcolm Kelly (arthroscopic knee surgery) have missed considerable time in training camp. Fortunately for the Redskins, Randle El (right forearm injury) and Mix (bruised ribs) did not break bones, the team announced.

Campbell again was sharp while leading the first-team offense, and the Redskins appeared to continue making progress in Zorn's version of the West Coast offense. After going 5 of 5 for 61 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener against Indianapolis, Campbell completed 7 of 10 passes for 71 yards last night.

He spread the ball around on the two series in which the offensive starters played, finding Santana Moss, Randle El and James Thrash -- currently the top three wide receivers on the depth chart -- for double-digit gains. On the starters' second possession, which ended with the game's first touchdown,, Portis had a nifty 11-yard run through the middle of the defense. Washington scored on a one-yard run by Portis after overcoming a holding penalty on right tackle Jon Jansen and offensive pass interference on Thrash.

"It felt great for us as a team to move the ball that way," Campbell said. "We continued to keep fighting, and we persevered through all those penalties, and I think it shows the character and the focus of this team.

"The guys never lost their focus. They continued to keep pressing, and we were able to continue to drive the ball."

Said Portis: "It felt good. We sustained two good drives as an offense."

The mood on the sideline and in the stands at FedEx yesterday was much lighter than when the Redskins last played host to the Bills on Dec. 2. In Washington's first game after the death of Pro Bowl safety Sean Taylor in November, the team had an emotional pregame tribute to the slain star. And the tribute continued during the game as the Redskins played with only 10 players on defense on the Bills' first play from scrimmage.

Rian Lindell kicked three fourth-quarter field goals -- including a 36-yarder with only four seconds remaining -- as Buffalo rallied for a 17-16 victory. Former coach Joe Gibbs, who after the game acknowledged he was unsure about the rules regarding the use of timeouts in an attempt to "freeze" a place kicker, called consecutive timeouts that resulted in a 15-yard penalty.

Lindell, who sent the ball through the uprights from 51 yards after Gibbs called a second timeout, then made the shorter kick. The loss was Washington's fourth in a row, but the team won its final four games to clinch a playoff berth.

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[SkinsFreak]

I'm really liking what I see from Zorn. He has been impressive to say the least. Would it be wrong to hope they lose a preseason game to keep their heads straight?

I'm pleased with what I see from both the 1st and 2nd string units. The players seem motivated and don't even appear to be in a new system. Again, I think a lot of credit has to go to Zorn. I also like his play calling, not so predictable, if you know what I mean.

[1niksder]

Zorn seems to be fully involved during the game he's very active in the bench area and not anchored to the sideline area. He leaves the sidelines to visit with his QBs near the back quite a bit after the offense comes off the field. Not sure if it will carry over into the regular season or not but I think it helps

[Sgraham]

Would it be wrong to hope they lose a preseason game to keep their heads straight? 8-[

No, but I feel like you need to expirience winning so that you will want it all of the time. Makes no diffrence what they until the play the Giants week one.

[LOSTHOG]

I do feel comfortable with Zorn's play calling thus far. I like one person calling plays. Can you imagine how screwed our first TD drive would have become with last years staff?

[El Mexican]

It´s the pre-season.

Remember we also saw some good things with Spurrier in his first year here.

I´m saving my judgement to at least week 8 of the schedule that counts.

[VetSkinsFan]

I don't think (or hope) that anyone's annointed him the savior.. but it's good to get a good 1st impression.

[langleyparkjoe]

2-0.. wooooooooooweee!!!.. haha, just preseason but please don't take my undefeated record away from me!!! lol!!!

[Countertrey]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

[El Mexican]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

I smell nothing.

Until we see an actual regular season game, I´ll reserve my judgement on this Zorn experiment.

Yes, the startes have looked good. Our starters also looked good during the first half during Gibbs II tenure, so seeing the starting players for a series or two means little.

[Countertrey]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

I smell nothing.

Until we see an actual regular season game, I´ll reserve my judgement on this Zorn experiment.

Yes, the startes have looked good. Our starters also looked good during the first half during Gibbs II tenure, so seeing the starting players for a series or two means little.

It's a shame that your nose doesn't seem to be working.

What preseason team have you been watching for the last 5 years? Our preseason teams looked like crap! I was fine with that, because Gibbs saw preseason only as an opportunity to evaluate talent, and to get people hurt (as happened far too often). I'm not known to be smitten with teams early in the year... however, this team feels different. It's not just the first team that is efficient... it's the second team, as well. There are few penalties. That doesn't happen by accident.

I have no idea whether Zorn is the real deal or not... but I sure like what I see so far. But, you are right on one point... none of it counts until it counts.

[El Mexican]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

I smell nothing.

Until we see an actual regular season game, I´ll reserve my judgement on this Zorn experiment.

Yes, the startes have looked good. Our starters also looked good during the first half during Gibbs II tenure, so seeing the starting players for a series or two means little.

It's a shame that your nose doesn't seem to be working.

What preseason team have you been watching for the last 5 years? Our preseason teams looked like crap! I was fine with that, because Gibbs saw preseason only as an opportunity to evaluate talent, and to get people hurt (as happened far too often). I'm not known to be smitten with teams early in the year... however, this team feels different. It's not just the first team that is efficient... it's the second team, as well. There are few penalties. That doesn't happen by accident.

I have no idea whether Zorn is the real deal or not... but I sure like what I see so far. But, you are right on one point... none of it counts until it counts.

Of course the team SEEMS different, Counter. Everytime we see a new coach in Skins uni, we SENSE the team is different.

The Danny knows this (as well of the rest of the owners in the league) and use it often to create high expectations amongst fans. New coach=new strategy, attitude, players, etc.

We all know that even if you lose most of the games during preason and look like crap, you can still win the big one in that same year. Teams coached by Gibbs are prime examples of this.

As for looking great in the preason and then sucking hard during the real show, I´ll refer again to Spurrier. You guys probably remeber better, but during his FIRST pre-season game the team looked fantastic against the Saints (?) in Japan. Everyone approved, at the time, how the team played. Fast-forward some months later and reality hit hard.

As an experienced fanatic, I know you are not smitten (I did not imply you were in my last post) by just any team during the preseason. Neither am I.

Sorry, that´s age for ya.

[jmooney]

Im ready to start drinkin the Kool-aid

[gibbsfan]

so far so good but that games that count theyt need to continue this thru the regular season..

wait and see but so far so good..

[cleg]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

I could not agree with you more. This is different and you can sense it. Look, its not as if there is no history of coaches from the Holgram tree doing well. Heck, Andy Reid was hired by the Iggles after being only a QB coach and if he had any guts (metaphorically because we know he's got some gut on him) they would have won a Super Bowl.

The efficiency is what I am reacting well to as well as the general sense of enthusiasm among the players. Totally different feel than Danny Wuerffal and the Spurrier mess.

[cleg]

Im ready to start drinkin the Kool-aid

Pass me a cup.

[cleg]

For me, it's not the wins that have been impressive. It's the remarkable efficiency of the first string offense, this early in the summer. It's LONG sustained drives that are relatively free of errors. It's the discipline that is reflected by the lack of penalties.

This is not a repeat of Spurrier's first pre-season. This is different. This is the kind of offense that protects it's defense by taking time off the clock.

I smell something good cookin' in Zorn's kitchen.

I smell nothing.

Until we see an actual regular season game, I´ll reserve my judgement on this Zorn experiment.

Yes, the startes have looked good. Our starters also looked good during the first half during Gibbs II tenure, so seeing the starting players for a series or two means little.

It's a shame that your nose doesn't seem to be working.

What preseason team have you been watching for the last 5 years? Our preseason teams looked like crap! I was fine with that, because Gibbs saw preseason only as an opportunity to evaluate talent, and to get people hurt (as happened far too often). I'm not known to be smitten with teams early in the year... however, this team feels different. It's not just the first team that is efficient... it's the second team, as well. There are few penalties. That doesn't happen by accident.

I have no idea whether Zorn is the real deal or not... but I sure like what I see so far. But, you are right on one point... none of it counts until it counts.

Of course the team SEEMS different, Counter. Everytime we see a new coach in Skins uni, we SENSE the team is different.

The Danny knows this (as well of the rest of the owners in the league) and use it often to create high expectations amongst fans. New coach=new strategy, attitude, players, etc.

We all know that even if you lose most of the games during preason and look like crap, you can still win the big one in that same year. Teams coached by Gibbs are prime examples of this.

As for looking great in the preason and then sucking hard during the real show, I´ll refer again to Spurrier. You guys probably remeber better, but during his FIRST pre-season game the team looked fantastic against the Saints (?) in Japan. Everyone approved, at the time, how the team played. Fast-forward some months later and reality hit hard.

As an experienced fanatic, I know you are not smitten (I did not imply you were in my last post) by just any team during the preseason. Neither am I.

Sorry, that´s age for ya.

I hear you on the new coach comments but I agree with countertrey - this time if sure does feel different. I have been a pure Danny hater since he bought the team but I think he is starting to get it. There is a positive feel around this team. How that will translate into the regular season I have no idea.

[Irn-Bru]

The lack of penalties has been one of the most remarkable things. Remember how Spurrier used to hire refs to come into practices, because he could not figure out how to keep his players disciplined on the field?