Redskins proving naysayers wrong

By Joe Versage  |   Wednesday, October 08, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Washington Redskins
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Remember the evening of Sept. 4? After a dreadful showing in their season opener against the New York Giants, the Washington Redskins were called out by a host of critics and armchair quarterbacks. It seemed that everyone had something bad to say about a team that appeared dazed and confused in a 16-7 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions.

Some blamed rookie head coach Jim Zorn and a West Coast scheme that didn’t seem to fit its personnel. Others pointed their index fingers at third-year quarterback Jason Campbell. Commentators said he looked “out of sorts and out of rhythm." Even his command of the offense was questioned when Zorn was quoted as saying, “We're not good enough to have anybody make a mistake in the passing game.”

The Redskins looked bad, felt bad and sounded even worse. But to a man, they each learned something in defeat. After the loss, Zorn said that his team would see on video where it needed improvement. And while he didn’t know if the “the cup had any water in it," there was reason to believe that it could be half full.

Four weeks later, Zorn’s words seem prophetic. Collectively, the Redskins have put the Giants loss behind them; they've done so by preparing well, practicing hard and executing better. And for fans, the results have been stunning.

Beginning with a come-from-behind home victory over New Orleans, the Redskins have dramatically altered their course. In Week 3, they held on to beat Arizona at FedEx Field and followed that with a dramatic upset of Dallas in their final visit to the soon-to-be demolished Texas Stadium. Sunday’s win in Philadelphia was especially impressive, as the Redskins roared back from a 14-0 deficit to defeat the Eagles on their own turf.

So how did the Redskins turn a demoralizing loss into a call for action? It took a cohesive effort, but results improved when individuals put the team first.

In a few short weeks, Zorn has earned respect by accepting responsibility for his mistakes. He was the first to admit that his inaugural game as a head coach was an aggravating one and he didn’t sugarcoat it.

“I have to learn as well,” said Zorn, who compared himself to the players on his new team. “I went back and looked at those situations, so I could improve upon them and put us in better situations. Since then, we’ve managed things much better.”

Meanwhile, Campbell has remained stoic, despite the early season-criticism. He is still in the process of learning his third offensive system in three years and he hasn't sulked about it. Instead, he has sought to improve week to week, by studying film and concentrating more on the team’s game plan. Campbell has also become a more vocal leader. Prior to the Eagles contest, he urged the offense to remain as composed as they were in Dallas. The message was repeated when the Redskins were down and proved to be a factor as they rallied to win.

Players are also learning from their mistakes. When Clinton Portis made controversial comments after the Giants loss, they made headline news in Washington. Portis said at the time that he “would like to trade places with a star running back on another team, just to experience what it’s like to play in a different scheme behind a different offensive line.” His words seemed self-serving and offended some followers of the team. Portis even got into a heated exchange on the radio with former Redskin Brian Mitchell.

But Portis decided to do the right thing for the good of the organization. He apologized to his teammates, made up with Mitchell and went back to work. He obviously chose the wrong words to describe his own frustrations, but he was ultimately man enough to release them and move on. Portis’ teammates and coaches should also be commended for giving him the benefit of the doubt and not rushing to judgment.

Currently, there is plenty to cheer about in Washington and the team has a right to be proud. The 4-1 Redskins have completed all three road games against their division rivals and their next three contests are against opponents with a combined 1-11 record.

In the meantime, Portis has run like a man possessed. His 145-yard effort in Philadelphia came against the top-rated rush defense in the NFL and reaffirmed the confidence his new coach has in him.

In an interview with NFL Network, Zorn responded to questions about Portis and his tendency to say the wrong things at inopportune times.

“Clinton just wants people to know how much he gives up, in order to gain every inch that he possibly can," said the coach. "Every yard in the NFL is a tough yard and as a person, every inch he strives for, he takes pride in."

The same can be said about Zorn, a former player who is suddenly at the controls of a team on the rise.

After defeating Dallas, he led the Redskins in a locker room cheer of “Hip, Hip, Hooray!” The stirring moment was broadcast nationwide and brought back memories of George Allen, who was the last Redskins rookie head coach to beat the Cowboys in his first visit to Dallas.

“Coach Zorn’s intense,” said Campbell in a recent post-game interview. “I watched him jumping up and down on the sidelines prior to the game and said, 'Hey coach, do you want to put on the shoulder pads and get in there?'”

The 55-year-old Zorn has shown a youthful exuberance, but he has also instilled level-headedness and a blue-collar approach to success. He likes to call it “staying medium."

“He doesn’t want us to get too high or too low,” declared Campbell. “I’m still young, but I told the team that they should expect to win every week. Expect to win and you’ll become winners.”

Zorn could not have said it better himself.
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About Joe Versage

As a native of upstate New York and a life-long fan of the Buffalo Bills, I have witnessed some of the greatest highs and greatest lows an NFL team can endure. But despite a gut-wrenching 4 consecutive Super Bowl defeats, I never lost faith in the Bills and was fortunate to cover them for 3 years ...
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