Skins’ revamped offense under the microscope

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, November 16, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

Washington Redskins
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When they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the 2-7 Buccaneers this Sunday, the focus regarding the Washington Redskins will be their offense. It's been a busy week for the Redskins, who made major changes at the two most-known offensive positions, quarterback and running back.

Washington elected to replace 36-year-old signal caller Mark Brunell with second-year man Jason Campbell, a first-round pick in the 2005 draft. For Campbell, who's making his first pro start, the Bucs' defense is a decent one to face. Although Monte Kiffin's group has been known as one of the best in recent years, it's fallen off this season, especially against the pass.

Campbell and his talented stable of receivers will be facing Tampa's 17th-ranked pass defense, led by cornerback Ronde Barber. If Campbell's to succeed in his debut, he'll need his well-paid targets - Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El and Chris Cooley - to step up. As a whole, that group has been a disappointment, but perhaps they'll be energized by the QB switch.

The Redskins' second notable change on offense this week came at running back. All-world runner Clinton Portis, who broke his hand in the team's 27-3 loss in Philadelphia last week, was placed on injured reserve, ending a season that never took off.

In the absence of Portis, the Skins will turn to Ladell Betts and the forgotten T.J. Duckett to pick up the slack.

The 5-foot-10, 223-pound Betts has been an ideal second-stringer this year, averaging 4.5 yards per rush on 82 carries. Betts, a fifth-year man, has two starts under his belt, meaning this week's challenge won't exactly be foreign to him. If Betts can't get the job done, the burden will fall on Duckett.

Formerly a force near the goal line for the Atlanta Falcons, Duckett was acquired by Washington during the preseason. While the trade was lauded as a great decision back then, it hasn't materialized into anything positive for the Redskins. In only three games this season, the 245-pound bruiser has just seven carries. However, considering Duckett has 31 career scores in four-plus seasons, the offensively challenged Skins would be wise to call his number on short-yardage and goal-line situations.

Fortunately for Betts and Duckett, like Campbell, they'll have the chance to face a less-than-stellar defense. Tampa, surprisingly, ranks a paltry 24th in rushing yardage allowed (1,149) and is 19th in per-carry average surrendered (4.13). Thus, for the Redskins' new pair of primary backs, this weekend could be a chance for them to gain some confidence.

Sitting an ultra-disappointing 3-6, Washington is in a must-win situation in Florida on Sunday. If the Redskins and their revamped offense, led by Al Saunders, fail to get the job done, the team will have its seventh loss, putting Joe Gibbs' bunch all but officially out of playoff contention.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Washington Redskins at RealFootball365.com.
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CommentsComments: 4  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Andy		07:19 AM
11/16/2006
Even as disappointing as the Steelers season has been (and it has clearly been a disaster), the Skins have to lead the NFL in the ...
No.2
fr8ttrain		09:23 AM
11/17/2006
This seems to be echoing a forum conversation from a month ago, I knew Portis was not going to play for long. I think I said by ...
No.3
Andy		11:47 AM
11/19/2006
Are the Skin's problems more a function of their offensive failings or their "dead last" in the NFC defense? What happened to ...
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