Game 2: Redskins (0-1) vs. Saints (1-0)

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Out of the box: the New Orleans Saints come to Washington for the Redskins home opener, 1pm ET Sunday on Fox. The Redskins are coming off a pretty poor looking loss against the Giants and have spent the week and a half not only trying to figure out who they are, they have been trying to figure out what are even the terms of the debate on who they are.

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The story so far: like so many recent seasons before, Redskins fans started the week wondering if their team was going to be competitive, ever. After the Giants loss head coach Jim Zorn did not see a lot to love at all on offense, he was tough on both himself and quarterback Jason Campbell as well as tailback Clinton Portis (op. cit.). The mole of whether Jason, a big armed pocket passer could be a good fit for the rapid paced dink dank dunk of the west coast offense raised its head early in the week (op. cit.), specifically whether he could make those quick three step drop and throws, Jason was a lot better out of the shotgun. The argument culminated Thursday with Tom Boswell at the Washington Post:

But it's not too early to start wondering whether a 6-foot-5, strong-armed passer who was drafted by Joe Gibbs to run a maximum-protection, lock-on-one-receiver, rush-to-set-up-the-bomb offense, is fundamentally ill-suited to Jim Zorn's quick-drop, see-the-field-fast, super-accurate-passing offense. You could hardly design two attacks that required more dissimilar skill sets.

This has been my fear since the day Jim Zorn took the head coaching position. Check out George Solomon at the WaPo from today, in talking about Vince Young he cannot help but get a can Jason Campbell run this offense reference. It's out there.

The story this week though had to be the latest Clinton Portis drama. For his big debut as a Redskins beat writer Washington Post reporter Barry Svrluga had the anchor sports piece on a frustrated Clinton Portis, complaining about nowhere to run, wishing he could switch places with any other top tailback, just to see if it is as hard for that guy here in Washington as it is for him here. Granted Clinton is one of the top dogs at his position in the NFL, a player more productive than 95% of the other players at his position, still, you have to wonder about this guy's ego. Like Jim Zorn I think it is all bullshit and as a fan I would be a lot more worried about the offense overall than whether this is really a problem with Clinton Portis.

As a matter of history, the last time the Redskins played the Saints was in the 2006 season, game 14, the Redskins beat the playoff bound Saints 16-10 in the Superdome. Ladell Betts had his fourth straight 100 yard rushing game and Drew Brees was held to 100 yards under his average, Jason Campbell threw it deep nine times.

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Curly R aside: it was with some disappointment that there were overt political tones to this week's Redskins coverage, and that I was part of that coverage. First there was Joe Gibbs at the Republican National Convention and the comments flying about, then Jim Zorn going on a bike ride with president Bush. I picked on a radio host earlier in the week so I did not make things any better, sometimes I cannot help myself. It culminated with Dan Dan the Sports Bog man talking politics with Redskins players. It is hard to avoid the overall topic of politics in Washington DC though I do not wish to piss off readers or fellow bloggers that do not share my politics. I will try and keep it to football.

Curly R aside continues: I love a tailgate and loosening up with a few pops in the lot as much as the next football fan. And while I applaud the league's renewed efforts to police fans, I believe the drunkenness the teams and the league will be policing is secondary to the coarsening of a segment of football fans that simply are rude assholes, to fellow ticket holders, around kids and with one another. The reason I should have to worry about my kids not getting to see a Redskins game any time soon should be rooted in the availability and price of tickets, not in concerns that asshole fans cannot be respectful around families.

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Oppo research: well with hurricane Ike tearing through Texas everyone in the Saints organization is just happy it is not they that are taking shelter. Not that anyone is happy about Galveston and Houston getting socked. Receiver Marques Colston, who has caught more passes than anyone ever in their first two seasons, is out of the game (op. cit.), he tore thumb ligaments in the Saints' season opening win over the Buccaneers. Defensively New Orleans will be without defensive tackle Hollis Thomas (ibid.), somewhat softening the interior line.

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Trainer's table: cornerback Shawn Springs missed the Giants game after getting kicked in the calf by Marcus Washington during practice, he had been unable to put weight on the leg andshould be fine for today. Complicating matters is cornerback Fred Smoot, he fall hard on his side in the Giants game and got a hip pointer, he should be fine for today. Rookie free safety Kareem Moore is still sore with a hamstring and may not play today (all from here). Throw in concernsabout Carlos Rogers' knee and it is ok to say the Redskins need to play tight in the defensive secondary.

Jason Taylor twisted his knee in the Giants game and is still sore and nowhere near 100%, will suck it up and play (op. cit.). Rookie receiver Malcolm Kelly practiced during the week and should play (op. cit.), he had hamstring problems all preseason and then knee problems after getting scoped, he has made a good recovery.

Linebacker Marcus Washington has a sore hip and a sore hamstring and missed some practice time (ibid., op. cit.), so much for Marcus coming into the season injury free, he is a game time decision for today. Khary Campbell had the strange pocket of blood drained from his leg (ibid.). He was out for the coin toss last week, suddenly was hurt in the leg and did not play.

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Gameplan: this game is going to be all about the big players in the Saints offense against the Redskins defense. That is where this game will be won or lost. Reggie Bush brings a very Brian Westbrook sensibility to the game and that will present problems for Jason Taylor, already hurt last week and beat hard at the line on running downs (ibid.). Lucky for Jason Reggie Bush (203 pounds) is a lot smaller than Brandon Jacobs (264 pounds). London Fletcher, expert in holding the fake chip on his shoulder will be matching up with Jeremy Shockey. Absent Marques Colston the Saints will be looking at former Redskin David Patten and Devery Henderson to do most of the catching (op. cit.).

If the Redskins offense can surprise me, all the better, yes Jason Campbell needs to get better, everyone else on the offense not excluding Jim Zorn needs to get better in this system. After Stephon Heyer's shaky start last week at right tackle the Redskins may opt to run more to the left over left tackle Chris Samuels and left guard Pete Kendall (ibid.), the veterans. With the Saints missing four defensive starters, tackle Hollis Thomas (ibid.), safety Roman Harper, cornerback Randall Gay and linebacker Scott Fujita, New Orleans may yet give the Redskins a chance to get a check plus for the day.

Washington Post keys to the game: up with Clinton Portis, down with Reggie Bush, strong for Jason Taylor, look out Jim Zorn.

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My take in 60 words or less: a very tough game for the Redskins, not the time to have to figure out if you can run an offense because with four Saints defensive starters out that is the only way the Redskins will win this game. The Saints will be merciless through the air and Reggie Bush does a spot on Brian Westbrook impersonation.

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Washington Post / AP preview, Gameday (PDF), the Zorn Zone coach Zorn thinks all the following are great: Saints offense, Saints defense, Jeremy Shockey; Redskins injury report, projected starters, roster; Saints injury report, projected starters, roster. Broadcast coverage map. SkinsCast forecast is for hot and sticky.

Other previews

This is a gameday open thread.