Let Me Get This Straight: Head Coach Edition

Maybe red sharpie for third down coach

Let me get this straight.  The Redskins are whupped bad in the first half of the season opener against the Giants, at the Meadowlands on national television, produce one feel good possession to score right at the end of the first half.  Go into the locker room, come out for the second half and how do they capitalize on that momentum?  What adjustments does rookie coach Jim Zorn make to get it back on track?

Nothing.  No scoring in the second half of the game, 30 minutes, six possessions, 158 yards, no points.

Not that it was a complete dud, no indeed in the second half the Redskins got basically all their yards.  It was what the team did with those yards and possessions that makes me go, hunh.

Second half, drive one, on third and eight Jason Campbell throws from the shotgun left side to Santana Moss... seven yards, three and out the team punts.

Drive two, on third and six Jason Campbell throws from the shotgun left side to Devin Thomas, his frist career NFL catch... five yards, team punts.

Drive three, on third and five Jason Campbell throws over the middle to Santana... three yards, three and out the team punts.

Drive four, fourth and 13, Jason Campbell goes right 11 yards to Ladell Betts, turned over on downs.

Drives five also ended on downs, Jason Campbell going nine yards to Antwaan Randle El on fourth and 15.

Drive six was the leisurely stroll down the field to end the game, the team was down nine points and playing like they were down two.

Maybe it is true, perhaps Jim Zorn being a rookie had no idea what he was getting into and needs someone to help him manage the game (will retrieve link for this, think it was George Solomon from today), Jim Zorn, never called plays, ran a game or been a head coach; Sherman Smith, never had the job of coordinating a whole offense; Stump Mitchell, still a running backs coach; Joe Bugel, from a different generation than Jim Zorn and likely not able to work at coach Zorn's pace if he is even still up to the challenge, the dude's 68.  Or maybe the Redskins need to bring back a reliable third down receiver in the mold of Art Monk or Henry Ellard.  James Thrash ain't gonna be that guy for you.

Know what you need for a first down!  Play with a sense of urgency!

Jim Zorn returning from the White House after a morning bike ride with president Bush:  Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP photo from here.