Where was the West Coast Offense?

It was more like the NFC East Offense with plays called by Joe Bugel. Clinton Portis ran 23 times.  The Giants rush for 154 yards. Giants win, 16-7. Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells would be proud.

Isn’t the West Coast offense supposed to have a lot of quick passes with big yards after catch? Why can’t Portis be like Philly’s Brian West brook? Last year the Eagles versatile back average 17 rushes for 83 yards along with six catches for another 48 yards. A big part of the problem is that Portis is a great blocker, which is something missing along the Redskins offensive line.

The only short passes seemed to come on 3^rd down. The passes were also short of the needed yardage for a first down.

Whose fault is this debacle? Quarterback Jason Campbell, who held on to the ball to long. Coach Jim Zorn who was hired to install the offense, but left the Redskins running game intact? Head of Football operations Vinny Cerrato, who took 3 receivers with his top 3 picks in last year’s draft? Owner Dano Snyder? For those who are sure it’s Book’em fault see Sally Jenkins article in Friday’s Washington Post.

No question that Campbell didn’t answer any of his critics, who believe he is a classic drop back quarterback and not suited for the quick game of the West Coast Offense. Nor did Coach Jim Zorn show his detractors that he was ready to be a NFL head coach. The offensive line look old and the youth of Stephon Heyer, looked unprepared – Vinny you can step up to the mike any time. Book’em 2008 version of the Redskins maybe hard press to reach the mediocre level the team has maintained for the last 9 years.

The only semi bright spot was the second half adjustments by the defense, which kept the Skins in the game using scoreboard standards. Hey, if the defensive backs could hold on to bad passes for several picks, it would have been closers and who knows what would have happen.

All told, it is far from the end of the world. A loss to the Giants in New York is nothing new. Since 2000, the Redskins only have won there once.  When the schedule was announced, it was a game most people put an L besides.

Now there are 2 home games. If the Redskins are going to have any success this year, they must win at home. After the lack of emotion showed on opening night, it appears that they will need all 90,000 people screaming with them to get them fired up.