For the Redskins, the Inches Don't Add Up.

In Any Given Sunday, Al Pacino gives one of the most beautiful football speeches a coach could deliver.

In case you don't remember it, or want to feel the goosebumps of inspiration run up your spine again, you can check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs&feature=related

Coming off a poor offensive performance against St. Louis, doubt swirled around Redskins nation. The media supplied loads of criticism for Zorn and the team as a whole. The fans spewed distaste for the Redskins' play, booing their home team off the field even though they walked off with a notch in the win column.

On Sunday, facing a Detroit Lions team that hadn't won a game since 2007, the Redskins had a chance to fight for that inch. On 4th an Goal from the Lions 1 yard line, they had a chance to prove that they could get into the endzone. They had a chance to prove the media critics wrong and instill some faith back into a loyal fanbase that they have let down through two weeks this season.

When it came down to the fight for that inch, the Redskins proved that they don't have what it takes. They aren't willing to fight and die for that inch.

When the dust settled and the Redskins were marked short of the goal line, I looked the person sitting next to me at the bar and said, "this game is over."

I saw it, as I'm sure many others watching the game did; the air was let out of the Redskins baloon. They had a chance to prove their doubters wrong and came up short, again. The confidence was sucked out of the entire team, and the 99-yard touchdown drive that followed for the Lions was the icing on the cake.

Sure, Zorn may have been predictable in the playcall by going back to the left side, as he has done in the majority of the Redskins goal-line runs this season. But he can not get that inch for his team. When all is said and done, he can't get on the field and make his team claw, push and battle for that yard they needed.

What the Redskins proved on Sunday is that their problems run deeper than playcalling, redzone struggles and 3rd down defense. This Redskins team lacks heart. They lack fire. They lack passion. They don't have the qualities of a team that is willing to fight for every inch and get the job done.

After what will go down as one of the worst losses in recent Redskins history, I have a feeling that FedEx field will be an ugly scene next Sunday as the Redskins host the Bucs. I expect to see paper bags over the faces of quite a few disgusted fans. I expect to see a few "Fire Zorn" and "Impeach Snyder" signs. I expect the booing to come full force with every mistake, and possibly even start as soon as the team hits the field.

With 13 games left on the schedule, the Redskins still have time to find a spark. They have time to get a fire lit under them and prove that they want to fight for that inch. Perhaps an ugly loss like this is what they needed.

A home game against the winless Buccaneers, who will let quarterback Josh Johnson make his first NFL start over Byron Leftwich, may get the Skins back on the right track.

Through Week 2, Blame Spreads Around Offensive Woes

After failing to get into the endzone against a St. Louis Rams team that has won two of their last 19 games and surrendered 28 points in a week 1 shutout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, blame for the Redskins' offensive struggles continues to spread across the unit.

Many say it's Campbell's fault. More are placing the blame on Zorn and his playcalling. Others say it's the redzone personnel packages, which don't take full advantage of the height the Redskins have with their young receivers.

While Zorn made some questionable calls in the redzone, most notably the HB pass on third down (a play which Zorn said if he would call again, he would do it on first down), the Redskins lack of point production comes down to a lack of execution in the Redzone.

The Redskins offense was not as anemic as James Brown described it during a CBS halftime cutscene on Sunday. Out of the Redskins' seven offensive drives on Sunday, five of the were nine plays or more. The Redskins consistently marched down the field with long sustained drives, and dominated the time-of-possesion battle against the Rams.

However, out of four redzone trips, the Redskins offense only managed nine points and a turnover. And the blame can be spread equally:

• The HB pass was a bad call, which Zorn has admitted to. On a 3rd and Goal from outside the five yard line, you have to give your quarterback a chance to make a play.

• Mike Sellers had a dropped touchdown pass which he should have caught.

• Jason Campbell tried to force a throw into Devin Thomas on one trip, missing a wide-open Antwaan Randle-El.

• After making a nice catch to get the Redskins into the redzone, Santana Moss coughed the ball up on the way to the ground.

It's not just Zorn. It's not just the receivers. It's not just Campbell. The Redskins as a complete offensive unit have yet to click and execute when it matters the most: in the redzone.

Despite the redzone troubles, I saw a lot of promise from the Redskins offense against the Rams. At least, they proved that they can move the football. Not to mention, against a team coached by former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who knows the Redskins very well. Even in week 1, they moved the ball much better against an elite Giants defense than they did in 2008.

If they begin to execute in the redzone, this could turn into a dangerous unit.

The defense has shown that they are going to be a top-tier unit in terms of scoring defense. They held a Giants offense to 16 points in their house, the same Giants offense that put up 30+ on the Cowboys in Dallas. They held the Rams to seven last Sunday. If the Redskins offense can start to capitalize on redzone trips and put up 21+ points per week, they could make a run at the NFC East title.

Against the Lions on Sunday, the Redskins have a chance (and many fans feel a need) to make a statement on offense.

Redskins @ Giants: Week 1 Preview

For the second straight year, the Redskins open their season in New Jersey against the division rival Giants, hoping to avenge a 16-7 loss in the Meadowlands last season.



With the new Giants Stadium opening in 2010, this will be the last time the Redskins and Giants will face off in the old Giants stadium. It has hosted a number of epic games between the two rivals, and has been a place where the Redskins have struggled to win, especially recently.



Since 2002, the Redskins have only won twice in the Meadowlands against the Giants. (Once against the Jets)



In their final game against the rival Cowboys in Texas stadium last season, the Redskins spoiled the party with a 26-24 victory.



Will the Redskins play spoiler again, leave their final footprints in the turf of Giants Stadium and walk off with a win this Sunday?



Going on recent results, it is hard to make a case for the Redskins.



The Giants defense dominated the Redskins offense last season, giving up only seven points in each contest. They have been able to successfully shut down the backbone of the Redskins offense, Clinton Portis, and forced Jason Campbell to try and beat them through the air.



Campbell was unable to do so, under the pressure of a vicious Giants pass rush led by Justin Tuck. And this season, the Giants welcome star defensive end Osi Umenyiora back from a season-ending injury that kept him out for the entire 2008 season.



Given the success of the Giants defense shutting down the Redskins offense by dominating the line of scrimmage and stopping the running game cold, the Skins should expect to see plenty of eight-in-the box sets on Sunday. Once again, Campbell will be forced to prove that he can beat the Giants through the air and keep the Giants honest on defense.



Malcom Kelly, who was named the starting receiver opposite Santana Moss this week, will be a player to watch this weekend. With the high likelyhood that the Redskins will be facing a lot of eight-in-the-box sets, he will have plenty of one-on-one opportunities and should be able to take advantage of the size mismatch he creates. At 6'4, 225, he should be a tough cover for Terrell Thomas, who will likely start in the place of the injured Aaron Ross.




Defensively, the Redskins are facing a Giants offense the has lost its two leading recievers over the last few seasons, Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer.



The Redskins have struggled over the last few seasons with the balanced attack that the Giants bring offensively. In their home matchup against the Giants last season, the Redskins made it clear that they were committed to stopping the Giants ground game, bringing eight and nine players into the box on a regular basis.



However, unlike Jason Campbell, Eli Manning was able to take control of the game through the air and punish the Redskins for committing so heavily to the run.


Against a young and relatively unproven Giants receiving corps, the Redskins defense will likely commit heavily to the line of scrimmage again, and force Eli Manning to beat them.


Prediction:

I don't like the Redskins on the road here. This game will be a defensive battle, and if the Redskins bend-but-don't-break defensive philosophy translates into this season, they will lend the Giants a few extras scores in the kicking game.

Final score: 20-13 Giants