Smile

Smile. Enjoy a breath. The season is not going straight down the tubes with a big season opening losing streak.
However, do not use the word huge to describe the Redskins’ triumph over New Orleans. Never is the second game of a 16-week schedule is huge. Significant can only be known with the hindsight of the next six or so games. Impressive could work but it was just a home game. Let’s try consequential.
The immediate consequences are a week where Jim Zorn can grin while not hearing he is not ready to be a head coach. For a week there will be no debate about Jason Campbell’s quarterbacking skills. This week the offense line isn’t too old.
Even Vinny got off the hook when his 7th round draft choice safety Chris Horton came up with three turnovers. This of course, overshadowed his prize punter averaging just 33 yards on 2 punts, including a line drive that was returned for a touchdown, along with a blotch hold on a field goal attempt.
The laughter will only last until the next loss. Hopefully, that will not come Sunday against Arizona.
This week the story will be about the Redskins offense that is trying to combine the smash mouth NFC East running game with the quick passing of the West Coast Offense. In the loss to the Giants, the offense was all running the ball and had just one completion to a running back. Against New Orleans the offense averaged 4.8 yards a rush and competed passes to nine different players, including five to running backs.
Smile this week with the memory of Jason Campbell leading the team from behind instead of a potential game-winning drive ending in an interception. Come-from-behind fourth-quarter drive was a big hole in Campbell’s resume.
The offense line will be walking with a spring in their step and a smile on their face.
The biggest repercussion maybe the Clinton Portis’ quotes wondering how he would fare in another offense is a dead issue. Now the comments are hidden behind big grins. The Washington Post story may have been more about the Joe Gibbs/Joe Bugel running game than Zorn’s West Coach Offense. After the Giants game, where it looked like Bugel was calling the plays, it appears that maybe Zorn is trying meld this NFC running game with the quick passing game -- an interesting concept.
This is not the West Coach that Philadelphia runs. It may look something like what Dallas is running. After watching the shootout between the two last night, the Redskins will need more than a concept. However, this week the sounds you are hearing maybe people whistling while they work.