The first game of the Sherm Lewis era came on the big stage of “Monday Night Football,” quite a change from calling B-7 during bingo games at a senior center in Novi, Mich., just three weeks earlier.
The switch, foisted on coach Jim Zorn by owner Dan Snyder and front office boss Vinny Cerrato a week earlier, hardly paid dividends. The 10-point first half matched Washington’s most prolific first half of the season.
And with the defense torched by Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson for a 67-yard end-around on the game’s fourth play of a 27-17 loss to the NFC East rival Eagles, the Redskins continued their descent to NFL irrelevance.
Q: So how did things go for Lewis in his playcalling debut?
A: The former Green Bay/Minnesota/Detroit play caller didn’t show any rust on his first play call in 6 1/2 years, an 18-yard pass from Jason Campbell to Chris Cooley. But the offense managed little else until the game was out of reach. Zzzz.
Q: How did Jason Campbell do in his return after being benched last week for Todd Collins?
A: Campbell’s numbers - 29-for-43, 284 yards, two touchdowns and a tipped interception - were respectable. However, after that first play, Campbell didn’t look that comfortable and seemed at times to be a little gimpy. Losing favorite target Chris Cooley to a broken tibia early in the second quarter didn’t help.
Q: What’s the scoop with Cooley?
A: Getting carted off is never a good sign, nor is not being able to return after being hurt early in the game. The two-time Pro Bowl tight end had played nearly 5 1/2 years without getting hurt enough to miss significant action, but the broken leg likely will keep him out for the season. Obviously dying his hair platinum blond wasn’t a lucky move.
Q: How much will it hurt that Cooley’s likely done?
A: Fred Davis will get the chance to show why he was drafted in the second round in 2008. But Davis, the nation’s top tight end as a senior at Southern Cal, hadn’t played much to this point because he has struggled to master the offense. Still, Davis wound up with the best night of his career: eight catches for 78 yards and a late touchdown.
Q: Who’s to blame on Jackson’s long touchdowns?
A: There was plenty of blame to go around. Defensive end Andre Carter got caught looking inside on the 67-yard run to his outside. Safety LaRon Landry and cornerback DeAngelo Hall couldn’t catch the speedy Jackson once he got moving. On the 57-yard touchdown catch, cornerback Carlos Rogers bit on an inside fake, and safety Chris Horton couldn’t cover Jackson deep.
Q: The Redskins knocked out longtime tormentor Brian Westbrook with a concussion in the first quarter and still couldn’t slow the Eagles. What happened to the Washington team that swept Philadelphia in 2008?
A: The offense is a shadow of the one that played so well last October in Philadelphia. The defense simply didn’t rise up Monday night the way it did last December with the once-promising season already down the tubes.
Q: So was the defense’s No. 5 league ranking a function of playing the dreadful offenses of the Rams, Buccaneers, Chiefs et al the past five weeks?
A: Nope. The Redskins added Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo to a defense that ranked eighth last year. The defense wasn’t great Monday, but it will have better games even against the tough competition ahead.
Q: How much are the Redskins missing Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas?
A: The offense was already heading downhill last November before Samuels was lost for the season in Week 14 and was faltering before the two went down for good this year. But Stephon Heyer is hardly a worthy replacement for six-time Pro Bowl pick Samuels, and Will Montgomery is no proven veteran like Thomas.
Q: What lies ahead for Zorn and the Redskins?
A: A much-needed, if shortened, bye week. And then not much good. Seven of their remaining foes have winning records, including the unbeaten Broncos and Saints. The exceptions are the 3,000-mile trips to play the Chargers and Raiders. A 2-14 season, which would be Washington’s worst since 1961, is very much a possibility. That likely would mean a thorough housecleaning — save the owner’s box. Unfortunately.
• David Elfin can be reached at delfin@washingtontimes.com.
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