Execution: F
Effort: F
Attendance: Absent
Washington's report card would most likely mirror that of Ferris Bueller's so let's scratch grades this week.
Instead, focus on the clear differences between the Redskin and Giant franchises that materialized on the field Monday night at FedEx.
#1: Depth
Washington's favorite defense for their poor play this season has been the injury bug. On the offense, Randy Thomas, then Cooley, Samuels, Portis, Betts, and Rhino have all cashed out. Sellers has been nonexistent, Campbell consistently needs medical attention, and Mike Williams and Heyer are struggling to start back-to-back games. On the defensive side, Chris Horton and Jeremy Jarmon are out while Haynesworth, Griff, and DeAngelo Hall have all missed considerable time.
"So what," says New York. The Giants have been without starting DT Jay Alford, S Kenny Phillips, and linebackers Antonio Pierce and Gerris Wilkinson. Plaxico "Chedder Bob" Burress is currently serving time for weapons charges. The Giants secondary is sutured together on a weekly basis. Both RBs Jacobs and Bradshaw have been battling injuries and veteran OT Kareem McKenzie sat out on Monday.
The difference is the drop off in talent once second and third-stringers are called upon.
In part, the blame falls on ex-GM Vinny Cerrato. Excluding players such as Levi Jones, Fred Davis, Kedric Golston, and H.B. Blades, the drop off from starter to backup in Washington has been alarming. Case in point: D'Anthony Batiste, Stephon Heyer, and [Enter any Washington RB not on IR].
But some of the blame falls on the players because Vinny can't be held wholly accountable for Campbell's 38 sacks. The difference on Monday between NY and DC was visible. New York replacement RT Will Beatty held Redskin defensive ends without a sack, replacement LB Jonathan Goff impressed, and replacement defensive backs Aaron Rouse and Terrell Thomas accounted for 7 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 2 interceptions and a TD.
Washington new kids on the block Fred Davis and Devin Thomas have risen to the occasion, few else. Enter Bruce Allen.
#2: Leadership
There's no denying the Giants are Tom Coughlin's football team. He runs the show, he enforces the rules, and if you don't like it then you'll most likely be watching the game from the sidelines much like recently benched DE Osi Umenyiora. His authority trickles down to Eli Manning (forget his demeanor), Antonio Pierce, and Justin Tuck. They lead the Giants on the field, mentor rookies [case in point: Giants' young WRs], and get in players' faces if need be.
As for the Redskins, Zorn fails miserably at this particular head coaching responsibility; his authority was undermined weeks ago. Campbell can barely walk back to the huddle after being pummeled the last 15 weeks, and the rest of the offense maintains a backseat role. Offensively, the Redskins lack a true honcho.
Defensive veterans Andre Carter, Griff, and Fletcher seemingly lead by example rather than as hype men, but still fail to connect with younger players when the game begins to get out of hand. Hall, Haynesworth, Landry, and Smoot (surprisingly) were all caught in a 3rd quarter scuffle that saw punches thrown, a direct result of frustration and lack of composure.
#3: Stability.
Snyder's apparent kryptonite. The bottom 9 NFL teams this season are each led by coaches in their first or second year. 7 of those 9 teams have had multiple QBs start a game this season.
Coughlin has been with the Giants for the last 6 years. So has Eli. In comparison, during that time, the Redskins have brought in Gibbs, Al Saunders on offense, and Zorn who is undoubtedly coaching his last two games in Washington. They've been quarterbacked by Mark Brunell (ugh), Patrick Ramsey, Todd Collins, and Jason Campbell who also appears to be on his way out.
It's easy to see and, therefore, hard to understand why frequent house-cleaners Dallas and Washington have such a hard time realizing how to keep up with Philly and NY in the NFC East. Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have led the Eagles since 1999. During that same decade Dallas brought in Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, and Wade Phillips who, much like Zorn, might be on his way out. At QB, they've started Aikman, Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Testaverde, Bledsoe, and Romo.
Dan Snyder and fans alike both want improvement, yet they're unwilling to give a coach or QB time to establish himself in Washington. Everyone was so quick to denounce how significant the fact Campbell had as many coordinators as years played but his recent improvement in a scheme finally stable suggests he's a legit NFL quarterback.
Stability at head coach and QB allows a franchise to concentrate their offseason efforts on lineman then skill players. Look what Drew Brees and Sean Payton brought to New Orleans. Mike Smith and Matt Ryan seem to be doing the same in Atlanta much like Harbaugh and Flacco in Baltimore.
That being said... I vote dump Zorn, keep Campbell, and bring on Señor Shanahan. My rationalization? 4-10 and 45-12.
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