Sunday, Oct. 4, 1:00 pm from FedEx Field
TEAM STATS
WAS: Pts-13.3 (28th), Yds-341.3 (13th), Pass Yds-249.7 (11th), Rush Yds 91.7 (24th)
TBY: Pts-13.7 (27th), Yds-296.3 (25th), Pass Yds-210.0 (17th), Rush Yds 86.3 (25th)
LEADERS
WAS: Campbell (67.6 comp %, 793 yds, 3 tds, 2 ints), Portis (47 carries for 183 yds, 3.9 ave, 0 tds), Cooley (17 catches for 189 yds, 11.1 ave, 1 td), Moss (15 catches ofr 219 yds, 14.6 ave, 1 td).
TBY: Leftwich (54.2 comp %, 594, 4 tds, 3 ints), Williams (22 carries for 114 yds, 5.2 ave., 2 td), Ward (26 carries for 96 yds, 3.7 ave., 1 td), Winslow (15 catches for 134 yds, 8.9 ave., 2 tds)
PREVIEW
For the second week in a row, the Redskins get to face a rookie coach and QB. This week it's Raheem Morris and Josh Johnson, a scrambling-type QB from University of San Diego, taking over from Byron Leftwich, who was benched in the fourth quarter of Tampa Bay's 24-0 loss to the New York Giants.
"I don't want us as an organization to say that game was all Leftwich - but Byron is suffering the consequences," Morris said.
Johnson was a fifth round pick in 2008, and has had 10 career pass attempts, all last week. The Skins D can expect Johnson to move around a lot, both in the pocket and to the sidelines, where he can utilize his speed and athleticism. Leftwich was a statue that was taking a beating up front, as the Bucs are missing a couple pieces of their offensive line.
Morris hopes Johnson's play-making will make the Redskins respect his ability to move outside the pocket, opening up more running lanes for what should be a decent running attack with Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham.
TE Kellen Winslow is Tampa's leading receiver, but that might be testament to the Bucs inability to get a semblance of protection for Leftwich more than anything else. Michael Clayton, late of Baltimore, and Antonio Bryant are the wideouts.
Bryant, Ward and Graham are all nursing leg injuries though, so it might be a good time to kick a team while they are down.
The Bucs D is giving up 5.2 yards per rush attempt and has only managed two sacks, both disappointments for what should have been an upgraded line, led by three-year veteran Gaines Adams. "Being drafted fourth overall, [expectations] come with the territory. It's year three for me. Obviously it's time for me to step up."
As for the Skins, they know all about the pressure of expectations. Almost to a man, they say they have more talent that what they've shown so far this season.
Problem is, they haven't proven it.
Middle linebacker London Fletcher might be the lone voice of realism this week.
"Maybe guys tend to think that (we're an elite team), and that you can just show up. That's not the case. We're struggling to win ballgames. We're going to be in tough ballgames, week-in and week-out.
"We're not a great football team - never have been since I've been here - and it hasn't been in a long time, since, what, the '80s? It's been a long time since the Redskins have had a great football team. We have to come in here with a workmanlike attitude, with the mindset that we must work to win."
Coach Jim Zorn took a measured approach to the question of whether his team is getting better -- or worse. "In the big picture, I think things are progressing," said Zorn, 9-10 as the team's head coach. "We're getting better. It's not coming in the win. We're going to continue to press on and take care of those details."
Should the Redskins fall this week, to a battered and beaten Bucs team, he might not get the chance to lead them in their progression.
Sunny and 75F. Beautiful weather for tailgating and watching NFL football.
PREDICTION
If the Redskins don't win on Sunday, against an 0-3 team starting a rookie (running) QB, there will be bloody hell to pay, as if this week wasn't bad enough. Still, one gets an odd feeling that the Skins still have not hit rock bottom. Washington is weakest where it is most obvious, on both lines, and Tampa Bay is desperate and has a decent running game if they can get any effort up front of their own.
The Skins eke out a win this week, let's say 13-9. But it will be neither pretty, nor satisfying, and the vultures will continue to circle.
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