by: Ari Ashe | Special To Sports Day | Thursday, September 21, 2006
WASHINGTON—Don’t write off the 2006 season Redskins fans, wins come in bunches, so says the team at practice on Wednesday. A nervous frustration underlined their restrained confidence, maybe because only three teams in the last fifteen years began 0-3 and made the playoffs. That means Sunday at Houston is do or die.
“Look, whatever we have to do to get a win, call it desperation, call it patience, we just need a win to ease the pain” says lineman Randy Thomas, who said his team is ancy. “Nobody would dream we’d be 0-3, so we have to find a way to win.”
Fans and media alike have scrutinized Mark Brunell, who has not thrown a touchdown pass this season. The veteran quarterback understands the pressure on him, though he must have thought he vanquished the critics after last season’s playoff push.
“I’m not out to prove anybody wrong, that’s not my job. It’s to do what I can do to help the team win. I understand lots of things are being said, which I don’t pay much attention to. All I can do is keep us on track and win a game,” says Brunell.
In 2005, the Skins almost derailed in Dallas in week two. The Cowboys led 13-0 in the 4th quarter, when Brunell fired two long strikes to Santana Moss in less than 90 seconds to pull out a victory. No such luck in 2006. Even with the firepower resting in the mind of Al Saunders.
“There’s a learning curve. I would’ve hoped we’d have jumped it quicker than we have, quite frankly,” says the offensive coordinator, who has coached robust offenses in St. Louis and Kansas City. “It’s frustrating for the players, coaches and fans, but it’s part of the job. It’s never going to be easy.”
Penalties and sacks plagued the Redskins in Dallas last Sunday, uncharacteristic with little turnaround on from last season. Cowboy defenders corralled Brunell six times, most since December 18th, 2005. Bill Parcells victims that day too. But even on that cold December day at FedEx Field, refs flagged Washington nine times. The eleven on Sunday night set a two season high in sloppiness.
“We certainly had more penalties than I want and that’s something we can control,” says Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs. “It’s definitely something that’s caused us problems. We talked about it and I think the guys took it to heart. And that’s an area I can see us making great improvements in a hurry.”
The Redskins battle a Texan team who enters its fifth NFL season, all under .500 with a franchise record of 18-47. Houston, in its first season under Gary Kubiak, is a young team with high promise and little experience, in contrast to the Redskins approach.
“We got a lot of leadership on this team. This team has been punched in the mouth before and gotten up because it’s just the way we are,” says kicker John Hall.
Washington faces a daunting schedule after Houston, putting more emphasis on winning Sunday. Three out of the next four Redskins opponents were playoff teams in 2005.
“Everybody in a tough situation like this is trying to figure out what it is,” says Joe Gibbs. “It’s amazing that nobody points fingers at anyone. They’re just trying to figure out what they can do to help us out of it.”
NOTES: Clinton Portis participated fully in practice, Coach Gibbs is optimistic he’ll play if he continues to improve…One player not improving is Shawn Springs, he tweaked a lower groin muscle, his status remains questionable…Joe Salave’a also did not practice, calf injury…Santana Moss did not practice as a precaution.
