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Red zone next on Zorn's list

Redskins seeking better production against Cardinals

By Ryan O'Halloran | Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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When the broiled crowd booed Sunday after another failed first-half red zone possession by the Washington Redskins, the reactions were decidedly different on the sideline and in the coaches' box.

Having been on the field in similar situations, veteran backup Todd Collins nodded approvingly when a scrambling Jason Campbell threw it away instead of forcing a throw.

Admitting three points are better than nothing, offensive coordinator Sherman Smith did the same before moving on to the next series.

And although upset when Campbell missed an open Antwaan Randle El in the end zone, coach Jim Zorn was glad the quarterback didn't commit the kind of backbreaking error that ended comeback hopes last year at Dallas and Tampa Bay.

In a game in which the Redskins had to rally from nine points down entering the fourth quarter to defeat the New Orleans Saints 29-24 on Campbell's 67-yard touchdown pass to Santana Moss, Campbell and the Redskins know they could have been in real trouble after getting only nine points from four first-half trips inside the New Orleans 20.

The Redskins scored touchdowns on only two of their six trips inside the red zone Sunday, something that must improve quickly for games against Arizona, Dallas and Philadelphia - teams that have prolific passing games.

The positive from Campbell's perspective is that he's not committing costly turnovers.

"You want to take your shots in the red zone, but at the same time, you have to be smart about it," Campbell said Monday at Redskin Park. "You don't know what those three points can mean for you at the end of the game. But you don't want to be afraid to go for seven either. You have to be stingy and take advantage of what we have.

"It just comes from maturity. You want to get points - that's the whole object. But you also don't want to turn down the open guy or be afraid to shoot it in there."

Through two games, Campbell has committed no turnovers in any part of the field.