Despite losses, Zorn still looks ahead

• Article
• Comments ()
• Click-2-Listen
• Videos

By Ryan O'Halloran

The goal for every offensive line is to be together long enough to become cohesive, leading to sound pass protection, efficient run blocking and an ability to create consistent scoring opportunities.

And then there are the Washington Redskins.

"We're trying to patch," coach Jim Zorn said Monday.

He might as well be talking about the entire organization.

As the Redskins try to forget about their 2-6 first half, the realization is beginning to set in: They will have a difficult time conducting full-pads practices, much less winning another game this year.

Everywhere on the field, Band-Aids are being applied to the ever-changing offensive line and, because of Chris Horton's long-term injury, the secondary.

Everywhere off the field, tourniquets are being applied with the offensive playcaller change and the general tumult produced by owner Dan Snyder's treatment of Zorn.

But even after losing Horton (toe) for four to six weeks and possibly being without running back Clinton Portis (concussion), Zorn remained undeterred Monday even though his major talking point - "We're moving forward" - has been struck from his stump speech.

"We've absolutely had our share [of injuries], but one of the things we'll do is we'll be competitive," he said. "We will go out and compete and put out the best guys we can get in this program, and they'll give their best effort. These guys want it. Just based on what we did in the second half [Sunday], we didn't have any kind of doubt that we didn't put people on the field who didn't want to play hard and go for it."

That the Redskins scored on two second-half possessions to crawl within seven points shouldn't push under the rug the memory of a first half marred by penalties, a turnover and a sideline brouhaha caused by LaRon Landry's hit on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan.