Suisham steady so far for Redskins’ woeful offense

Injuries to Chris Samuels and Randy Thomas have forced the Washington Redskins to revamp their offensive line. Running back Clinton Portis and tight end Chris Cooley aren’t producing as they did last season, when they went to the Pro Bowl. Receiver Santana Moss and quarterback Jason Campbell aren’t matching their numbers of a year ago, either.

But the Redskins still can count on one part of their scoring arsenal. Kicker Shaun Suisham has made all eight of his field goal attempts, tying his personal mark for consecutive conversions in one season.

Suisham’s success has come even though the Redskins have used two holders and after he won a training camp battle with Dave Rayner. Coach Jim Zorn said he believes the competition was good for Suisham, who missed 10 of 36 attempts last year.

“He’s developed a rhythm, a steadiness,” Zorn said. “He’s more patient. He’s not so much attacking the ball early. You saw a lot of different types of rhythm last year.”

Suisham wasn’t as pleased with the training camp challenge.

“The only thing it did for me was I got fewer reps in the games,” he said. “I hated the fact that there was another kicker in the locker room. I’ve never taken the job for granted. I take camp seriously even when I’m the only kicker. I feel good now, but I’ve felt confident since I got here. I felt good last year. I just had a rough patch in the middle of the year.”

Hunter Smith, who will hold for Suisham on Monday against Philadelphia after missing two games with a strained groin, held for standout kickers Mike Vanderjagt and Adam Vinatieri in Indianapolis. He said the 27-year-old Canadian is just as good.

“Shaun’s one of the great kickers in the league, and he will be for a long time,” Smith said. “He’s as good as anybody I’ve held for. He has a strong leg. He has great technique. He’s just one of those solid guys in his psyche. He’s a professional.”

The only flaw for the trio of Suisham, Smith and snapper Ethan Albright has been a blocked extra point against Tampa Bay.

“He’s found his rhythm,” Zorn said. “We look at his eight field goals, but I also look at the exactness with which he’s kicking off. It’s not just, ‘Hey, go up there and see how hard you can kick it.’ It really has to do with placing the ball where we need to place it.”

Hall sits, Portis returns

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall (sore knee) missed his first practice with the Redskins on Saturday, but Portis (sprained ankle) returned. Zorn said both will start against the Eagles.

Tackle Levi Jones, who signed with the team Tuesday, probably will be active for the game, Zorn said.

The relay game

While he can’t see any positives about not calling the plays for the first time in his 23 games as head coach, Zorn said he doesn’t anticipate any major problems with Sherm Lewis sending the plays to offensive coordinator Sherman Smith, who will relay them to Campbell.

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