Redskins’ passing game on ice

With his offensive line handling a four-man St. Louis Rams pass rush, Jason Campbell was able to survey the field to see whether any of his five receiving options had worked open.

The protection sound, Campbell delivered a 24-yard strike down the left hash mark to Antwaan Randle El.

Those types of plays aren’t likely to be a regular part of the Washington Redskins’ offense in the second half of the season.

The loss of left tackle Chris Samuels and right guard Randy Thomas already has hurt Campbell’s ability to throw the deep ball. Since Samuels got injured early in a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 4, the Redskins have completed only one pass that traveled farther than 25 yards - and that came from backup Todd Collins.

The Redskins’ 16 passes of at least 20 yards rank 22nd in the NFL, and only five of those traveled 20 or more yards down the field.

For the season, Campbell and Collins are a combined 5-for-21 for 205 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on throws that exceed 20 yards.

“I still think we can take those shots,” center Casey Rabach said. “We’ve connected on some of those shots without Chris and Randy already, so the guys need to hold up their end of the bargain so we can implement a full game plan.”

The Redskins had some early success with the deep ball - Santana Moss caught touchdown passes of 57 and 59 yards against Detroit and Tampa Bay, respectively.

But facing tougher competition and playing without Samuels, the Redskins were forced to alter their strategy by making more short throws and providing more protection.

Only six of Campbell’s 43 throws against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 26 traveled farther than 10 yards.

And on more than half of his 52 drop-backs, the Redskins used five or more blockers.

“We tried to do that a little more with eight-man protections and two guys out,” receiver Antwaan Randle El said. “It really limits you because they can play cover two and it’s over with.”

If the defense plays cover two, it’s two safeties and two cornerbacks against two receivers. Yep, it’s then over with.

But when the Redskins send out three, four or even five eligible receivers, they don’t make big plays. They don’t score fast.

Trailing by 17 points with 9:38 remaining against the Eagles, the Redskins needed points in a hurry. They took nearly five minutes to travel 80 yards before a fumble ended the drive at the Philadelphia 9. The distances of Campbell’s passes during the drive: 12, 0, 12, 10, 1, 4, 1, 9 and 9 yards.

The inability to stretch the field is not new for the Redskins. As the offensive line began to wear down last year and Campbell’s time in the pocket diminished, so did any sign of a vertical passing game.

In the first half of last season, Campbell went 10-for-21 for 270 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions on passes that traveled 20 or more yards.

In the second half, Campbell went 1-for-17 for 23 yards and two interceptions. In the last three games, when Samuels was lost with a triceps injury, the Redskins attempted only five downfield throws.

Samuels is the obvious common thread. When he was healthy, the Redskins could put together a game plan knowing the left tackle wouldn’t need regular help in the form of a tight end (double team) or a running back (chip block).

“Anytime you lose starting linemen, it’s a blow,” receiver Malcolm Kelly said.

The need to play two running backs and/or two tight ends more often has impacted Kelly - he has played only 21 snaps in the last two games. Fullback Mike Sellers, meanwhile, saw his playing time jump to a season-high 38 snaps against Philadelphia.

Facing the toughest November schedule of any team in the league, the Redskins will have to rely on the fourth-ranked defense if they are to rebound from a dismal 2-5 start.