Running out of time

Three weeks and two preseason games down, three weeks and two preseason games to go.

The Washington Redskins began the second half of the preseason yesterday with issues concerning injuries, the offense, the kicking game and the run defense.

As coach Joe Gibbs said tersely following Saturday’s loss to the New York Jets, his team has issues “all the way across the board.”

The Redskins were 0-2 last August and the offense was sputtering, but the tension wasn’t as palpable because expectations weren’t nearly as high.

The first-team offense has just six first downs and no points in five possessions of work.

“We’re learning a new offense, and it’s a process,” quarterback Mark Brunell said. “But at the same time, we have only two more weeks.”

The first-team defense was stingy at Cincinnati, forcing the Bengals backward for minus-9 yards on nine plays. But the same unit allowed 145 rushing yards and 10 points against the Jets in the first half Saturday.

“Preseason or regular season, it was a game to come out and show whoever was watching what we’re about,” defensive end Andre Carter said. “It was unacceptable. We know that as players, and the coaches know that, too.”

Still, three things have been figured out since practice started July 31:

McIntosh can play

Rocky McIntosh, a second-round pick from Miami, is always around the ball. Assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams has raved about McIntosh’s ability to shed blocks. He has four tackles in two games.

A future starter at weak-side linebacker, the only reason McIntosh won’t start the season (besides being a rookie) is that Warrick Holdman also has played well in practice and games.

“Rocky played physical [at Cincinnati], and that’s one of the things I’ve mentioned about him before,” Williams said. “We’ll have a chance to catch him up and teach him how to play in our system when he plays that stout. The way he takes a fullback on, the way he takes linemen on, the way he knocks people back — those things I can’t coach. He was born with those kinds of things.”

Look for Williams to devise ways to get McIntosh on the field, such as using him in a 3-4 alignment as he did at one point against the Jets.

Receivers have impressed

The game statistics may not show it, but receivers Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El have all enjoyed a solid month.

Moss has consistently gotten behind coverage in practice, Lloyd had a diving, 27-yard catch against Cincinnati and Randle El made two catches for 42 yards against the Jets. Brunell should be excited when all three receivers — along with Chris Cooley — are on the field together because somebody will be in single coverage.

“The effectiveness of our receiving corps will set up the run no matter who’s at running back,” Lloyd said after Clinton Portis’ injury. “Clinton will be fine when he gets back, but until then it’s up to us to pick up the slack.”

Collins is favorite for No. 2 QB

If the season started today, Todd Collins probably would be Brunell’s backup. Collins was 12-for-18 for 114 yards (one touchdown, one interception) against the Jets. More importantly, he actually looked comfortable in the pocket. That wasn’t the case at Cincinnati, where he was 6-for-13 for 68 yards.

That’s not necessarily a knock on Jason Campbell, who after two appearances is 17-for-28 for 182 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The coaches simply have more trust in the veteran.

“What we’re trying to do in the preseason is get people better,” associate head coach-offense Al Saunders said yesterday. “For Jason, that’s getting him in his decision making, footwork and accuracy.”

Some unknowns remain unresolved, though:

Health picture for Sept. 11

Sitting out the Jets game were starters Phillip Daniels, Brandon Lloyd, Clinton Portis and Shawn Springs. Cornelius Griffin went down in the first quarter with a right knee injury that isn’t serious.

Lloyd (hamstring) returned to practice yesterday but has had two minor injuries in three weeks. Portis (shoulder) did some agility drills during practice, but Daniels (back), Springs (abdominal surgery) and Griffin remained off the field.

Portis’ injury leaves a gaping hole in the running game, and Springs’ absence means journeyman Kenny Wright and second-year man Carlos Rogers are the starting corners, which isn’t ideal.

Competition at kicker, punter?

Kicker John Hall has missed big chunks of the last two seasons with injuries and didn’t even kick off against the Jets. Those duties fell to incumbent punter Derrick Frost. His kickoff that was returned 87 yards for a touchdown was a line drive, and return man Leon Washington looked like he was shot out of a cannon; his first punt was a shank that got 17 yards of roll.

Untested kicker Tyler Jones and punter David Lonie haven’t been given much of a chance in games to win the job.

Does Patten have trade value?

He does because teams are now at a stage at which they’re desperate for receiving help because of injuries or because they thought too much of players on their roster.

If the Redskins want to chase a running back or get a draft pick, David Patten could be dealt. They also would be smart to hang on to him because Lloyd already has missed time because of back and hamstring injuries and having four quality receivers on the roster is a luxury.