Offense displays some life

Well, we finally got to see the other 98 percent of Al Saunders’ playbook last night. Or maybe it was just the next 2 percent. With Saunders — Al of the 700 Pages — you can never be too sure.

What we did see in last night’s last-minute 19-16 loss to the Vikings at FedEx Field was all the things we didn’t in the Redskins’ sorry excuse for a preseason — the starting unit actually making first downs and scoring points, Clinton Portis and Antwaan Randle El (among others) actually being on the field. We saw everything, alas, but Your Heroes actually beating somebody for the first time since Jan. 7.

But take heart, Redskins fans. The offense — despite its fits, starts and struggles in the red zone — gave off some energy, some heat, which was so often missing down the stretch last year as the Redskins ground out one defensive-led victory after another. Few things lift the spirits like moving the chains and pushing across touchdowns, just as few things deflate a club like a string of three-and-outs.

“I think we caught a glimpse of what we can be,” Mark Brunell said. “But it’s going to be hard to watch that film. There were some things that were there — some plays, some yards, some touchdowns — that we left on the field.”

It didn’t take long to realize that Saundersball is going to be quite different from Gibbsball. Coach Joe has evolved some over the years, but he’s still a pound-’em-between-the-tackles-and-then-throw-deep type of guy. Saunders is as fond of running the ball outside as inside, it seems, and he’ll velvet-hammer you to death with short and intermediate-range stuff.

Indeed, the first pass he called as the Redskins’ offensive boss was a lateral pass, not a downfield one. Santana Moss snatched it and sprinted 23 yards to kick-start a drive that led to a field goal. Because the throw went sideways, it went in the books as a rush for Santana — and not his only one of the evening, either. He later gained 5 yards on a similar “rush” and at the end of the first half was team’s leading “rusher.”

So that was one aspect of the New Offense that stuck out right away — the sheer unpredictability of it. Unpredictable … and yet safe. Mark Brunell had one deep shot to Moss for 37 yards, setting up John Hall’s second three-pointer, but the two other longest plays in the early going were a swing pass to Ladell Betts that went for 25 and the aforementioned behind-the-line flip to Santana that gained 23.

Of course, Saunders has more pieces to be unpredictable with than Gibbs did the past two years. The versatile Randle El can catch, run the reverse (as he did in the first series for 4 yards) and even hurl a pass. Brandon Lloyd, apparently unsighted by Brunell last night, is another receiving weapon. And newcomer T.J. Duckett, when he’s brought up to speed, will add to the mix with his power running and goal-line capability. Saunders’ most difficult task might be making use of them all — and keeping everybody happy. But it beats the alternative, which the Redskins have had too much of the last few seasons.

Another aspect of the New Offense that stuck out right away — and this is probably just an anomaly — was all the third-and-longs or third-and-medium-longs the Redskins faced. You like to have the run-pass option at least occasionally on third down, but on their eight third downs in the first half, Brunell and Co. needed the following yardage: 5, 6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 4 and 9. Not much chance to run a quarterback sneak in those situations (or even a dive play).

Speaking of Brunell (17-for-28 for 163 yards), he didn’t do anything egregiously wrong like throw an interception. But once again, he didn’t do much to excite you — or to give you a good feeling about his prospects against defenses more formidable than the Vikings’. In fact, Minnesota’s Brad Johnson, roughly a year older at 37, looked more spry than No. 8 … and more dangerous with a football in his hand, too (16-for-30 for 223 and a touchdown). The erstwhile Redskin threw two perfect deep balls (the second of which was dropped), threaded several needles and guided the Vikes down the field to the winning field goal. Brunell, meanwhile, continues to be mostly trying not to lose the game.

So that’s where the Redskins are as they prepare for the dreaded Short Work Week and a Sunday night meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas. Their offense, admittedly a work in progress, is showing some positive signs, but Mark Brunell — for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health — is still Mark Brunell. On the plus side, though, he almost certainly isn’t one of players Jon Jansen suspects of taking Human Growth Hormone.

There’s also this to consider: Dan Snyder had his new business partner, Tom Cruise, in his box last night. But in his role as a high school football player in “All the Right Moves,” I don’t think Tom played any quarterback.