End of Zorn's job-status saga won't solve on-field woes

GRANT PAULSEN: Zorn may remain coach, but Redskins still have a mess on their hands

Date published: 10/25/2009

FOR THE FIRST time in seven weeks, the Washington Redskins will be playing a team that already has a win under its belt.

Tomorrow's nationally televised "Monday Night Football" game against the Philadelphia Eagles will serve as the end of the honeymoon period of Washington's schedule. The only problem with that is that the Redskins had a hellacious honeymoon.

Losses to three NFL bottom-feeders (Detroit, Carolina and Kansas City) and minuscule victories over two other inept teams (St. Louis and Tampa Bay) wasn't the way that head coach Jim Zorn had drawn up the first six weeks of the Redskins' season. This was supposed to have been the easiest section of the team's schedule.

Zorn has been under fire all season. Many national outlets reported that the second-year coach was going to be fired as early as this week. That didn't happen.

He was publicly endorsed by Vinny Cerrato, Washington's vice president of football operations, for the first time on Friday, when Cerrato declared that Zorn was going to be retained as the Redskins' coach throughout the remainder of the season.

"Knowing that he's going to be around for the rest of the year is huge," said defensive tackle Kedric Golston. "I think he's doing a great job. We just need to find a way to start winning football games."

If knowing that their coach will be around is going to benefit Golston and his teammates, then knowing who will be their starting quarterback should as well.

Jason Campbell was given the nod for tomorrow's game. He was benched at halftime a week ago in favor of veteran reserve Todd Collins.

"We've got confidence in Jason, and we know he's going to give us a real good chance to win," said fullback Rock Cartwright. "He's been good for us this season. Last week was last week."

So scratch Campbell off the list of potential problems? According to Golston, Zorn doesn't deserve the blame for the Redskins' 2-4 record, either. Who's to blame, then?

One of the biggest reasons for the Redskins' problems this season has been the team's offensive line. The club has lost two key starters, left tackle Chris Samuels and right guard Randy Thomas. Neither is expected to return this season.

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Date published: 10/25/2009