BruceRader's Blog

OK guys, I spent my Sunday night watching the Redskins vs the Colts, the first pre-season game of the Jim Zorn era.

Here are my observations.

Redskins looked sharp from the get go, excellent special teams plays, Danny Smith in my opinion one of the best special teams coaches in the country. The Colts try the onside kick and the Redskins kid from UCLA is there to recover.

First play from scrimmage, Jason Campbell with a good pass to tight end Chris Cooley, then an 18 yard gain by Rock Cartwright the Skins number 3 running back, Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts didn't even play and then on the third play, a touchdown pass from Campbell to Antwon Randel - in go the Washington Redskins. It was a perfect beginning for the Jim Zorn era, what I liked was the fact that it only took 77 second to score a touchdown, something the Redskins had trouble doing in the Joe Gibbs era, scoring touchdowns.

Redskins on defense, first play, Sean Springs with a big tackle for a loss. But the Redskins did not play Andre Carter or Jason Taylor their starting defensive ends or linebacker London Fletcher so it is hard to really tell how good that defensive line or linebacking corps is going to play. And he Colts quarterback Payton Manning, I don't even think he has been to training camp left, he had an operation back on July 14th to remove a Bursa sack in his left knee, ther was some infection, that has since cleared and Tony Dungee is hoping Payton will be able to play in the Colts 4th preseason game on Aug 24th. So some kid name jim Sore-gee was at quaerback, so who knows how good gthat offense was.

The Colts really dominated their drive Fred Smoot almost had an interception at the goal line, he just plain dropped it, you can't just drop passes like that. The Colts had to settle for a field goal, Adam Venateri hit a 26 yard attempt, Venateri should join Jon Stenerud as only the second kicker in the hall of fame some day.

I was very impressed with running back Rock Cartwright, he certinaly took advantage of his oppertunity. It was good to see Santa Moss out there, Campbell hit Moss for a 16 yard pass and boy did Campbell fall back dep before he threw, and then on the very next play he got sacked. Jason Campbell played only 2 sets, he was 5 for 5 for 61 yards one touchdowns and no interceptions, and everybody should be pleased about that.

I was very impressed with the way Jason Campbell carried himself last night and that was the whole idea about hiring Jim Zorn as head coach of the Redskins was to make Jason Campbell a big time quarterback, and boy it seems to be working at least if you look at the first two series, but of course there is sitll a full pre season left before the first game.

By the way, the first guy to score a touchdown against the Jim Zorn Redskins, On-ree Jones a first year player out of Hampton University who played at Bruton High School in Williamsburg, Williamsburg, and he was wide open a nice pass from Qunt Gray.

After that it was halftime the Colts led 13 to 9, and after that it was practice.

Rookie quarterback Colt Brennon finally got in the game in the 3rd quarter, and Colt threw a be;autiful touchdown pass to Mason a 20 yard pass on a 3rd down and six, very impressive and then a bullet down the middle with a free safety sitting there, and he got it in there, threw it sidearm. Looked like Rich Gannon out there. Jim Zorn's quarterbacks did very well. Colt Brennon on third down and 4 at the six, scrambled out of trouble and waited to hit Mason who was all alone on the right, the 15th play of the drive, Mason fell in for the touchdown, all the Redskins players, the starters came off the bench they were impressed, Colt Brennon led two touchdown drives up to that point, He was 9 out of 10 for 123 yards and two touchdowns. Late in the game the Redskins came with the safety blitz the Redskins intercepted and ran it back for a touchdown, and the Redskins won the Hall of Fame game 30 to 16, very impressive.