T.O.

Redskins New Head Coach Beats the Dallas Cowboys on His First Try

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Zorn Establishes Himself

WASHINGTON POST

By Thomas Boswell
Monday, September 29, 2008; E01

IRVING, Tex. Among the litmus tests passed down through generations of Redskins fans is the ability of new coaches to travel to hated Dallas and beat the Cowboys at Texas Stadium. For many, the first trip to Irving has been brutal, setting a tone that never changed. The last Redskins coach to win his first game in Dallas was George Allen in ’71. Even Vince Lombardi lost his only game here for Washington. And Joe Gibbs lost his first time here in both his regimes.

Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin (26) after a 31-yard run in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jim Zorn may not be a made man quite yet in this town. Seasons are long, much less entire coaching careers. But he’s moving up the ladder awfully fast after a 26-24 victory over a Dallas team that’s touted as one of the Cowboys’ best and a Super Bowl contender. His offense controlled the ball for 38 minutes 9 seconds, outgained Dallas in yardage, 381-344, and did not commit a turnover. Perhaps most important, his attack had such balance between passing and rushing, while the Cowboys threw 47 times out of desperation, that the Redskins actually dominated this game by more than the final margin.

“I don’t know whether I have a headache from calling plays or watching the clock at the end, wanting it to get down [to 0:00],” said Zorn, who sweated out the last 3:22 after a 29-yard Shaun Suisham field goal gave underdog Washington a 26-17 lead that hushed the huge crowd. “It’s good to see that everybody is responding to this style of leadership. We’re heading in the right direction. What does it mean as a [rookie] NFL coach? I mean, we just beat Dallas in Dallas.”

With that, Zorn just stopped and grinned at the thought. Not bad for a guy who, nine months ago when he was introduced as coach, thought the team’s colors were “maroon and black.”

Can we officially and forever forgive that one now? This win stamped Zorn as part of burgundy-and-gold lore.

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Washington Redskins Decide to Start Playing Football in Exciting Win Over Saints

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SF GATE DOT COM

In his attempt to redesign the Washington Redskins’ offense, rookie coach Jim Zorn has constantly peppered Jason Campbell with all sorts of phrases. One of them: “Avoid, reset and throw.”

After a miserable first game, Campbell last week responded with a phrase of his own: “Coach, just trust me.”

On Sunday, both got the point. Campbell went from uncomfortable to prolific with a 321-yard passing day, and he mastered the “avoid, reset and throw” move with aplomb on a 67-yard touchdown to Santana Moss as the Redskins came from behind to beat visiting New Orleans 29-24.

“We talked a lot during the week,” Campbell said. “I said ‘Coach, just trust me.’ And he said, ‘I’ve got to trust you more.’ We do it together.”

Campbell appeared out of sorts with Zorn’s West Coast attack in a 16-7 loss to the Giants, but he went 24-for-36 with no interceptions against the Saints. He completed his last eight passes as the Redskins (1-1) overcame a nine-point deficit with two touchdowns in the final 6 1/2 minutes.

“I don’t really know how to act, but I am very excited,” Zorn said of his first NFL win. “I wish I could enjoy it as much as I had to endure last week for four or five days, but I won’t be able to.”

The big play came with 3:29 left and the Redskins trailing 24-22. Campbell avoided the rush, stepped forward and hit Moss in stride, the receiver one step ahead of rookie cornerback Tracy Porter.

Reggie Bush returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown that gave the Saints (1-1) a 24-15 lead at the end of the third quarter. New Orleans remained in the game principally because all five of the Redskins’ first-half drives ended in field-goal attempts.

The Saints committed three turnovers, and all landed in the hands of seventh-round draft pick Chris Horton.