Redskins Currently Have Worst Red Zone % in Their Last 10 Years; But There is Some Good News

by Kevin Ewoldt on Nov 11, 2010 11:12 AM EST in Xfinity Sponsored Posts

So, I've got some good news and some bad news.

Bad News: The Redskins' 2010 Red Zone Conversion Percentage through 8 games is currently the worst in our franchise's history since they started recording the stat in 2000. Yes, a full 15 percentage points WORSE than last year. (Hunter Smith time?)

Good News: In the last 3 games, the Redskins have converted 71.43% of their red zone chances, which ranks 4^th in the NFL (tied with the G-Strings). Skins went a perfect 2-2 in their last game vs Detroit.

So, this is where one could say: "Shanahan is a worse red zone coach than Spurrier, Zorn and Sherman²!!! I mean, our offense was DEPLETED last year, and the Redskins still have a healthy OLine (knock on wood).

What's most baffling is that the top 2 Redzone teams this season are the 0-8 Bills going 11-16 (68.75%) and the 2-6 Detroit Lions, who have converted 17-24 (70.83%). The Lions I can believe since Calvin Johnson has 8 TDs and is built for those plays. The Bills, however, are quietly impressing. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson's stat lines are nothing to laugh about. Either way, the lack of Redskins' offense has been all too depressing. With eight weeks of film and two weeks of study, I should be confident that Shanahan has figured things out for the rest of the year.

I firmly believe this would be the case if it wasn't for Shanahan's comments yesterday:

"Right now, according to (head athletic trainer) Larry Hess, [McNabb] has improved from last week, but by no means is he full speed."

Ugh. A week and half ago McNabb said he was physically fine, which was evident with that 30-yard scramble. Whatever. Shanahan left the door open for him to be benched again due to ‘injury.' It is what it is. McNabb played horribly that DET game (triple coverage INT and a shoulda-been pick 6) and he felt the wrath. As David Elfin pointed out, the Redskins are on pace for three fewer TDs than last year, which is depressing in itself. Can I blame Suisham?

Redskins red zone stats for the last 10 years after the jump....

Year	Red Zone Conv (M/A)	Red Zone Conv Pct
2000	23-48	47.9%
2001	18-44	40.9%
2002	26-44	59.2%
2003	24-45	53.3%
2004	23-44	52.3%
2005	30-47	63.8%
2006	21-42	50.0%
2007	27-55	49.1%
2008	23-48	47.9%
2009	26-46	56.6%
2010	8-20	40.0%

Tweet Comment 10 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Man...I thought our Red Zone offense under Zorn was bad.

This is pretty sad.

Where are my shoelaces?

by DCO'sfan on Nov 11, 2010 11:41 AM EST reply actions

Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, and Steve Johnson have a combined 17 receiving TDs; they often line up in the slot, with 3 each of Calvin and Steve’s TD coming from being lined up in the slot, and 1 of Andre’s TDs from the slot. Clearly, this proves that there is nothing better than having your Johnson in a slot.

i’ll be here all week.

a life: it's the shit that happens while you're waiting for moments that never come -Lester Freamon

by eastcoastatlas on Nov 11, 2010 11:42 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Andre doesn't have a lot this year.

Damn that dude ruined my Fantasy team…..

by brettpedigo on Nov 11, 2010 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

ugh

This is some depressing ish.

Is it Monday yet?

SpottieOttieDopaliscious

by Rekka on Nov 11, 2010 12:05 PM EST reply actions

In 2009

the Redskins were 8th in the NFL in offensive red zone scoring % and 2nd in opponent red zone scoring percentage (39.02%). How did that work out?

Trust in the Shana-Plan.

by VA_Skin on Nov 11, 2010 1:57 PM EST reply actions

man I hate stats

by Parks Smith on Nov 11, 2010 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

Red zone percentage is part of the story

But the fact remains that our 2010 offense is just a bit behind Jim Zorn’s 2009 team.
without Clinton Portis, Chris Cooley, Mike Sellers, and Santana Moss, all on the field at the same time, I don’t see how we pose any matchup problems with the opposing team.

I don’t buy what Shanahan says about any other players injury status-he thinks he’s being clever by blowing smoke up everybody’s ass.
Does anyone here actually believe banks will play on Monday? If he does, he’s risking serious damage to that knee, now whose fault would that be?
Clinton Portis had a third-degree separation of the groin, I see no way that he is going to be 100% by Monday, he’s got a lot of mileage on him and that kind of injury is slow to heal even on a young person. If Mike Shanahan is going to play the best players, and he puts Clinton Portis on the field, whose fault will it be if he can’t pull his weight? (And then what does that say about all the players he hasn’t played because they can’t "play at the level needed?"
Is Derek Dockery sick or something? Can you honestly believe that Liechtensteiger is playing at a higher level then Derek Dockery? Who do you think McNabb would rather be covering the front of his pocket? I’d bet it is Derek.
Is treating Donovan McNabb almost completely opposite-he will admit that Donovan is not 100%, but he still puts him out there why? I believe it’s for his leadership ability (and the fact that Rex Grossman makes everyone vomit) so what does that say when you pull him in the last two minutes of a winnable game?
So this week, Shanahan is telling us that his hamstrings are STILL bothering him. I don’t remember hearing that both his hamstrings were a problem. I await Monday night’s game to see what all the smoke and mirror crap produces. And if Rex Grossman plays for any reason, then Shanahan will be wrong on some front-will he admit it, or will he come up with three really weak excuses/stories?

The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button

by Skins Fan '77 on Nov 11, 2010 2:48 PM EST reply actions

Banks could still play...with a little pain

Having had a meniscus tear, I can attest that torn cartilage does not necessarily equate to any structural damage. The meniscus provides cushioning within the joint, and removing a small tear could be done and he could be game ready very quickly. I remember when Kenny Smith played at UNC he played a game one night, had arthroscopic knee surgery the next day, and played again one week to the day later.

by greener42 on Nov 12, 2010 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

Skins RB

Torain needs to be the 1st and 2nd down back, with Portis coming in on pass plays and 3rd down (occasionally spelling Torain). Torain is the better back right now, barring unjuries of course.

by WSK on Nov 11, 2010 5:31 PM EST reply actions

Totally agree..

Portis could really extend his career if he could accept a 3rd down role…he’s a great pass blocker and decent receiver. Using Torain as first option (at least until CP is fully healthy) seems our best bet.

by greener42 on Nov 12, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions