Woody:Teams endure season of unmet expectations

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Teams endure season of unmet expectations

Redskins and Saints were trendy choices to make the playoffs

BY PAUL WOODY

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Sunday, November 30, 2003

Even the coaches of the best NFL teams will spend more time talking about their problems than they will about the things that are going well.

Imagine, then, what Washington Redskins coach Steve Spurrier and New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett have to talk about.

The Redskins (4-7) and Saints (5-6) have been on a similar course this season. Both teams began the year with high expectations. Both have endured losing streaks. The Redskins are all but out of the playoff race, and the Saints are dangerously close to being so.

The Redskins have been plagued by injuries and crucial mistakes at crucial points of games. Patrick Ramsey, their starting quarterback, is unlikely to play today because of a foot injury. His season might be over.

Tim Hasselbeck is the heir apparent at quarterback.

Left tackle Chris Samuels won't play today because of a knee injury. Brandon Winey, who was a late signing in training camp, will start and must deal with defensive end Charles Grant, who leads the Saints with 7½ sacks.

New Orleans has been plagued by turnovers. The Saints have lost 15 fumbles, the most of any team. Last week against Philadelphia, quarterback Aaron Brooks lost one fumble when he was sacked, which happens from time to time.

But things are going so badly for the Saints when it comes to fumbles that Brooks lost another when he was attempting a handoff to running back Deuce McAllister, and fullback Terrelle Smith bumped into Brooks before McAllister even got to the ball.

"I think it's a mind-set," Haslett said. "It's not like we don't stress taking care of the football. More than anything, it's attention to detail."

The Redskins might need an entire detail to deal with McAllister, who has gained 1,228 yards and averages 5.1 per carry. He is the Saints' second-leading receiver with 46 receptions. McAllister will handle the ball between 25 and 30 times per game.

"The things that separate Deuce from all the other guys is that he is not just a great running back," Haslett said. "He's a great receiver, can block, has great vision, gives you great information during the game and is a great kid.

"He's smart. He studies the game. He knows what's going on. He will tell you exactly what is going on. A lot of guys can't do that because it's happening so fast."

Things have happened pretty fast for Hasselbeck, who played well in the Redskins' 24-23 loss to Miami last Sunday.

Hasselbeck signed with the Redskins just over a month ago. He has done a good job of learning the offense, and Spurrier hopes Hasselbeck will be comfortable enough today to use audibles at the line when necessary.

Quarterback has not been a problem for the Saints. Brooks, a product of the University of Virginia and Homer Ferguson High School in Newport News, has completed 59 percent of his passes and makes good decisions.

Brooks' mobility also could give the Redskins problems.

Haslett knows he can rely on McAllister and Brooks. What he wants to fix is the Saints' turnover problem.

"We had almost 500 yards [466] against Philadelphia [a 33-20 loss], but we turned the ball over three times and that gave them a 20-point swing," Haslett said. "Until we stop putting the ball on the ground, we're going to have a tough time winning games."

Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com