The Redskins Take A Giant Step

I'm not going to get too wee-weed up (love that Obama term) over the Redskins' performance at the Meadowlands Sunday, especially since no one predicted a win anyway.This glass is half full. Jason Campbell threw for more yards (211) than the Redskins gained in total offense in last year's opening game (209), offsetting the decline in the rushing game. Washington held the Giants to a field goal in the second half and was effective against the Giants running game. Antwaan Randle El was impressive playing from the slot, his natural position. He should match up well against most nickel backs and linebackers.But a loss is a loss. This game was not a good loss like last night's Oakland loss against San Diego. But there's time to correct and Washington has the people to do it and a soft schedule ahead.The most interesting read from the game by NJ.com's Mike Garafolo. NJ.com is Giants-centric, but Garafolo had a few game balls for Redskin players."DT Albert Haynesworth. He's the real deal, people. And how about the 'Skins lining him up at DE on passing downs a few times? If you're Giants LT David Diehl, I'd say it's pretty safe you can assume a bull rush."LB London Fletcher. One of the most underappreciated players in the league. And, like Haynesworth, one of the rare cases of money well spent by Washington." Garafolo panned both LaRon Landry's and DeAngelo Hall's performance on the big play by Giants receiver Mario Manningham. Manninghan's rookie year was a bigger disappointment than Malcolm Kelly's. So I was surprised, make that shocked, by his run after the catch on that play. I'm not sure whether Manningham showed nothing preseason. Is that good, or did he just made our secondary look stupid? Time will tell on both counts.The Real Reason The Redskins Lost to the GiantsThe New York Giants have a superior front office!They don't turn over coaches. They didn't fire Tom Coughlin when things were tough. They worked with him and went to the Super Bowl.The Redskins fumble their coach hire--of the Giants defensive coordinator no less--and end up pitting someone coaching his 17th game against someone coaching his 209th.The Giants have roster resilience. They lost Plaxico Burress and Osi Umenyiora and still made the 2008 playoffs.You won't see them trade valuable draft picks in a panic for a T.J. Duckett or Jason Taylor when they had bench strength can step up. The Giants have faith in their back-ups, so they keep their draft picks. Washington, not so much.Washington has good players, too. They must be good. We bring back when we let them go. If Derrick Dockery, Fred Smoot and Renaldo Wynn are good enough to bring back, they were good enough to keep in the first place.Tell me again why Ryan Clark is good enough to play for the Super Bowl Steelers, but not as good as Adam Archuleta.The Redskins ownership sabotage their own odd aproach with panic deals. (Must...resist...Burress...reference) If Washington kept the picks wasted on Duckett and Taylor, they could have pulled the trigger on deals for Jay Cutler or Mark Sanchez and might have had enough to overpay the Bengals to trade for Chad Ochocinco. (Ugh)And you won't see New York make cavalier changes of offensive schemes as the Skins did when they switched from the Coryell Downfield System to the West Coast Offense, thereby setting the clock back three to five seasons before a big payoff. The Giants are New York's team, but it's the Redskins who build rosters like a Broadway cast, with a few headliners and those anonymous little people in the chorus. If this were Broadway, I'd buy an overpriced ticket and go see a show once. This is football. We're on a long term quest for a title. It's those anonymous, front line people in the chorus who make the hits. Superior front offices always lead to superior on-field performance. Come on, JasonThis is Jason Campbell's do-or-die year. His performance against the Giants was meh, ok. His biggest impression from this game is always going to be that second quarter fumble returned for a touchdown.Both head coach Jim Zorn and NJ.com's Garofo point out that Campbell failed to step up into the pocket to avoid the turnover. Zorn said in his post-game comments that Campbell did well overall, but tape of that turnover will live forever. A winning season will offset the memory. I still believe in Campbell. He has the stuff to be a starter. However, little things are beginning to annoy me. More on that tomorrow.Become a fan of hog Heaven on Facebook. click here.Follow me on twitter.com/SkinsHogHeaven.