Redskins' Offense Running on Empty

by David ElfinFiled under: Redskins, NFC EastWashington scored just 13 points and generated just 216 yards yesterday against visiting Minnesota. Those offensive struggles, exacerbated by the absence of injured running backs Clinton Portis and Ryan Torain, were ugly but not unexpected. Veteran Redskins know that the team has been offensively challenged for years. Whether Joe Gibbs (with an assist from Don Breaux), Al Saunders, Jim Zorn (with an assist from Sherman Smith and later from Sherman Lewis) or the Shanahans, Mike and Kyle, have been drawing up the plays, the Redskins have simply not produced. Washington has finished in the top half of the league in points or yards just once in the seven seasons since any of its current starters hit town in 2004. That includes 2008 when now-retired left tackle Chris Samuels, tight end Chris Cooley, fullback Mike Sellers and Portis were all selected for the Pro Bowl even though the offense wound up 20th in yards and 28th in points. "W...