Hey everybody. Instead of chatting from Redskin Park, I'm at Casa O'Halloran in Loudoun County because the team is off until next Monday. A somewhat curious decision by coach Joe Gibbs (he's made a lot of those recently, hasn't he?) to give the team an entire week off but they'll be playing 13 straight weeks starting Oct. 7 and they're pretty banged up -- 11 of the 53 players would have been unable to practice today.

Obviously, an interesting loss to the Giants on Sunday. Up 17-3, the Redskins do nothing offensively in the second half and then the final minute left everybody in burgundy-and-gold open to second-guessing. But who among us didn't have the Redskins 2-1 at this point? Granted, I'm sure everybody had them losing that '1' game in Philly and then beating the Giants. In the dreadful NFC, where only Dallas looks to be for real, the loss may come back to haunt the Redskins but there is a ton of opportunities left to steal road games.

I've got the XM Radio Online (Channel 26) cranked up so let's get started.

From Joe in Sacramento, Calif.
Hello from 3,000 miles away. I do not want to harp on this loss, even though it was a big one to lose (at home, with a lead against a divisional opponent), but to me it seems that this teams lacks direction. Since Gibbs returned, the Skins have moved in a better direction, but they are not all together. Saunders saying he does not know why his best player is not on the field? Gibbs saying Betts and Portis are essentially the same (which it is painfully obvious they are not)? And again, absolutely horrible clock management no matter how the coaches spin it. How come with all 3 of these coaches, who are "geniuses" and among the highest paid seem to be on different pages?

Ryan O'Halloran
First, there's nothing wrong with harping on a loss like that. Come next month when the Patriots throttle the Redskins -- that one isn't worth the time to harp on. Your question about direction has been thrown around ever since Gibbs came back in 2004. Ultimately, he's in charge. I don't totally disagree with him saying Betts/Portis are one in the same but I absolutely think Portis should have been in the game on third and fourth downs Sunday from the 1-yard line. As for Saunders saying he had no idea about Portis not being in there -- Al is very close to the vest when it comes to personnel, including Portis' habits of coming out of the game at his choosing. I didn't have big a problem with clock management down the stretch against the Giants as I did the personnel packages and calling the same play twice.

From CNYSkinFan in Syracuse, N.Y.:
Is there any clarity on who calls the plays for the Redskins? I know that Saunders is the OC and calls the plays most of the time but Gibbs has repeatedly said that he makes the decisions on when to kick FGs and go for it on fourth downs. It seems in crucial situations there are a ton of mistakes and wasted time. Is that because too many people are trying to make the decision?

Ryan O'Halloran:
Saunders calls the offensive plays. Period. Has since he got here. Will likely call the plays until he leaves. Gibbs makes the call on to kick field goals or go for it on fourth down and obviously he and Joe Bugel talk to Saunders a lot in-game about the running plays. But the notion that Saunders is a pass-oriented play-caller isn't correct -- his Kansas City offenses were rushing machines. In crucial situations, the mistakes have been penalties, clock management, iffy play-calling. And yes, there are times where they might be too many cooks in the kitchen.

From Mike in Coral Springs, Fla.:
In Gibbs 1, the Redskins were famous for making key half time adjustments, during Gibbs 2 its the opponent that most often makes the winning adjustments. Any theories as to why this is the case?

Ryan O'Halloran:
Couple stats: First half yards/points against Miami -- 95/3; second half -- 305/13
Philadelphia: 209 yards and 10 points by the Redskins in the first half; 126 yards and 10 points in the second half.
Against the Giants: 179 yards and 17 points in first half; 91 yards and zero points in second half.
Translation: The Redskins did a decent job offensively in the second halves against the Dolphins and Eagles. But a couple factors against the Giants -- they didn't have the ball that much until the last 5 minutes and when they did, I felt they didn't pass enough. Their running game was stalled and they shouldn't have sat on the lead.

From SkinsLover in D.C.:
What's the attitude at the Park today, and how does this lost affect the teams bye week schedule? also Carlos calling out the offense in the post game interview...what's up with that? Did CP talk after the game didn't see any interviews with him?

Ryan O'Halloran:
This question was sent to me on Monday. The mood at the Park yesterday was one of the players saying, 'We let one slip away and it stinks' combined with, 'We're still 2-1.' Several players said the loss stung and they didn't sleep that great, which is surprising considering they've played so many games at so many levels. I didn't see Rogers' comments on Comcast after the game but if he's calling out the offense, he needs a mirror to look at himself. Portis did speak with reporters on Monday.

From Irving:
What do they see in Carlos Rogers?

Ryan O'Halloran:
Well, that's direct. But it warrants a discussion since Rogers hasn't progressed as much as a top draft pick should three games into their third season. I write about Carlos a little bit in tomorrow's paper. He's been thrown at 23 times in three games. He better get better in a hurry -- October brings matchups against high-powered passing offenses: Detroit, Green Bay, New England and Arizona.

From Dale:
Given this last game, especially the second half, do you think the offensive line has got it together yet? There only two starters from last year!

Ryan O'Halloran:
Nope, the offensive line doesn't have it together just yet and that's totally understandable since two months ago, Pete Kendall was with the Jets, Todd Wade was a guard (not a tackle) and Jason Fabini a tackle (not a guard). Chris Samuels and Casey Rabach are the only two holdover starters. It's going to take some time for the group to get on the same page communication-wise. That's true in run blocking and pass protection.

From Barry in Reston:
What was the biggest mistake made during the Redskins final offensive drive in terms of time management/play calling?

Ryan O'Halloran:
Let's this the things that went wrong. That'd be easier
1. After getting a first down at the Giants 18 with 1:22 left, Campbell should have spiked it instead of rushing. The shotgun snap went off his chest when he wasn't ready for it and the Redskins lost 3 yards and 15 seconds when Campbell rushed to kill the clock on second down.
2. After getting a first down at the Giants 1 with 58 seconds left, I wouldn't have spiked it. I would have tried to use Campbell on a quick QB sneak or a quick Sellers hand off up the middle to try and surprise the Giants, who had their nickel package on the field. If the Redskins don't make it, there's still plenty of time.
3. I had no problem with the second-down play-call -- play action pass to Sellers that fell incomplete. Sellers wouldn't have scored even if he would have caught it. But on third and fourth downs, you MUST have Clinton Portis in the game.
4. On third down, I would have tried play action and have Campbell on the move again with a run/pass/throw away option.
5. Now, here's the biggest thing. After Betts gets stopped on third down, the Redskins have the same play call on fourth down. But there's nearly 40 seconds remaining. In hindsight, because New York defended that play so well, I would have sent in a new personnel group with a new play or kept the Jumbo package in the game and call a different play.

From John in Fairfax:
After the bye, can we expect to see Reche Caldwell on the field?

Ryan O'Halloran:
If he's here to play, I would expect him to play against Detroit. That will be nearly a month after he signed and he should have a more-than-just-working knowledge of the offense. That would mean, Brandon Lloyd, it's time to get out of uniform.

From anonymous:
Three questions:
1. Last season, there were questions about wheter Gibbs and Saunders were on the same page with play calling and offensive team identity. It seems like that is happening again when you look at the lack of consistency in what they want to do. Is there something going on there that hasn't gotten public yet?
2. On defense, I noticed that Carlos Rogers was the corner in the game during single corner sets as opposed to Springs. Is Rogers the number 1 guy? Please say he isn't, he's terrible and plays way to far off the receiver.
3. What the hell is the deal with Brandon Lloyd?

Ryan O'Halloran:
1. As for the Gibbs/Saunders relationship, I think it's fine and they're on the same page. Saunders has embraced Campbell as a play maker and Saunders' run-game philosophy is in-line. But if the head coach asks the play-caller to be conservative and sit on a lead, the play-caller has to listen.
2. Sorry to disappoint you, but Rogers is your No. 1 corner. Springs is No. 2 and Smoot will be No. 2A when he gets back to full health.
3. Brandon Lloyd's deal? If I had a good answer for that one, I'd be in line to receive an honorary degree in psychology. A different dude, for sure.

From Sidney in Virginia Beach:
Is it just me or does it seem like whenever the Skins have a lead, the coach would go into a conservation mode to "protect the lead" instead of continuing to attack the defense and score? If the offense approaches every possession like they are down by 10 points, that sense of urgency will always be present.

Ryan O'Halloran:
It's not just you. That's been the case since Gibbs came back to the Redskins. In those rare occasions where they've had a double-digit halftime lead, he likes to sit on it and let the defense finish out the game. It cost the Redskins on Sunday. It did cost them last year, I think against Tennessee. The time to sit on a lead is in the last 10 minutes.

From William:
If Joe Nobody (myself) can tell what the Redskins are looking to do when I see how they line up, I wonder what a highly paid Defensive Coordinator, or a 5 million a year Middle Linebacker are able to see from the field. Is it just me?

Ryan O'Halloran:
I just checked the replay of the final snap and Antonio Pierce and Kawika Mitchell are shifting to their right right before the play. They recognized the formation (same as on third down) and knew what coming. It was easy pickings.

From John:
1. Why haven't we seen Brandon Lloyd on the field and involved in the outcome of the game, it seems as if he's being overlooked. Is this because of us quality of play?
2. Is Caldwell a better option than Lloyd?

Ryan O'Halloran:
1. Lloyd is no longer part of the Redskins' short-range offensive plans. He's their fourth receiver and when the team does play four-wide, it's usually Chris Cooley in the slot. And it's ALL because of his quality of play.
2. Caldwell will be a better option once given the chance.

From Doug in Lovell, Maine:
Would you explain why a defensive line gets worn down more than the offensive line by a running attack? I am afraid it is not intuitive since presumably each uses maximum exertion on evey play.

Ryan O'Halloran:
Yeah, that was a topic last week when the Redskins were running it effectively. It's probably more of a mental thing -- giving up 5,6,7 yards a rush can wear down a defensive line mentally as well as physically because getting pounded on might effect their pass rushing abilities.

From Michael:
I have been noticing since the Redskins let Antonio Pierce go to the Giants
three years ago, our defense has been getting "torched" by their offense.
Pierce was the "QB" of Gregg Williams defense and Williams even said he is
the smartest at that position other than Fletcher in his systems. Thus this
begs me to wonder is he giving Eli and the offense "keys" on the Skins
defense against the run and the pass? Sure seems like it.

Ryan O'Halloran:
I think there's some truth to that. The Giants and Redskins play twice a year so that Pierce probably helped the Giants' offense more in 2005 when he was new to the team. The Redskins generally change up their defensive signals often and might go to extra lengths when they face Pierce.

From Brett:
Would it have been legal for Gibbs and/or Al Saunders to tell JC to "huddle up" before getting to the line to run that last play? And, while we're at it, I thought Al and Joe were offensive masterminds. Did we really PLAN to run the same play two times in a row?

Ryan O'Halloran:
It would have been perfectly fine. What I would like to find out next week is whether there was any communication between Bill Lazor into Campbell's helmet radio. If so, the coaches could have told Jason to slow it down or could have sent in a new play. And yes, they planned to run the same play twice.

Ryan O'Halloran:
The mailbox is now empty -- lots of good stuff this week. I'll hang around until 3 p.m. if anybody has questions.

Ryan O'Halloran:
OK, folks, that's all for this week. I'll be back next Tuesday at 2 p.m. where we can discuss Lions-Redskins or the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy or the release of Bruce Springsteen's latest album. Take care.