Redskins Score Big With Zorn

JOHN MCCAIN SHOULD be as lucky as the Redskins.

Presented with a list of bad choices — think Mitt Romney or Jim Fassel — both the presidential candidate and the football team reached to the Pacific Northwest for a seemingly unknown candidate.

While it may be hard to remember now, Jim Zorn had the same deer — or moose — in the headlights look as Sarah Palin his first few weeks as the Redskins' coach. Actually, Zorn looked shell-shocked by preseason's end and after a disastrous opening week loss.

Something clicked, though. Zorn formed a bond with quarterback Jason Campbell precisely when the season seemed lost. When many, including I, thought Washington would be 1-3 entering this week's game against the Eagles, it now stands 3-1 and sure looks like a playoff team.

The poise Zorn has shown in play-calling has rubbed off on the Redskins, who look as confident as they did in the era when Palin was still a sportscaster.

Instead of playing not to lose, the Redskins were the aggressors Sunday in the huge upset of the Dallas Cowboys.

Zorn's attitude and West Coast offense have given the team an identity missing when Joe Gibbs and Al Saunders clashed over how to use the Redskins' weapons.

Forget Campbell; Santana Moss and Clinton Portis have never looked so good in burgundy and gold.

Palin may turn into a fumble for McCain, but it's clear the Redskins scored a touchdown with their Hail Mary pick of Zorn.

Photo by John McDonnell/TWP