Saints' Payton can feel for Redskins coach Zorn

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- For Jim Zorn, the countdown clock was awfully short.

Fewer than two full seasons - 22 games, in fact.

That's when Zorn was stripped of his play-calling duties, when it became apparent that he was on a shorter leash with owner Dan Snyder than anyone ever expected.

Washington had just fallen to 2-4 following a 14-6 loss to previously winless Kansas City and the offense was averaging a meager 13.2 points per game. The Redskins hadn't even scored a touchdown in two of their three home games at that point.

It's becoming more and more apparent that Snyder will make a change - five men have called themselves head coaches in Washington since the beginning of the decade.

A game against 11-0 New Orleans (noon, Sunday) certainly won't make things any easier for the embattled coach of the 3-8 Redskins.

"The season's been difficult in that we're 3-8, so that kind of speaks for itself," Zorn said. "It's been compounded with different decision-making situations and yet, I feel like we're making the best of what we're about and where we're headed."

It took a poor finish to 2008 and equally poor beginning to 2009 for the wheels to begin turning for change.

Washington finished last season 8-8 after starting 6-2, including a 29-24 win over the Saints in Week 2.

And after the 2-4 start,  the play-calling duties were handed to Sherm Lewis.

Since then, things haven't gotten much better. They're averaging only 2.3 points more per game and still aren't winning, going only 1-4 since the changeover.

Still, Zorn feels like things are heading in the right direction despite the intense pressure to win in the final five weeks.

"It just hasn’t transferred into wins and that’s probably the worst thing about anything that we’re doing here with the Redskins, because the group I’m working with as far as coaches, the group that I’m working with as far as our players, I feel privileged," Zorn said. "I feel very solid about the things we’re doing."

Sean Payton, in a way, knows what Zorn is going through.

As the offensive coordinator with the New York Giants, he helped guide the team's offense to unprecedented heights during their 2000-01 Super Bowl season. But the unit stagnated during the 2001 season and midway through 2002, then-Head Coach Jim Fassel stripped him of play-calling duties.

Yet, as a head coach, Payton has no idea what it feels like to be cut off from half of his responsibility.

"It's really kind of unprecedented, I think to some extent, if you're talking about a head coach," Payton said. "I think it might be the first time it has ever happened."

Five games into the Zorn-Lewis offensive regime, Payton said he can't see much of a change in the Redskins offense.

"We see some nuances that are different, but there's a ton of work you have in offensively in training camp and the offseason," Payton said. "If whoever is calling the plays is different, there might be some sort of a change. But nonetheless, there are still some core principles and beliefs that you have to be able tot run."

It hasn't all been Zorn's fault, however.

The team  has struggled with injuries, placing nine players on IR this season. Included in that group - running back Ladell Betts, tight end Chris Cooley, guard Chad Rinehart, tackle Chris Samuels and guard Randy Thomas. Additionally, running back Clinton Portis will miss his third straight game after sustaining a concussion.

"It's just been week in and week out," Zorn said. "It started with our left tackle and our right guard and then it's compounded with Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley. ... That's a frustration because you like to build continuity. We certainly haven't been able to do that on the offensive line."

But he's not letting injuries be any excuse for letting Washington slip to the 25th-ranked offense in the NFL.

"Let me say this: nobody cares," Zorn said. "In the NFL, nobody cares and that’s really the way it should be. What we’re about is putting that next guy in. Those are the guys that are fired up about helping as well and they’re doing a good job, so we don’t make any excuses. I think that’s what part of Redskin football is about, dealing with what you do have and moving forward."

In five weeks, the franchise might be moving forward, just in a different direction.