Redskins-Panthers Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Panthers-Redskins

SCOUTING REPORT

Redskins-Panthers: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Redskins-Panthers matchup. 1. Washington QB Jason Campbell the runner? One of the interesting things that came out of the Jim Zorn press conference Monday was that while he was OK with two of Campbell's interceptions in Week 4, he was not OK with a few of his throws while moving up into the pocket. Zorn mentioned he would talk to Campbell about tucking the ball and running with it in those situations.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
WAS	3-7	146	178	3-2	0-5	0-3	2-6
CAR	4-6	193	239	2-3	2-3	2-2	4-4
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Washington Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Campbe... 66.0 2126 10 9 Collin... 52.6 87 0 0

Carolina Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Delhom... 57.1 1885 8 14 Moore 50.0 63 0 1

Washington Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Portis 124 494 4.0 1 Betts 56 210 3.8 2

Carolina Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 181 982 5.4 7 Stewar... 110 509 4.6 6

Washington Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Moss 40 546 13.7 2 Randle... 34 366 10.8 0

Carolina Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 45 599 13.3 4 Muhamm... 33 337 10.2 0

Full Player Stats: Washington | Carolina

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	WAS	310.0
	CAR	336.0
Yards Passing	WAS	205.4
	CAR	177.3
Yards Rushing	WAS	104.2
	CAR	159.1
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	WAS	290.0
	CAR	315.7
Pass Yds Allowed	WAS	161.6
	CAR	185.0
Rush Yds Allowed	WAS	128.4
	CAR	130.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 2-2
Nov 26, 2006	WAS 17, @CAR 13
Nov 16, 2003	WAS 17, CAR 20
Oct 21, 2001	WAS 17, @CAR 14

All of the Washington Redskins' victories this season have come against winless teams.

They would like that trend to continue.

Washington goes for its second straight victory Sunday afternoon when it faces the Carolina Panthers, who return home following a much-needed bye week.

After a 9-7 victory over lowly St. Louis and a 19-14 loss at Detroit the previous two weeks, the Redskins (2-2) defeated Tampa Bay 16-13 last Sunday.

Washington's next two games are versus Carolina and Kansas City, which are currently a combined 0-7.

"We know what our schedule looks like and what games we need to win right now," Redskins safety Reed Doughty said. "And having some of these games where people are a little bit down on their confidence, we need to take advantage of that."

Washington also needs to take care of an offense that is averaging 14.0 points, 27th in the NFL.

On Tuesday, the Redskins hired 67-year-old Sherman Lewis as an offensive consultant for coach Jim Zorn. Lewis was last in the NFL in 2004 when he was offensive coordinator for the Lions.

"Nothing changes," said Redskins executive vice president for football operations Vinny Cerrato. "Jim's still calling plays. Everybody's still doing what they're doing. It's just another fresh set of eyes."

The team says Lewis' hiring is not a threat to Zorn's job, but even the Redskins coach knows his team's offense needs to improve. Washington hasn't scored 30 points in a game since Zorn was hired prior to last season.

"We must get better offensively, all-around," he said.

That improvement begins with quarterback Jason Campbell, who completed 12 of 22 for 170 yards and a career-high three interceptions last Sunday.

The Redskins erased a 10-0 halftime deficit with 16 unanswered points in the third quarter, including Campbell's 11-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cooley and a 59-yard TD to Santana Moss.

"At halftime, I was like, if we don't pull this one out, I don't know what I'm going to do on Monday," Campbell said. "I might as well hibernate."

In the teams' last matchup, Campbell threw a 66-yard TD to Cooley with 1:25 left and the Redskins defeated Carolina 17-13 on Nov. 26, 2006.

Washington improved to 7-1 all-time against the Panthers despite Clinton Portis missing the game due to a broken bone in his right hand. He rushed for 98 yards on 25 carries last week but has not reached the 100-yard plateau in his last nine games.

He'll face a Carolina team with the league's worst run defense, allowing 182.7 yards per game.

All of the Panthers' opponents this season have rushed for at least 151 yards, with Dallas running for 212 in a 21-7 victory over Carolina (0-3) on Sept. 28.

"That is unacceptable," Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis said. "We feel like we want to be an elite defense in this league. And we can't go out on any given night and give up 200 yards rushing to anybody."

Carolina signed veteran defensive tackle Hollis Thomas last Thursday to bolster a defense giving up 29.0 points per contest.

"He's got a lot of experience. I think right now we're young there," coach John Fox said. "He's played the game at this level for some time. A lot of this is how to play. I think he'll help us immensely in that area."

Fox also hopes the bye week following the Dallas loss will help the defending NFC South champions recover from their worst start since opening 0-7 in 1998.

"The reality is we're 0-3, and we haven't fixed it yet," Fox said. "Luckily, this bye comes at an ideal time, in my estimation. I didn't feel that six months ago, but I feel it now. New, right or indifferent, we're just not executing as well as we need to."

Jake Delhomme is at the center of that problem, with two touchdowns and a league-worst seven interceptions for an offense averaging 12.3 points -- 29th in the NFL.

"Certainly we haven't put up the points that we would have liked to have put up," Delhomme said. "But we're a work in progress and we're trying to get there."

Carolina also needs its running game to improve. The Panthers were third in the league last season with 152.3 yards per game but are averaging 101.0 in 2009.

DeAngelo Williams, third in the NFL last season with 1,515 rushing yards, has 180 on 41 carries this season. Jonathan Stewart has rushed for 99 yards in 2009 after piling up 836 as a rookie last season.

"We're just not playing the way our philosophy is -- to run the ball," tackle Jordan Gross said. "The time of possession is ridiculous, I'm sure, and we get turnovers and some protection issues. That's not what we did to win last year."

'Messed-up hand' limits Panthers DE Peppers

Julius Peppers' hand is a touchy subject in the secretive world of NFL injuries. Coach John Fox would only call it a "messed-up hand."

Questions about Williams continue to swirl

Redskins' LaRon Landry calls out Boys WR Roy Williams: 'He was scared.'

Cowboys brushing off Campo-Newman incident

Cowboys coach, player won't discuss sideline exchange

Cowboys' Phillips says Romo feeling a lot better

Quarterback spent most of Monday's media access period getting treatment

Thomas's Return 'On Schedule'

Randy Thomas is sitting out OTA practices this month after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery recently, according to head coach Jim Zorn.

Redskins Take First Look at Line After Jansen

"I feel like I have the ability to be a starter," said Stephon Heyer, center, shown here taking on Scott Burley in drills during yesterday's workout as offensive line coach Joe Bugel looks on.

Kelly Full-Go At Practice

Malcolm Kelly pulled in a pass on a slant pattern, adjusting his body mid-route because the throw was slightly behind him.

Back In Action

The Redskins resumed OTAs on Monday, with more than 75 veterans and rookies returning to the practice fields at Redskins Park.

Heyer Aims To Be Worthy Heir

Late yesterday morning, Stephon Heyer performed the duties offensive linemen perform at this time of year.

Panthers become big losers - of excess weight

There's much less to see when you look at the Carolina Panthers' sideline these days.

Moore making most of shot with Panthers

The Panthers' Kenny Moore, shown with students at First Ward Elementary School on March 10, is among the candidates to enter the season as the team's No.

New fullback has Hoover a bit on edge

When it comes to locker room grief, Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover gives it as well as anyone.

Brown's focus is on technique

If the Carolina Panthers were truly worried about Everette Brown's size, they wouldn't be lining him up the way they are.

Hoover doesn't plan to go without a fight

Brad Hoover was walking off the practice field Monday shortly after beating most of his Carolina Panthers teammates in a series of sprints when he told a reporter he couldn't talk until later.