Terry Robiskie, right, with receiver Albert Connell Reginald A. Pearman Jr. washingtopost.com

Terry Robiskie, the Redskins' passing game coordinator, discussing the Giants and Cowboys games and Washington's next opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, said the team must run the football to beat the Bucs.

Robiskie joined the Redskins as wide receivers coach in 1994 after spending 12 years as a coach with the Raiders. A running back out of LSU, he was drafted by Oakland in 1977 and played for five seasons, three for the Raiders and two for the Dolphins.

Terry Robiskie: To all the Redskins fans, welcome to another fun day. Let's have fun talking about the Giants and be careful with those Cowboy questions. Let's get started.

Gaithersburg: Terry,
Thanks again for this opportunity. Did you and Norv have a game plan to throw deep or was it the Giants' defense that gave enough cushion that led you to throw deep?

Terry Robiskie: It was a combination of the two. We felt like the Giants would play a lot of man-to-man coverage and they would blitz us a lot. The opportunity presented itself and we took advantage of it.

Austin, TX: I've read quotes from Redskins coaches and players that the reason they only dinked and dunked in the first three games was because the defenses were taking away the long pass (that is, DBs playing deep). But the Giants DBs were playing man-to-man, so we were able to get the long ball. My question is, how are we ever going to beat the teams that play soft D? Thanks.

Terry Robiskie: We will attack every defense we play. We will, however, be careful versus certain teams when we attack. I'm not sure that we can be simply an attack, attack, attack group. We must pick and choose our shots and we will. You asked how are we going to beat the teams that play a deep zone. We must hit the opportunities we get when they present themselves.

Columbus, Ohio: Coach, what are the classic ways to attack a two deep zone which seems to be the cornerstone of the Tampa defense?

Terry Robiskie: There isn't a classic way. I think in any zone, you've got to have vertical speed to run through it and stretch it and then you've got to have a good possession receiver to find the creases and make the plays. In a two deep zone, the most vulnerable spot is right down the middle, an area about 35 to 40 yards deep. If you watch this weekend, you will see that when Tampa Bay is in a two deep zone their middle linebacker will cover that deep area. This is very unusual but it usually works for Tampa Bay. We must, however, do all we can to stretch their two deep zone. Stretch it across the field and down the field. There will be some holes. We just have to find them.

Bethesda, MD: Great game on Sunday coach! It seems that we used the run to set up the pass while in the three previous games we used the pass to set up the run. What brought about the change?

Terry Robiskie: Well, different games we go into different game plans. Sometimes when we are on the road, like New York, we feel like we must do everything we can to establish the running game. At home, we sometimes feel we can establish a passing game first, and then the running game.

Reston, VA: Great game plan against the Giants, Coach! It seems that the Giants and Tampa have similar teams in terms of their style of play. First, is that fair to say and second, is there an advantage to playing two similar teams back to back?

Terry Robiskie: The two teams are not quite as close in their schemes. Tampa will play a zone defense and let their players defeat your players. The Giants will give you a lot more different looks. Tampa, you've got to defeat their players. The Giants, you've got to be ready for their schemes, so they are a little different.

Herndon, VA: Coach,
When will Albert Connell stop making mental mistakes and start mak....oops! wrong week for this question I guess...Anyway, in your estimation, how was AC in practice this week? Has he gotten overconfident? Will we see him as focused, sharp and alert as he was against New York? Thanks.

Terry Robiskie: I have no idea what mental mistakes you are referring to. I assume you're making reference to him not getting out of bounds last year inside of two minutes in one game. Let's forget last year and work on this year. Albert missed practice yesterday due to the flu. He did practice today and had a very good practice. Yes, we are looking for a repeat performance this Sunday against Tampa. Thanks a lot.

St. Paul, VA: Great win against the Giants! Several aspects of the 'Skins game improved last game. The defense was phenomenal and the "old" receivers came through big time! But hey, they have a great coach! Tell me something, how is Andre Reed adjusting to the system? And a couple more questions: What is the average speed of a receiver in terms of a timed 40? What does Andre Reed run the 40 in?

Terry Robiskie: The average speed for receivers is about 4.57 seconds. Andre Reed in his rookie year was 4.47 seconds. So he was faster than most of the guys. Today he's a little slower, but he's still extremely quick, extremely strong and extremely smart. And that is a big plus. Yes, the old guys did perform pretty good last week. Let's keep our eyes on the two of them this Sunday and see if they'll continue. Andre Reed is adjusting very quickly and I think you noticed the progress in the game Sunday night. Thanks for writing.

Wash, DC: The scary thing about Tampa Bay's defense is that it appears to have no weaknesses. Line, backs, safety -- all strong, fast players. They even lost MLB Hardy Nickerson to free agency and didn't miss a beat. What do you do against a lineup like that? How do you plan? Are there matchups you can exploit? (you don't have to name them, obviously, but are they there?)

Terry Robiskie: Well, I think like you said, Tampa's defense is very strong. We must, however, go out and execute our game plan. We must do whatever we can to run the football. I'm not sure if there is a weak spot but I am sure if we plan on winning, and we stand a chance of winning, we must run the football. My old pro coach, John Madden, would always say "it never matters if the mule is blind, just load the wagon." In this case, Stephen Davis is the wagon. We must load him up and let him go.

VA: Hi Terry!
I heard that there was some finger pointing going on in the locker room in previous weeks, that is, before the big win last week. I guess that kind of thing is going to happen when a team starts out losing. What is it like in the room after a loss?

Terry Robiskie: After a loss, the locker room is about as low as you can go. After that loss, there wasn't any finger pointing that I noticed. A lot of guys were fussing at themselves but no one was pointing fingers at their teammates. At least I didn't hear of any finger pointing. You did say, however, that when a team starts out losing, this usually happens. I'm not sure this team started out losing. We won the first game of the season. We lost the second game and we lost the third game. Trust me, three games never make a season, and to lose two never makes you a loser. And after two losses you're in a world of trouble if everyone begins pointing fingers. I hope that never happens around here.

Camp Hill, PA: Coach - I have no questions just a few comments. First, as a season ticket holder, I apologize for the disgraceful display the fans showed to the team against the Cowboys. I never boo my team and never will. Do not let the fairweather fans who did boo tarnish the image of us true fans in your mind. Second, great effort by all the WRs against the Giants. True fans will always be there for the team through good and bad and I will be going crazy this Sunday against the Bucs. Good luck! Hail to the Redskins!

Terry Robiskie: Thanks for writing. Thanks for your support. I have never, ever, had a problem with fans who boo. They have a right to. I remember I once went to a play on Broadway. It was so awful, even I stood up and booed. So I do understand the frustration of spending money sitting there watching a bad performance. That's okay. I can live with it. But thanks for your words and your encouragement. You are a true fan.

Herndon, Va: Coach: Since many of our wide receivers are (nearly) as old as you, why don't you consider coming out of retirement to become our sixth receiver? I'm sure the troops would find this inspirational, besides, the defense would appreciate the chance to let you show how tough you are.

Terry Robiskie: What a joke. You obviously have never seen me run. I think the difference between myself and those two guys is about 60 pounds. And of course, lack of speed. The other comparison, each one of those guys through their career has about 800 catches. Through my career, I have about eight. That's a very big difference. But thanks for writing. Continue to send in your jokes. It did bring about a lot of laughter. Thank you.

Sterling, VA: How critical is it to have a guy like Centers back into the lineup? Was it difficult to hold him out last week?

Terry Robiskie: It was extremely difficult and a little scary. You never want to go into battle without one of your toughest warriors. Larry Centers is one of our toughest warriors. I love him to death and I hate going into any game without him. But we survived and he's back. So let's go to war.

Weatherly, Pennsylvania: Congratulations on a big victory over the Giants, Coach. I was fortunate enough to be at the Meadowlands for Sunday night's game, and I sensed urgency among the players from pre-game warm-ups to the final gun. As I watched the game unfold, it seemed to me that the savvy veterans on the Redskins helped the entire team stay focused throughout the contest. Your thoughts? Thanks for joining us, and good luck against the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Terry Robiskie: Yes, I think we had some urgency about this. Our guys did a great job of staying focused and getting prepared for a big game in New York. That's one of the great things about having a veteran team.

Washington, DC: Terry,
What do you think about the new taunting rule in the NFL? And what did you think of what Terrell Owens did last week?

Terry Robiskie: I think Terrell Owens' receivers coach, who is a very good friend of mine, should have grabbed Terrell by the hand, walked him to the edge of the bench, faced him to a guy named Jerry Rice, then asked him after 147 touchdowns, more than any man in the history of the game, have you ever seen this man do such a thing? Then why should you? I am not sure if it's 147 for Jerry's career, or 174, but I do know for sure it's about 10 times more than Terrell Owens. And I have certainly never seen Jerry Rice do such a thing, so why should he?

Columbia, MD: Coach- I read that you showed Albert Connell a tape of Jimmy Smith vs. Baltimore and told Albert he can dominate like that. It seemed to work great! Was the purpose to increase his confidence?

Terry Robiskie: No. The purpose was to let Albert know that he can do a lot of the things that Jimmy Smith can do. I am coaching Albert at the present, and I did coach Jimmy Smith in the Senior Bowl the year he came out of college. Both guys are extremely talented and I just wanted Albert to look at a very talented player having an outstanding day, with an unbelievable performance. I wanted him to watch Jimmy Smith run, jump, dive and catch for four quarters. I guess it was a motivational tape. Well, I hope it was.

Atlanta, GA: After last year's achingly painful playoff loss to Tampa, you were online and made a comment about how the coaching staff felt like it had been too conservative in its game plan (that may not have been exactly what you said, but as I recall, it was something to that effect). In my humble opinion, I would think that we will have to play conservatively against the Bucs until we create a play or until they trip up. Would you agree?

Terry Robiskie: Being a part of the coaching staff, I don't think I would have said we discussed being too conservative. I have never in my life taken the conservative road. I believe in executing the game plan we put out, and I never try to be involved with a conservative game plan. If you go in to be conservative, you play conservative, you come out conservative. I never want to be that guy. So I don't think that we should sit back on our heels and play conservatively. Let's take our shots and attack and I know we will.

Baltimore, MD: Terry,
I was pretty impressed with Andre Reed's catch last game and have been very impressed with Irving Fryar's toughness so far this season. They both appear to be possession receivers. How do they differ from one another?

Terry Robiskie: They are both pretty good receivers. I think they are both excellent over-the-middle catchers. They are both extremely, extremely quick. Extremely, extremely physical and very, very tough. I think Andre had a better situation in Buffalo than Irving had, but they're both outstanding players and I'm happy to have both of them. Who knows? Maybe one day they'll let me do their introductions into the Hall of Fame. Thanks for writing.

Middleburg, VA: How much do players and coaches hate turf? Would Westbrook likly have suffered as severe an injury if that play happened on grass rather than turf?

Terry Robiskie: Well, that's the lifelong argument between turf and grass. I'm sorry, I don't have the answer. I do know this. Practically every year that we have gone to Detroit, Westbrook has hurt himself. If it was a grass field, would it have been different? I don't know. For example, there's a wide receiver in Chicago, Bobby Ingram, who last week tore up his knee exactly the same way as Westbrook. Now, he was playing on grass, so who knows? I don't.

Columbia, MD: Terry,
Do you think your success against the Giants was more attributable to single coverage or the offense finally getting in synch?

Terry Robiskie: A combination. They played a few coverages that we expected and we connected on a few plays. I guess it was a combination of the two. Hopefully, the offense will continue to gel.

Williamsburg, VA: Are there any thoughts on using Cory Raymer's roster spot to get another reciever?

Terry Robiskie: We've thought about it. We're just not sure who's available. By the way, what are you doing today? Better yet, are you younger than Irving Fryar and Andre Reed? Most importantly, what time do you run a 40 yard dash in?

Columbia, MD: Coach,
I have not heard much about Skip Hicks other than it seems he is close to coming back every week. Do you still plan to work him into the offense this year?

Terry Robiskie: Skip Hicks is surely a valuable player for us. He, however, is still struggling with a sore hamstring. As soon as he's back to 100 percent, we will try to work him in and see if he can help us win.

Washington, DC: It appears that both of Tampa's corners are having great years. Do you think this will be the best secondary that you have faced so far this year?

Terry Robiskie: Yes, they are. They are a very talented group. Very well coached. Very tough. Very confident and very aggressive. We have our work cut out for us but we must find a way to get it done.

Somewhere, USA: Coach,
I've noticed this year that many recievers have learned the art of the pushoff, to get separation from the DBs. Do you think refs are getting a little too lax in calling offensive pass interference?

Terry Robiskie: Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely not. What, are you crazy? I'm the guy that's teaching that pushing technique, so please never let them take that one away.

Reston: Coach, can you talk about how the passing game has changed--if at all--with the absence of Michael W.?

Terry Robiskie: I think without Mike in the game it affects the coverages we see. For the last few years Mike would dictate coverages because a lot of people had to put their best defender on Mike. Or roll their coverages towards Mike. So there's been a lot of changes in the coverages. But we'll adjust and again find a way to get it done.

DC: Terry,
Please talk about your thoughts on Brad, his game, and all he's been going through.

Terry Robiskie: Brad has been pressing a little. Trying to make a play. I think with all the offseason excitement, he started off a little excited. He is starting to settle down and hopefully we can take off. I'm not sure if there's a million other things going on in his head, but I am sure that Brad Johnson can make plays.

San Francisco, CA: Coach, thanks so much for joining us every week. I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we really appreciate it. My question: in your opinion as a pro coach and former athlete, what (apart from physical skills) separates the ordinary player from being extraordinary? I've always believed, for example, that had I known in college what I have learned as a working professional about focus, determination, and work ethic, I would have been able to play pro hockey. What's your take? How do you, as a coach, help your players reach their potential? Thanks again!

Terry Robiskie: I think the thing that separates the great ones from the good ones, or the great ones from the average ones, is heart and desire. Not necessarily talent. I see a lot of guys with a tremendous amount of talent who never make it. Then, there are those with limited talent, but the biggest heart in the world, and for some reason they make it. And I think it's all heart. My job is to get a player to maximize his talent and I do all I can to get that accomplished through positive influence. Positive support. With me, there is positive, positive and more positive. Thanks for writing.

Charlotte, NC: Hey Terry--the receivers look great. I know you don't get too much into the future, but can we expect to see more of Champ this Sunday on offense?

Terry Robiskie: Well, we had a few plays for him last Sunday. But we didn't need him. Champ is somewhat of an emergency guy. Hopefully, we won't need him.

Vienna: Why does Todd Husak seem to have a role on the sideline (working with Coach Turner) while Jeff George seems to have nothing to do?

Terry Robiskie: Jeff George is a very experienced quarterback. And he is very involved in the game. He's got a lot to do. Todd Husak is a rookie, trying to learn the system. It's good for him to be on the sidelines, calling plays. The more he sees it, the more he learns it.

Columbia, MD: Coach - Great win last Sunday! I really liked the game plan and was glad you got the matchups you wanted and were able to exploit them. Now that we have Reed, Thrash, Fryar and Connell will we see some four-wide and/or five-wide sets and maybe an empty backfield set this week? It would seem like a good way to throw off Tampa. I've read where some columnists are saying our receiving corps is not that good but I disagree. Can Fryar and Reed still get open in practice against our stellar secondary?

Terry Robiskie: I think they both showed last Sunday night that they can get open. As for the columnist, I'm not concerned with his statements. We'll watch the game and see what takes place. Both guys do a great job of competing and getting open against our secondary in practice. We have been, and will continue, to use the four wide receiver set. We've used it every game on first down, as well as third down. And we do have empty with no backs in our playbook. So hopefully we'll get to it this weekend.

Havre de Grace, MD: Coach
Thanks so much for chatting with us. Westbrook has been bored lately. Are you not playing dominos with him?? Connell has the flu. Are you fixing him chicken soup? I suppose we'll see a lot of the old guys on Sunday. I know you can get your guys ready!! GO SKINS!!

Terry Robiskie: Thanks for a statement with humor. Albert Connell is feeling better, thanks to some home cooking from his lovely wife. Yes, Michael Westbrook is very bored. But I'm sure his beautiful girlfriend, Tony, is taking care of him and preparing him some home cooking. So those guys are in great hands. Don't worry about them. Hey, by the way, I would destroy Westbrook in dominos. He's no good. Trust me. Thanks for coming. Your question is the last one of the day. Come again.

washingtonpost.com: That's it for this week. Thanks for joining us and see you next Friday at 3 for another edition of Airing It Out with Terry Robiskie.