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

Robiskie joined the Redskins as wide receivers coach in 1994 after spending 12 years as a coach for the Raiders. Drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1977, his five-year playing career includes three seasons with the Raiders and two with the Dolphins.

washingtonpost.com: Welcome back to Airing It Out. Thanks to Terry Robiskie for joining us. We've got a bunch of questions, so let's get to it.

Columbia, S.C.: Coach,
It seems that the passing game differs dramatically every week. One game we use Stephen Alexander effectively, the next we don't. The same applies to Connell. I understand that opponents will focus on Westbrook - that should open the other two to more primary patterns. It appears that you are not breaking down defensive coverages as well week to week. Is it the complexity of the offense of Coach Turner or is it simply poor execution?

Terry Robiskie: No, it is a combination. The offense is designed to spread the ball around. That is why if you look at the stats Westbrook and Connell are so close. However, the past couple of weeks, we are not executing as well.

Columbia, Md.: It seems that Coach Turner wants to pass to set up the run, and that strategy is backfiring lately. Why is he abandoning the run while the Redskins are still in the game? How can the NFL's leading rusher only get 9 carries against Buffalo?

Terry Robiskie: That was one thing we as a staff felt terrible about on Monday. We kicked ourselves about the same thing. How could we only hand him the ball nine times? We felt like we were involved in a track meet with Buffalo. So we did put the ball up often. We will try to solve that problem this weekend.

Herndon, Va.: Coach: Two things - 1-It seemed like neither team ever had bad field position - I think every series until the 3rd quarter started at least at the 35 yard line. 2- Was the Bills' defense that good, or was it "just one of those days" for the offense?

Terry Robiskie: It was a combination of both. It was one of those days, the offense was struggling and their defense was playing good. They made the plays and we didn't.

Owego, New York: Hi Terry,

Can you help those of us that are struggling with the "blow-out" or be "blown-out" personality of this team? I never know who is going to show up on Sunday?

Terry Robiskie: Well, I sure can't help you, because I never know either. I know it appears every week we are very capable of blowing the other team out. However, we have proven we are capable of getting blown out. It's difficult to put our finger on the problem. We'll continue to work to avoid getting blown out.

Gnome, Alaska: The Eagles secondary is pretty good. I think the team leads the league in interceptions, in fact. How do you plan to attack them, and does the unit present you with any special challenges?

Terry Robiskie: I think the number one challenge that comes from the Eagles is their physical play. We should attack in our usual style, running the ball with Stephen Davis and making plays in the passing game. Yes, they are a good defense, and they lead the league in turnovers, so we have our hands full.

Temple Hills, Md.: Are there any problems in the locker room between the defense and the offensive players concerning how the defense is performing on the field? Is there any pointing of the finger?

Terry Robiskie: We have not seen any finger pointing so far. The offense is blaming themselves when we lose the way we did Sunday as opposed to blaming the defense for giving up points. The offense is taking the blame for not scoring enough points. So at this point, no, there isn't any finger pointing.

Laurel, Md.: It seems as if the bye week took some of the momentum out of the offense. I know that the playbook was expanded to incorporate 3 WR sets to compensate for Stephen Alexander's injury and to get Irving Fryar into the game. I know that Brad is a top-flight QB, but do you think that with a more complicated offense because of the increase in the number of plays and checks, Brad is more hesitant? I think this is what drove Heath out of the league and caused Gus' and Trent's performance to dive! What are your thoughts?

Terry Robiskie: I think some of what you are saying is very true. And that is something I work hard on every week as the passing game coordinator. Trying to make sure we don't do too much and confuse Brad, or any of the players. Yes, I do believe that was the downfall of Heath and Gus Frerotte.

Dover, Del.: I know the Eagles' offense isn't great right now, but Duce Staley has been running like a madman. Is stopping him the key to winning this game, from a defensive standpoint?

Terry Robiskie: Absolutely. I think stopping the run is the key to winning any game. In any league, any game, at any level if you cannot stop the run, you cannot win. I do believe if we can stop Duce Staley, we can win the game.

Philadelphia, Pa.: There's quite a controversy brewing here about when Donovan McNabb should take over as starter. What is your view on the best way to handle a young QB? Should you let him sit for a while, as Andy Reid has done with McNabb? Or is it better to let him play and take his lumps?

Terry Robiskie: Well, since I am coming to town, he should sit about two more weeks. For one thing, I think you should never rush a young QB. However, we have to make a decision. If the young man is your future, sooner or later you've got to turn him loose.

Fredericksburg, Va.: Hi Terry. I think you have done a super job with the receiving core, especially helping Westbrook come together as a complete player. Question: Why can't we exploit the short patterns underneath the linebackers with Stephen Alexander as many teams to do against us with their talented tight ends?

Terry Robiskie: We try to but sometimes the coverages dictate otherwise. For example, on Sunday, we had about three or four short underneath passes called to Stephen. However, he was double covered and we ended up dumping the ball to Larry Centers.

Alexandria, Va: Matt Turk says that he is trying a new system. It doesn't work. Then he says OK, I will mix the old system with the new one. It doesn't work. I am afraid that he doesn't even remember how he use to kick. You know when he was in Pro Bowl form. What are your thoughts?

Terry Robiskie: I think the problem Matt is having is mental at this stage of the game. He talks about what he should or shouldn't do, mixing this with that, the old with the new, and he totally forgets that somewhere out there, he just has to kick the ball. He should never have changed what he was doing in the beginning. Then he wouldn't be having these problems and second guessing himself.

Tysons Corner, Va.: I think I have a couple of questions.

1. Back to the "blow out" or "be blown out" philosophy. Do the players get overconfident, lose motivation or what? With the amount of talent on this team there does not seem to be any excuse for the poor execution that we see every other week. I have been a loyal Skins fan since I was 7 years old and even I had to change the channel on Sunday.

2. I don't understand the defensive play calling. I was so happy to see a blitz finally run, but the zone coverage that we see all too often eats us up every time. Do we not learn from our mistakes? I assume film review is still apart of the business.

Thanks.

Terry Robiskie: Well, it is difficult for me to comment on the defensive play calling because I do not study our defensive game plan. I'm not a part of that process. The problem we run into, when you're losing, is how to maintain a player's confidence level. Yet, on the other hand, when you're winning, how do you prevent a cockiness form setting in? I do believe that on any given Sunday, you can see either player. If we're playing Chicago and we're winning and throwing good, you sense confidence, the excitement, the will to win. However, on Sunday, versus Buffalo, you wonder where is the confidence? As a coach, I am doing all I can to never have too much of one and too little of the other.

Washington, D.C.: Hi coach. I really admire your frankness. So I'd like to know just why it is the 'Skins play miserably in big games. There comes a time when "schematics" is a scapegoat. What ever happened to protecting your pride - manhood - and going and smashing the guy in front of you from start to finish? I don't see enough heart in this team. Period.
Thanks

Terry Robiskie: I have to agree with some of your assessment. As an ex-player from the old school, I do believe you should reach a point where it's just you against him. As you stated, we must grab the bull by the horn. We have not been able to get our guys to understand it comes a point in time where you reach out and snatch the guy across from you. Yes, I do agree with you. That killer instinct, we have not been able to develop. I don't know the reason why. I preach it to my guys every day.

Gaithersburg, Md.: The Redskins seem to have had problems stopping a defensive rush at late, especially in third and long situations where opponents are blitzing. Brad always seems to shift and dodge in the pocket, what can be done to give him more time?

Terry Robiskie: We have got to be stronger up front in our third down situations. We must also try to avoid all those third and thirteen, third and fourteen, third and fifteens. We'll improve, I promise.

Marlboro, Tx.: The Eagles have already beaten an unsuspecting Dallas team. And while their record is bad, the team seems to play hard and the defense makes his happen. Given the Eagles record, how do you keep your offense from going into this game overly confident and possibly experiencing a letdown?

Terry Robiskie: I think, each day as we watch them and prepare, our guys will notice how physical the Eagle defense plays. They are a very physical and tough group. That in itself will prove to be a challenge.

Purcellville, Va.: Hi Coach. What do you think about the rookie right tackle Jon Jansen?

Terry Robiskie: I think Jon is doing an outstanding job. I am expecting him to make somebody's all rookie team. I'll be shocked if he doesn't. Jon is very tough, very physical, very aggressive, and very smart. I am thrilled to have him.

Dumfries, Va.: Coach,

Thank you so much for helping to make our offense incredible! Now it seems to me that during the course of a game, a huge factor in determining success or failure for the team are the emotions of the players. If the Skins make a great play -like a Big Daddy play-, then all will be well. Likewise, when a big play is made against us -like Flutie's 4th down scramble for a 1st-, then I get that uneasy feeling... How much of a factor would you say emotions play in determining our team's success or failure? I know we got the tools to dominate. Does the offensive team ever hug the defensive team and say "There, there, everything will be alright"? ;-
Thanks Again,

Terry Robiskie: Yes, that was one of my big talks to the offensive unit this weekend. I expressed to them how important it was that we play with emotions and every opportunity we get, let the defense know that we're there for them, that we support them. I think emotions is about 90% of the game.

Christiansburg, Va.: How often do the Redskins use the two tight end set?

Terry Robiskie: About 30% of the time. We cannot use it too much more because that means Albert Connell is not in the game. He's playing too well at this moment to be sitting on the bench.

Los Angeles, Calif.: Terry, I wanted to say I've been a Skins fan since the Jurgensen days and we haven't had a consistent Q.B. since the Doug Williams days. Johnson started the season on fire, now he seems to play with happy feet and unsure of where he is going to throw the ball. Is this because of patterns not being run the right way or maybe too many chiefs in the huddle? Thank You for your time Terry and we are going in the right direction.

Terry Robiskie: Thank you for your support and I am glad you didn't say that we hadn't had a consistent QB since Sonny Jurgensen. That would have scared me. Brad Johnson, however, in his own right is an outstanding QB, and I believe his completion percentage is up near 61% with about 13 touchdowns, and three interceptions. That's pretty consistent to me. What you noticed as "happy feet" we notice as an ability to move around in the pocket and turn a bad play into a good play. It's been one of Brad's traits since coming out of college, and hopefully he'll continue to use that ability to make plays.

Greenblet, Md.:
First of all, keep your chin up-- the Redskins are in first place and you should be very proud of that. Don't let some fair weather fans drive you down.

Here's my question--

Do you think the glitz and glamour has faded from the highly touted "West Coast Offense"?

I frankly never understood the hype to begin with. It strikes me that short crossing patterns and flanker screens have been around since Paul Brown and Otto Graham in the 1950s. With Bill Walsh and the 49ers in the basement, I have heard fewer people point to it as some kind of offensive nirvana.

Anyway, you've been in the game a long time, any thoughts about the 'West Coast offense'?

thanks!

Terry Robiskie: I think the "West Coast offense" has always been overrated and blown out of proportion. I think that offense, like any offense, is only as good as the players in it. I think the greatest offense of all time has always been Don Coryell's.

McLean, Va.: A local sportscaster says the opposing teams have figured out how to defend us. Your take on that?

Terry Robiskie: I'm happy he's a sportscaster and not a bookie. You should ask him if people have figured out how to defend us. Wasn't the Chicago game two weeks ago when we scored 45? Let's not make our judgements from one game, the Bills.

Poolesville, Md.: Considering the rest of the schedule, do you think we have a good chance at the playoffs?

Terry Robiskie: Absolutely. As I see it, if we play the way we are capable of playing, our chances are better than good. I don't see a dominating team left on our schedule. I think we are capable of playing even with every team left on our schedule. Is the playoff in my vision? Absolutely.

Weatherly, Pa.: Tough one on Sunday, Coach. This loss had to be particularly difficult because the Bills offense controlled the clock so well, thereby keeping the Redskins' potent offense on the sidelines for much of the afternoon -If I'm not mistaken, we only had the ball for 19 minutes-. I believe that the offense had a difficult time getting in sync most of the game simply because the unit wasn't on the field for long. In addition to that, every time we did get the ball, it seemed like the offense was trying to do too much -we had more three-and-out possessions than usual- since our defense was having a difficult time holding the Bills. Do you agree with me? Thanks for joining us, and good luck against the Eagles this Sunday at Veterans Stadium.

Terry Robiskie: You are an extremely observant and remarkably knowledgeable. You sound like you could be an advisor to Mr. Snyder. Being able to recognize all of what you just said, I wish you were his advisor. Thanks a lot and thanks for your support.

Gaithersburg, Md.: How much of a distraction, if any, has this circus revolving around Daniel Snyder been to the team?

Terry Robiskie: There has been absolutely no distraction at all. Once the league okayed the purchase, we immediately knew who the new owner was, and we immediately began the process of working to win the Super Bowl. Once we are on the football field for a game or practice, we try to remain totally focused and never let any distractions in. So there has been no distraction to us, the staff and the players at all. We, however, don't have to meet with or visit with Mr. Snyder as much as the head coach, the general manager, or the president of the ball club. That's why it is not a distraction to us.

Silver Spring, Md.: Do you feel that Miami and Indianapolis are not dominating teams? I would suspect that most of the league would rather not play them at this point little less in the final part of the season with play-off aspirations dangling by a thread.

Terry Robiskie: I think they are both very good teams. I'm not sure if they are dominating. Dominating is the Denver Broncos the past two years. Dominating is the 49ers when they were winning all of those Super Bowls. The Redskins, the old Pittsburgh Steelers, those teams, you tried not to get beat 56 to 10. I think Miami is a good team and they are winning with great defense. I'm not sure they could defeat the high scoring offense in today's game week in and week out. I still don't see them as a dominating team. I am not sure the Dolphins can win that division, we'll see. Please don't tell Jimmy I said that, he'd kill me.

washingtonpost.com: That's all the time we have. Thanks to Terry Robiskie. Join us next Tuesday for another edition of Airing It Out.