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 started.

Baltimore, Md.: Coach, I still can't believe how many times the offense turned the ball over in the second half – 425 yards of offense, 6 turnovers – what can you, the coaches, tell the players, if anything, after such a strange performance? I don't think the offense's confidence should be hurt because you were able to move the ball well against a good defense. I'd like to think the turnovers were a fluke, especially the one that popped out of Brad's hand.

Terry Robiskie: We definitely think the turnovers were a fluke. It was a very strange game. Like nothing I have ever seen before. Early during the week we began preaching to the offense that if we don't turn the ball over to the Eagles they could not beat us. Sure enough we turned it over to the Eagles and they beat us. Like you said, we were able to move the ball pretty good. However, mistakes killed us.

Silver Spring, Md: What is the update on Michael Westbrook?

Terry Robiskie: Michael Westbrook has a fracture in his right wrist. It's called a navicular bone. He should be ok by Sunday. Everyone is concerned about Michael's wrist if he can or cannot play. I am not too concerned because I remember two years ago he played five games with a hole in his knee. If he can play with a hole in his knee I am not worried about his wrist.

Weatherly, Pa.: Another tough loss, Coach. The Eagles seem to give us fits at the Vet. As I watched the game unfold from the upper deck at the stadium, I was surprised to see that we didn't maximize our protection of Brad Johnson against a very aggressive Eagles front seven. Going into the game, I thought that we might utilize a good blocking tight end, like James Jenkins, or even fullback Mike Sellers more often as "extra linemen" in an attempt to provide Johnson with air-tight protection. I believe that a good quarterback, like Brad Johnson, or even an average quarterback, can pick apart any defense provided that he has enough time to throw downfield. What are your thoughts on that? Do you think that the offense will utilize a similar strategy when we play the Eagles again? Thanks for joining us, and thanks for your nice compliment on my comments last week. I would love to be an advisor to Mr. Snyder! Best of luck against the Giants this Sunday.

Terry Robiskie: We did maximize our protection. Of course, you cannot use maximum protection in every play. On one deep pass to Michael Westbrook we used James Jenkins and Mike Sellers and the quarterback still got hit. Trust me, we are doing all we can to maximize protection for Brad's safety.

Baltimore, Md.: Coach, do you think Albert Connell could have done more to prevent the ball being "stolen" from him on that one interception in the 4th quarter? Or was that a result of a poor throw?

Terry Robiskie: I think it was a combination of Albert falling to the outside on his route and the ball being thrown inside. The defensive back just out-wrestled Albert for that one. Not too much more we could have done.

Richmond, Va.: Hi Terry, I'm a big fan of yours. In Sunday's game the Skins had the ball on the Eagles' 35 yard line with a second and 6, and about seven minutes left. It seemed like an opportune time to keep handing the ball to Stephen Davis, protect the lead, run the clock and maybe kick a field goal if we didn't get the 1st down. What was the philosophy behind throwing the ball at that point? Thanks

Terry Robiskie: We were thinking that the Eagles would be in an all out blitz, so we went with a pass. We thought we could pick up a quick first down.

Eugene, Ore.: With all the negatives flying around, I want to compliment you on the job you have done with the receivers. Westbrook and Connell are in the midst of breakout years, and I believe that you deserve most of the credit. Now, how does this team move on from this defeat? You can't just approach it as another week because a defeat like that really demoralizes a team that is walking on a tight rope. How do you regain your team's composure and rebound for the home stretch and what has the coaching staff learned from the past second half meltdowns that this team has experienced?

Terry Robiskie: I think that we must as a staff and a team show our players all the good things that happened in the Eagle game. We must make everyone focus better on the turnovers and the mental mistakes, correct those and get back to scoring points like the first two or three games.

Laurel, Md.: Coach – Who do you talk to on your headset?

Terry Robiskie: I basically listen to Coach Turner and the plays he is calling. I talk very little, as too much talking creates confusion. You end up with too many chiefs and not enough Indians.

Baltimore, Md.: Coach, does the defense really believe they gave a good effort in stopping the run, even though they gave up almost 200 yards of rushing?

Terry Robiskie: It's difficult for me to say what the defense felt. I was too busy crying about the offense. I would like to believe that the defense felt okay. They should have. The offense put the defense in a few bad situations and they were able to survive. So I hope they felt pretty good about themselves.

Laurel, Md.: What is your opinion on the face mask penalty on McMillan which negated Matt Stevens' interception?

Terry Robiskie: I think it was a tough break for us, but Mark admitted to grabbing a facemask. It was a tough break but it was legitimate.

Columbia, Md.: I posed a similar question last week and I appreciated your candid answer. Yet I have to ask again: Stephen Davis, only 9 carries second half. Why not run him until the Eagles prove they can stop it? Why does Coach Turner continue to look to pass then run? Yes, he had 25 carries, which is good, but the way things were going, he should have had 40 carries.

Terry Robiskie: Coach Turner is not of the mindset to run the ball 50 times a game. He is not of that mentality. Never was and never will be.

Washington D.C.: I know you cannot always maximize protection, but on the last play of the game, was I the only one that considered the fact that they would bring the house at you? It seems terrible to not even allow Brad a shot on the last play.

Terry Robiskie: Well, Brad had a shot and might have had a shot at a touchdown. The last play was a quick dump over the middle to Irving Fryar which is designed to beat the blitz. Had he seen Irving it might have been a walk-in. Brad was going for the big play. I think he was trying to get the ball deep to Westbrook, but he forgot that versus the blitz he didn't have enough time to wait on Westbrook's route.

Raljon, Md.: Do you expect Larry Bowie to play this week? If so, will he provide help to the passing game as well as his obvious run blocking?

Terry Robiskie: No, I don't expect him to. I'm not quite sure we need Larry today to help us. Mike Sellers is going pretty good and Larry Centers is playing pretty good. If Larry Bowie can stop the 7 turnovers we had this weekend then yes, we need him. Other than that I don't think he will play this weekend.

Fairfax, Va.: I saw part of an interview with Tre Johnson where he said that the Eagles just wanted to win more than the Redskins. Is that really the feeling of the team? I thought both teams were having a tough time being consistent – on both sides of the ball – and time just ran out leaving the last one to make a mistake the loser. What are your thoughts on his comment?

Terry Robiskie: I don't agree. I think the Eagles got the breaks and we didn't. The Eagles created a lot of turnovers and we didn't. It's not a matter of them wanting to win more than us. It's a matter of them getting a few breaks and we didn't. Of course, they created the breaks.

Washington D.C.: I just wanted to pass along my thanks for always doing these chats. It is an invaluable source of info and provides a lot of great insight into the team, as well as great explanations to things which we the fans may think obvious in another way. Thank you.

Terry Robiskie: Don't give thanks to me, give thanks to washingtonpost.com. I am happy to be a part of it.

Arlington, Va.: I heard once that the coaches in Dallas were pretty close when Norv was a member under Jimmy Johnson. Is that true here as well? Do you guys ever go out for nachos and beer like they did? Are you guys fairly close?

Terry Robiskie: Yes, we are extremely close. We were all out Friday night together. I shouldn't tell you that because you might blame that on us losing to the Eagles. On Friday night, my wife threw me a surprise birthday party and we were all there. So yes, we are pretty close.

Baltimore, Md.: How does the Turner offensive strategy compare with other offensive strategies you have worked with in your career?

Terry Robiskie: I have only worked with one other and that was the Raiders. This one is a lot more complicated and sophisticated. This offense is more of a scheme than a personnel. The Raiders offense was more of the personnel than a scheme.

Washington, D.C.: Terry: I am Syracuse alumna and I was closely watching Donovan McNabb progress during the contest. However, I am a Washingtonian and a Redskin fan. Did the Eagles do anything that you guys were not prepared for? Do you this lose will help prepare the team for better effort this Sunday?

Terry Robiskie: No. They did not hit us with any surprises. The only problem we had during the game were the turnovers. And the only thing we must do with this loss is to use it to motivate us. This week, next week and the rest of the season.

Largo, Md.: What's in the game plan for this week against the Giants?

Terry Robiskie: I'm not telling you that, you might be Jim Fassel's nephew. As a matter of fact, you might be Jim Fassel with a secret address from Largo. We will try to use as much of the old game plan as we can.

Baltimore, Md.: My question is about the 2 penalties on Andy Heck. I believe they were for failing to report. Why would your regular LT have to report?
Thanks!

Terry Robiskie: I don't remember two penalties on Andy for not reporting. There was one where he was accused of being uncovered which meant the outside receiver lined up off the ball. However, upon reviewing the film the next day that was an incorrect call. The other flag on Andy was a holding call. Thanks for writing.

Beaverton, Ore.: Is Irving ready to take over for Michael if he is not ready to play this Sunday?

Terry Robiskie: Michael is playing.

Reston Va.: Coach,
It seemed to me that for the past few weeks the offense has hurt the opposing defense early running deep in routes. Then after falling behind we start throwing double covered sideline routes. Is this the play calling is it something that Brad is seeing on the field?

Terry Robiskie: During the course of the game we call all of our routes. I am not sure about the point and time you are speaking of when you say at the end of the game we were throwing into the double coverage. We threw Albert Connell an out route to the right versus one on one coverage and another out route to the left versus one on one. So I am not sure of which pass you are speaking about.

Laurel, Md.: Thanks for taking the time to answer all of these questions. Do you plan to utilize Stephen Alexander more this week against the Giants?

Terry Robiskie: Hopefully, we will. Stephen has been very productive against the Giants in the past. Hopefully, it will continue this Sunday.

Boston, Ma.: Coach,
With regard to Westbrook - great to see him having a solid year. I'm more worried about the wrist injury than you, because I broke that same bone and it took almost 1½ years to heal – ended up with a permanent screw and bone graft. I tried to play through it because it didn't hurt too much – football, lacrosse, volleyball – and that just kept making it worse. How many opinions do you have on Michael's injury and under what circumstances would you keep him out of the line up? Will you let him keep himself in if the doctors tell him to rest?

Terry Robiskie: Yes, Michael Westbrook is a highly intelligent person and without question he knows his pain level. He knows when to say yes and when to say no. If he feels he can play and if he is in the game and performing and playing, I will have no concern. As for the doctors, I love 'em and I think they are great. I think some of them are geniuses. Not many have ever played football and I don't think that they are the toughest guys in the world when it comes to playing with pain. As a matter of fact, most doctors I know are wimps. Whereby, I respect their professional opinion, I do all I can to keep them out of my meetings with my players.

Columbia, Md.: Coach, in response to my earlier question, I realize Coach Turner is not of the mind set to run 50 times a game. But in that situation, in the second half, don't you think Davis should have gotten the ball more than nine carries? The Eagles hadn't stop him all day, why not do it until they stop. I just don't understand this continued abandonment of the run when you have the league's top rusher.

Terry Robiskie: I think you are trying to get me in the middle of a mess. I don't call plays here and neither do you. So it's easy for you and I to say what shoulda or coulda happened. It didn't and it won't. He is not a run the ball head coach. Believe me, you might have called the run or I might have called the run but Coach Turner will not. He is too aggressive as a play caller to not go after a first down.

washingtonpost.com: That's all the time we have. Thanks to Terry Robiskie for coming on after a particularly tough loss. Join us next week for another edition of Airing It Out.