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

Terry Robiskie, the Redskins' passing game coordinator, discussing the Cardinals game and Washington's next opponent, the St. Louis Rams, said an 11-5 record should win the NFC East.

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: After what seems like one month off or one month without questions from you, the fans, I say let's get started.

Seaford, New York: Terry, injuries aside, why can't this team seem to get out of its own way? I understand divisional games are always tough to win but a supposed Super Bowl contender can not go to Arizona and lose to this Cardinal team. What do you attribute this to?

Terry Robiskie: I think, like you said, divisional games are usually the tough ones. However, for some reason, usually we find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot. For example, if you remember last year on our way to a 10-6 season and winning the division, we went up to Philadelphia, turned the ball over six times and looked terrible. Why do we have these games where we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot? I can not answer.

Weatherly, Pennsylvania: Coach, being a fan of the Washington Redskins has taught me that there is a fine line between victory and defeat in the NFL. Unfortunately, the lessons have come from the school of hard knocks. I mean, in the Arizona game, we fumble going in the endzone, can't execute a snap on an extra point attempt, give up a huge kick-off return, and make untimely penalties on both sides of the ball. How can these things be fixed? It seems like the Redskins are error-prone, and it's becoming a part of the team's character. Thanks for joining us.

Terry Robiskie: That is a very good question, but a tough one to answer. I'm not sure how you don't fumble on the one yard line. For example, this past weekend one of the greatest running backs in the history of the game, Emmitt Smith, did the same thing. How do you stop a team from returning a kickoff? I'm not sure. Go out and get better kickoff coverage people, and if you do, can they help you on offense or defense if a starter gets hurt? Also, this weekend, the same guy from Arizona who returned the kick to our 20 returned one for a 98 yard touchdown against the Vikings. Not being able to snap the ball to the holder for an extra point blows my mind. But last night, on Monday Night Football, the Raiders get a punt blocked for a touchdown that cost them the game. Of course, it's happening every week throughout the NFL. So why, you ask? I don't know. A lot of strange happenings in the NFL.

Columbia, MD: Terry,
I appreciate your willingness to shoot straight. What about Albert Connell? It looked to me and the others watching the game that he was having a royal pout during the second half. He stopped running his route during a long pattern in the 4th (?) quarter so he was not there when Jeff George eluded tacklers and launched a long pass. It didn't seem like he was making an all-out effort to get to passes thrown his way. You've watched the film by now. What do you really think? Is this guy worth the bad attitude he seems to bring when he doesn't get the ball thrown his way enough?

Terry Robiskie: I'm not sure in the NFL if anyone is worth a bad attitude. It's a tough business, a tough game, and it's tough to win when everyone is smiling and cheering and happy. As for the pouting, I didn't realize that it was happening until Monday when a reporter told me that Fox had mentioned it on TV. As for the one route, it appeared that Albert stopped. Like you said, Jeff George scrambled around a bit, got himself free and launched one. Albert said when he looked back, he thought Jeff had gone down and taken a sack. When he looked up and saw Jeff breaking free to throw the ball, there was no way he could go get it, so he did stop.

Reston, Virginia: Coach, do you think that Jeff G.'s performance last Sunday--while not terrible, but certainly not up to expectations--was mostly a result of rustiness?

Terry Robiskie: I hope and I have to believe so. Hopefully, we will all perform better this coming Monday night.

Round Hill, VA: Should Thrash have had that Hail Mary in the end zone? Do you guys do drills to practice that kind of thing?

Terry Robiskie: Yes we do, once a week. I think James was in a great position to make that catch. I was very disappointed he didn't. I did not get the feeling that he expected to catch it. Before you catch any pass, you must expect the ball to come your way and be prepared to catch it. I'm not sure James expected to catch it, and because of that he wasn't prepared to catch it. I think he ran down the field expecting another routine jump ball-- eight guys jump up, bat the ball around, and it falls out of the end zone. I think that is what he expected, so mentally he wasn't ready to catch the ball.

Atlanta, Georgia: Coach, at this point, the Redskins basically need to win every single remaining game to win the NFC East and qualify for the playoffs. Home field advantage is another story completely. Does the team realize this and are they preparing to play like their season is hanging in the balance? Thanks for being with us today.

Terry Robiskie: I think people like yourself and people in the media make the statement that the entire season is hanging on winning every game or else. While it would be great to win them all, I refuse to believe that the season would be over if we lose one more. Last year we won the division at 10-6. If we lose one more, but you'd like not to, we could still end up 11-5. I do believe 11-5 would win our division. You made the statement about home field advantage. I'm more concerned with "on field" advantage. Let's be concerned with, come January, we're on somebody's field when the playoffs start. Forget home field, just be on somebody's field.

Greensboro, NC: Hey Coach, What kind of realistic chance do you think we have of defeating the Rams, in St. Louis, on Monday night when we've already laid two eggs on Monday Night Football? And with two weeks to prepare should we expect to see some things out of the ordinary? Thanks and good luck.

Terry Robiskie: I think that's the reason we play the game. What kind of chance would you say the 1-7 Chicago Bears had of beating the Indianapolis Colts a week ago? Before the game there was no chance, but it happened. Hey, did you give Northwestern any chance of beating Michigan? I think it happened. Again, that's why we play the games. Let's see what happens. Thanks for writing.

Leesburg, VA: How does Ray Rhodes feel about the use of the best part of his defense (Bailey, Sanders) on offense, in any situation? Any resistence or support? ...& how would you feel if AC had to return punts? Thanks.

Terry Robiskie: Ray, of course, is a team player. He wants to win just like I do. If that means to use his best players on offense, that's okay with him. If that means to use Albert to return punts, it's okay with me.

San Francisco, CA: Does Jeff George have a favorite receiver in practice, anyone he seems to have developed some good chemistry and timing with?

Terry Robiskie: No, Jeff George is a guy who likes to spread the ball around. There's no one guy that he goes to. He tries to keep everyone involved.

Bethesda: Coach,
Your thoughts on seeing Trent Green this week?

Terry Robiskie: It will be fun and exciting. I probably would rather see their third-string guy than Trent, but it will be fun. He's a good player.

Laurel, Md : Hey Terry,
As a whole, the passing game has been rather vanilla with the exception of the games like the Jacksonville game where you picked relentlessly on the weaker DB. During the games that you have played commentators talk about the coverage that opposing teams play against the 'Skins that has worked pretty well and has taken away our deep ball. I'm sure many teams have said we are going to shut down the Rams' deep ball but nobody has been able to do it. My question is this: Why doesn't our passing game have the same type of attitude as the Rams especially with Norv's offense being cut from the same cloth as the Rams?

Terry Robiskie: Probably for the same reason that you don't have the same attitude as your father or your mother or any of your family members. We may all be from the same tree but we're still our own individual persons. You ask why isn't Norv thinking like Mike Martz? Because he's not Mike Martz, he's Norv Turner.

Herndon, Va: Coach: Sorry you didn't take my advice and suit up for the Cardinals game. For the Rams, any special preparations you do getting ready for the massive noise level (noisy only when the 'Skins have the ball, of course)?

Terry Robiskie: No, we try to do everything we can to prepare our guys for how loud it will be, but that's the extent of it. We used to bring out the loudspeakers and the loud music and all that stuff. I'm not sure those tactics ever won a game.

Camp Hill, PA: Coach - I watched the Rams-Giants game and I know you must be licking your chops at what could be a big day for J.T. and A.C. I know the Rams won but they give up big plays in the passing game. My question: after the bye week, what is the attitude around the locker room amongst the players? I hope the Cards loss is behind them because these next two months are where champions rise to the top and the pretenders fade away. I will be in St. Louis Monday night and I am more than confident we will win. Either way, I will be going crazy for my team!!!! Good Luck and Hail to the Redskins!!!!

Terry Robiskie: We are preaching all the same things you just said. I hope the Arizona loss is behind us. Of course, we think about it to change and correct what was wrong. Other than that, I think it's behind us. With the past weekend off I think we are a fresher team. Hopefully, we can go into the game fresh, full of life and full of energy.

Reston, Virginia: Coach...Are the passing plays in the 'Skins offense numbered or labeled by a code word? Also, we always hear that a defense is in a "Two-deep" coverage. What percent of the time do you encounter that scheme and when you do, how do you try to attack it? Thanks!

Terry Robiskie: Our passing game is the numbering system. One number goes to the split reciever, the second number goes to the tight end and the thrid number for the flanker. Versus any two-deep zone, we try to attack the middle of the field with the tight end. The deep ball Stephen Alexander caught versus Arizona was versus two-deep.

DC: In your opinion, which team is better: The Philadelphia Eagles or the New York Giants? The Giants crushed the Eagles in their two games this season; however, the Eagles (while playing very uneven all season) seem to have a strange ability to beat any NFL team given the right circumstances.

Terry Robiskie: I think both teams are solid NFL teams. I guess the Giants would be better because their record says so, and also they already beat the Eagles twice. Both teams are very, very solid. But I think the edge would go to New York.

Acworth, GA: Coach Robiskie, I ran into Marco Coleman on the bye week and told him there's nothing wrong with 12-4. Since Albert has such a hard time getting open why isn't he either motioned more or put in the slot? Speaking of slot, is Andre Reed no longer able to catch the underneath crossing routes that made him a Hall of Famer? He may not break any long runs, but he can move the chains, right?

Terry Robiskie: Right, I agree. But now you must tell me if you want me to put Andre Reed in to play, who do you want me to take out, James Thrash or Albert Connell?

Alexandria, VA: Coach,
Thanks for coming back! It's always great to chat with you. My question is about coaching: after watching a few non-Skins games this weekend, I noticed that some defensive coaches opt to be on the sidelines, while some, like the brilliant Ray Rhodes, don't. Can you tell us why? Is it personal preference or does it show an orientation: i.e., directing players vs. calling plays? And, if you're in the booth, how do you motivate your players?

Terry Robiskie: I think some coaches want to be on the field to communicate face-to-face with their players. Some coaches would rather the position coach communicate with the players; they want to focus totally on the game. And that's why Ray Rhodes goes upstairs as opposed to being on the sideline.

Hamilton, VA: What's with no four wide?

Terry Robiskie: Well, if you've been watching, we've had trouble having three wide. I think today, because of their physical states, if you put all four wides' bodies together in one I'm not sure you could create a whole body. The guys are very, very physically beat up. Albert's got an almost broken shoulder. Irving Fryar has busted ribs. James Thrash is nursing a sore hip and Andre Reed has a sore groin and a hamstring. Again, if we put all four of those guys together we might have one healthy body. Hey, can you line up at wide receiver? Maybe you could be the fourth guy.

Herndon, VA: Coach,
It seems quite often in a game that Stephen Davis is an arm tackle away from breaking several long runs. Are you guys doing anything different as far as blocking schemes like sending a fullback ahead or adding another pulling lineman, to keep those backers off Stephen so he can get into the secondary?
Thanks

Terry Robiskie: Yes, we are. We're doing a little bit more pulling and trapping by the offensive line and we're using Mike Sellers more in that role to keep the backers off of Stephen. Of course, we must do all we can to keep him healthy because he is our horse.

Aberdeen, Maryland: Coach Robiskie, Why can't the Redskins open up the offensive passing game a little more by using multiple formations more, using a short to intermediate passing package with double tight ends, fullbacks as well as the backup running backs (Murrell and Hicks)?

Terry Robiskie: I think you're one of those guys who wants St. Louis' offense with the Redskins' personnel. I think what everyone fails to realize is that if you put someone in the game, someone else must come out. So if I put in two tight ends and I put in Adrian and Skip, who do I take out? James Thrash, Albert Connell, our leading rusher Stephen Davis, or our leading receiver Larry Centers? You can only have 11 guys on the field at one time. Five of those guys have to be offensive linemen. The sixth guy has to be the quarterback. Now, you said the seventh and eighth guys should be tight ends. Then, you said the ninth and tenth guys should be Skip and Adrian. Who do you suggest for the 11th man? Stephen Davis, one of the top rushers in the league? Larry Centers, the leading pass -catching running back in NFL history? Or James Thrash or Albert Connell? Who do you recommend for that last guy and then please, explain to me how do you open up your offense with that group we just named?

Richmond, VA: Can you kick, Terry?

Terry Robiskie: I promise you, kicking isn't my forte. But I think with enough chances, I could get one of them through the uprights. Now which one, I'm not sure. But I'd make one. It's a good thing we don't have to find out.
Well, you get to be the last question for today.

washingtonpost.com: Thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for the next edition of Airing It Out with Terry Robiskie.

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