One of the more shocking developments for the Washington Redskins as they approach the midpoint of the 2004 season has to be fact that wide receiver Lavarnues Coles has yet to score touchdown. Coles' frustration is a microcosm of the overall ineffectiveness of the offense as the Redskins continue to sit near the bottom of the NFL standings.
Coles' eight-game touchdown drought dating back to last season is the longest slump of his career -- he went seven games without a touchdown during his rookie season of 2000 with the New York Jets -- and he scored six touchdowns last season. Coles has been bothered by finger and toe injuries and came on late in Sunday's game to get open several times for quarterback Mark Brunell, but many of those passes sailed over the receiver's head.
"We make a play here, make a play there and then somebody messes up on something," receiver Rod Gardner said. "But once we get consistent and do it play in and play out and everybody does it across the board, then I think we'll be okay."
Gardner has been Brunell's favorite target in the red zone and leads the Redskins with five receiving touchdowns; he caught two Sunday and also scored two touchdowns in Week 3. Gardner is the only wide receiver with a touchdown catch for Washington this season, while H-back Chris Cooley has caught two touchdown passes from Brunell and running back Clinton Portis caught one from backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey in Week 2.
-- Jason La Canfora
