Forget about replacing Donovan McNabb. The Redskins may have to consider replacing Mike Shanahan at halftime after a ridiculous clock management performance to end Sunday’s first half against the Bucs.
The Redskins, who rushed for 174 yards in the first half, had third and goal from the two-yard line with roughly 40 seconds left. With two missed kicks, it was clearly four down territory.
So what does Shanahan do?
He lets the clock go down to 20 seconds, then calls his third timeout. That basically tells the Bucs the Redskins have to pass the next play. Then the Redskins don’t get a play in on time, and get called for a delay of game. (Donovan McNabb frantically kept trying the team’s fourth timeout.)
McNabb predictably threw an incompletion on third-and-seven. The Redskins lead 10-3 at halftime, but the score could be so much worse. McNabb isn’t the only one that has been struggling with pressure.