PLAYER NOTES

--TE Chris Cooley didn't practice Monday, and he will be sidelined at least three games as he recovers from Oct. 28 surgery on his right ankle.

--CB Byron Westbrook didn't practice Monday as he recovers from Oct. 27 surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He won't play Sunday at Atlanta.

--LB H.B. Blades didn't on Monday as he recovers from Oct. 27 surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He won't play Sunday at Atlanta.

--OT Stephon Heyer was gimpy during Monday's practice because of the right knee injury he injured Oct. 26 against Philadelphia, but he is expected to start again against the Falcons.

--QB Jason Campbell practiced Monday despite having sprained his right ankle against the Eagles. He should play against the Falcons.

REPORT CARD AFTER SEVEN GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE
D-plus -- Jason Campbell's respectable 85.8 passer rating is deceiving. He was benched while losing to Kansas City in his 42nd consecutive start. He has been sacked 20 times and has rarely seemed in rhythm behind a struggling, reshuffled line. He has led the offense to just six touchdowns that weren't scored when a loss wasn't already ensured. Pro Bowl TE Chris Cooley was having a solid season before breaking his right ankle in Week 7. He'll miss at least three games. Top receiver Santana Moss has two long touchdowns but hasn't been a big threat otherwise since neither of the disappointing second-year men, Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, has been able to relieve him of double coverage.

RUSHING OFFENSE
D-plus -- It has not been a fun year for Clinton Portis and the running game. Veteran RG Randy Thomas was lost for the year in Week 2. Pro Bowl LT Chris Samuels followed in Week 5. New RG Will Montgomery and new RT Mike Williams (Stephon Heyer moved to the left side to replace Samuels) were both on the street last December. If not for a career-high 78-yard burst against Kansas City, Portis, who has a bum ankle, would be averaging just a career-worst 3.5 per carry even though the Redskins have played mostly weak defenses. In other words, things might get worse from now on.

PASS DEFENSE
B-plus -- Opposing passers have an 82.0 rating in part because Washington has just three interceptions, all by CB DeAngelo Hall. Carlos Rogers continues to drop balls and has struggled at times in coverage, as has S Chris Horton. Fred Smoot has been usurped by Justin Tryon as the third corner. Landry never makes plays as a free safety. The good news is that the pass rush has been Washington's best in years. Haynesworth (three sacks) demands double teams, freeing Carter (6.5, 5.5 in the past three games) and rookie SLB Brian Orakpo (3.5) to come flying around the ends.

RUSH DEFENSE
B -- Take away the 67-yard touchdown by Eagles WR DeSean Jackson and the Redskins have allowed just 3.6 yards per carry and two touchdowns while facing the likes of Brandon Jacobs, Steven Jackson, DeAngelo Williams and Brian Westbrook. Albert Haynesworth has joined fellow tackle Cornelius Griffin in clogging the middle, allowing MLB London Fletcher to run free to the ball. WLB Rocky McIntosh, RDE Andre Carter and safeties Reed Doughty and LaRon Landry have also played well against the run.

SPECIAL TEAMS
B-plus -- Antwaan Randle El, benched as the No. 2 receiver, should receive the same treatment as a punt returner with his 5.2-yard average. The ball that hit him in the facemask in Week 7 should have been the last straw. Rock Cartwright is solid but never anything more on kickoff returns. Shaun Suisham is perfect on field goals, mostly from inside 40 yards. New P Hunter Smith has been as good as advertised but missed two games with an ailing groin. Danny Smith's coverage units have been generally first-rate, with Doughty and H.B. Blades replacing the departed Khary Campbell and James Thrash as top tacklers.

COACHING
C-minus -- Jim Zorn is a terrific person, but when you're hired for your offensive mind and your offense can't score (no games with 30 points during his 23-game tenure, none with more than 17 this year), you're a failure. And now the coach has been undercut by the front office that handed his play-calling duties to Sherman Lewis, whom he didn't hire. It would take a miracle for Zorn to return in 2010 and everyone knows it, which makes motivating the players during the rest of an ugly year very difficult. Defensive coordinator Greg Blache handed his media duties to secondary coach Jerry Gray, prompting many to think that Blache will retire in January. The defense has been a strong suit, but the upcoming schedule -- Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles, Saints -- could change that.

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