Zorn: No rift between units

Byline: Bob Cohn, Ben Goessling and Ryan O'Halloran, THE WASHINGTON TIMES Following Sunday's 7-6 loss to Dallas, Washington Redskins middle linebacker London Fletcher said in a TV interview that giving up justseven points should result in a win. Secondary coach Jerry Gray was quoted as saying that if his defense holds the Cowboys to seven points and the Redskins still lose, then something's wrong. The implication seemed clear: What's wrong with the Redskins is their offense, and the defense might be getting just a tad fed up. In the NFL, one side of the ball clearly playing better than the other has been known to cause friction in losing locker rooms. But Redskins coach Jim Zorn on Monday denied there's a rift, and Fletcher took the diplomatic route. If you really think about it, the offense did enough for us to winthe game, the defensive co-captain told reporters. We just needed tonot allow them to get that touchdown at the end. Asked whether that means he changed his mind from Sunday, Fletcherchose his words carefully and said, At the end of the day, if we keep them out of the end zone, make them kick a field goal, then we win the ballgame. But center Casey Rabach admitted to feeling bad about the offense's performance, not just this game but the whole year. Obviously, we're very grateful of what our defense has been doing for us, he said. "They've kept us in a lot of games this year, and offensively we've been struggling. .. Everyone wants to hold up their end of the bargain, and on offense it doesn't seem to be happening We need to score touchdowns. Field goals aren't gonna get it done." Edwin Williams' chance After right guard Chad Rinehart broke his right leg during the third quarter Sunday, the Redskins unexpectedly turned to rookie Edwin Williams, the local product who had never participated in an NFL play from scrimmage. Williams filled in at right guard against the Dallas Cowboys, the team he hated growing up in Hyattsville. Williams attended DeMatha and was an undrafted free agent from Maryland. Looking back at it, if you had to pick one game [to get on the field for the first time], that'd probably be the one, he said. Will Montgomery has started three games at right guard this season, but Williams might see more time at the position now that Rinehart is on injured reserve after having surgery Monday. Williams, whose first position in center, said he knew he made some mistakes Sunday, but Zorn praised the rookie's play. It feels like sometimes somebody's writing my story for me, Williams said. The only difference is I wish we would have won that game. Landry: Williams 'scared' Safety LaRon Landry said it was evident Cowboys receiver Roy Williams was reluctant to come across the middle of the field against him Sunday. With only four passes thrown his way, Williams went without a catch for the first time in his six-year career. Yeah, he was scared, Landry said. "I told him he was scared. He said nothing. .. On certain pass concepts, you could tell he didn't want any part of it I'm not trying to make every wide receiver scared. I mean, that's what I tell myself I'm trying to do, but my job is to make plays. I'mdoing my job. Mason re-signed The Redskins created three roster spots Monday afternoon by placing Rinehart, running back Ladell Betts (knee) and fullback Eddie Williams (leg) on the season-ending injured reserve list. The team re-signed running back Marcus Mason and added guard Paul Fanaika from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. Mason made the Redskins out of training camp and was on the rosterfor six weeks before getting released Oct. 20. He appeared in three games and carried six times for 19 yards. Fanaika was a seventh-round choice in April by the Eagles, who play host to the Redskins on Sunday. Thomas on returns In the first kick return of his pro career, second-year receiver Devin Thomas ran the second-half kickoff back 38 yards. Now that Rock Cartwright is the starting running back, Thomas figures to get more work. It's real natural, he said. It's an easy way to get me the ball and use my speed and my size, the combination of the things I'm good at, and try to make a big play. I think I did a pretty good job, and hopefully I'll get more opportunities. In 2007, his last year at Michigan State, Thomas ranked 11th in the nation with a 29.2 average. CAPTION(S): Santana Moss and the Redskins' offense were kept out of the end zone by the Cowboys on Sunday. [Photo by Michael Connor/The Washington Times]