Was Jim Zorn, hired from Seattle, really ready to be an offensive coordinator and a head coach, two jobs he had never filled on the pro level? How would Cerrato handle total control of football operations?

But there were few questions about Williams' successor as defensive boss. After all, not only had Greg Blache, been one of Williams' chief lieutenants as line coach the previous four years as the Redskins finished in the top 10 in defense three times, but Blache had been Chicago's coordinator from 1999-2003, including 2001 when the Bears allowed the league's fewest points.

That could help explain why Zorn, quarterback Jason Campbell, running back Clinton Portis, receiver Santana Moss and the rest of the offense have received the lion's share of the praise for Washington's stunning 4-1 start.

But make no mistake, Blache and Co. are carrying their share of the load despite having played without top pass rusher Jason Taylor, ace cornerback Shawn Springs and veteran strong-side linebacker Marcus Washington for two games each while the offense has only had to play without young right tackle Stephon Heyer for two games.

"It just shows we have a little depth," Zorn said of his defense. "It shows guys being inserted are picking up the slack and doing more than that. It says a lot about how our assistant coaches are getting players ready to play these games and rise up."

True, Zorn's offense ranks sixth and Blache's defense is just 13th. But while the offense has faced just two top-10 defenses (those of the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles), the defense has faced offenses ranked first (Giants), third (New Orleans Saints), fourth (Dallas Cowboys), fifth (Arizona Cardinals) and ninth (Eagles).

So forgive the quotable Blache for using some hyperbole in describing what he and his troops have faced each week.

Blache said the Cowboys' offense was probably the best he had to prepare for during his 21 NFL seasons and compared it to the Roman Empire. Two weeks earlier, he said figuring how to stop Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and the Saints was "as hard a task" as he could remember in many years. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was passing the ball so accurately he could fit it into tight coverage like "a Mack truck in a regular parking space." And the "awesome" Eagles were "terrors with the double moves."

The results speak for themselves. The Super Bowl champion Giants started hot and totaled 354 yards but were shut out after a 16-point first half. The potent Saints managed 250 yards and 17 points, none after the first drive of the second half. The high-flying Cardinals gained 313 yards but scored just 17 points. The mighty Cowboys were held relatively in check with 344 yards and 24 points. The Eagles produced 254 yards and 10 points, just three after halftime.

So the next four weeks against the offenses of the St. Louis Rams (30), Cleveland Browns (32), Detroit Lions (28) and Pittsburgh Steelers (27) have to be a relief.

"We're not going to feel that way," middle linebacker London Fletcher said in his best co-captain's voice. "You can never rest in the NFL. Each team presents different challenges."

SERIES HISTORY: 29th regular-season meeting. Redskins lead 20-7-1. The teams have split four playoff games, one of which was their most famous meeting. It was the 1945 NFL title game in which the then Cleveland Rams edged the visiting Redskins in frigid Cleveland when Washington Hall of Fame quarterback Sammy Baugh, passing from his own end zone, had a ball hit the goalpost (then at the goal line) giving the hosts the safety that would prove decisive. The Redskins wouldn't get back to the playoffs for 26 years.