You’ve read it; Joe’s read it: The NFL is a copycat league.

So when embattled Redskins coach Jim Zorn said he wants the Redskins to try to pound the ball more, he may not be blowing smoke. Ryan O’Halloran of the Washington Times writes that since the Bucs have the NFL’s second-worst rush defense, the Redskins would be wise to pound the ball at the Bucs, just like the Giants did.

The Redskins are 28th in time of possession (27:19) and 26th in rushing attempts (68). In the fourth quarter of their two losses, they have been forced to abandon the running game in order to rally.

This week’s opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, rank second-to-last in rush defense (187.3).

“We’re not going to become Ground Jim, but we are going to run the ball and mix it up,” Zorn said Wednesday.

The key cog of that running game, Clinton Portis, missed practice with a bad calf but is expected to play. Portis is 16th in carries (47) and 22nd in yards (183).

Portis said the bone spurs in his ankles, which caused him to miss practice last week, have bothered him for two years, but a new treatment plan has eliminated the pain.

The rush defense stat sort of surprised Joe. If Portis can play, the Redskins would be dumb not to try to pound the ball at the Bucs.

Joe, however, has a sneaking suspicion that instead the Redskins will pass early and often. They have weapons that are just as good as Terrell Owens and Lee Evans at wide receiver.