With Bruce Allen in Charge of the Redskins, Zorn Deserves One More Year

Now that Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has made the move no one thought he ever would, it’s time to do something else no one thinks he will.

Keep Jim Zorn as head coach.

Bruce Allen doesn’t have the greatest track record as an NFL general manager but he does have some nice “talking points,” a Super Bowl appearance with the Oakland Raiders, a Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and plenty of division championships. So all is well right?

Maybe, maybe not. Former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is widely considered the next head coach of the Redskins. My question is: why?

Zorn has shown excellent leadership skills in keeping the Redskins competitive through some very difficult circumstances in Washington. Has it been obvious that he had a lot to learn as a head coach? Absolutely.

Play calling may not be his strong suit, but there are many head coaches around the league who don’t call the plays for the offense or the defense. Zorn was never the offensive coordinator, just the play caller.

Sherman Smith was, and still is the offensive coordinator. Sherman Lewis has only been calling the plays, not directing game plans. So the improvement in offensive output can’t be credited to Lewis alone.

Zorn has been able to keep his players and staff focused and performing at an ever-higher level as the season has progressed despite having very little say in personnel decisions. That has become clearer as time has gone on. Little comments from Zorn over the past month or so as the injuries have piled up suggest he hadn’t been particularly involved in personnel decisions.

There are also reports that tensions had been rising between Zorn and Cerrato, and not just concerning the losing record. Reportedly, Zorn has been “scolded” or “admonished” by Cerrato in front of the team and staff in recent weeks.

Coupled with the humility of being stripped of play-calling duties, it would seem that Zorn really has been treated pretty badly over the course of the season.

He seems like a good guy and doesn’t deserve that.

As far as Bruce Allen is concerned, we know that he is VERY close to Jon Gruden, current ESPN analyst, and former Super Bowl-winning head coach. Gruden is said to be dead-set against coaching in 2010, so why not wait out Zorn’s contract and see what happens.

Allen has control now, so he can do whatever he wants with the roster. If Zorn and Allen can get along (which I suspect they can), give Zorn the chance to finish his contract next year, and find out what he can do with good leadership above him.

Give Jason Campbell the high tender, if he accepts it, he and Zorn can keep growing together, if someone comes after him, the Skins get first and third round draft picks, what better way to start a rebuilding process? The same goes for Carlos Rogers, except make it a low tender, he’s not worth the next step up, but that could bring in a pick to two as well.

Other personnel changes need to be made, but these are the bigger question marks for him to address immediately. Keep Zorn, try to keep Campbell, and set up Rogers to leave and get something out of it.

If things don’t work out next season, then Allen will have a better shot at Gruden after Gruden’s had the time to get his TV infatuation out of his system.

Zorn has done some good things, and he deserves the chance to complete the job.

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For Washington Redskins’ Ownership and Fans: Gut Check Time

First, a quick history lesson: Dan Snyder bought the Washington Redskins from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke in 1999 and quickly made a name for himself as a “meddlesome” owner. Following the signing of several aging big name free agents, the firing of head coach Norv Turner in the 2000 season while the team held a 7-5 record, the stage was set for a tumultuous era for the Redskins.

Assistant coach Terry Robisky would take over as interim head coach, the Redskins lose two of their final three games, miss the playoffs. Change becomes the name of the game in Washington.

Following an up-and-down season with Marty Shottenheimer leading the franchise, Steve Spurrier would be given his shot, only to see his “fun and gun” offense fail miserably in his second season, causing him to walk away.

Enter Joe Gibbs.

Most fans had visions of a return to glory. With fans clamoring for stability, for owner Daniel Snyder to let “football people” run the team, Gibbs would go 30-34 in his second stint as head coach and bring “stability” to the franchise.

When Gibbs retired following the 2007 season, owner Daniel Snyder stated the he wanted to create as much “continuity” and “stability” as he could for the franchise. Echoing the criticism that fans and football pundits had been voicing for years, he said he would give the new head coach plenty of time to turn the team around, and stay on course.

Enter Jim Zorn.

Many fans and football people around the league questioned his hiring, with no coaching experience beyond the assistant level, Zorn was an unknown quantity. Mr. Snyder stated that he felt Zorn would be a fine head coach, and that Zorn would be given the time get it done.

While skeptical, most fans claimed to be prepared to allow Zorn the time to fail or succeed. The opportunity to implement the changes that most fans, media people, and football analysts around the NFL claim they wanted from the owner.

Now, here we are. Present day. The day following an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions. A team that had lost 18 straight games. Never mind the fact that the Lions are not the same team that went 0-16 in 2008. Never mind the fact that the Lions had a very real opportunity to beat the now 3-0 Minnesota Vikings in Week Two of the season.

Never mind the fact that the Lions held the NFL’s best running back to under 100 yards, or a future Hall of Fame quarterback to only 155 yards passing. No, don’t think of any of that.

Let’s instead clamour to fire Jim Zorn. Yeah, that’s it! Lets go back to instability. Let’s go back to constant change. Let’s have another interim head coach who can fail just as miserably as almost 100 percent of those put in the same position do. Let’s blow up the whole team, and start over. AGAIN!

Let’s bench the ninth rated quarterback in the NFL. Let’s forget that the seemingly instant success for new coaching staffs seen in recent seasons in Atlanta and Baltimore are rare at best. Let’s not understand that the norm for this type of change is more commonly like that being lived through in Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Miami (yeah, they were great last year, 0-3 this year), New York (Jets, they had to change it all again didn’t they), Cleveland and numerous others throughout the NFL’s history.

Yeah, let’s go that route.

We can hire Bill Cowher (one Super Bowl victory in over 10 years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers), or Jon Gruden (one Super Bowl victory in his first year in Tamp, none since) or Mike Shannahan (two Super Bowl victories with John Elway, none since) or any number of “other” guys to come in and do what? Change. That’s the only thing that would absolutely, positively happen. There would be change. Nothing else is guaranteed.

Or we can actually do what the fans and media and football pundits have said we need to do for many years. Maintain stability. Offer the players and coaches the opportunity to play through the difficulties and experience some form of continuity.

The opportunity to learn and grow as a group without constant upheaval. We could actually NOT “blow it all up and start over”, and find out just how good or bad Jim Zorn really is. NFL history is full of examples of coaches who “fail” in their first efforts as head coach, to be fired early on, to only return later and show what they learned from the first time.

I say let’s try to be patient. Let’s try supporting our team through a rough spot and see what kind of team comes out the other side. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But firing Zorn now only accomplish two things: another losing season, and another major change.

Zorn can’t get better if he isn’t here to do it. The team can’t grow if we rip up the roots again.

Let’s just try it. For a change.

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For Washington Redskins’ Ownership and Fans: Gut Check Time

First, a quick history lesson: Dan Snyder bought the Washington Redskins from the estate of Jack Kent Cooke in 1999 and quickly made a name for himself as a “meddlesome” owner. Following the signing of several aging big name free agents, the firing of head coach Norv Turner in the 2000 season while the team held a 7-5 record, the stage was set for a tumultuous era for the Redskins.

Assistant coach Terry Robisky would take over as interim head coach, the Redskins lose two of their final three games, miss the playoffs. Change becomes the name of the game in Washington.

Following an up-and-down season with Marty Shottenheimer leading the franchise, Steve Spurrier would be given his shot, only to see his “fun and gun” offense fail miserably in his second season, causing him to walk away.

Enter Joe Gibbs.

Most fans had visions of a return to glory. With fans clamoring for stability, for owner Daniel Snyder to let “football people” run the team, Gibbs would go 30-34 in his second stint as head coach and bring “stability” to the franchise.

When Gibbs retired following the 2007 season, owner Daniel Snyder stated the he wanted to create as much “continuity” and “stability” as he could for the franchise. Echoing the criticism that fans and football pundits had been voicing for years, he said he would give the new head coach plenty of time to turn the team around, and stay on course.

Enter Jim Zorn.

Many fans and football people around the league questioned his hiring, with no coaching experience beyond the assistant level, Zorn was an unknown quantity. Mr. Snyder stated that he felt Zorn would be a fine head coach, and that Zorn would be given the time get it done.

While skeptical, most fans claimed to be prepared to allow Zorn the time to fail or succeed. The opportunity to implement the changes that most fans, media people, and football analysts around the NFL claim they wanted from the owner.

Now, here we are. Present day. The day following an embarrassing loss to the Detroit Lions. A team that had lost 18 straight games. Never mind the fact that the Lions are not the same team that went 0-16 in 2008. Never mind the fact that the Lions had a very real opportunity to beat the now 3-0 Minnesota Vikings in Week Two of the season.

Never mind the fact that the Lions held the NFL’s best running back to under 100 yards, or a future Hall of Fame quarterback to only 155 yards passing. No, don’t think of any of that.

Let’s instead clamour to fire Jim Zorn. Yeah, that’s it! Lets go back to instability. Let’s go back to constant change. Let’s have another interim head coach who can fail just as miserably as almost 100 percent of those put in the same position do. Let’s blow up the whole team, and start over. AGAIN!

Let’s bench the ninth rated quarterback in the NFL. Let’s forget that the seemingly instant success for new coaching staffs seen in recent seasons in Atlanta and Baltimore are rare at best. Let’s not understand that the norm for this type of change is more commonly like that being lived through in Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Miami (yeah, they were great last year, 0-3 this year), New York (Jets, they had to change it all again didn’t they), Cleveland and numerous others throughout the NFL’s history.

Yeah, let’s go that route.

We can hire Bill Cowher (one Super Bowl victory in over 10 years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers), or Jon Gruden (one Super Bowl victory in his first year in Tamp, none since) or Mike Shannahan (two Super Bowl victories with John Elway, none since) or any number of “other” guys to come in and do what? Change. That’s the only thing that would absolutely, positively happen. There would be change. Nothing else is guaranteed.

Or we can actually do what the fans and media and football pundits have said we need to do for many years. Maintain stability. Offer the players and coaches the opportunity to play through the difficulties and experience some form of continuity.

The opportunity to learn and grow as a group without constant upheaval. We could actually NOT “blow it all up and start over”, and find out just how good or bad Jim Zorn really is. NFL history is full of examples of coaches who “fail” in their first efforts as head coach, to be fired early on, to only return later and show what they learned from the first time.

I say let’s try to be patient. Let’s try supporting our team through a rough spot and see what kind of team comes out the other side. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But firing Zorn now only accomplish two things: another losing season, and another major change.

Zorn can’t get better if he isn’t here to do it. The team can’t grow if we rip up the roots again.

Let’s just try it. For a change.

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Redskins Try to Tame The Beast

As the Washington Redskins head to Detroit to take on the Detroit Lions, their goal has grown beyond just winning a football game and has reached an all out fight to prove themselves.

Redskins’ head coach Jim Zorn has spent the past week fielding questions about his job security, his playcalling, his quarterback, and his ability to coach at the NFL level. In order to avoid being devoured by the pressure building around Redskin Park, it’s time for Zorn to tame this beast and be done with it.

Following an ugly 9-7 win over the lowly St. Louis Rams in week two of the NFL season, the Redskins’ failures in the red zone led to boos from the home crowd and sharp attacks by fans and some media members. Zorn’s offense was unable to score a single touchdown against the Rams, a team that lost in week one 28-0 and looked positively inept in most every football category.

The red zone issues began with the Redskins’ second possession of the game. Redskins’ quarterback Jason Campbell marched the team to the Rams’ three yard line only to see second year wideout Devin Thomas unable to handle a Campbell pass in the endzone. Campbell had done a fine job of keeping the play alive under pressure in the pocket and finally found Thomas come open. Failure number ONE.

On the Redskins’ next possession, following a Rams’ punt, Campbell again guided the team down field. Looking sharp and decisive, Campbell also used his legs to keep the drive going and reached the Rams’ eight yard line. Running back Clinton Portis lost two yards on a first down run, moving the ball back to the 10. Then the dropsy’s surfaced again. On second and goal from the 10 yard line, full back Mike Sellers found himself uncovered in the middle of the field at about the five yard line. Campbell fires an easy touchdown pass into his chest and Sellers simply lets it bounce off of him. On third and goal, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El gets tied up with Rams’ cornerback Ron Bartell…no flag on the play. Failure number TWO.

At this point, Zorn’s frustrations reach their crescendo and leads me to what I think is the root of the Redskins’ offensive woes. In an NFL Films video, Zorn can be heard saying into his headset(NFL video), that he’s just going to run the ball in the red zone from now on, because of the dropped passes. All of the attention has been paid to the red zone failures, Zorn’s playcalling in particular, but very little attention has been given to why.

Zorn showed me that he didn’t entirely trust his players in the season opening loss to the New York Giants. I expected Zorn to loosen it up a bit against the Rams, and he did. With more passing on first down and seemingly trying to use the passing game to open up the running game, Zorn gave his players the opportunity to make plays. He showed some trust in them. But with two dropped passes that would have been touchdown, Zorn was consumed by the beast again, and reverted to conservative plays the next two trips into the red zone. These again resulting in field goals rather than touchdowns.

This shows up in Campbell’s numbers, 23 of 35 for 242 yards. But Campbell didn’t attempt another pass in two more red zone penetrations. How different a game would Zorn have called if Thomas and/or Sellers had made the play that was there to be made? Obviously, we’ll never know, but the video only re-enforces my impressions of the Redskins’ offensive problems. Zorn is trying very hard to minimize the potential for big mistakes with relatively conservative playcalling. His lack of trust in his players has consumed him, and his offense.

The beast to be tamed? Distrust and fear. Zorn needs to use his “whip and chair” in Detroit on Sunday or it could cost him dearly. If Zorn cannot overcome his distrust and put the game in his players’ hands, another ugly win is likely, and a horrendous loss is possible. And with either of these scenarios, his job the Redskins’ future will remain in doubt.

Tame the beast coach, tame the beast.

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Redskins Moving Forward

Yes, it’s been quite a while since I wrote anything, I won’t bore you with the details, but suffice it to say that while I’ve been busy, I haven’t stopped following football, and the Washington Redskins in particular.

Like many Skins’ fans, I was not particularly impressed with the performance with which the team opened the season. I do however believe there are some very good things to be taken from it.

While I very much expected the Redskins’ offense to struggle, I didn’t expect the defense to struggle, and that bothered me. I know, the defense only gave up one touchdown, but their play in the defensive backfield was appalling. The defensive front applied a fair amount of pressure on Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning with only one sack to show for it. With the Redskins’ corners playing so far off the Giants’ receivers, Manning had easy decisions to make on a regular basis. And it showed in several long drives for the Giants offense.

Kudos to the Redskins for playing so well in short yardage situations, the Giants were only able to accumulate 103 yards rushing, at a 3.3 yard average, that’s good line play from the Redskins’ defensive front. A very good sign.

I will be surprised if Redskins’ defensive coordinator Greg Blache allows his corners to play 8-12 yards off the ball again. With the defensive front the Redskins can supply, there must be some effort to interrupt receivers’ routes at the line of scrimmage, or the many upcoming quality quarterbacks on the schedule will enjoy the same type of success Manning did.

Offensively, Clinton Portis was held very much in check(along with the running game in general). Aside from Portis’ opening run of 34 yards, his average of under 1.9 yards per carry is bad enough to ruin any offense. The Giants defense obviously played a major role in the Redskins’ inability to run the ball, but the running game needs to remain a strength for the Redskins.

Pass protection for Redskins’ quarterback Jason Campbell was better than respectable, and this leads me into one of the positives I got from this game. Only allowing three sacks in a game in which they played from behind from beginning to end against the Giants’ defensive front is not a bad thing.

Aside from Campbell’s bonehead interception, he played well. Throwing the ball only 26 times, completing 19 for 211 yards, I felt he threw the ball decisively and accurately. The Giants’ defense focused on preventing big plays, but Campbell was able to find the holes in the Giants’ defense and take advantage of them. Campbell’s performance should serve as a confidence builder for himself, the offense as a whole, and for Zorn. Because of this, perhaps Zorn won’t be so reluctant to throw the ball more in the future.

The Redskins’ offense has suffered from defenses challenging the line of scrimmage to stop the run, and has not been able to make defenses pay in the passing game. I see signs that this is about to change. With second year wide receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas coming on, veteran Antwaan Randle El playing the slot as well as any receiver in the NFL, this offense has true potential to be tapped.

Obviously, time will tell, and it starts with the St. Louis Rams, a team the Redskins should handle easily. Jim Zorn should be able to use this game as an additional confidence builder, and be able to get Thomas and Kelly more involved. Once the passing game is productive, the running game will open up again. The Redskins should have handled the Rams easily last season as well, but found a way to lose anyway.

I don’t think that happens again on Sunday, and we’ll see a bit more of what this Redskins’ offense can become.

That’s my take, the positive one, if all of what we saw against the Giants becomes habit, I’ll be writing about that too, but for now, I’ll be looking for positives.

 

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