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If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
Chris Hamburger?If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
The starting QB next year is not on the roster. I'm not even sure any of the current QB's (including IR'd Brennan) are going to be on that roster. Scary, huh?If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
Especially considering they've already made it a priority to try and acquire a QB for next year. While I don't disagree with that in principle (they saw the need for QB coming at least a year in advance and attempted to do something about it), considering the state of the rest of the roster (OL specifically) I don't think QB should be the #1 offseason priority. It's very doubtful the front office will see things the same way.The starting QB next year is not on the roster. I'm not even sure any of the current QB's (including IR'd Brennan) are going to be on that roster. Scary, huh?If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
Build from the football out on both sides of the ball, meaning lines first. I wouldn't mind writing next year off to establish a solid foundation for the future of the team. This team needs to be torn down completely and rebuilt.Especially considering they've already made it a priority to try and acquire a QB for next year. While I don't disagree with that in principle (they saw the need for QB coming at least a year in advance and attempted to do something about it), considering the state of the rest of the roster (OL specifically) I don't think QB should be the #1 offseason priority. It's very doubtful the front office will see things the same way.The starting QB next year is not on the roster. I'm not even sure any of the current QB's (including IR'd Brennan) are going to be on that roster. Scary, huh?If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
I don't deny Snyder messed up in his early years. But I'm not so sure he hasn't turned this team over to Vinny 100%, and Vinny is the one screwing it up 100%. I don't like Snyder, but think about the last 3-5 years...- No OL draft picks is a Vinny standard, back to his SF days.You are 100% right, but the real problem is that he doesn't see or acknowledge that his involvement helps to produce this failure.Admittedly I don't follow the Redskins much but how can Snyder not see this as an abject failure on his part? I know there aren't many properly functioning mirrors in DC but Snyder can't like what he sees!!!!
The whole Lance Briggs fiasco, which BTW occurred during Gibbs' tenure, should have disabused you of this. The reports were that Vinny and Dan were in a hotel bar scheming for this trade. That was only two years ago. Regardless, does Dan Snyder seem at all like the kind of owner who can simply hand off authority to underlings and leave them alone?I don't deny Snyder messed up in his early years. But I'm not so sure he hasn't turned this team over to Vinny 100%, and Vinny is the one screwing it up 100%. I don't like Snyder, but think about the last 3-5 years...- No OL draft picks is a Vinny standard, back to his SF days.You are 100% right, but the real problem is that he doesn't see or acknowledge that his involvement helps to produce this failure.Admittedly I don't follow the Redskins much but how can Snyder not see this as an abject failure on his part? I know there aren't many properly functioning mirrors in DC but Snyder can't like what he sees!!!!
- Picking up overpriced FAs is a Vinny move, back to his SF days.
- Making the rash moves (offensive consultant, taking away play calling duties, etc) seem more from Vinny trying to save his job than Snyder forcing it
- Poor drafting year after year...that's Vinny. I don't think Snyder said let's get Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis. Cerrato did.
The Zorn hiring may have been mostly Snyder, but I'm sure Vinny didn't disapprove. And I'm also not so sure Zorn wouldn't be a decent coach if he had better talent than what Vinny gave him, but we'll never know that. He handled himself with class considering what Vinny has done to him.
All Snyder has done is spend the money Cerrato requested him to spend. As I have said for 9 years now, the problem is Vinny. The other problems are overcomable. Vinny getting bad talent is not.
The implicit belief that 'Skins fans are too fickle or stupid to understand and stomach a real rebuild, which will make the team "unsexy" for a couple of years, is very telling about Snyder and very insulting to the fan base.If they have a draft pick in the first five, they are taking a QB. Take that to the bank. Even if Vinny is gone, the pressure to get the stud QB to sell "hope and a new beginning" to the Redskins faithful will be overwhelming and unless a new coach/GM has a prior agreement with Snyder, the marketing angle will trump all.
Exactly, doesn't really matter who the QB is the next couple years.This past offseason, we all talked about how long it will take to rebuild the OL. We all thought it would be 3 years until the line was rebuilt. But, I also think we all hoped they'd address OL in this year's draft, which they didn't. So, we might have to restart that 3-year clock. We hoped Samuels could hold on a couple more years to make the line respectable while we wait, but that doesn't look too promising right now. And, they've likely lost Thomas for good now so there's no veteran to hold down the RG spot until someone is ready to take it.Right now, Dockery is our best OL. In 2-3 years, he needs to be 4th or 5th best...or possibly off the roster. A high pick used on the OL and one good, young FA in 2010 will be the first step. Then, another high pick or two in 2011 and maybe another FA and they can hope to have a good line by 2012.If we don't have an O-line our QB is "hamburger".Whos' our QB? Colt? And not McCoy
The last paragraph:Mike Wise article about John Kent Cooke.
Contrast that with fans chanting "Sell the team" to Snyder."Those last games my dad was carried into his seat," Cooke said. "He forced himself to the elevator door and he couldn't stand very well, and at halftime, the end of the game, win or lose, the fans would turn around and salute my father because of the way he ran his company. The way we ran the company. And that's the thing that was destroyed. And if [snyder] doesn't win he'll never get it back."
Mike Wise article about John Kent Cooke.
Great article. Did not know the Snyder history.The quote from Sonny at the end makes it sound like Jack didn't have a lot of faith in John.The Post has been murdering Snyder at the absolute perfect time. It's like they knew how this season was gonna turn out when they published the season ticket two-parter in the preseason. And this is a pitch-perfect article to run to pull at the heartstrings of those of us who were around for the Gibbs/Beathard era. I'm even madder than I was before at Snyderrato- I didn't think that was possible.Mike Wise article about John Kent Cooke.Great article. Did not know the Snyder history.
BTW...why did Cooke not leave the team to his son? I understand the raising money part, but it seems really odd.....
That's exactly what they need. A team with 2 good lines can be quite successful with average LB's, DB's, QB's, RB's, TE's, and WR'sBuild from the football out on both sides of the ball, meaning lines first. I wouldn't mind writing next year off to establish a solid foundation for the future of the team. This team needs to be torn down completely and rebuilt.
Build from the football out on both sides of the ball, meaning lines first. I wouldn't mind writing next year off to establish a solid foundation for the future of the team. This team needs to be torn down completely and rebuilt.
The chief thing a strong GM does is tell people, including the owner, no. He mediates egos, settles disputes, provides a buffer between various strong personalities, sorts through the complicated passions that come with winning and losing, and keeps everyone on the same page and working in the same direction. That the Redskins lack anything like a strong GM is evident from the fact that everyone is working at cross-purposes. Coaches, players and the owner are all at odds.
sort of like what you do hereSally Jenkins
Redskins need a GM bailout
The chief thing a strong GM does is tell people, including the owner, no. He mediates egos, settles disputes, provides a buffer between various strong personalities, sorts through the complicated passions that come with winning and losing, and keeps everyone on the same page and working in the same direction. That the Redskins lack anything like a strong GM is evident from the fact that everyone is working at cross-purposes. Coaches, players and the owner are all at odds.

I heard some of Cooke on Mike Wise's radio show today. They mostly just said the same things as in the article. John says their other businesses just weren't doing well enough to both support the charity AND contribute to what John would need to own the team. He doesn't seem to hold that against his dad. He seems ok now that his dad picked the charitable foundation.Funny part from today's interview. Wise wants to talk about the part where Gibbs starts 0-5 and Jack is looking to fire him and bring George Allen back.Mike Wise article about John Kent Cooke.Great article. Did not know the Snyder history.
BTW...why did Cooke not leave the team to his son? I understand the raising money part, but it seems really odd.....
Understatement of the decade.Wise: Bethard had sold this guy to your dad, I guess similar to how Cerrato sold Zorn to Snyder as out-of-the-box thinking.Cooke: But Cereeto is no Bethard.Wise: Cereeto, Cerrato.Cooke: Cereeto, however he says his name. He's no Bethard.
RigginsLevi Jones was cut by Cincinnati in May. Here’s what BengalStripes.com had to say about him back in March: Personally I can’t imagine the Bengals get much in return for the seven-year veteran, who has missed a lot of time due to injury since the 2005 season. From 2002-2005, Jones played in 63 of Cincinnati’s 64 regular season games, including 60 of which he started. Since 2005, Jones played in 31 of the team’s 48 regular season games and started only 28. Earlier in that same blog piece it was stated that Jones had become a fan favorite due to his willingness to play through pain. I imagine the fact he demanded to be traded before the 2008 draft didn’t exactly endear him to Marvin Lewis. Ultimately though, injuries took their toll on him. How healthy is Levi Jones now? I figure the more relevant question is what kind of shape is he in? I wouldn’t bet any of my money on him playing against the Eagles. Nonetheless, he’s a good pick-up who could ultimately be a great pick-up. Remember, he already got his guaranteed money from the Bengals – all $40 million of it. The Redskins don’t have to make him rich.
It looks as if the Redskins haven’t thrown in the towel. That’s a good thing. Go Skins!
Len ShapiroSmart guy Schottenheimer, a very good coach who probably would have built a perennial playoff team here if Snyder had kept him around. And if you think Bill Cowher will be next in line, think again; Schottenheimer was his coaching mentor in Cleveland, and they remain best friends. Cowher is not a candidate, end of story.
LinkHall of Famer Steve Largent described Redskins coach Jim Zorn as his daily confidant before blasting team owner Daniel Snyder and the organization during an interview with Mitch Levy of KJR radio in Seattle.
Among the highlights:
* Largent called Snyder's decision to name Sherm Lewis playcaller "a joke" and an embarrassment for the organization.
* Largent said he thought Snyder revoked play-calling duties in an effort to force Zorn to resign.
* Zorn did consider resigning, but decided against it because he isn't a quitter.
* The Redskins do not have the talent to succeed for Zorn, Joe Gibbs or anyone else.
* Snyder doesn't know what he wants in a coach.
Largent and Zorn played together in Seattle from 1976-1984.
You add parts (if necessary) to your o-line via free agency, but you don't build it through free agency.Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn held a press conference Sunday to reassure fans that, despite an inability to effectively execute their offense, defense, or special teams, the Redskins were still somewhat comparable to a real football team. "It's been a tough season so far, and even though we are 2-4, we still have players, uniforms, Motorola headsets—all the components that technically constitute an NFL team, sort of," Zorn said while grimacing and making a "so-so" gesture with his hand. "Sure, I was stripped of play-calling responsibilities by team management, and I really don't have any clue who will play quarterback for us this Sunday, but I swear to you, in a weird, very convoluted way, we are in the NFL."
but 
Former players believe Lewis can work wonders for Redskins' offense
Date published: 10/21/2009
BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN
--Rock Cartwright decided to introduce himself to the new guy. He is one of the Washington Redskins' six co-captains, after all. So he went to Sherm Lewis' office recently and found the new offensive consultant dissecting film of the Redskins' season-opening loss to the New York Giants.
Cartwright asked Lewis about what it was like to be part of the San Francisco 49ers' dynasty in the late 1980s, what it was like to coach the legendary Jerry Rice. They chatted for a bit and then went their separate ways, each hoping to help this struggling football team reverse its course.
Cartwright's snippet of interaction with Lewis is much like many of his teammates'. Lewis spent most of his first two weeks on the job observing with a hands-off approach. Some players don't know him. Others have met him for only a few moments.
That's why they're unsure of what to expect when Lewis, not head coach Jim Zorn, calls plays on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"I'm looking forward to it," Cartwright said. "It's going to be different with somebody else calling the plays, but it's part of this business. We're ready to make adjustments and go from there."
'HE'LL MAKE HEADS SWIM'
Though the Redskins are in the dark about Lewis' tendencies and philosophies as a play-caller, two of his former players yesterday offered glimpses into how Lewis will direct the offense.
The West Coast offense guru put his stamp on the 1999 Green Bay Packers and the 2000-01 Minnesota Vikings by calling plays for offenses that each year ranked in the top 12 in the NFL in total yards.
"He knows what he's doing," former Minnesota receiver Chris Carter said. "He'll talk that West Coast offense around your head and make your head swim."
Carter's Vikings thrived under Lewis in 2000, finishing fifth in the NFL in yards and points per game.
That team, however, featured receiver Randy Moss, running back Robert Smith and quarterback Daunte Culpepper, in addition to Carter. That's more talent than the Redskins appear to have.
"The Redskins have to determine what they're going be," said Carter, who now is an analyst for ESPN. "You can compare them with the Vikings, but, man, we were good! We went to the NFC Championship!"
Lewis liked to have the Vikings' line up in three-receiver sets, Carter said. Former Green Bay receiver Antonio Freeman corroborated that. They also recalled Lewis' affinity for big wideouts.
"The big receivers are going to run your underneath routes, those crossing routes, slants and drag routes--and that's what this offense needs," said Freeman, who's now an analyst for Comcast SportsNet. "They need a big guy to get those third-and-4's and -5's and help Jason Campbell to have an outlet.
"A lot of times for a bigger quarterback, it's hard to find those [smaller] guys when you want to run a true West Coast offense with slants and crossing routes."
Carter sees Washington's play-calling change as a chance for wideouts Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly to finally make a bigger impact.
"In the West Coast offense, you need some receivers with some size," he said. "I think if you look at the people that they drafted, it's time for them to start paying some dividends."
In Minnesota, Lewis frequently used a single-back formation because Smith could still make a big impact without a fullback blocking for him, Carter said. He sees a parallel with Redskins running back Clinton Portis.
PUSH TO BE EXPLOSIVE
Lewis' offenses also featured an explosive element.
"When he was the coordinator, he wanted to go deep," Freeman said. "He wanted to take shots down the field. He took shots and put guys in the right positions with his play calls to be able to take advantage of one-on-one opportunities."
Freeman gushed over Lewis' work in the red zone and on third downs, areas in which the Redskins have struggled significantly this season.
"The red zone was his true specialty," he said. "He knew how to spread defenses out and get the ball to guys to score points."
In light of the positive reviews offered by Carter and Freeman, it's imperative to note that Lewis will operate the Redskins' offense on Monday at a distinct disadvantage from his work a decade ago--he has been with the franchise since only Oct. 6.
He hasn't granted interviews since his first day on the job, so it's unclear how familiar he is with Washington's personnel.
Zorn was asked about that on Monday when he publicly ceded control of the offense.
"I'm not going to speculate on how comfortable Sherm feels, but I do know this: He has been here for two weeks," he said. "He's going to have a strong suit, and he's going to have a need for help."
It's certainly not ideal for overcoming the Redskins' shortcomings on offense. The unit ranks 23rd in total yards and is scoring only 13.2 points per game, and the problems go beyond play-calling. The offensive line has been devastated by injuries, the quarterback play has been uneven and the group lacks many explosive elements.
"You can only change so much in a couple weeks," Carter said. "You can't change the whole system. The No. 1 thing is to analyze what they're doing now, see what they do well, and then try to get them to do that more often and try to add in some wrinkles. That's what I think Sherm will do."
__________________
They went to the point of pulling out his contract and said, 'You have to do whatever the owner tells you to do,' " Largent told KJR radio in Seattle. "His choice was either to resign or to continue on under the current scenario."
Not conclusive, but all this is possible.I don't deny Snyder messed up in his early years. But I'm not so sure he hasn't turned this team over to Vinny 100%, and Vinny is the one screwing it up 100%. I don't like Snyder, but think about the last 3-5 years...- No OL draft picks is a Vinny standard, back to his SF days.You are 100% right, but the real problem is that he doesn't see or acknowledge that his involvement helps to produce this failure.Admittedly I don't follow the Redskins much but how can Snyder not see this as an abject failure on his part? I know there aren't many properly functioning mirrors in DC but Snyder can't like what he sees!!!!
- Picking up overpriced FAs is a Vinny move, back to his SF days.
- Making the rash moves (offensive consultant, taking away play calling duties, etc) seem more from Vinny trying to save his job than Snyder forcing it
- Poor drafting year after year...that's Vinny. I don't think Snyder said let's get Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, and Fred Davis. Cerrato did.
The Zorn hiring may have been mostly Snyder, but I'm sure Vinny didn't disapprove. And I'm also not so sure Zorn wouldn't be a decent coach if he had better talent than what Vinny gave him, but we'll never know that. He handled himself with class considering what Vinny has done to him.
All Snyder has done is spend the money Cerrato requested him to spend. As I have said for 9 years now, the problem is Vinny. The other problems are overcomable. Vinny getting bad talent is not.
Snyder has kept Vinnie for every year except one, after which he brought him back. He's responsible.If Snyder keeps Vinny and Bugel (I'm not sold on who is more to blame for the line at this point) on after all of this, then yeah, he should get more heat.
Wow. Seriously. Wow.ESPN 980 reporting a rumor that Joe Gibbs may be brought back in a Bill Parcells-like role for the Redskins. Gibbs would supposedly be responsible for the general football operations including deciding who will be GM.
Ugh. A PFT rumor. I had missed that, if they had mentioned it on radio.
A person close to Gibbs, however, recently told me that he seriously doubted that Gibbs would return to the Redskins in any role because of everything he has going on with his racing team and family. The person maintained that stance in a text message I received minutes ago.
cautiously optimistic....Gibbs isn't above Snyder's influence, but any level of filter between Snyder and the product on the field is a plus.Wow. Seriously. Wow.ESPN 980 reporting a rumor that Joe Gibbs may be brought back in a Bill Parcells-like role for the Redskins. Gibbs would supposedly be responsible for the general football operations including deciding who will be GM.
Doesn't sound like he would be judging personnel. He'd be hiring a GM who would then judge personnel.And I'm not sure what we should make of Gibbs' public comments about Snyder. This is a guy that bad mouths nobody. Regardless of what he thinks about Snyder, he's going to publicly back him. I'm not convinced that we have any idea what the process was for picking players behind closed doors when Gibbs was there.The Redskins don't need Gibbs again. He's never been that good a judge of personnel, and he's always been wow'ed by Snyder.
Dan, thanks for joining us today. Look at the owners you list there, Dan. What do they all have in common? They hire good football men and get out of their way.You should try it sometimeSebowski said:I don't think there is anything wrong with what Snyder is doing right now I don't know who gets more blame, the coaching or the scouts, but it isn't Snyder. Bob Kraft Rooney Lurie
from what I gather he wouldn't BE GM but rather be in the position to CHOOSE a GM. I don't think he's been wowed by Snyder, but he's just a nice guy and puts up w/ his #### and placates him to a degree, but I think he would also add at least SOME influence.The Redskins don't need Gibbs again. He's never been that good a judge of personnel, and he's always been wow'ed by Snyder.
980 just had Mike Florio on with Sheehan and Loverro. Florio said the rumor came from a league source (as opposed to a team source) and he admitted the rumor could have just been someone trying to connect some dots starting with the recent meeting between Gibbs and Snyder.Sidewinder16 said:Ugh. A PFT rumor. I had missed that, if they had mentioned it on radio.dgreen said:
According to Keim:980 just had Mike Florio on with Sheehan and Loverro. Florio said the rumor came from a league source (as opposed to a team source) and he admitted the rumor could have just been someone trying to connect some dots starting with the recent meeting between Gibbs and Snyder.Sidewinder16 said:Ugh. A PFT rumor. I had missed that, if they had mentioned it on radio.dgreen said:
There were approximately 20 other people at the dinner as well; it was a Bank of America function so it wasn't a private dinner. Other team employees attended.
Gibbs is not the answer. He was a big part in shaping the team we have now.