***Official*** 2009 Washington Redskins Thread (2 Viewers)

[fatness]

boswell

The Redskins owner often wants to do the right thing, provided he can figure out what it is. In introducing Allen, he said, "When we make a decision . . ." before quickly correcting himself with, "When he makes a decision . . ." But we are our habits. And Snyder just finds it so hard to keep his hands out of the machinery. His age and high energy work against him. An idle Snyder is the devil's workshop.

The whole press conference is on Redskins.com. That part of it was pretty funny. Snyder started talking like he normally has for the last 10 years, caught himself, and was like "oops, I forgot, I can't do that now with this new guy".

 

[phrozen]

It's also possible that Shanahan will decide not to take the job. As Mike Klis of the Denver Post pointed out last night, Shanahan is still owed $7 million in 2010 and $7 million in 2011. Thus, if he makes anything less than $7 million per year to coach the Redskins, Shanahan will essentially be working for free.

Regardless of how it all turns out, Shanahan has definitely been talking to the Redskins and Shanahan definitely is in play. We are more convinced of those facts than anything we've ever previously reported, and anyone who says anything contrary to that is either misinformed or advancing an agenda.

PFT

I do not think the $7 million will be an issue for Snyder. If I recall correctly Holmgren was the highest paid coach making about $8 million/year before he quit coaching. I bet Snyder would make Shanahan the highest paid coach in the NFL as another incentive to bring him here to DC. And by Snyder I mean Allen

 

[buster c]

wilbon

If Allen is just new cover for a continuation of celebrity football, then the Redskins won't be substantially better off with him than they were with Vinny Cerrato. If Daniel Snyder continues to go on scouting trips with Allen, like he did with Cerrato recently to see Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, then the Redskins will be doing pretty much what they've done in the past, which is to say largely nothing. If Allen was brought in simply to hire old buddy Jon Gruden and then throw away high draft picks while radically overpaying free agents, then the Redskins will stay true to their flawed way of doing football business for the past 10 years.

 

[fatness]

To be fair, that's not all Wilbon said.

If Allen is running the football team and having, overwhelmingly, the final say in personnel decisions -- from the coaching staff to the backup long snapper -- then the Redskins have a chance.

Wilbon's skepticism is something we all share. Only time will tell if things are different.

Personally, I'll have to see this transformation to believe it is really happening, because the Redskins squandered benefit of the doubt, like so many high draft picks, years ago. The Patriots have earned benefit of the doubt. The Colts have earned benefit of the doubt. The Steelers. Even teams like the Seahawks and Bears, who've been to a Super Bowl recently. The Redskins? As Chad Ochocinco would say, "Child, please."

There's no argument, though, that Bruce Allen is a better football guy than Vinny Cerrato.

 

[Marvelous]

From PFT:

Source: Blache already has interviewed for Redskins jobPosted by Mike Florio on December 19, 2009 10:21 AM ETUnless they conducted a search even faster than they recruited Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins interviewed multiple candidates for General Manager at a time when they already had someone doing the job.So it should come as no surprise that they're already interviewing candidates for the position of head coach, despite the fact that they already have one.Per a league source, the Redskins have interviewed defensive coordinator Greg Blache for the position currently held by his boss, Jim Zorn. It's unknown when the interview specifically occurred.By interviewing Blache, the Redskins have complied in advance with the Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for every head-coaching vacancy.We recently speculated, based on the manner in which the Vinny Cerrato-Bruce Allen flip-flop was handled by the team, that the Redskins already have complied with the Rooney Rule as it relates to the head-coaching position.So, basically, the Redskins are free -- at any time -- to announce that Zorn is out, and to announce that Mike Shanahan (or anyone else, for that matter) is in.As we pointed out last night, Shanahan definitely is in play for the job. Though it's not a done deal, he has been talking to the powers-that-be for weeks, if not months. Cue the denials from Blache and/or the Redskins and/or Shanahan and/or Shanahan's minions in the media. Maybe, if I'm really lucky, Mike Wise will call me a "cretin" again, too.

Looks like the coaching search will not take 6 weeks this time. I think this really shows that plan A, B, C, and maybe D all fell through on the last go around. I am a bit surprised anyone would interview for the job when they still have a HC, especailly someone on the current staff.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

From PFT:

Source: Blache already has interviewed for Redskins jobPosted by Mike Florio on December 19, 2009 10:21 AM ETUnless they conducted a search even faster than they recruited Albert Haynesworth, the Redskins interviewed multiple candidates for General Manager at a time when they already had someone doing the job.So it should come as no surprise that they're already interviewing candidates for the position of head coach, despite the fact that they already have one.Per a league source, the Redskins have interviewed defensive coordinator Greg Blache for the position currently held by his boss, Jim Zorn. It's unknown when the interview specifically occurred.By interviewing Blache, the Redskins have complied in advance with the Rooney Rule, which requires at least one minority candidate to be interviewed for every head-coaching vacancy.We recently speculated, based on the manner in which the Vinny Cerrato-Bruce Allen flip-flop was handled by the team, that the Redskins already have complied with the Rooney Rule as it relates to the head-coaching position.So, basically, the Redskins are free -- at any time -- to announce that Zorn is out, and to announce that Mike Shanahan (or anyone else, for that matter) is in.As we pointed out last night, Shanahan definitely is in play for the job. Though it's not a done deal, he has been talking to the powers-that-be for weeks, if not months. Cue the denials from Blache and/or the Redskins and/or Shanahan and/or Shanahan's minions in the media. Maybe, if I'm really lucky, Mike Wise will call me a "cretin" again, too.

Looks like the coaching search will not take 6 weeks this time. I think this really shows that plan A, B, C, and maybe D all fell through on the last go around. I am a bit surprised anyone would interview for the job when they still have a HC, especailly someone on the current staff.

Maybe Blache did it because he was guranted to be the DC?

 

[fatness]

Maybe Blache did it because he was guranted to be the DC?

Maybe they're actually considering him? Maybe he wants to get other interviews and use this as a starter? Several possibilities there.

 

[Bankerguy]

Please beat the G-men.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Maybe Blache did it because he was guranted to be the DC?

Maybe they're actually considering him? Maybe he wants to get other interviews and use this as a starter? Several possibilities there.

No, Greg Blatche has more allegiance to Dan, since he's worked for him for so many years. Maybe Shanny has already said that he would not want to interupt the defensive side of things and just put in place the offense. All speculation, but Greg might like Zorn, but his allegiance is to Dan Snyder. The worst kept secret is that Zorn will not be the coach for the Redskins following the next 3 games or sooner.If Dan wants to get the jump, the following will take place:1) Zorn fired, intrim coach put in place (Blatche) to finish out the season2) Shanny hired for 2010 seasonWith the current offensive system/play calling being used, Zorn could be gone and we wouldn't miss a beat. So, an intrim coach on staff could easily continue running the offense, while the Defense is still in tact. Shanny comes off the market and can start to be around the Park to evaluate, if needed. Shanny probably already has talked to his buddies because he can freely now since he's not officially the Redskins coach.If Shanny has agreed in principle, then they can keep Zorn in place until the season ends. In the end, same result!

 

[Bizkiteer]

Please beat the G-men.

LOL, a cowpuke coming in and hoping for a 'Skins win. What has this world come to?????

 

[Bizkiteer]

wilbon

If Allen is just new cover for a continuation of celebrity football, then the Redskins won't be substantially better off with him than they were with Vinny Cerrato. If Daniel Snyder continues to go on scouting trips with Allen, like he did with Cerrato recently to see Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, then the Redskins will be doing pretty much what they've done in the past, which is to say largely nothing. If Allen was brought in simply to hire old buddy Jon Gruden and then throw away high draft picks while radically overpaying free agents, then the Redskins will stay true to their flawed way of doing football business for the past 10 years.

Agree w/ Wilbon here. I think the difference is if Shanny is the guy, he will have final say/decision and Allen just does the other stuff. Shanny will be able to tell Dan what needs to be done, opposed to being a YES man. I think we'll still see Dan go to the combine and stuff, but he might just be there to get the inside word opposed to giving his $.02 in the evaluation. At least that would be the hope.

 

[Sebowski]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

 

[thayman]

Maybe Blache did it because he was guranted to be the DC?

Maybe they're actually considering him? Maybe he wants to get other interviews and use this as a starter? Several possibilities there.

No, Greg Blatche has more allegiance to Dan, since he's worked for him for so many years. Maybe Shanny has already said that he would not want to interupt the defensive side of things and just put in place the offense. All speculation, but Greg might like Zorn, but his allegiance is to Dan Snyder. The worst kept secret is that Zorn will not be the coach for the Redskins following the next 3 games or sooner.If Dan wants to get the jump, the following will take place:

1) Zorn fired, intrim coach put in place (Blatche) to finish out the season2) Shanny hired for 2010 season

With the current offensive system/play calling being used, Zorn could be gone and we wouldn't miss a beat. So, an intrim coach on staff could easily continue running the offense, while the Defense is still in tact. Shanny comes off the market and can start to be around the Park to evaluate, if needed. Shanny probably already has talked to his buddies because he can freely now since he's not officially the Redskins coach.

If Shanny has agreed in principle, then they can keep Zorn in place until the season ends. In the end, same result!

If they fire Zorn now don't they have to pay him the rest of his contract? If they wait until the offseason can't they work a severnce pay deal or sum such?

 

[Sidewinder16]

Looks like the coaching search will not take 6 weeks this time. I think this really shows that plan A, B, C, and maybe D all fell through on the last go around.

I am a bit surprised anyone would interview for the job when they still have a HC, especailly someone on the current staff.

Reid reporting that it was Jerry Gray, and not Blache, interviewing. That makes more sense to me.Looks like Florio swings and misses again.

 

[fatness]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

You and several other people predicted it happening in the offseason. Nobody saw it happening when it did, including you.

 

[fatness]

Reid reporting that it was Jerry Gray, and not Blache, interviewing. That makes more sense to me.

Looks like Florio swings and misses again.

Maybe it really was Blache, but Gray was the only one who would talk about it.

 

[fatness]

So here I am snowed in on Sunday AND I CAN'T WATCH A REDSKINS GAME!

edit: Most of you guys know I've been going to see my mom on Sundays ever since my dad died last year. Here's part of the reason why: we called last evening to check on her (there's about 20 inches of snow here). It seems she wanted to go out yesterday. They had shoveled some but not all of the sidewalks in her retirement community but there were huge piles of snow in between the walkable areas. So my 5'0" mom decided she could walk through one of those piles to get to where she was going.

And got stuck.

They had to pull her out. Her legs were too short to make it through the pile of snow.

She's not physically incapacitated and not senile or losing it. She's just stubborn as hell. Now you know where I get it.

 

[fatness]

Graham Gano is questionable.

What's Suisham doing now?

 

[Marvelous]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

You and several other people predicted it happening in the offseason. Nobody saw it happening when it did, including you.

I did post a couple of times that there were advantages to firing Vinny during the season rather than waiting to the end of the season. Meanshile, there is almost no advantage of firing Zorn before the end of the season.

 

[Marvelous]

Graham Gano is questionable. What's Suisham doing now?

Maybe they called Suisham to come to Ashburn, but he missed it, wide right.

 

[Bizkiteer]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

You and several other people predicted it happening in the offseason. Nobody saw it happening when it did, including you.

I did post a couple of times that there were advantages to firing Vinny during the season rather than waiting to the end of the season. Meanshile, there is almost no advantage of firing Zorn before the end of the season.

The is a HUGE advantage...you put an intrim coach in place and can actually sign the next coach for the next season. Normally there is a downside s the current coach has his hands in everything, but Zorn doesn't. So, Lewis or Smith will have to run the 2 minute drill, no big whoopy there.

 

[Bankerguy]

Please beat the G-men.

LOL, a cowpuke coming in and hoping for a 'Skins win. What has this world come to?????

I know...I felt dirty.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Please beat the G-men.

What he said.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Please beat the G-men.

What he said.

Now this is getting to be ridiculous...

 

[fatness]

replacing Vinny Cerrato, who resigned under pressure

I love those phrases.

 

[fatness]

There's a lot of Allen's history in that previous link. Here's some of it.

Allen's career as an agent continued until 1995, five years after his father's death. Then, he was hired by Raiders owner Al Davis, just as the team was moving from Los Angeles back to Oakland. He was at first called a "senior assistant," then the director of football operations. Regardless of title, he got his first true taste of managing a salary cap, negotiating for the club on contracts -- and dealing with a strong-willed owner."That was such a dysfunctional situation," said Mike White, who was hired by Davis to be the first head coach in Allen's tenure. "But Bruce, I think he and I worked together really well. He has tremendous loyalty to the people that he's surrounded with. I know that he was miserable at Oakland. But he did his job professionally. He worked at the relationship with Al Davis."Part of working with Davis meant doing his bidding. White's first two Raiders teams finished 8-8 and 7-9. On Christmas Eve in 1996, Davis had Allen call White and fire him."I gained tremendous respect for him, the way he handled it," White said of Allen. "I almost sensed an apologetic kind of tone because of the role that he was performing. I'm sure that he also realized that that's no way to run an organization. I've got to believe he learned from it. I have got to believe that he won't make any of those mistakes, and I believe the first person he'll communicate with will be the owner, and the next person will be whoever he selects as his coach."Davis's next head coach under Allen was current Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel, who last week declined through a spokesman to be interviewed about Allen. Bugel was fired after one 4-12 season, and replaced by Jon Gruden, the young offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. Together, Gruden and Allen brought in free agent quarterback Rich Gannon before the 1999 season. In 2000 and 2001, the Raiders won AFC West titles.

Perhaps most important, Allen has the people skills and would make a powerful tandem with either Shanahan or Gruden when they face Snyder over crucial personnel decisions.The Redskins owner often wants to do the right thing, provided he can figure out what it is. In introducing Allen, he said, "When we make a decision . . ." before quickly correcting himself with, "When he makes a decision . . ." But we are our habits. And Snyder just finds it so hard to keep his hands out of the machinery. His age and high energy work against him. An idle Snyder is the devil's workshop.

 

[fatness]

Few teams will benefit from "addition by subtraction" more than the Redskins should with Cerrato's departure. During more than a decade with the Redskins, the former executive was seldom a bad man but he was often a bad influence.

In his 10 seasons with the Redskins, Cerrato specialized in palace intrigue, mediocre draft picks, disastrous free agent signings and staying just outside of the line of fire. Often he was seen as a mere sidekick enabler for team owner Daniel Snyder, a facilitator for four years for Joe Gibbs and a hatchet man when necessary. So, because he acted innocuously and spoke in easily parodied football cliches, he usually avoided blame.

But that ignores the degree to which Cerrato symbolized the worst of the Redskins' culture. Always defer to the owner while promoting yourself and the players with whom your reputation is associated. Worry about what people say about you, rather than focusing solely on solving problems. Always say that things are better than they are. Above all, the turnaround is coming soon, and the problem is somebody else.

Tom Boswell

Of some players it is said, "He's not big, but he can't run, either." As the past 13 months have finally made undeniably clear, Cerrato was the general managing equivalent. Given a decade, he couldn't build a team, and other than the owner, nobody liked him much. That's addition by subtraction.

 

[fatness]

From Boswell's article:

Let's take a wild guess that the Redskins will remain what they have been for the past 17 years: a middle-of-the pack team that spends a ton of money but has 10- to 13-loss seasons such as 1993, '94, '95, '98, '03, '04, '06 and probably '09 a lot more frequently than it has 10-win seasons ('99 and '05). Admit it, you didn't think the ratio was that bad: eight seasons averaging 11 losses vs. two with 10 wins.

ouch

 

[Marvelous]

From Boswell's article:

Let's take a wild guess that the Redskins will remain what they have been for the past 17 years: a middle-of-the pack team that spends a ton of money but has 10- to 13-loss seasons such as 1993, '94, '95, '98, '03, '04, '06 and probably '09 a lot more frequently than it has 10-win seasons ('99 and '05). Admit it, you didn't think the ratio was that bad: eight seasons averaging 11 losses vs. two with 10 wins.

ouch

The Redskins are definately NOT a middle of the pack team.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Suisham to try out with Cowboys

 

[Sebowski]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

You and several other people predicted it happening in the offseason. Nobody saw it happening when it did, including you.

Semantics. I don't care if it was a few weeks early. Only the blind Snyder haters thought Vinny would be back. A few of us called this a long time ago. Here is a different take on the Allen hiring

http://bucshots.blogs.heraldtribune.com/12...dom-safety-net/

December 20th, 2009 04:40pm

Allen punctures Rah-Dom safety net

by Tom Balog

The Glazers’ hunch turned out to be correct.

When Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder hired Bruce Allen as his team’s new executive vice president of football operations and general manager last Thursday, the joy reverberated all the way to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ accounting office at One Buccaneer Place.

Buccaneers co-chairmen Joel and Bryan Glazers were counting on just such a dumb move last January –that a greater fool would soon come along to repeat their mistake and thereby relieve them of paying off Allen’s contract– when they fired him with three years left on his deal as Tampa Bay’s general manager.

Now, the Glazers are waiting for the second domino to fall.

That is, for another team to step forward and hire Jon Gruden–and thereby clear the rest of the dead money left on Gruden’s $15 million contract extension, off the Buccaneers’ books.

Allen’s legacy, beside one of the smuggest people to ever pass through the Buccaneers’ organization, this side of Ray Perkins, is that he oversaw the dismantling of a Super Bowl champion and enabled Tampa Bay’s return to its former status as one of the league’s losingest teams.

Allen’s inability to judge talent–or hire people who can–has resulted in the Buccaneers cascading into a team that has lost 16 of its last 17 games, because most of the players drafted under his and Gruden’s watch have not proven to be good enough to help the Buccaneers win in 2009.

Those, that is, who are still around, unlike first-round bust Gaines Adams and second-round flop Dexter Jackson, the two most notable non-impact players that Allen signed off on, as Gruden’s sidekick.

But Allen’s hiring is most unwelcome news for Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik and head coach Raheem Morris. And the timing couldn’t have been worse.

Because now the Glazers can fire both of their bargain-basement replacements for Allen and Gruden, without adding much to the team’s dead money pool.

As long as Allen’s and Gruden’s contracts had remained on the books, Dominik and Morris had a safety net in the likelihood the Glazers would use that remaining dead money as an argument against firing them any time soon.

Dominik and Morris would have stood a better chance of being retained for the 2010 season, if Allen had not taken another NFL front office job until at least the coming spring, after they had passed through the treacherous post-season firing period which will begin on Jan. 4, the day after Tampa Bay’s regular season ends.

March or April would have been way too late for the Glazers to replace Tampa Bay’s general manager and head coach ahead of next season.

It would be a sad day, if the likeable, engaging duo of Dominik and Morris are let go by the Glazers.

Because if one goes, both will go. They were promoted as a package deal and that’s how they would leave, if that turns out to be the case.

Part of the blame would rest with Allen, though, for what he left them to work with.

Then, of course, Allen will have cemented his Tampa Bay legacy by influencing the destruction of not one, but two Buccaneers regimes, in a two-year span.

 

[Mr Capicollo]

This was just a huge change. Huge. And none of us saw it coming.

BSI've been telling you for months that Vinny was a dead man walking. You didn't see it coming. I most certainly did.

You and several other people predicted it happening in the offseason. Nobody saw it happening when it did, including you.

Semantics. I don't care if it was a few weeks early. Only the blind Snyder haters thought Vinny would be back. A few of us called this a long time ago. Here is a different take on the Allen hiring

http://bucshots.blogs.heraldtribune.com/12...dom-safety-net/

December 20th, 2009 04:40pm

Allen punctures Rah-Dom safety net

by Tom Balog

The "dismantling of a Super Bowl winner? WTF? That was a veteran team when he and Gruden got there. Are Brad Johnson, Mike Alstott, John Lynch, Derrick Brooks and Warren Sapp supposed to still be starting for the Bucs even to this day?

 

[fatness]

Only the blind Snyder haters thought Vinny would be back.

Yes, yes, everyone who didn't share your guess at what would happen is a blind hater.Thanks, Mr. Donovan.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Some quotes from Jaws while breaking down the 'Skins for tonight's game:

"When you consider this bunch that's playing right now with what they started the season with -- the offensive line, the tight end, the running backs -- I mean, it's a practice squad team," Jaworski said.

Prior to the Eagles' game, Jaworski went through every Redskins game of the season and charted the plays.

"Each play we asked, 'What would have you have done differently? What was a better play to call in that situation?'" Jaworski said. "And there were very, very few plays that were badly called plays."

He attributes the team's improvement to execution, chemistry, continuity and a noticeable change in the comfort level of players. He credited coaches for avoiding complex game-planning with a patchwork offensive line and inexperience at some of the skill positions.

As he goes through film, Jaworski points out one-by-one each linemen who gets beat by a defender. Inevitably, the play ends with Campbell planted into the ground.

"Play-calling?" Jaworski asked at one point. "What play do you call when this is the protection?"

For the most part, he sees a team with Pro Bowl effort across the board and Pop Warner talent where it hurts most.

"It's a beat-up bunch, a replacement team," he said. "But I'll give everyone on the coaching staff credit: they're playing hard."

Based on the comments of others I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'd like to see this coaching staff stick around. We've seen glimpses of what Zorn's offense can do these past few weeks, and that's with waiver wire fodder all over the field. IMO, it would be nice to see this coaching staff fill out the roster with "their guys" instead of Vinny's guys.And guys like dgreen and redman (or which ever alias he's currently using ) have been saying this all along (and I agree), but here's some validation for keeping Campbell around:

"I don't think you need to start over at quarterback. You can win with this guy.

"He needs a stable environment, he needs a better supporting cast. But as I look at some other quarterbacks around this league, the Redskins should be thankful to a certain degree that they've got this guy," Jaworski said. "Is he there yet? No. But you can see the fundamentals are in place; the clay is starting to be formed."

 

[Mr Capicollo]

Some quotes from Jaws while breaking down the 'Skins for tonight's game:

And guys like dgreen and redman (or which ever alias he's currently using ) have been saying this all along (and I agree), but here's some validation for keeping Campbell around:

I don't know what you're talking about. Zorn hasn't gotten enough credit IMHO for keeping the locker room intact and continuing to motivate this team even through this abortion of a season. People have wondered at times bout the 7-win, defending champion Steelers having quit, so this isn't just something to ignore, especially with a veteran team that can't really motivate itself by playing for the future.

I agree that I'd like to see more of Zorn and this coaching staff, but with Sherman Lewis already here they've already undercut him. I don't see how they can rehabilitate him.

 

[Marvelous]

Some quotes from Jaws while breaking down the 'Skins for tonight's game:

"When you consider this bunch that's playing right now with what they started the season with -- the offensive line, the tight end, the running backs -- I mean, it's a practice squad team," Jaworski said.

Prior to the Eagles' game, Jaworski went through every Redskins game of the season and charted the plays.

"Each play we asked, 'What would have you have done differently? What was a better play to call in that situation?'" Jaworski said. "And there were very, very few plays that were badly called plays."

He attributes the team's improvement to execution, chemistry, continuity and a noticeable change in the comfort level of players. He credited coaches for avoiding complex game-planning with a patchwork offensive line and inexperience at some of the skill positions.

As he goes through film, Jaworski points out one-by-one each linemen who gets beat by a defender. Inevitably, the play ends with Campbell planted into the ground.

"Play-calling?" Jaworski asked at one point. "What play do you call when this is the protection?"

For the most part, he sees a team with Pro Bowl effort across the board and Pop Warner talent where it hurts most.

"It's a beat-up bunch, a replacement team," he said. "But I'll give everyone on the coaching staff credit: they're playing hard."

Based on the comments of others I'm sure I'm in the minority, but I'd like to see this coaching staff stick around. We've seen glimpses of what Zorn's offense can do these past few weeks, and that's with waiver wire fodder all over the field. IMO, it would be nice to see this coaching staff fill out the roster with "their guys" instead of Vinny's guys.And guys like dgreen and redman (or which ever alias he's currently using ) have been saying this all along (and I agree), but here's some validation for keeping Campbell around:

"I don't think you need to start over at quarterback. You can win with this guy.

"He needs a stable environment, he needs a better supporting cast. But as I look at some other quarterbacks around this league, the Redskins should be thankful to a certain degree that they've got this guy," Jaworski said. "Is he there yet? No. But you can see the fundamentals are in place; the clay is starting to be formed."

I have lost faith in Zorn, so I would prefer a new coaching staff. Blatche may work out, but a new DC would probably also be better.I think it is time to clean house and start anew. Plus, if you keep veterans like Portis, Samuels, and Thomas around, its for a maximum on 1 year. If they help that much, then keep them around. Otherwise, start the rebuilding process without them.

Also, we have seen the last few weeks, they can be competitive with scrubs at a lot of positions. They can be competitive next year, even if they get rid of the a lot of the older veterans.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Also, we have seen the last few weeks, they can be competitive with scrubs at a lot of positions. They can be competitive next year, even if they get rid of the a lot of the older veterans.

I agree about the older veterans part. But, they've recently been successful (Keim reported this yesterday "...an offense that has averaged 24.4 points per game in its past five — which includes a six-point effort..." ) with Zorn's offense/game planning, and Blache's D. Axing the coaching staff (Keim also reporting that if Shanahan comes in, there's a good chance he'll bring Bob Slowik as DC ) means starting completely over.IMO, there's already a good foundation there that just needs the right players to be built upon.

 

[fatness]

As for Coach Jim Zorn and most of his staff, well, they've known for some time that Snyder planned to fire them after only Zorn's second season, team sources said. Snyder late last season told at least one team official he planned to fire Zorn if the Redskins lost their 2008 FedEx Field season finale to the Philadelphia Eagles, multiple team sources said. The Redskins held on to win the game, 10-3, but at least one member of the coaching staff was informed of Snyder's intention, so the group knew Snyder was eager to make a change.

The current offensive staff can take pride in how it stuck together while coaching a group of players who clearly improved as the season went along despite working with one of the league's worst offensive lines and overcoming the circus-like atmosphere at the complex and other management-created obstacles. And if Snyder and Cerrato had adequately addressed the offensive line in the previous offseason, well, who knows? Things might have been different.

Clearly, Zorn would have benefited from some on-the-job training before being named a head coach. Maybe a season or two as an offensive coordinator would have been great for him, or perhaps he would have really grown into the lead job in his third year here. But barring a trip to the playoffs this season (at minimum) that wasn't going to happen with someone like Shanahan available and Snyder also seeking his next high-profile hire.

Jason Reid in one of the many articles that will lead up to Zorn being fired.

 

[fatness]

Some quotes from Jaws while breaking down the 'Skins for tonight's game:

Thank you for posting that; it's a very interesting article.

As he combs through tape of the Redskins-Raiders, he's especially interested in Jason Campbell and the quarterback's continued development. When he first watched the tape, he was impressed with Campbell's performance out of shotgun and his success on first downs (93 of 145 with six touchdowns and a passer rating of 99.2).

The Redskins will have to decide at season's end whether Campbell figures into their plans next season. The fifth-year quarterback is a restricted free agent, which means Washington can match any other team's offer.

A year ago, Jaworski tabbed Campbell as an MVP candidate through the first eight games of the season. Despite a difficult final eight games last year and uneven play this season, Jaworski still likes what he sees, stating firmly: "I don't think you need to start over at quarterback. You can win with this guy.

"He needs a stable environment, he needs a better supporting cast. But as I look at some other quarterbacks around this league, the Redskins should be thankful to a certain degree that they've got this guy," Jaworski said. "Is he there yet? No. But you can see the fundamentals are in place; the clay is starting to be formed."

As Jaworski goes through the game film, two things stand out: the poor pass protection and the way Campbell consistently shakes off vicious hits.

I'd like to see Campbell stay, and for the rebuilding to start where it's more needed.

 

[fatness]

I think it is time to clean house and start anew. Plus, if you keep veterans like Portis, Samuels, and Thomas around, its for a maximum on 1 year. If they help that much, then keep them around. Otherwise, start the rebuilding process without them.

I don't see any particular advantage to a wholesale housecleaning. The best way to do it is on a case by case basis, based on what improvement is possible by replacing someone and what that improvement would cost. Samuels and Thomas are done. I don't believe Samuels will risk his health to continue his career, and I don't think any responsible front office would sign Thomas unless it's for the vet minimum as 3rd string backup. He gets hurt too quick, I wouldn't sign him at all. I think Portis needs to reduce his salary to stay on the team, but is definitely worth taking a look at with a new line and a new running/blocking scheme in place.

 

[nittanylion]

Nine plays, (-2) yards, through the better part of 2 Quarters...

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Nine plays, (-2) yards, through the better part of 2 Quarters...

Just shut the game off here. Dont think I ever turned a game off before halftime.

 

[phrozen]

 

[Ravens]

What a joke of a franchise!

 

[buster c]

the grounding call on Campbell reminds me of the play in Dallas where he runs out of bounds and, almost as an afterthought, decides to throw the ball away. the guy just lacks too many QB instincts. it's like Colt McCoy nearly letting the clock run out. I just don't see this out of top tier QB's. you have to know to get the ball up to the line of scrimmage or you'll get flagged. I knew the second he threw it away it was grounding. why can't he just throw it past the LOS????

 

[Mr Capicollo]

God this is an ugly game. They haven't looked this bad since that 2005 36-0 ### kicking in the Meadowlands the week after Wellington Mara died. And the worst part is I need 4 more points out of Andre Carter to win my playoff game, and there's almost no chance the Giants will throw enough for that to happen.

the grounding call on Campbell reminds me of the play in Dallas where he runs out of bounds and, almost as an afterthought, decides to throw the ball away. the guy just lacks too many QB instincts. it's like Colt McCoy nearly letting the clock run out. I just don't see this out of top tier QB's. you have to know to get the ball up to the line of scrimmage or you'll get flagged. I knew the second he threw it away it was grounding. why can't he just throw it past the LOS????

You know I'm a Campbell supporter, but that was a really dumb move.

 

[buster c]

What a joke of a franchise!

what a joke of a human being!

 

[thayman]

the grounding call on Campbell reminds me of the play in Dallas where he runs out of bounds and, almost as an afterthought, decides to throw the ball away. the guy just lacks too many QB instincts. it's like Colt McCoy nearly letting the clock run out. I just don't see this out of top tier QB's. you have to know to get the ball up to the line of scrimmage or you'll get flagged. I knew the second he threw it away it was grounding. why can't he just throw it past the LOS????

I really really want to like Campbell. He just doesn't have "It"

 

[TxBuckeye]

Nine plays, (-2) yards, through the better part of 2 Quarters...

Just shut the game off here. Dont think I ever turned a game off before halftime.

I made it one play in to the second quarter. 14-0 was enough for me. A few fair games got everyone's hopes up. But the real Redskins, and their QB, have returned. Unfortunately I think we're stuck with Campbell for awhile. Just to many other problem areas to address first.

 

[Mr Capicollo]

Soooooooooooooo . . . anyone bring some cards or dominoes?