***Official*** 2009 Washington Redskins Thread (1 Viewer)

[duckhook]

=

I thought there was an unwritten rule among coaches that you don't interview for a job when someone else already has it. Yet Shanahan has apparently talked to Snyder numerous times about being the head coach. And now Jerry Gray appears to have interviewed for his boss's job. I understand Gray's motivation, but Zorn should be pissed.

I don't understand Gray's motivation. ...or was he interviewing for the interim HC job? Do they even do that? I just don't get it. I can't imagine him thinking he had a shot at the job this offseason.

Gray may have done it so that he will get the Defensive Coordinator position. Shanny as HC, and Shanny's son as OC.They could leave the defensive staff in place, and Gray preaches a more agressive defense than Blache, which this team needs. Word is the def players respect Gray.

 

[nittanylion]

Don't forget that interviewing Gray for HC works to satisfy the Rooney Rule as well...

 

[fatness]

Don't forget that this is at least the third team with which Gray has interviewed for a head coaching job (2 NFL, 1 college). He wants to be a head coach. There's nothing mysterious about that.

I agree that interviewing to take your boss's job while he's still there is a bit tacky and creates dissension. But everyone has known for months that Zorn is gone, and how long do you have to do the equivalent of walking around a dead body?

 

[Mr Capicollo]

Don't forget that interviewing Gray for HC works to satisfy the Rooney Rule as well...

This is why I think it happened. GB technical compliance with the rule, eh Mr. Rooney?

 

[dgreen]

Looks like Portis' 494 rushing yards will lead the team this year. This is the lowest rushing yards to lead the team since Larry Brown led the team in 1974 (a 14-game season) with 388 yards. Kelvin Bryant had 498 yards in 1998.

 

[dgreen]

Gray says no ... then no comment

By: John Keim

Examiner Staff Writer

12/23/09 4:16 PM EST

Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray added to the ambiguity of the coaching situation when he first said he hadn't interviewed for the head coaching position. Then he twice offered a no comment when asked again if he had interviewed.

Jim Zorn has not yet been fired, but there's little doubt that it will happen. The Redskins want Mike Shanahan, who remains the favorite to come here. But they have to satisfy the league's Rooney Rule about interviewing a minority candidate, which Gray would do. Various reports said last week that Gray had indeed interviewed with owner Dan Snyder.

Wednesday, Gray was directly asked if he had interviewed and said, "No. Jim and I have had a discussion. Anything that we discussed is, don't let this distract us about what we're doing. That's been one of our main deals. I know it came up last week, what's going on with the staff. We're together. Trust me, we're going to be together. Sometimes you can jump the gun, like Memphis where a bunch of stories were running wild and rampant.

"If you never go to the source and quote other sources, that kills an organization. Go to the source and if the source says yes or no, then you go on. The good thing about this staff, Jim and I have had conversations and the conversation is between he and I."

However, last month Gray was asked directly about the Memphis job and did not want to answer. He also was asked about interviewing for the Redskins' job after Monday night's loss to New York and made it clear he wasn't going to discuss the matter.

And after his long answer Wednesday, he was asked again to clarify whether or not he had interviewed. He said, "Jim and I had a conversation. Our conversation is, let's get ready for Dallas."

But that still left some ambiguity. So, through the Redskins PR department, another clarification was sought about whether or not he had interviewed for the position. The answer came back, "No comment. Any conversations that I have is between me and Jim. We're on the same page."

The dysfunction continues.

 

[Marvelous]

Don't forget that interviewing Gray for HC works to satisfy the Rooney Rule as well...

There was a blurb on PFT that interviewing Gray does not satisfy the Rooney rule because the stipulates a minority candidate be interviewed for a head coaching vacancy. And the Redskins will not have a head coaching vacancy until they fire Zorn.

 

[Marvelous]

Here's the blurb from PFT on Snyder offering the head coaching job to Shanahan last March:

Report: Snyder offered job to Shanahan in offseasonPosted by Mike Florio on December 20, 2009 12:29 PM ETAs the momentum continues to build between the Redskins and Mike Shanahan, Jay Glazer of FOX reports that owner Daniel Snyder initially offered the job to Shanahan during the 2009 offseason.In response, Shanahan told Snyder that he needs to give coach Jim Zorn more than one year on the job.The news meshes with rumors that have been circulating for months regarding offseason meetings and communications between Snyder and Shanahan, and regarding the belief that the Redskins tried to get quarterback Jay Cutler from the Broncos in anticipation that Shanahan would be the head coach.And who knows? Maybe Shanahan would have decided to take the offer for 2009 if Cutler was going to be the guy.Glazer also reports that, at the league meetings in March, Snyder asked former Broncos safety John Lynch to share everything he knows about Shanahan -- in the presence of Zorn. All that said, Glazer says that Shanahan's top choice is the Cowboys. If so, it looks like Shanahan possibly has been using the Redskins in order to get Dallas owner Jerry Jones to bite.

 

[Marvelous]

Don't forget that interviewing Gray for HC works to satisfy the Rooney Rule as well...

There was a blurb on PFT that interviewing Gray does not satisfy the Rooney rule because the stipulates a minority candidate be interviewed for a head coaching vacancy. And the Redskins will not have a head coaching vacancy until they fire Zorn.

Here is the report from PFT:

Pre-vacancy Rooney Rule interviews don't work for coaching jobs

Posted by Mike Florio on December 20, 2009 10:30 AM ET

On Saturday, we reported that the Redskins already have interviewed defensive coordinator Greg Blache for the head-coaching position currently held by Jim Zorn. Later in the day, Jason Reid of the Washington Post, after duly dropping a D.C. Steamer on our Blache report, wrote that secondary coach Jerry Gray has been interviewed for the head-coaching position.

Regardless of whether either or both report is accurate (we stand by our Blache report, and we've heard rumblings that Gray was also interviewed), the Redskins won't be able to pull the 114-minute presto-change-o with Zorn and his successor by pre-complying with the Rooney Rule, which requires at least one interview of a minority candidate for every head-coaching vacancy.

The key word, as it relates to coaching jobs, is "vacancy."

"The rule presumes a vacancy," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail.

In other words, interviews of minority candidate(s) conducted before the coaching job is open don't count.

So how were the Redskins able to pre-comply with the Rooney Rule before Vinny Cerrato resigned as executive V.P. of football operations?

"The current rule as it applies to GMs is not as specific as for head coaches," Aiello said. "We will review it going forward to determine whether modifications are warranted."

To put it less tactfully, the Redskins found a loophole when it came to making the switch from Cerrato to Bruce Allen. But that same path won't be available to the Redskins when it comes to Zorn; they have to comply with the Rooney Rule after the head-coaching job has come open.

Though it might be easy to satisfy the requirement by having Blache and/or Gray return for a "do you still want the job?" follow-up session, there's a chance that Blache and/or Gray eventually will decide not to participate in a sham process -- just like Redskins play-caller Sherm Lewis did nearly seven years ago, when the Lions dumped Marty Mornhinweg with the sole intent of hiring Steve Mariucci.

 

[T Bell]

Oh not to worry, there's a vacancy all right!

 

[fatness]

I realize people like to bang the Rooney Rule Is Unfair drum. But you're overlooking the fact that Gray interviewed for the Lions HC job and the University of Houston HC job already, that he's respected as being good at what he does, that he obviously wants to be a HC, and in my opinion there's a good chance he'll be one in the forseeable future.

 

[fatness]

Young guys.

 

[fatness]

George Michael died. (longtime DC area TV sportscaster)

 

[Sidewinder16]

Young guys.

The article that photo goes with is worth mentioning. Theismann and Gibbs will be in the booth for a playoff game this year.

 

[fatness]

When Redskins owner Daniel Snyder pulled the plug on Vinny Cerrato, the executive vice president of football operations, last Thursday with three games to play in the season, he may not have understood the chain reaction he set in motion. Or at least he may not have feared it sufficiently.

When the old GM goes, that means the unsuccessful head coach that he hired is going to get canned too, as soon as the season is over. (Or on Tuesday.) That means his staff may be totally sacked, too.

Now the Redskins know that the only people on earth who can't possibly be their coaches next year are the men who are still in charge of them. What you have left are 45 men in free fall.

Tom Boswell

Bump.

Haynesworth sent home for disciplinary reasons

Albert Haynesworth has had a week reminiscent of his early days in Tennessee. On Monday night, he threw a punch and was eventually fined for it. Then he made it very clear he was not impressed with the team's coaching staff. And to cap off the week, Haynesworth was sent home from the team facility Friday for disciplinary reasons.

Jason Reid of the Washington Post reports that Haynesworth showed up late for a team meeting and was told not to attend practice. Haynesworth still dressed, then was involved in an "animated conversation" with coach Jim Zorn for 15 minutes while his teammates stretched, before leaving the facility. "He wasn't belligerent or nasty to me, and I wasn't nasty to him," Zorn confirmed. "It's just something that needed to be done."

Haynesworth will play Sunday, although it's unclear if he'll start. And his behavior is unlikely to have a lasting impact because Zorn won't be in Washington for long. Haynesworth, like everyone else, knows Zorn is a goner and is treating him accordingly.

link

 

[fatness]

More Haynesworth

"If they keep this system the way it is, then they would label Albert Haynesworth a bust who didn't live up to the contract," Haynesworth said. "Everybody would say he just took the money and ran off. And I'm still playing as hard as I possibly can. But you can only do so much within the system that's put around you. And I'm not talking about the players. The players have been great. I couldn't ask for any better guys. I'm talking about the system. And [the coaches] can say whatever they want about that [the reason he was sent home Friday]. The main thing it's coming from is what I said after the game about leadership and about the team."

In Washington's scheme, interior linemen, for the most part, are required to maintain their gap responsibility while occupying blockers in an effort to help linebackers make plays. And linemen are not permitted to rush as much as Haynesworth would prefer. "What [team officials] told me in the early hours of February [27] is that, 'We're going to let you play,' " Haynesworth said of Washington's sales pitch on the first day of free agency.

"We're going to change the scheme up, make it around you. We want you to do what you do. They might have changed a little bit [but] they don't let me rush. They call what Blache calls 'Hot,' a basic pass rush, maybe a few times a game. And half the time that's changed because of some formation. I disagree with their whole scheme."

Several times, Haynesworth has initiated closed-door discussions with Blache about the system, offering ideas on how the team might be more productive, people in the organization familiar with Haynesworth's actions said. But Blache has not been receptive, and the situation reached a boiling point in the last game.

"What made me do this [criticize the team's leadership and defensive scheme after the last game] is . . . he tells me, 'Get out of my face,' " Haynesworth said of Blache. "When I go up to him in the game it's like, 'Hey, we need to do this because this will help.' He tells me, 'Get out of my face. Go sit down. Go sit down.' Like I'm a kid or something like that. That's when I said what I said after the game. That's what made me respond the way that I did."

Haynesworth, though, is not the first high-profile player to feel constricted in his system. Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor was unhappy playing for Blache in 2008, his only season with the team, people within the organization said, and there has been grumbling in the locker room this season about Blache's approach.

"They don't want to take input. They don't," Haynesworth said. "[blache] . . . doesn't want to change. I mean, I'm watching film, it's like, 'Dude, this day and age, you get killed the way that we're running stuff.' And we've got way more talent [than the Titans].

"We got great corners and safeties here that can play if they were used right. They make a million checks before the ball is snapped. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of reacting. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of playing. When you're sitting there thinking about what you're going to do when you're trying to run, you don't go as fast. When it's natural and it comes to you, you do it. You know? It's instinct. You know what I mean? What they want us to do is think and be robots. This is just ridiculous."

 

[fatness]

Citing multiple sources with knowledge of the situation, the National Football Post wrote Haynesworth lobbied Redskins teammates to join him in being late to practice. There is no truth to the report, according to a text from Haynesworth's cellphone number.

Jason Reid

 

[fatness]

Zimmer's name surfaces as potential defensive coordinator in D.C.

Despite doing a great job over the past two seasons with the Cincinnati defense, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has yet to generate significant buzz as a potential head-coaching candidate for the upcoming carousel of vacancies.

But with his contract in Cincinnati set to expire after the current season, Zimmer could be in line for a lateral move -- and also a healthy raise.

We're told that Mike Shanahan has targeted Zimmer as the first choice to run the defense, if/when Shanahan resurfaces as head coach of the Redskins.

PFTZimmer coaches the defense that beat the Steelers twice and the Ravens twice this year.

 

[fatness]

As all indications continue to point to Mike Shanahan being the next coach of the Redskins, we're told that Shanahan's contract with the team is ready to go.

One league source thinks the contract may already be signed. "He has agreed to everything," the source said. "Heck, he picked out the G.M."

But until Shanahan actually signs, he is free to go elsewhere if he chooses. And as Adam Schefter of ESPN pointed out during Sunday morning's SportsCenter, Shanahan believes in always keeping his options open.

link

 

[southeastjerome]

Its pretty wacky that I am actually looking forward to watching this game. It will probably take about 1/2 of the first quarter for that to change, but I would love to see the Skins make the Cowboys have to earn a playoff spot next week.

 

[Marvelous]

Chris Collinsworth phrased some things kindly for the Redskins. He said that many of the OL are not top flight. He could have said they are not NFL players. He also said the Redskins offense is borderline unwatchable. I did not look borderline to me today.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Its pretty wacky that I am actually looking forward to watching this game. It will probably take about 1/2 of the first quarter for that to change, but I would love to see the Skins make the Cowboys have to earn a playoff spot next week.

As I said earlier in the thread, no way the skins beat the Cowboys. The train wreck continues. Missed the game to go see a movie. From the final score, I see that was a wise choice. No undefeated teams left, both my teams suck left nuts. Just nothing left to watch for this year. Lots of free time for the PS3 on Sundays I guess.

 

[Marvelous]

Andres Kramer had an interesting note report on the Rooney rule for the Redskins. She said Morraco Brown interviewed for the GM job and Jerry Gray interviewed for the head coaching position. The NFL checked with the Fritz Pollard orgaiztion, who contacted both Brown and Gray, They both said their interviews were legit, so Fritz Pollard is satisfied that the Rooney rule has been satisfied.

 

[Marvelous]

Its pretty wacky that I am actually looking forward to watching this game. It will probably take about 1/2 of the first quarter for that to change, but I would love to see the Skins make the Cowboys have to earn a playoff spot next week.

As I said earlier in the thread, no way the skins beat the Cowboys. The train wreck continues. Missed the game to go see a movie. From the final score, I see that was a wise choice. No undefeated teams left, both my teams suck left nuts. Just nothing left to watch for this year. Lots of free time for the PS3 on Sundays I guess.

It really was a pretty boring game. No swing gate fake field goals. No double moves burning the Redskins D.

 

[fatness]

Chris Collinsworth phrased some things kindly for the Redskins. He said that many of the OL are not top flight. He could have said they are not NFL players. He also said the Redskins offense is borderline unwatchable. I did not look borderline to me today.

4-1127 TD's scored in 15 games.

 

[TxBuckeye]

It really was a pretty boring game.

I take that as kind of a given this season. Redskins offense = boring.

 

[jbz]

this season can't end fast enough. these guys have all quit. nice way to show up with the new boss in town analyzing your performances fellas.

 

[Sebowski]

Chris Collinsworth phrased some things kindly for the Redskins. He said that many of the OL are not top flight. He could have said they are not NFL players. He also said the Redskins offense is borderline unwatchable. I did not look borderline to me today.

4-1127 TD's scored in 15 games.

That's more TDs than I would have guessed. Blow it up Bruce!Anyone going to the Chargers game? I helped put a group together of 185 Skins fans all sitting together. Party bus to the game and back leaving from the local Skins bar. Should be fun.

 

[fatness]

Anyone going to the Chargers game? I helped put a group together of 185 Skins fans all sitting together. Party bus to the game and back leaving from the local Skins bar. Should be fun.

Sounds like an invading army. Have a great time.

 

[fatness]

Theisman has already announced that the Redskins are the team to beat next year in the NFC East.

He didn't say that this morning. He actually tried to talk about what the team's done badly for a few minutes, but his Sunshine Suppository kicked in and he went off on a tangent of criticizing Haynesworth. Yeah, Joe, that's why a bad team sucks: because of their best defensive lineman.Kevin Sheehan was an insufferable homer as well. He started itemizing what's wrong with the team and with Sunday's performance and gets sidetracked into criticizing Haynesworth as well. Sorry, Haynesworth doesn't make player, salary, or coaching decisions.Both those guys --- Theisman and Sheehan --- show what was wrong the entire time Cerrato was here. They each want to blame a player rather than see an overall picture of the team. I watched until it was 14-0 yesterday and then turned it off. How bad did Campbell get beat up?

 

[Marvelous]

One note on the game: When Suisham kicked the field goal, there was a lot of cheering from the crowd. Not clear if it's just from Redskin fans leaving or if people thought Suisham should not have been cut.

 

[fatness]

Thread title needs updating. The Oakland game was in a galaxy far far away.

 

[Marvelous]

In the print edition of the Washington Post, in Jason Reid's report on the game, he mentions that the coaches wanted to keep Suisham, but Cerrato decided to make the change anyhow.

Oddly enough, the three paragraphs on Suisham are not in the on-line version of the article.

 

[Marvelous]

Andres Kramer had an interesting note report on the Rooney rule for the Redskins. She said Morraco Brown interviewed for the GM job and Jerry Gray interviewed for the head coaching position. The NFL checked with the Fritz Pollard orgaiztion, who contacted both Brown and Gray, They both said their interviews were legit, so Fritz Pollard is satisfied that the Rooney rule has been satisfied.

Interesting writeup on PFT about the Rooney Rule and the Redskins:

Kremer: Redskins interviewed Gray to comply with Rooney RulePosted by Mike Florio on December 28, 2009 12:18 AM ETIf there was any doubt that the Washington Redskins will be firing coach Jim Zorn and quickly hiring Mike Shanahan (or someone else), there should be no doubt now.Andrea Kremer of NBC reported during Sunday night's game between Dallas and Washington that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder called NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "a few weeks ago," and that Snyder asked Goodell whether interviewing secondary coach Jerry Gray for the head-coaching job and interviewing director of pro personnel Morocco Brown for the G.M. position would comply with the Rooney Rule.Per Kremer, Goodell called John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, to discuss the situation. Wooten spoke with Gray and Brown, and Wooten concluded that the interviews were legitimate, and that the interviews complied with the Rooney Rule.This information from Wooten conflicts with our recent report, based on information from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, that compliance with the Rooney Rule as to head coaches presumes the existence of a vacancy.This means that there can't be compliance with the Rooney Rule before a head-coaching vacancy exists.Reached via e-mail for reaction to Andrea Kremer's report, Aiello said that the league "cannot comment on the application of the rule to a head coaching position that is not vacant."In subsequent exchanges with Aiello, however, it became apparent that the league has some discomfort regarding attempts to comply with the Rooney Rule with respect to head-coaching jobs that aren't yet vacant.Specifically, Aiello pointed out that a team "can't be non-compliant if there is no vacancy." Asked whether this also means that a team can comply if there's no vacancy, Aiello said, "Not officially. That is why we are not commenting on it. Jim Zorn is the head coach. As you noted, the rule is silent on whether there must be a vacancy before there can be compliance."But, again, it's silent because the rule presumes that a team would be looking for someone to fill a job only once the job is open.Either way, we continue to be troubled by the Redskins' attempt to interview minority candidates for positions that are not yet available. Compliance with the Rooney Rule shouldn't be regarded as a chore or an annoyance, and that's exactly how the Redskins, in our opinion, are treating it. Besides, why would Brown or Gray believe that their interviews were legitimate, and why would Wooten not be able (or willing) to see through the facade? It's an open secret that Snyder has been pursuing Mike Shanahan for months, and that Shanahan and Bruce Allen are regarded as a package deal. Though the Redskins might have created the impression that the interviews of Brown and Gray were legitimate -- possibly because the Redskins legitimately were interested in exploring whether either or both men should have roles in the new Shanahan-Allen regime -- the interviews necessarily were sham sessions if, as it appears, Shanahan and Allen were the predetermined targets.Pre-compliance with the Rooney Rule sets a dangerous precedent. If permitted, it would allow teams to interview in-house minority candidates before a season ends, and then to hire the person that the team already has settled on for employment without delay.So we'll renew the suggestion we made after Allen was hired, only 114 minutes after Vinny Cerrato resigned. No interviews should be deemed to comply with the Rooney Rule before the vacancy has been created and announced.Also, interviews of minority candidates employed by the team should never satisfy the Rooney Rule. Folks on the payroll have a strong incentive to be team players, and it is tempting for such candidate-employees to justify looking the other way regarding a possible violation of the Rooney Rule in the name of preserving and/or advancing a career. We believe there's a point where the Rooney Rule no longer will be needed, and the league should constantly ask itself whether that time has come. Until the Rooney Rule is removed from the books, however, teams should be required to respect its terms and its spirit.The Redskins might be dotting the i's and crossing the t's, but if the many reports about Snyder's extended pursuit of Shanahan are true, the Redskins are merely hiring the person they want to hire -- and lawyering their way around the requirements of the Rooney Rule.

Some interesting points to Florio's opinion, but some teams will always be "lawyering around" the rule, whether they do it before or after there is a vacancy. After Millen was slapped with a $250,000 fine for not complying, of course any sane man is going to make sure they have complied with the rule before moving forward.

 

[fatness]

Interesting writeup on PFT about the Rooney Rule and the Redskins:

Either way, we continue to be troubled by the Redskins' attempt to interview minority candidates for positions that are not yet available.

Either it's a problem to interview all candidates for a position that's not open, or or it's not a problem for any of them. Florio's reasoning falls apart right there.

 

[MikeApf]

The Redskins might be dotting the i's and crossing the t's, but if the many reports about Snyder's extended pursuit of Shanahan are true, the Redskins are merely hiring the person they want to hire -- and lawyering their way around the requirements of the Rooney Rule.[/quote]

You know, I read this article, and I got the sense that it was "smart" in a minor way but "stupid" in a big way. Here's the bottom line. They are making this big deal out of the fact that minority candidates are being interviewed prior to a vacancy, like that is the fact that is torpedoing the Rooney rule. But in reality, interviewing the candidates early has nothing to do with the team skirting the issue. Rather, it's the fact that they are interviewing candidates without any real chance of those candidates getting the job.

Let's say that the Redskins interviewed Gray the day after Zorn was fired, at 10:00 am. Then, they interview Shannahan at 11:00 am and give him the job. According to this writer, now everything is fine, because they are in compliance? Who is being the persnickety lawyer now? In the above scenario, the Redskins would have violated the spirit of the law just as much as if they had interviewed the candidates early.

The SPIRITof the law is to force teams to interview minority candidates so that eventually, one of those minority candidates will actually be considered for the job. If they are never truly considered, what the heck difference does it make WHEN they were interviewed.

Everyone knows Zorn is dead man walking and that the position is essentially vacant. This article is "smart" in a minor, persnickety, lawyerly way but "stupid" in the bigger since since it doesn't address the core of the issue: which is that if an owner wants to hire a particular non minority (presumably Shannahan in this case), he's going to do it, even if he interviews 5 minority candidates to "put on a good show."

Minorities would be better served by programs that provided them with increased access and opportunities to showcase their coaching talents to owners so that owners will be motivated to hire them based on their very real qualifications -- not on adherence to a "rule" that any owner can always skirt if they really want to. Of course, there are lots of qualified minorities...the real question is "is the Rooney Rule an answer or just window dressing that the NFL can point to do say they are doing something about representation of minorities in the coaching ranks."

M

 

[dgreen]

One note on the game: When Suisham kicked the field goal, there was a lot of cheering from the crowd. Not clear if it's just from Redskin fans leaving or if people thought Suisham should not have been cut.

There was a ton of booing any time his name was mentioned and the booing began the second he stepped on the field for that FG. The cheering was from the Cowboys fans and maybe that's what the TV picked up on most?

 

[dgreen]

this season can't end fast enough.

One more game to punish myself with then it's off the excitement of Shanny!

these guys have all quit. nice way to show up with the new boss in town analyzing your performances fellas.

It's hard to tell when someone has quit or not. I don't get the sense that the players aren't trying. They just aren't very good. And the coaches aren't very good. Combine those two things together and I think you just end up with the illusion of quitting.

 

[dgreen]

In Washington's scheme, interior linemen, for the most part, are required to maintain their gap responsibility while occupying blockers in an effort to help linebackers make plays. And linemen are not permitted to rush as much as Haynesworth would prefer. "What [team officials] told me in the early hours of February [27] is that, 'We're going to let you play,' " Haynesworth said of Washington's sales pitch on the first day of free agency.

"We're going to change the scheme up, make it around you. We want you to do what you do. They might have changed a little bit [but] they don't let me rush. They call what Blache calls 'Hot,' a basic pass rush, maybe a few times a game. And half the time that's changed because of some formation. I disagree with their whole scheme."

I heard this morning that these "Hot" calls are a big deal for Haynesworth. They are basically DL audilbles that the Tennessee players had the freedom to call when they faced certain formations and looks. Blache doesn't really allow that. It was reported that Haynesworth called his own "Hot" when he sacked Eli Manning last week...and then was chewed out by defensive coaches on the sideline.

 

[MikeApf]

In Washington's scheme, interior linemen, for the most part, are required to maintain their gap responsibility while occupying blockers in an effort to help linebackers make plays. And linemen are not permitted to rush as much as Haynesworth would prefer. "What [team officials] told me in the early hours of February [27] is that, 'We're going to let you play,' " Haynesworth said of Washington's sales pitch on the first day of free agency.

"We're going to change the scheme up, make it around you. We want you to do what you do. They might have changed a little bit [but] they don't let me rush. They call what Blache calls 'Hot,' a basic pass rush, maybe a few times a game. And half the time that's changed because of some formation. I disagree with their whole scheme."

I heard this morning that these "Hot" calls are a big deal for Haynesworth. They are basically DL audilbles that the Tennessee players had the freedom to call when they faced certain formations and looks. Blache doesn't really allow that. It was reported that Haynesworth called his own "Hot" when he sacked Eli Manning last week...and then was chewed out by defensive coaches on the sideline.

I heard that too...sounds like a common thread with this coaching staff. Campbell never had the freedom to audible, now Haynesworth. There is something to be said for coaching smart players then giving them some autonomy on the field to make reads and react accordingly. After all they are men, not robots. You don't want folks going TOO far off the scheme but it sounds like this coaching staff is restrictive in general.What is Shannahan's rep in this regard?

M

 

[fatness]

Here's what I'm more interested in than who becomes head coach: who will do the personnel evaluations for the team? It's been a weak point for 10 years, Allen is reputedly not that good at it, and I don't think Shanahan's been that good at it. There was an article a week or 2 ago of 3 men who were being considered for the position, all of whose names I forget. But the choice of one of them (or not choosing one, and letting Allen/Shanahan handle it) is going to go further in deciding how this team turns around than will the choice of head coach.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

So who is gonna be the new DCord? I will be just as happy when Blanche is gine as well. I'm so tired of all the 3rd and longs that go against the Skins. And when the blitz they all go straight up the middle, and lastly why cant the Skins run screens, like every other team does against this team. Hope and Change, Hope and Change! And this time I'm rooting for it.

 

[dgreen]

and lastly why cant the Skins run screens, like every other team does against this team.

My completely untested theory: They run slow screens. It seems like Philly and other teams set-up and throw their screens much quicker. My complete guess would be that if you timed how long it is from snap to pass for all teams, the Redskins would be near the bottom. It's just too easy to see the screen coming with this team because they take forever to get to it.

 

[TxBuckeye]

Anyone going to the Chargers game? I helped put a group together of 185 Skins fans all sitting together. Party bus to the game and back leaving from the local Skins bar. Should be fun.

I must be missing something. Going to a crowded stadium with a bunch of drunks so you can cry together in your beer as your team gets crushed just doesn't sound like my idea of a good time.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Chris Collinsworth phrased some things kindly for the Redskins. He said that many of the OL are not top flight. He could have said they are not NFL players. He also said the Redskins offense is borderline unwatchable. I did not look borderline to me today.

4-1127 TD's scored in 15 games.

That's more TDs than I would have guessed. Blow it up Bruce!Anyone going to the Chargers game? I helped put a group together of 185 Skins fans all sitting together. Party bus to the game and back leaving from the local Skins bar. Should be fun.

Hoping that I can goto Titans game next year. It would be cool if some of us could pick a game to see our team play somewhere.

 

[fatness]

Tom Boswell's column.

Discipline isn't optional in football. It is the very core of the NFL enterprise. That sense of both self-restraint and dedication, as well as group accountability, starts at the top with ownership, flows through the front office and down through the coaching staff to players. And that is what the Redskins lack at every level.

Haynesworth, though an easy target, has played far better than many Redskins. Of course, with his proven talents and his price tag, he should. Still, he's not the source of the Redskins' profoundly deep problems. He is a symptom of an organization that, from top to bottom, lacks every sort of discipline.

Pick your poison: the Redskins are physically, mentally or psychologically slack in every area from unfocused players who execute poorly to a New Age head coach who tolerates atrocious performances against bad teams without a ruffled feather to a front office that, in the Vinny Cerrato-Dan Snyder days, showed all the impulse control and even-keeled temper of kindergarteners.

As for assistant coaches, they too seem to do as they please.

Isn't this sort of matching of material to scheme an absolute basic of an organization's internal discipline? Or does everybody defend his own fiefdom? Sorry, don't answer that. The Redskins constantly draft or sign players who change positions when they come to Washington, such as Adam Archuleta and Jason Taylor.

 

[fatness]

Gibbs looked serene and rested because he has officially been out of the Resuscitating the Redskins business for nearly two full years.

"I feel I'm where I need to be," he said, explaining over and over, spelling it out with clarity, making sure everyone heard it right: He has nothing to do with the Redskins anymore. Not as an unpaid consultant. Not as a special adviser to Daniel Snyder -- nothing.

Mike Wise

 

[fatness]

Mike Williams tore a muscle and is out for the Chargers game. On passing plays he'll be replaced by a turnstile, for continuity.

 

[ChrisCooleyFan]

Mike Williams tore a muscle and is out for the Chargers game. On passing plays he'll be replaced by a turnstile, for continuity.

Gotta think Reed is done also for the year.

 

[fatness]

Since he was introduced as the Redskins' general manager on Dec. 17, Bruce Allen has watched two of his team's games, both in prime time, both at FedEx Field, both lopsided losses to NFC East opponents. The tally for those two games: Opponents 62, Redskins 12.

Some more tidbits for Allen to chew on: The Redskins were outgained 780-520. They sacked the quarterback three times and allowed eight sacks of their own. They fumbled four times and didn't force any. Their top rusher? Quarterback Jason Campbell, who also happened to be the guy getting crushed on all those sacks.

Barry Svrluga