Coach Zorn

Jim Zorn can Coach!!!!

Jason Campbell can play quarterback, because he has Coach Zorn.

Good Lord, God Almighty – the stars, the moon & the planets did line up exactly right -- Dano Snyder and his personal go-for, Vinny Cerrato, got it right. They hired a Coach. Who would have thunk?

In the upset of Dallas the game plan was beautiful. The play calling was magnificent. The offense had balance. Passes were short, in the flats, down field and deep. There was Clinton Portis, who may no longer wonder what it’s like playing in a great offense scheme.

Before the arrival of Coach Zorn how many offensive series went like this: first down pass incomplete; second down run for 2 or 3 yards; third down pass compete sort of the first down yardage; punt.

Not counting the three kneels to run out the clock to end the game, yesterday, Washington only had two 3-&-outs both in the first quarter. Yesterday, on 68% of the first- downs plays the Redskins gain 3 or more yards.

Jon Jansen made his return and the offensive line play very well. The Redskins rushed for 161 yards and 7 first downs. A rushing touchdown was called back on a hold that could not be seen on replay. Sure Campbell was hurried and sacked twice, but the quarterback was never forced into making a game changing turnover.

Defense Coordinators Greg Blache, also, should get a lot of credit. However, in the future, PLEASE, leave the Prevent Defense out of it. Prevent Defense = Prevents Winning. Yesterday, the Prevent Defense gave the Cowboys 10 points in just 2:30 minutes. Dallas averaged almost 8 yards a play against the Prevent. In the Cowboys other 48 plays, they averaged 4.3 yards. Why run the Prevent??? What is the hurry in giving up points???

Maybe even Vinny deserves a little bit of an apology. After all rookie Chris Horton continue to show a knack for finding the ball when he picked off a Romo pass that killed a third quarter Dallas drive and may have done in the Cowboys. The Redskins eventually kicked a field goal with the turnover. Also, rookie punter David Brooks averaged over 46 yards a punt. However, none of the three 2nd round draft picks receivers played. Since this was expected it was no big deal. So when Romo had enough time to make a sandwich before he threw the ball, one could not help but scream, “draft a defensive lineman.”

Right now that is being picky, picky, picky.
Hail the Redskins!!

Beast in the East

The Beast is back in the East!

The new millennium had not been good to the NFC East. In the previous 8 years only the Giants & Philly made it to the Super Bowl and both lost. Not like the 90s when East owned the NFL winning 5 Super Bowl championships between 91 and 96 including four in a row from 91 to 94. The steak included 3 different teams – Dallas, Giants & Redskins. An Era no other division can match!

Last year the same trio all made the playoffs and the Giants’ upset of New England has put the East back on top. So far this year there is no touching them. The division has a 10-2 record, with the two losses coming against each other. The Cowboys handed Green Bay its only loss, Philly knocked Pittsburgh from the undefeated, while only the Redskins have beaten New Orleans & Arizona .

The Redskins playoff hopes are on the line the next two weeks when they play Dallas and Philly. OK, that may sound a bit dramatic but it is very simple. Finish last in the division and you’re out of the playoffs.

When it comes to making the playoffs, the divisional games are the most important. Since 2000 only 2 teams have made the playoffs with losing records in their division. In both cases (Dallas 2006 & Jacksonville 2007), their division put three teams in the playoffs. Only 11 teams made it with a .500 divisional record while 47 others stayed home.

Right now everyone is enamored with Quarterback Jason Campbell . Rightfully so, he has yet to throw an interception or fumble the football. This is scary as the streak has to end and this weekend seems like a prime time.

There are many people who think Dallas is the team to beat for the Super Bowl. Since the Cowboys have not won a playoff game since 1966, one has to think this is a little premature. However, when you look at the defensive & offensive lines you begin to understand the logic.
Dallas plays a 3-4 defense. The 3 down linemen ends Marcus Spears & Chris Chanity along with nose tackle Jay Ratliff were all drafted by Dallas in 2005. Think that was a good draft? Also picked in the draft was Linebacker DeMarcus Wade, the best of the group. What this gives the Cowboys is a core of young & fast players who are supported by Bradie James (6th year), Greg Ellis 11 year and Zack Thomas 13th year. All but Thomas were drafted by Dallas. This defense was built by Bill Parcells. Are you understanding Vinny??

The offensive line is very experience with TE Jason Witten the youngest (6 years) while LG Kyle Kosiec , C Andre Gurode & RT Marc Colombo all in their 7th season. RG Leonard Davis (8) and LT Flozell Adams (11) rounds out the line.

So far this year, the Cowboys are winning the war along the lines, which is why they are the biggest Beast in the East.

Jason Taylor

The whistling of “Hail to the Redskins” came to a stop yesterday. The reality of an NFL season has arrived. The Redskins biggest weakness, lack of depth along both the offensive & defensive lines, has become an issue. Defensive end Jason Taylor along with offensive tackle Stephen Heyer are out for Sunday’s game with Dallas.

We don’t want Dallas, much rather St. Louis at home until the pair get healthy. The odds of beating Dallas on the road were a long to begin, the Cowboys opened as an 11-point favorite. Without Taylor it will be interesting to see how they change.

Obviously, the loss of Taylor is the biggest concern. To beat Dallas, a team needs a pass rush!! If Romo gets too much time, nothing good is going to happen. While Campbell and the Redskins offense have been the talk during the mini two-game streak, the defense has very quietly done its job.

The defense is nothing spectacular ranked 14th in total yards, 12th in rushing defense, and 15th in passing. Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache has been playing that “bend don’t break” style, which is working. The Skins are tied with 9th with 57 points allowed, while playing 2 of the better offenses, New Orleans & the Cardinals, in the NFC.

So it is hard to criticize the defense. However, the worst part of its game is the pass rush, which is tied for 18th in sacks with 6. Taylor along with Andre Carter and Cornelius Griffin combine for half of the Skins total. When it comes to sacks, the Skins are by far and away the worst in the NFC East. The Giants & Philly lead the NFL with 13 while Dallas is tied for 4th with 10.

Who will replace Taylor? Demetric Evans a former Dallas undrafted free agent. If Washington can put the Cowboys in passing down & yardage situations, expect to see Erasmus James along with Chris Wilson. The player to watch is James, who was the 18th player selected in the 2005 draft by Minnesota. The Redskins picked him up in the off season with a damage good label after knee injuries the last 2 years. The sleeper maybe Wilson who was picked up from the Canadian Football League in 2007 and had 4 sacks last year as a part-timer.

Replacing Heyer is a much simpler solution. Jon Jansen comes back to his starting position. Jansen may have lost a step or two, but should be ready to show the coaches they made a mistake when benching him.

Smile

Smile. Enjoy a breath. The season is not going straight down the tubes with a big season opening losing streak.
However, do not use the word huge to describe the Redskins’ triumph over New Orleans. Never is the second game of a 16-week schedule is huge. Significant can only be known with the hindsight of the next six or so games. Impressive could work but it was just a home game. Let’s try consequential.
The immediate consequences are a week where Jim Zorn can grin while not hearing he is not ready to be a head coach. For a week there will be no debate about Jason Campbell’s quarterbacking skills. This week the offense line isn’t too old.
Even Vinny got off the hook when his 7th round draft choice safety Chris Horton came up with three turnovers. This of course, overshadowed his prize punter averaging just 33 yards on 2 punts, including a line drive that was returned for a touchdown, along with a blotch hold on a field goal attempt.
The laughter will only last until the next loss. Hopefully, that will not come Sunday against Arizona.
This week the story will be about the Redskins offense that is trying to combine the smash mouth NFC East running game with the quick passing of the West Coast Offense. In the loss to the Giants, the offense was all running the ball and had just one completion to a running back. Against New Orleans the offense averaged 4.8 yards a rush and competed passes to nine different players, including five to running backs.
Smile this week with the memory of Jason Campbell leading the team from behind instead of a potential game-winning drive ending in an interception. Come-from-behind fourth-quarter drive was a big hole in Campbell’s resume.
The offense line will be walking with a spring in their step and a smile on their face.
The biggest repercussion maybe the Clinton Portis’ quotes wondering how he would fare in another offense is a dead issue. Now the comments are hidden behind big grins. The Washington Post story may have been more about the Joe Gibbs/Joe Bugel running game than Zorn’s West Coach Offense. After the Giants game, where it looked like Bugel was calling the plays, it appears that maybe Zorn is trying meld this NFC running game with the quick passing game -- an interesting concept.
This is not the West Coach that Philadelphia runs. It may look something like what Dallas is running. After watching the shootout between the two last night, the Redskins will need more than a concept. However, this week the sounds you are hearing maybe people whistling while they work.

Redskin Schedule

One loss does not make a season.
A quick look at the schedule and the Redskins are still in the hunt.
When the schedule was announced, besides the Giants, we could have also put Ls (loss) next to At Dallas, At Seattle along with the Browns, Pittsburgh and Dallas at Fed Ex. We could put Ws next to Arizona, St. Louis, Philly, and NY Giants at home along with Detroit, Baltimore, Cincinnati and San Fran on the road. Either-way games were New Orleans at home and Philly on the road.
If this were to hold true the Redskins would have an 8-5 record with the 2 swing games holding the playoff chances. We’re talking the moons, stars & planets all need to line up in perfect order, here.
The Redskins do not have an easy schedule; the teams they are playing last year (counting the NFC East twice) were 132-124. The good news is that home schedule is the toughest (68-60) while the road is 64-64. So a 4-4 record road record is must, the need for a 5th road victory maybe need to pull out a playoff spot.
Been to Fed Ex lately? Many of those who attend games since Book’em Dano Snyder regime began feel there isn’t much of a home field advantage especially with all of the Cowboys and Philly fans who show up. The feeling is very understandable. When the stadium was know as Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, in Raljon MD, the home advantage was 15-6-1. Under the High Priest of Greed, who raised the ticket prices to the limit while charging 6-pack prices for one cold beer among other price gouging schemes, the home record is only 33-31. Anything for a buck, Book’em Dano.
Gibbs would have loved the December schedule with Ravens, Bengals, Eagles and 49ers. All but the Eagles are on the road but Gibbs owned December with 46-18 record.
While the lack luster 16-7 loss to the Giants does not bode well for a quick start to the season, the Skins need to win 2 of their next four. If they were to sweep the 2 at home (New Orleans & Arizona) or better yet sweep the 2 NFC East teams (Dallas & Philly), we’re talking playoffs. If they were to win all four of the games, we need to check for steroids.

West Coast Offense?

Where was the West Coast Offense?
It was more like the NFC East Offense with plays called by Joe Bugel. Clinton Portis ran 23 times. The Giants rush for 154 yards. Giants win, 16-7. Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells would be proud.
Isn’t the West Coast offense supposed to have a lot of quick passes with big yards after catch? Why can’t Portis be like Philly’s Brian West brook? Last year the Eagles versatile back average 17 rushes for 83 yards along with six catches for another 48 yards. A big part of the problem is that Portis is a great blocker, which is something missing along the Redskins offensive line.
The only short passes seemed to come on 3rd down. The passes were also short of the needed yardage for a first down.
Whose fault is this debacle? Quarterback Jason Campbell, who held on to the ball to long. Coach Jim Zorn who was hired to install the offense, but left the Redskins running game intact? Head of Football operations Vinny Cerrato, who took 3 receivers with his top 3 picks in last year’s draft? Owner Dano Snyder? For those who are sure it’s Book’em fault see Sally Jenkins article in Friday’s Washington Post.
No question that Campbell didn’t answer any of his critics, who believe he is a classic drop back quarterback and not suited for the quick game of the West Coast Offense. Nor did Coach Jim Zorn show his detractors that he was ready to be a NFL head coach. The offensive line look old and the youth of Stephon Heyer, looked unprepared – Vinny you can step up to the mike any time. Book’em 2008 version of the Redskins maybe hard press to reach the mediocre level the team has maintained for the last 9 years.
The only semi bright spot was the second half adjustments by the defense, which kept the Skins in the game using scoreboard standards. Hey, if the defensive backs could hold on to bad passes for several picks, it would have been closers and who knows what would have happen.
All told, it is far from the end of the world. A loss to the Giants in New York is nothing new. Since 2000, the Redskins only have won there once. When the schedule was announced, it was a game most people put an L besides.
Now there are 2 home games. If the Redskins are going to have any success this year, they must win at home. After the lack of emotion showed on opening night, it appears that they will need all 90,000 people screaming with them to get them fired up.

Vinny, Vinny, Vinny

Vinny Cerrato knows if Book’em Dano Snyder wants his coffee black or with cream & sugar. The unknown is whether Vinny can acquire the players needed to make the Redskins a playoff contender. What? Again you are saying that we already know the answer? The same answer to the question if Dano can build a winner?
Again, it’s a bit too early to tell. However, the track record is not on the coffee boy’s side.
The Redskins media guide gives Vinny credit for singing Bruce Smith & Deion Sanders. He also gets credit for signing free agents like Irving Fryar and Mark Carrier. No one seems to be taking credit for Jeff George or Brandon Lloyd. Also, no one believes that Vinny had anything to do with the big-name signings, those were all Book’em Dano.
Vinny has had success with choices likes of LaVar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Sean Taylor, and Carlos Rogers & LeRon Landry. This year we will know about Jason Campbell. However, my mother would have been able to pick a starter with a top 10 selection in the draft.
It must be said that the Vinny hasn’t had a lot of late picks in the draft as the Redskins under Book’em has traded them for veteran players. It is a philosophy that really isn’t working. The Skins always seem to be to slow (old) and lack depth. Vinny does has 2006 on the record as a good draft when the Skins picked up Kedric Golston, Reed Doughty, Anthony Montgomery and Roger McIntosh, all of whom have played and contributed.
This year was different only because Cincinnati would not trade Chad Johnson to us for a couple of No. 1 picks. Thank God for Cincinnati. Naturally, we traded our top pick but not for an over paid veteran, but for 2 second-round selections. This allowed the Redskins to draft 10 players, the most during the Snyder era. While it is too early to tell the real quality of the draft, all 10 made the team but none are expected to start. The down side is none of the 3 second-round draft choice is going to start or expected to play against the Giants.
The fact that all 10 of the draft choices made the team is cause for concern. Here are some scenarios.
1. Worst case – new coach Jim Zorn and his staff didn’t have the final say on who made the team
2. Not so good -- The Redskins are lowering their salary cap to jump back into the free agent market next year.
3. Best case – these draft choices were actually better than those cut and the Redskins will be a deeper team.
Don’t discount the last scenario as none of those on the final cut were any great shakes. Marcus Mason was a local favorite but really couldn’t be out the running backs in front of him. While there is reason to worry to punter Frost’s crying about his competition with Brooks being rigged, weren’t we tired of Frost’s inconsistency?
The concern is that those players cut were either drafted or pick up on Vinny’s recommendation.
Vinny, Vinny, Vinny.

Is Jim Zorn Lucky

Is Jim Zorn lucky or should we feel sorry for him?
He’s was lucky to be in the right place at the right time to get his dream job as a head coach in the NFL. As with all dreams come true, there is a catch. His job is with Book’em Dano Snyder, who thinks he can run a team better than any of the NFL professionals. Dano has a history liking stars – see Steve Spurier under over paid coaching hires. Zorn was a nice player in his day but no star outside of a few places in Washington. Unfortunately, we’re talking the state of Washington, not DC.
Zorn took an interesting and unusual route to get to the right place at the right time. He’s never been a head coach. After quarterbacking Seattle well for years, he was a coach at two WAC colleges, Boise State (1989-91) and Utah State (92-94). Then he moved on to the Big Ten at Minnesota (95-96). Now Minnesota has never been known as Quarterback U, but the WAC is one of the most exciting offensive leagues in college football. Wouldn’t it be nice if he still has some of the plays Boise State used to upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl 2 years ago.
What worries me is the way that Book’em Dano conducted his search for a new coach. Dano hired Zorn as an offensive coordinator first. So whoever he planned to hired as the new coach would not have an option to bring in his own man and/or style. Dano then eliminate the obvious choice of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams for reasons never explained, which leads many to believe that he was looking for another “yes” man. Head of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato is the original.
If you ever get a chance to read the Dano’s bio on Zorn, it is easy to understand why he was hired. According to the Redskins, Zorn is the reason that Seattle’s Tim Hasselbeck is a successful NFL quarterback. The job Zorn choose to accept is to turn Jason Campbell into a successful quarterback. A task that Joe Gibbs and his staff couldn’t complete.
Everything points to Zorn being a good guy. He is talkative with the press and it sounds like the players truly like him. However, being a good guy means nothing. Wins and only wins count as a head coach in the NFL. Those over price players will quit on him if he doesn’t put them in position to win games.
I am not so concern with the big question is Zorn ready to be a head coach. Actually, I like the idea that the Redskins didn’t hire a retread old head coach. This despite the fact last year’s Super Bowl teams were both coached by retreads.
Fresh blood is a bold move, but very risky for even the best organizations. Since Dano took over the Redskins in 1999, the Redskins have never been accused of being a well oiled machine on the field or especially in the front office. This is not Jack Kent Cooke and Bobby Beathard, but Dano and Vinny.
Usually such a move brings in a bright, young innovative coach, like, Joe Gibbs. Zorn maybe bright but he is not young (55) and the West Coast Offense is now standard not innovative
Let’s hope that Jim Zorn is lucky and good.