Redskins should pursue Russ Grimm:

Russ Grimm will be off the coaching market this year. If we really want to setup a stable and successful franchise, we need to start at the top. Rarely does a team have the chance to bring back a legend of a player as a coach, who has already had a fruitful coaching career as a high profile assistant. The problem is that I doubt we can get a coach of this caliber once Gibbs decides to hang it up. We can promote Williams, which personally, I'm in favor of -- but with the recent slump in the defense he wouldn't be a popular hire.

There's one thing in our way right now. We already have a head coach, and while his coaching has shown up as mediocre at best the last three years, he's too popular to fire and Snyder is infatuated with him.

My thought is this, pursue Grimm, see what it would take to hire him as our head coach right now. There are no problems with interviewing a candidate. All of this with Joe Gibbs knowing. If Gibbs wants this franchise to continue, it's time for him to hand the reigns over to Grimm who could be a stable and longtime coaching force here. However, I don't want Gibbs to step down, I want him to be given one of those assistant head coach positions. This would help Grimm get adjusted to head coaching and have someone who has seen it all to fall back on, ask questions, and learn from.

I simply don't see the Redskins able to get a head coach like Grimm once Gibbs decides he's done. Grimm will be a head coach this off-season, and I'd prefer we have him instead of any other team. Curious what you guys think.

While I do not agree with Joe2 handing over anything (unless it is his idea), I would love to see Grimm back in DC with...............some job until Joe hangs it up
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While I like the thought, you're out of your mind if you think Gibbs would take a step back to being an assistant. Even if he were just a figurehead and Grimm were the actual head coach, the title would stay with Joe. Also, who's to say that Grimm wants guys like Saunders and Williams coaching under him? That's the biggest problem I have. The idea that it could mean a whole lot more turnover in coaching staff.

While I won't argue that this group has been little better than mediocre (maybe better) I will argue that they need more time. I think Joe should get the five years he signed that contract for. He should get the opportunity to try to turn this thing around. I hope they only do some minor tweaking this offseason, not the typical "Redskins approach" to the offseason.

So, I guess I'm against the idea. Now, if this were next year and we were having this discussion after another losing season, I might be in favor it, just not at this point. I do understand your concern about not having the opportunity next year, I think that's a chance the Redskins are just going to have to take.

Grimm isn't going to take anything but a head coaching job, he's the future of a franchise. Unfortunately, not ours.

Don't misunderstand me; I'm not saying that I think this will happen, or even that it's half way possible. Personally, I think we should pursue him, but we won't.

My question to you jdlea, is giving a coach five years to clean up an organization is unheard of now days. Three years is being relatively patient. I think if we have another season such as this one, it's time to show Gibbs the door.

It would be nice to have him back in the fold but I don't see any plausible possibility. Gibbs wouldn't step aside and I don't see Snyder interviewing anyone as long as Gibbs is under contract.

I love Grimm. And have wanted him to be on this staff and the heir apparent for years now. But I just don't see him coming here. And, like jdlea says, it wouldn't necessarily be a case of just adding him to the staff. It could mean a complete overhaul. Plus, maybe after this Gibbs era is done we need a total break from that all. Just to better manage expectations.

You also have to figure that while I would love to have him back, he is unproven as a head coach, and still a substancial risk.

I like Grimms but who's to say that he will be successful as a head coach. There have been alot of assitant coaches which have fallen flat on their face when becoming a head coach (Williams & Saunders to mention two). Its one thing to coach a group of guys and another to run a team. Some people are very good and others while they may have the talent just don't know how to translate that into a head coaching job. I would think Grimm would be successful but no one really knows until he is given a chance. Are we ready to clear the slate and start from ground zero which is what we would be doing. Head coaches tend to want their hand picked coaches around them and I would think he would make changes to meet his needs not the needs that Gibbs had.

I would rather gibbs step down as of now and let williams take the spot than grimm come in. I don't want to build up again. I don't want to hire outside coaches again. We have a lot o coaching talent on the team. I want nothing more than gibbs to come back with saunders and williams below him. There should be some changes among the other coaches but I would like to continue what we have here.

If Grimm were to come in with a different mindset and doesn't like saunders and williams we will have more problems. Also our team is full of people with big egos and it would be the slap in the face of GW if someone from the outside comes to take a job that was promised to him. He gets 1 million or something if he isn't the next coach right? I can see williams trying to get out of here if this were to happen. That would cause more problems. I am looking for some continuity