Zorn "probably the worst NFL hire of all time"??

See that's the worst thing about this team. I hate that reputation. I'd rather be something akin to the Pats and Eagles (two teams that I despise) who are known for winning and fiscal responsibility. But whatever.

The other thing that really worries me is that some people (Ross Tucker for one, link in another thread) are saying that Cerrato wanted Zorn because he didn't want his authority challenged by an experienced head coach. IF and that's a big IF, that's true we are screwed.What the Pats and Eagles do (and to a lesser extent the Packers, Titans, Colts, and Chargers) with fiscal responsibility is really just a microchosm of a grander scheme of understanding why teams win, and adjusting their team building properties accordingly.

To be honest, the Skins aren't THAT far off the pace of those teams, and share a lot of the same philosophies. The Skins actually adhere to many principles of fiscal responsibility, and really try to attack the market when it is weakest.

The way we attack the cap is by design, but the plan has gone critically wrong at a few key steps which has prevented this team from getting to the top of the league. Namely, if Lloyd and Archuleta had even a small percentage of a positive effect on the overall on-field talent, those contracts would look great in hindsight. The fact that they were both useless players absoulely backed this team up to the brink of disaster.

Here's the only difference in philosophy between us and New England: When the Pats miss, it's on a second round receiver like Bethel Johnson or Chad Jackson who plays three seasons and then gets cut. When we miss, it costs the team $15 million in cap dollars and triple that in oppertunity costs/draft picks.

Basically, I'm saying the "Redskins way" will work as soon as the team stops missing so badly on a couple of players. Then again, the team is one critical miss away from being so capped out that they have to dismantle the whole thing. Thus...forced to draft smartly.

Then again, the team is one critical miss away from being so capped out that they have to dismantle the whole thing. Thus...forced to draft smartly.

That's kind of like "backing into the playoffs" isn't it? lol. whatever. As long as we can get set up for sustained success (winning seasons, playoffs) I'll be happy.

I've read numerous reports and not said that. Some SPECULATED that but none reported it as fact. I guess it's true...if you tell a lie enough it becomes the truth.

Perception can be reality. Reported as fact, or reported as speculation, that's what was reported. I don't have any inside info, so I'm left looking at this from my limited perspective. Not claiming to be "in the know." That said, what I've posted above is my opinion on why people are so negative towards this move. Take it for what it's worth. I will say this, has anyone seen a single report that DS wasn't impressed with Fassel and decided not to offer him the job? All along it was Fassell, Fassell, Fassell, Fans Pissed Off, ok here's Zorn. Incorrect conclusion perhaps, but that's sure what it looked like from here.

What the Pats and Eagles do (and to a lesser extent the Packers, Titans, Colts, and Chargers) with fiscal responsibility is really just a microchosm of a grander scheme of understanding why teams win, and adjusting their team building properties accordingly.

To be honest, the Skins aren't THAT far off the pace of those teams, and share a lot of the same philosophies. The Skins actually adhere to many principles of fiscal responsibility, and really try to attack the market when it is weakest.

The way we attack the cap is by design, but the plan has gone critically wrong at a few key steps which has prevented this team from getting to the top of the league. Namely, if Lloyd and Archuleta had even a small percentage of a positive effect on the overall on-field talent, those contracts would look great in hindsight. The fact that they were both useless players absoulely backed this team up to the brink of disaster.

Here's the only difference in philosophy between us and New England: When the Pats miss, it's on a second round receiver like Bethel Johnson or Chad Jackson who plays three seasons and then gets cut. When we miss, it costs the team $15 million in cap dollars and triple that in oppertunity costs/draft picks.

Basically, I'm saying the "Redskins way" will work as soon as the team stops missing so badly on a couple of players. Then again, the team is one critical miss away from being so capped out that they have to dismantle the whole thing. Thus...forced to draft smartly.
This jives with my thinking. The way we do things is not the problem. It has been the talent evaluation that has caused problems. If Arch is the player they thought he was then that move looks like a bargain at this point. Same with Lloyd. I actually like the way we approach things except for one fact. We need to start drafting linemen and using FA as the way to add skill. Skill players are pretty hit and miss mostly while linemen, bot defense and offense, are much easier to scout and usually come cheaper. If we start picking linemen with our good picks we'd be in better shape.

I'm just not convinced that the coaching search process would have been widely applauded no matter what happened.

Let's face it, it boils down to they didn't do what we wanted. We wanted GW, and as a result we were going to be upset with just about anything. The fans collectively stomped their feet and pouted when GW wasn't automatically handed the job and everything quickly went downhill from there. GW was never officially anointed as the successor to Gibbs except in the eyes of the fans and some false rumor that he had a contract stipulation.

The continuity thing is so overrated. Yes Snyder spoke of continuity but at the same time look at the staff. Several key coaches are back. What exactly does continuity mean anyway? Does it mean zero turnover? Because that was unlikely to happen no matter who got the job. If GW got the job and let some guys go and brought in some of his guys I doubt we would be hearing about the continuity excuse.


EXCELLENT Post. you summed up my feelings exactly. Redskins Fans are particularly fickle, and I think even if we promoted Williams, a lot of fans would be griping that Snyder DIDN'T go after Cowher or some other big name. As much as my heart wanted GW, now that i've had time to process everything, i think NOT getting GW was a good decision. But I can't say any of the other candidates out there would have made me comfortable with our coaching situation.

Truth be told, Gibbs couldn't have left at a worse time. There were really NO good solid HC candidates out there. Now next year will be another matter entirely. If Gibbs had just stayed one more year, we would have had a much better pool of candidates to select from.

This jives with my thinking. The way we do things is not the problem. It has been the talent evaluation that has caused problems. If Arch is the player they thought he was then that move looks like a bargain at this point. Same with Lloyd. I actually like the way we approach things except for one fact. We need to start drafting linemen and using FA as the way to add skill. Skill players are pretty hit and miss mostly while linemen, bot defense and offense, are much easier to scout and usually come cheaper. If we start picking linemen with our good picks we'd be in better shape.

Well i think we have made progress there. Arch was GW's pick and his alone. Cerrato fought it. Gibbs backed GW and got him what he wanted. Llloyd... that was ALL Gibbs. The D linemen we got in the draft, Blanche undoubtably had alot to do with them... the people responsible for most of the bad personnel decisions this organization has made in recent years are gone. The people responsible for the good ones are still here.

Cerrato will be a good GM. He's a good personnel guy. Sure, he's made some big mistakes... but not recently. I seriously expect all but one or two of our offseason acquisitions (FA and draft) to pan out under his management.

EXCELLENT Post. you summed up my feelings exactly. Redskins Fans are particularly fickle, and I think even if we promoted Williams, a lot of fans would be griping that Snyder DIDN'T go after Cowher or some other big name. As much as my heart wanted GW, now that i've had time to process everything, i think NOT getting GW was a good decision. But I can't say any of the other candidates out there would have made me comfortable with our coaching situation.

Truth be told, Gibbs couldn't have left at a worse time. There were really NO good solid HC candidates out there. Now next year will be another matter entirely. If Gibbs had just stayed one more year, we would have had a much better pool of candidates to select from.

Not only that but I think with the sudden way he left he really put Snyder in a bind. A few weeks earlier it was reported that Snyder was going to offer Gibbs an extension, and I think a lot of us expected him to sign it. At the very least it was expected that he would finish out his 5 year term. His retirement caught everyone off guard and left Snyder scrambling to put together a plan. I'm not trying to blame Gibbs, I think it was a bit of a sudden decision for himself and he probably didn't want to leave Snyder in a difficult situation, but it is what it is.

Only time will tell whether or not he's going to be a good HC. I'd would've rather had Fassel than Zorn. Hiring a HC w/out HC or OC experience is risk. Now we're about to hire a OC that's never even called plays? So we could potentially have a HC and an OC that's never called plays in the NFL?? Sigh...... Sorry but Fassel looks really good right about now.

Andy Reid started out as a Quarterback coach and went straight to being a head coach with the Eagles; ditto with Mooch as well. There is more to being a coach than X's and O's. They have got to be a motivator and make the players respect and want to play for them. In my opinion I think Zorn has those qualities where as Fassel did not. Maybe he will be a bust, maybe he will be a great coach untili the the season starts no one knows.

I for one say give him a chance and lets see what he has.

This guy from FoxSports is arguably worse. He describes two different coaches the same way, with completely opposite opinions on the two.

FOX Sports on MSN - Adam Schein - Putting wacky coach carousel in perspective (http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7786432/Putting-wacky-coach-carousel-in-perspective)

I really don't care what Adam Shein writes about the Redskins...my issue with him is that I have Sirius Satelite Radio and he is by far the worst radio talk show host I have ever heard. His big booming phony radio voice is intollerable, he constantly agrees with his cohost which does not exactly make for interesting discussions and he alwasy pats himself on the back for their endless parade of softball tossing player interviews. Someone needs to tell that blowhard that it's "NFL Radio", which means it isn't that big an accomplishement to get NFL players to pick up the phone! I could go on all night...I can't stomach that blowhard.

I'm very optomistic about Zorn. My only fear is that he goes 7-9 or better and Snyder gives him the axe to go after Cowher next year. Now if we are 4-12 or worse, i would agree with such a move, but this team has way too much talent to be less than 5-11, even under a new regime.