Kudos to Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato

I've always been a huge fan of stability in personnel and primarily building depth through the draft. I'm very pleased that we traded out of the first round, yet still got what we felt was 1st round talent. If our O-line stays healthy, I'm excited about all the weapons we have to pressure opposing defenses. This offseason may lack sizzle, but its substance will be measurable, especially in terms of giving Campbell tools to lead our franchise to the next level.

IMO, it's what they didn't have happen to them... a head coaching change.

I agree with the premise of this thread, that the Skins had a good offseason. But that was in light of making the best of a bad situation: the best coach this team has ever had just retired.

I cannot see how Gibbs retiring can result in a better record for us next season. I just can't. It would make no sense.

Now give Zorn a year and if he's any good, he might have an Andy Reid or Mike Holmgren offense up and running around here. Assuming the defense stays solid, we may be in a better place in 2009. But for 2008, you have to figure the learning curve will hurt us.

We had a good offseason because we made very level-headed moves and made a smart coaching hire. But even the best coaches USUALLY need some time for the learning curve. I think we're in for a basement finish this season. I'm just looking for signs that we'll do real well in 2009.

That said, I'm still praying that Zorn ends up like Sean Payton circa 2006.

From a leadership perspective I agree, but from an offensive point of view I can easily see us being much better. And isn't that what always seemed to hold the team back under Gibbs?

IMO, it's what they didn't have happen to them... a head coaching change.

I agree with the premise of this thread, that the Skins had a good offseason. But that was in light of making the best of a bad situation: the best coach this team has ever had just retired.

I cannot see how Gibbs retiring can result in a better record for us next season. I just can't. It would make no sense.

Now give Zorn a year and if he's any good, he might have an Andy Reid or Mike Holmgren offense up and running around here. Assuming the defense stays solid, we may be in a better place in 2009. But for 2008, you have to figure the learning curve will hurt us.

We had a good offseason because we made very level-headed moves and made a smart coaching hire. But even the best coaches USUALLY need some time for the learning curve. I think we're in for a basement finish this season. I'm just looking for signs that we'll do real well in 2009.

That said, I'm still praying that Zorn ends up like Sean Payton circa 2006.


But Schneed, consider how many head coaching changes there have been after a "successful" season. Most head coaching changes are as a result of management fed up with the results of the previous coaching staff. Gibbs retired with the blessings of the owner, remnant coaching staff and the players, relatively speaking. We're not just some team in turmoil that is turning to Zorn to right the ship. This ship just completed her fairly successful maiden voyage after being dry-docked for a few years. [What's with the naval references?]
We lost two obviously critical pieces: the DC and the OC. As far as the OC position goes, Zorn himself will be calling the plays, I think, so not much of a conflict there. Blache may not be the genius that our other guy was but he does have previous DC experience (#1 in points alllowed in 2001), plus he's familiar with the current players.

I know it's a half-full way of looking at it but I don't think Zorn is here to correct a screwed up situation as is the case for most head coaching changes. He's here to not screw up an already good thing, which is a bit easier.

Slingin Sammy 33:

I'll pass on the Kool Aid if you don't mind. LOL

So, I offer congratuations. If people want to think that I'm only offering congratuations because the FO didn't sh*t the bed, you are free to think that. I think this has been the best off-season performance by the Redskins since Daniel Snyder bought the team.
I agree with you, and as I stated before, good thread & good posts by you.

Norv Turner was handed a playoff team last year and he did farely well with them. From an offensive perspective, I definitely see the passing game becoming respectable. I mean, a defense won't be able to just cover Moss and Cooley and look for Portis in the backfield.

But Schneed, consider how many head coaching changes there have been after a "successful" season. Most head coaching changes are as a result of management fed up with the results of the previous coaching staff. Gibbs retired with the blessings of the owner, remnant coaching staff and the players, relatively speaking. We're not just some team in turmoil that is turning to Zorn to right the ship. This ship just completed her fairly successful maiden voyage after being dry-docked for a few years. [What's with the naval references?]
We lost two obviously critical pieces: the DC and the OC. As far as the OC position goes, Zorn himself will be calling the plays, I think, so not much of a conflict there. Blache may not be the genius that our other guy was but he does have previous DC experience (#1 in points alllowed in 2001), plus he's familiar with the current players.

I know it's a half-full way of looking at it but I don't think Zorn is here to correct a screwed up situation as is the case for most head coaching changes. He's here to not screw up an already good thing, which is a bit easier.
Great point.. 3 of the more 'questionable' hires last offseason were Wade Phillips, Norv Turner (and talk about a screwed up process) and Mike Tomlin0a first time HC with less coaching experience than Zorn. How did that work out for all of them?

I've worn out the keys on my keyboard with this statement, but Zorn is taking over a team with 22 returning starters, changing only the passing game, returning 90% of the coaching staff and have players in key positions that are solid or on the rise. Of our key playmakers, an argument can be made that only Springs, Fletcher and maybe Moss are on the decline. I don't see the reasons for such pessimism.

Where did this idea come from that a playoff team getting a new coach starts over from square one?! Last year two coaches inherited playoff teams: Wade Phillips and Norv Turner. Phillips significantly improved the regular season performance of the team while equaling his predecessor's playoff record, while Turner, after a rocky transition, took this group of Chargers players to their first two playoff victories and a narrow one score championship game loss to the undefeated Patriots. Additionally, Mike Tomlin took over a playoff caliber roster and brought home a division championship.

So I don't agree that a new coach inheriting a completely intact playoff roster necessarily equals a regression. In fact, recent history suggests the contrary.

I believe Paintrain and I are thinking the same way about this.

I'm really not trying to downgrade the credentials of Blache as much as trying to make a point about GW.

Did a little more research:

1999 29th ranked D
2000 16th
2001 15th
2002 25th

Great points, and yes GW has had higher ranked defenses than GB. But that's the thing about stats, they don't tell the whole story. Let's take 2001 for example. The Bears had the 2nd ranked run defense in the NFL, allowed only three rushes of 20 yards or more all season, and had the top-ranked scoring defense in the league (12.7 points a game). Just trying to be balanced....

Where did this idea come from that a playoff team getting a new coach starts over from square one?! Last year two coaches inherited playoff teams: Wade Phillips and Norv Turner. Phillips significantly improved the regular season performance of the team while equaling his predecessor's playoff record, while Turner, after a rocky transition, took this group of Chargers players to their first two playoff victories and a narrow one score championship game loss to the undefeated Patriots. Additionally, Mike Tomlin took over a playoff caliber roster and brought home a division championship.

So I don't agree that a new coach inheriting a completely intact playoff roster necessarily equals a regression. In fact, recent history suggests the contrary.

I think the issue with Zorn is his experience level, the three coaches you mentioned had been coordinators before and Turner and Phillips had been head coaches at multiple stops. I don't mean to be pessimistic, but rather realistic. We all saw what happened when Saunders first installed his offense, there are going to be hiccups.