Good article by Wilbon

Michael Wilbon - Zorn, Redskins Shouldn't Panic Over a False Start - washingtonpost.com (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503169.html)

I agree with Wilbon on this one. He took the blame like a man. This is a team with 8-8 talent.
Atlanta grossly underachieved last year with arguably the worst NFL coach in decades and no quality starting QB.
Baltimore still has a top 3 defense that imposes it's will on other teams and a young aggressive offensive line.
Miami is very impressive and the new coaching staff is doing a great job but they are they only team of the four that really are playing beyond their skill level.

Wilbon got it 100% right on this. We're neither as good as we thought at 6-2 nor as bad as we think at 7-7. This is no time to panic. It's time to make some solid off-season decisions to build up the good and mitigate against the bad, not time to blow up rosters or fire coaches.

That 6-2 start raised our expectations to unreasonable levels. I understand everyone was hyped up after beating Philly and Dallas, and that was a nice achievement, BUT we have to keep the big picture in mind. We have a rookie head coach who has never even been a coordinator in this league. We have a QB learning another new system. And we have had only had one offseason to bring in players that fit with what Zorn wants to do. You can't build a winner overnight. We have to have some patience, more importantly I hope Snyder has the patience to stick by Zorn for at least another year. If he's a disaster next year it's time to move on.

Once this year passes, and history is looked at, what greater feat could have been achieved than the Skins forever beating Dallas in the last Skins Boys game in Texas Stadium.

HTTR

If Zorn has lost the support of the majority of the players, then he may have to go. If he goes, I won't blame him for anything. I say that because all he did was to take advantage of his chance to be a HC when it was offered to him.

In my opinion, any blame would rightfully fall on Dan Snyder and Vinnie Cerrato for hiring someone who was not fully qualified to be an NFL HC.

If Bill Cowher is available in 2009 then I hope that Dan Snyder will correct his mistake and throw enough money and power at Cowher to hire him. I say this not only because I feel that he would be much more successful than Zorn but also because I HATE the WCO and a passive defense.

I must admit that I'm unconcerned about fairness to Jim Zorn - I just want to see the Skins win another Super Bowl before I die.

I have to second guess Zorn's aquisition judgement. The Shawn Alexander signing, Placemeier, we may wind up with a bunch of Seattle garbage players is my fear.

I have to second guess Zorn's aquisition judgement. The Shawn Alexander signing, Placemeier, we may wind up with a bunch of Seattle garbage players is my fear.
What's to question about these moves. Especially Alexander? He knew the system already -- and we had an injured RB, and he's a few years removed from a league MVP. We needed a running back for a short time, we got one that needed no transition into the offense, and luckily didn't have to play much.

Placemeier was somewhat necessary. Brooks wasn't getting it done.

I have to second guess Zorn's aquisition judgement. The Shawn Alexander signing, Placemeier, we may wind up with a bunch of Seattle garbage players is my fear.


Those were all stop gap moves, nothing long term. Nothing to be concerned about. When in a pinch coaches always look to players they are familiar with.

If Zorn has lost the support of the majority of the players, then he may have to go. If he goes, I won't blame him for anything. I say that because all he did was to take advantage of his chance to be a HC when it was offered to him.
How could anyone blame him??? Even if he has lost the support of the players, this would be the right time for Snyder to come out and say forcefully, that JZ is our coach and the team will be his going forward. Thats what you do with a first year HC
In my opinion, any blame would rightfully fall on Dan Snyder and Vinnie Cerrato for hiring someone who was not fully qualified to be an NFL HC.
So Jack Kent Cooke was to blame for bringing in an unqualifed HC who went 8-8. Joe Gibbs retired. The re-treads available looked awful. Danny took a chance. no blame there.
If Bill Cowher is available in 2009 then I hope that Dan Snyder will correct his mistake and throw enough money and power at Cowher to hire him.
WOW WHAT A MISTAKE THAT WOULD BE. Cowher will not come back with a "fire in the belly" and would be a terrible fit with the Redskins. I am sure a lot of people disagree, but, put me on the record as saying Cowhers success was due as much to the patience of an owner who trusted the man he put in charge, as Cowher's own ability. Snyder needs to demonstrate that now with JZ, not by going and getting a "superstar" head coach.
I say this not only because I feel that he would be much more successful than Zorn but also because I HATE the WCO and a passive defense.

I must admit that I'm unconcerned about fairness to Jim Zorn - I just want to see the Skins win another Super Bowl before I die.
Again, Cowher had 1!!!! SB win in 15 years. Yes he was a good to above average coach, but again, he had 15 CONSECUTIVE years before he won a SB, how about we give JZ 3?

I hate the cowher love, or the anybody but who we have love- it is the essence of what made Snyder a bad owner in the beginning:
Look at the Giants D, how many ex Skins are on it, but we had to have a star
Look at the backup qbs in the league, how many are ex Skins.
Football, and winning football, is developed through PATIENCE, finding talent, and growth of that talent.

I am sick of the constant tumult of the Skins, I too want to see multiple SB championships come to DC, but the way to do that is NOT by seeking the latest/greatest, but by working with and growing the talent we have.
thanks for listening to my :rant: I really needed to vent all this.