Zorn Will Still "Do it All" in 2009

Plenty of WCO coaches do it all, i'm cool with that, he showed during the 1st half of the season that he is a good offense mind. But unlike other WCO coaches Zorn lacks a knowledgeable and experienced WCO staff to lean on..
HC-OC-QB coach + Staff

Holmgren had Gil Haskell and Zorn + WCO staff
Reid has Morningwig and Pat Shurmur + WCO staff
McCarthy has Philbin and Tom Clements + WCO staff
Shanahan had Rick Dennison and Jeremy bates + WCO staff

Zorn has Sherman Smith a 1st time OC who is learning the WCO and NO QB COACH (Chris Meidt offensive assistants helps fill the QB coach role a 1st time NFL assistant a former Div.III HC) + 1 Staffer Stump Mitchell that knows the WCO

Let's clarify a bit as to what he said exactly regarding scheme:

"I'm not coming up with a whole new scheme on offense because we didn't score points. I'm talking about looking at our schemes, building on our strengths and trying to improve or close the gaps on our weaknesses."

So let's see ... look at their schemes, build on their strengths, improve on their weaknesses.

That doesn't really clarify anything for me. If anything, that reinforces what he's been saying all along -- he's not changing a damn thing.

I agree that the line should be held accountable a little... but to me, the West Coast Offense is supposed to be a 3-5-7 step drop, then get rid of the ball kind of offense.

Many times, Campbell would plant and hold or pump fake, being afraid to throw into SINGLE coverage if he thought it was tight. My assumption is that Zorn drilled into him from day one "do NOT turn the ball over"... which is GREAT and understandable...

But look at the whole equation and you also see our receiving core as:

* One short,above-average receiver who was doubled for the MAJORITY of the season (Moss)

* One short receiver who really isn't a "receiver" that runs crisp routes, escapes jams, and is finding holes in the D (Randel El)

* 2 completely unreliable (to HC & QB), yet "tall", young receivers who are just NOT understanding that being an NFL receiver isn't just "run and catch" and that there is a massive playbook that involves READING in order to truly be effective and trustworthy. Obviously, Zorn didn't trust them to run routes effectively, and Campbell didn't, at the end, trust that they's CATCH the ball. (If you heard the broadcast Sunday the announcer mentions on one play that D Thomas had one-on-one coverage deep and Campbell looked off of him and threw the ball away)

* and... one great receiving TE that was focused on & surrounded every play once down inside the opponent's 30 yd line.

So to me, I think that you add Campbell's desperately NOt wanting to throw INTS + Receivers not being "clearly" open, and there is half of the sacks this season.

Eventually though, Campbell started to learn to just pack it in and take off, which is one good lesson that came out of it all for next year.


Also..

I think our running game suffered at the end because teams figured out that they didn't have to worry about the deep pass as most of Zorns plays call for 6-9 yd routes, and that Campbell was hesitant to "throw one up", so safeties were up, linebackers weren't pressed into coverage (as you saw other teams do to us), etc... If we had a passing offense (that included stretching the field), the run game would come back

Good post. And to add to your last statement, Trent Dilfer on Colin Cowherd's show said that a power running game and short passing attacks do not mix. Dilfer said they tried that in Tampa Bay, and it does not work. Makes sense. If the D is geared up to stop the run, and you have nothing but short pass patterns under 10 yards, most everyone on defense is already in that area to begin with and the receivers get decked as soon as the ball reaches them.

To me he's saying he's going to build on what they've got, but he's confident in the core system. I can't say I disagree, I don't think we need drastic changes. Let's try a wacky idea and try to keep some continuity going not only in the players and coaches, but also the systems.

To me he's saying he's going to build on what they've got, but he's confident in the core system. I can't say I disagree, I don't think we need drastic changes. Let's try a wacky idea and try to keep some continuity going not only in the players and coaches, but also the systems.

So we keep the players, coaches, scheme ... everything. Then hope that with more time reading the playbook, then we'll start seeing more yardage and more points?

Sounds like doing the same exact thing, and expecting different results.

I agree that the line should be held accountable a little... but to me, the West Coast Offense is supposed to be a 3-5-7 step drop, then get rid of the ball kind of offense.

Many times, Campbell would plant and hold or pump fake, being afraid to throw into SINGLE coverage if he thought it was tight. My assumption is that Zorn drilled into him from day one "do NOT turn the ball over"... which is GREAT and understandable...

But look at the whole equation and you also see our receiving core as:

* One short,above-average receiver who was doubled for the MAJORITY of the season (Moss)

* One short receiver who really isn't a "receiver" that runs crisp routes, escapes jams, and is finding holes in the D (Randel El)

* 2 completely unreliable (to HC & QB), yet "tall", young receivers who are just NOT understanding that being an NFL receiver isn't just "run and catch" and that there is a massive playbook that involves READING in order to truly be effective and trustworthy. Obviously, Zorn didn't trust them to run routes effectively, and Campbell didn't, at the end, trust that they's CATCH the ball. (If you heard the broadcast Sunday the announcer mentions on one play that D Thomas had one-on-one coverage deep and Campbell looked off of him and threw the ball away)

* and... one great receiving TE that was focused on & surrounded every play once down inside the opponent's 30 yd line.

So to me, I think that you add Campbell's desperately NOt wanting to throw INTS + Receivers not being "clearly" open, and there is half of the sacks this season.

Eventually though, Campbell started to learn to just pack it in and take off, which is one good lesson that came out of it all for next year.


Also..

I think our running game suffered at the end because teams figured out that they didn't have to worry about the deep pass as most of Zorns plays call for 6-9 yd routes, and that Campbell was hesitant to "throw one up", so safeties were up, linebackers weren't pressed into coverage (as you saw other teams do to us), etc... If we had a passing offense (that included stretching the field), the run game would come back

Good post. I think people mistakenly associate the flailing offense w/ our perceived lack of commitment to the ground-game. Like you've pointed out defenses keyed more and more on our backfield because the air attack fell apart and they didn't have to play us honest. Develop the air attack and Portis starts to break open long runs again (as opposed to gaining 4 or 5 yards on pure grit and toughness).

So we keep the players, coaches, scheme ... everything. Then hope that with more time reading the playbook, then we'll start seeing more yardage and more points?

Sounds like doing the same exact thing, and expecting different results.

Well if there's one thing that hasn't worked here under Snyder, it's the constant changing of the parts and pieces.

Of course there will be some changes in personnel, adjustments to the offense, and perhaps some coaching changes, but all in all I don't think shaking things up as some suggest doing is going to accomplish much other than to keep us spinning our wheels.

Well if there's one thing that hasn't worked here under Snyder, it's the constant changing of the parts and pieces.

Of course there will be some changes in personnel, adjustments to the offense, and perhaps some coaching changes, but all in all I don't think shaking things up as some suggest doing is going to accomplish much other than to keep us spinning our wheels.

No doubt. Tweaks here and there are always necessary, but constant overhaul is a recipe for mediocrity or worse.

Well if there's one thing that hasn't worked here under Snyder, it's the constant changing of the parts and pieces.

Of course there will be some changes in personnel, adjustments to the offense, and perhaps some coaching changes, but all in all I don't think shaking things up as some suggest doing is going to accomplish much other than to keep us spinning our wheels.

The Redskins dont need to shake up the coaching staff but there are too many players that are way too comfortable on this team. I have no problem shaking up the players because they need it.

The Redskins dont need to shake up the coaching staff but there are too many players that are way too comfortable on this team. I have no problem shaking up the players because they need it.

I agree with you there, we need to get more young players who are hungry.