What must Jim Zorn accomplish this season to keep his job?

The primary reason I'm thinking about this is because there are four big-time former NFL coaches who will probably be looking to return to coaching next season and I don't think you-know-who can resist hiring a big-name Head Coach. The coaches to whom I'm referring are Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, and Mike Shanahan.

To try to answer my own question, I think that, at a minimum, Jim Zorn will need to take this team to the playoffs to keep his job. But that might not be enough. If we back into the playoffs as a wildcard and lose in the first round, I think that Zorn may still lose his job.

I'm suggesting that, with people who Dan Snyder will undoubtedly view as better coaches available, that the bar may be set unrealistically high for Jim Zorn this season.

Other than Zorn guiding the Skins to the second round of the playoffs, there is one other faint hope for DS retaining Zorn and thus maintaining continuity. That is, Snyder could hire Mike Holmgren in an executive capacity to oversee both Vinny and Jim Zorn and to serve as a close advisor to both of them. That might even work.

I really don't want any of those four coaches here, and SFRedskins had said that San Fran was looking at Holmgren. Unless Zorn just fails completely this year, meaning primarily unable to adapt through the season, then I would want him to get at least this year and next.

I really don't want any of those four coaches here, and SFRedskins had said that San Fran was looking at Holmgren. Unless Zorn just fails completely this year, meaning primarily unable to adapt through the season, then I would want him to get at least this year and next.

I agree with you but I fear that Dan Snyder may lack the patience to stick with Zorn when there are big-name coaches available.

Don't forget about Russ Grimm!

And I've said this before and I'll say it again................For Zorn to be successfull has to learn how to run the football and protect his quarterback. I know he was a quarterback at one time, but he should know that throwing the ball every time doesn't work. It never has. And if you are going to throw the ball he should know that the wide recievers need a few seconds to get open. So................you have to give Jason those few seconds. If you don't, then your system sucks and you should watch games on TV.

I agree with you but I fear that Dan Snyder may lack the patience to stick with Zorn when there are big-name coaches available.

Well, I suppose I ought to just agree to disagree now, before we have a long re-hash of the FO. But, dang it the urge is just primal.
3 comments/questions:

Can you show an example that backs up your fear? Every coach that has been fired, has been for cause, except Marty possibly.

When DS hired Zorn, he had to know that the guy had never even been an OC, and would need time to grow into the role.

a lot of naysayers that make the comment about DS firing Zorn, also seem to say that no big name coach will come here. (KI I don't know if you had held both those positions, but it seems to me that that is the typical line of people who generally dislike the FO). If the big 4 would not come here anyway, why would we not keep JZ.

The primary reason I'm thinking about this is because there are four big-time former NFL coaches who will probably be looking to return to coaching next season and I don't think you-know-who can resist hiring a big-name Head Coach. The coaches to whom I'm referring are Bill Cowher, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren, and Mike Shanahan.

To try to answer my own question, I think that, at a minimum, Jim Zorn will need to take this team to the playoffs to keep his job. But that might not be enough. If we back into the playoffs as a wildcard and lose in the first round, I think that Zorn may still lose his job.

I'm suggesting that, with people who Dan Snyder will undoubtedly view as better coaches available, that the bar may be set unrealistically high for Jim Zorn this season.

Other than Zorn guiding the Skins to the second round of the playoffs, there is one other faint hope for DS retaining Zorn and thus maintaining continuity. That is, Snyder could hire Mike Holmgren in an executive capacity to oversee both Vinny and Jim Zorn and to serve as a close advisor to both of them. That might even work.

Can people PLEASE stop the Cowher talk??? He's not going to coach here. This man worked for the Rooney's who have one of the best operations going in the NFL. Why would he come and work for Snyder? As for the other guys the only one I could see coming here is Gruden. For the sake of continuity I hope Zorn doesn't get fired, regardless of how the season turns out.

I say at least give the guy 3 years, according to management he doesn't even have a franchise QB that topped with being a new coach should earn him at least 3 years as long as there is improvement on the previous year. I like Zorn and you have to admire a guy who would take on a D Snyder ran team for his first head coaching gig.

No matter what happens, if Zorn is fired after this season the FO is more screwed-up than we think it is.

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a lot of naysayers that make the comment about DS firing Zorn, also seem to say that no big name coach will come here. (KI I don't know if you had held both those positions, but it seems to me that that is the typical line of people who generally dislike the FO). If the big 4 would not come here anyway, why would we not keep JZ.

for an example of the above, please see next post in thread! LOL

Can people PLEASE stop the Cowher talk??? He's not going to coach here. This man worked for the Rooney's who have one of the best operations going in the NFL. Why would he come and work for Snyder? As for the other guys the only one I could see coming here is Gruden. For the sake of continuity I hope Zorn doesn't get fired, regardless of how the season turns out.

Well, I suppose I ought to just agree to disagree now, before we have a long re-hash of the FO. But, dang it the urge is just primal.
3 comments/questions:

Can you show an example that backs up your fear? Every coach that has been fired, has been for cause, except Marty possibly.

When DS hired Zorn, he had to know that the guy had never even been an OC, and would need time to grow into the role.

a lot of naysayers that make the comment about DS firing Zorn, also seem to say that no big name coach will come here. (KI I don't know if you had held both those positions, but it seems to me that that is the typical line of people who generally dislike the FO). If the big 4 would not come here anyway, why would we not keep JZ.

I think that DS was rash in firing both Norv and Marty because he wanted a coach that he found more appealing (Marty and then Spurrier).

Norv took the team to the playoffs the year before he was fired when the Skins hosted a wildcard game and lost by only 1 point in the 2nd round. The year he was fired, the Skins lost a lot of close ones.

After making many changes, Marty took the team to an 8-8 record with Tony Banks at QB. The team was clearly on the upswing, but DS was in love with Spurrier.

I'm not a compulsive FO basher. I think Vinny and his staff are capable. I dislike the way in which DS appears to insert himself into personnel decisions.