Redskins hire offensive consultant

Listening to ESPN980 right now and two really really interesting points were made:

1) If the skins have success, then Sherman Lewis, not Jim Zorn, will get all the credit.

2) - and this one's much more interesting. They replayed the last portion of Cerratos conference call with the media yesterday about the hire. Cerrato was asked what Sherman Lewis had been doing for the past 5 years. Cerrato's answer was something along the lines of "uhhh, i'm not really sure. I know he hasn't been coaching. uhhh, his son's the defensive coordinator at Michigan. Ok, thats it." Now, there are two possibilities which explain Cerratos response.

Possibility 1) Cerrato and Snyder didn't do a lick of due diligence before bringing in Lewis. They wikipedia'd "West Coast Offense" and his name came up, so they called him.

Possibility 2) Getting Lewis wasn't Cerratos idea (and it certainly wasn't Snyders because he's probably never even herad of the guy before). If it wasn't Cerrato's idea, then someone else told him to bring Sherman in. To me, this is almost complete confirmation that Holmgren told Cerrato to bring Sherman in, because Holmgren plans on taking over this team, if not midseason, then at the end of the year.

Possibility 3) Cerrato told Zorn that having a quality control guy on offense would be a good idea. He then asked Zorn who a good choice for the job would be. Zorn said, "Sherman Lewis."

I don't think Fred is/was a mistake. He will eventually produce, I'm waiting for him Kelly and Thomas to also get of their butts. I think they will very soon.

I think regardless of his potential production, here's why I think he was a mistake. What's the best case scenario for his production with a healthy Cooley, 20 catches, 3 TD? That's not 2nd round production. The reason he was a mistake was where he was drafted in relation to other needs we had. We had a pro bowl TE already. I didn't have a problem with drafting Kelly and Thomas in the 2nd, but with that extra 2nd round pick a TE was an extreme luxury for a team with major needs at the time.

Listening to ESPN980 right now and two really really interesting points were made:

1) If the skins have success, then Sherman Lewis, not Jim Zorn, will get all the credit.

2) - and this one's much more interesting. They replayed the last portion of Cerratos conference call with the media yesterday about the hire. Cerrato was asked what Sherman Lewis had been doing for the past 5 years. Cerrato's answer was something along the lines of "uhhh, i'm not really sure. I know he hasn't been coaching. uhhh, his son's the defensive coordinator at Michigan. Ok, thats it." Now, there are two possibilities which explain Cerratos response.

Possibility 1) Cerrato and Snyder didn't do a lick of due diligence before bringing in Lewis. They wikipedia'd "West Coast Offense" and his name came up, so they called him.

Possibility 2) Getting Lewis wasn't Cerratos idea (and it certainly wasn't Snyders because he's probably never even herad of the guy before). If it wasn't Cerrato's idea, then someone else told him to bring Sherman in. To me, this is almost complete confirmation that Holmgren told Cerrato to bring Sherman in, because Holmgren plans on taking over this team, if not midseason, then at the end of the year.

1) Of course he(Lewis) will. It will look like either he(Lewis) fixed the problems that Zorn could not fix or he(Lewis) could not fix what mess Zorn created. In either case Zorn has had 1 full yr to get his feet wet, get to know the talent on the team, know how best to use them, and call the right plays. Now is that enough time ...obviously not for a 1st yr ever HC.

2) If it was Cerrato's idea and his game plan I guarentee you he would have had enough information as to why he did it and what Lewis was doing and how he could help the team. Someone who gets on and muddles his way through a press confrence and can't answer those types of questions certainly didn't come up with the plan and quite possibly doesn't like the plan but is doing it cause his boss wants it that way.

Why can't this "smell" of trying to give Zorn every chance to succeed. If you want to prep for another coach, then you probably bring (my first thought) Holmgren in. And he starts making plans. You want to give Zorn a shot, you bring in a well respected, but out of the business name.
Maybe it's no more than an experienced advisor to guide Zorn in the transition to a SB caliber HC.

I dont think unemployed coaches (like holmgren) would feel comfortable talking about taking over another HC's job while that HC (JZ) is still employed with the team.

Heard an analyst say that if the skins really want to get one of the big coaches for next season they will have to be one of the first teams approaching the big 3 (holmgren, cowher, shannahan). Which means they shouldn't let the decision to fire JZ linger into the offseason.

obviously we are speculating here but imo all signs point to JZ being fired in a few weeks, with sherm taking on the playcalling duties and blache being the HC. this was not a possibility before the hiring of sherm since blache has never called plays. the DS probably wanted to fire zorn after the lions game, vinny and others told him they dont have anyone to call plays, the DS says find a guy who can so when i get my next gut instinct to fire JZ i can.

if zorn gets fired in the next few weeks, its just going to be another typical DS move . . . go i f'in hate what our franchise has turned into.

The Examiner's John Keim caught up with a current NFL GM, who said this:

"My gut feeling is that they will let him come in and be here two to three weeks and if things don't get better, he now knows the offense and the talent and he becomes the playcaller and they name Blache the head coach -- if things don't change."

Or Jason La Canfora, who went on the NFL Network and said this:

"Talking to some people there at Redskins Park, there's no denying that yesterday they had no one on staff who was capable of running that offense on an interim basis if Jim Zorn were to be relieved of his duties mid-season. Now they do. Lewis can be there, study with them, be in the meeting rooms, all that stuff. And if they make a move, that's someone who has called plays and has been a coordinator at the NFL level in the West Coast system."

go skins i suppose . . .

I think regardless of his potential production, here's why I think he was a mistake. What's the best case scenario for his production with a healthy Cooley, 20 catches, 3 TD? That's not 2nd round production. The reason he was a mistake was where he was drafted in relation to other needs we had. We had a pro bowl TE already. I didn't have a problem with drafting Kelly and Thomas in the 2nd, but with that extra 2nd round pick a TE was an extreme luxury for a team with major needs at the time.

True. Maybe in Vinny's eyes he was the best player available at that time.

I think regardless of his potential production, here's why I think he was a mistake. What's the best case scenario for his production with a healthy Cooley, 20 catches, 3 TD? That's not 2nd round production. The reason he was a mistake was where he was drafted in relation to other needs we had. We had a pro bowl TE already. I didn't have a problem with drafting Kelly and Thomas in the 2nd, but with that extra 2nd round pick a TE was an extreme luxury for a team with major needs at the time.

Lest we all for get, Cerrato doesn't pick for what the team needs he picks Best player Available. Which is why we have only a few lineman. and then the one DE we pick up has to be moved to SLB cause that is what our need was and he was the closest thing to it.

I don't man to knock Cerrato too much cause I do like Thomas, Kelly, and Davis but with out decent position coach's we get mediocracy and still with a need to inject life into our O-line.

I'll also say that I keep hearing how the O-line is not giving JC enough time to throw the ball....I think the O-line is. It's far fetched to think the O-line is going to give him 10 sec. or more to get the ball to someone. In most cases the QB only has 3-7 seconds. In most cases. Which is exactly what JC is getting. I think it has more to do with either the route running the WR's are doing, not getting seperation, or JC is actually so nervous back there he's not observing the whole field.

Possibility 3) Cerrato told Zorn that having a quality control guy on offense would be a good idea. He then asked Zorn who a good choice for the job would be. Zorn said, "Sherman Lewis."

Reading Zorn's comments, it's obvious he doesn't like the idea of someone else being here or think its necessary, so i HIGHLY doubt possibility 3.

I dont think unemployed coaches (like holmgren) would feel comfortable talking about taking over another HC's job while that HC (JZ) is still employed with the team.

Heard an analyst say that if the skins really want to get one of the big coaches for next season they will have to be one of the first teams approaching the big 3 (holmgren, cowher, shannahan). Which means they shouldn't let the decision to fire JZ linger into the offseason.

obviously we are speculating here but imo all signs point to JZ being fired in a few weeks, with sherm taking on the playcalling duties and blache being the HC. this was not a possibility before the hiring of sherm since blache has never called plays. the DS probably wanted to fire zorn after the lions game, vinny and others told him they dont have anyone to call plays, the DS says find a guy who can so when i get my next gut instinct to fire JZ i can.

if zorn gets fired in the next few weeks, its just going to be another typical DS move . . . go i f'in hate what our franchise has turned into.

The Examiner's John Keim caught up with a current NFL GM, who said this:

"My gut feeling is that they will let him come in and be here two to three weeks and if things don't get better, he now knows the offense and the talent and he becomes the playcaller and they name Blache the head coach -- if things don't change."

Or Jason La Canfora, who went on the NFL Network and said this:

"Talking to some people there at Redskins Park, there's no denying that yesterday they had no one on staff who was capable of running that offense on an interim basis if Jim Zorn were to be relieved of his duties mid-season. Now they do. Lewis can be there, study with them, be in the meeting rooms, all that stuff. And if they make a move, that's someone who has called plays and has been a coordinator at the NFL level in the West Coast system."

go skins i suppose . . .
I don't see a mid season firing as 'another typical DS move' at all. Let's assume we're 3-4 at the break (losing to Carolina and Philly, beating KC) and still struggling to score. That would be 5-10 over the past 15 games and no positive signs that we're improving. What is accomplished, other than further infuriating your fan base, by letting Zorn coach out the string? He'd obviously be a lame duck and if he's not improving, why not make a change? Now if we're 4-3 and making strides offensively, he will probably play out the season and see what happens.

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Lest we all for get, Cerrato doesn't pick for what the team needs he picks Best player Available. Which is why we have only a few lineman. and then the one DE we pick up has to be moved to SLB cause that is what our need was and he was the closest thing to it.

I don't man to knock Cerrato too much cause I do like Thomas, Kelly, and Davis but with out decent position coach's we get mediocracy and still with a need to inject life into our O-line.

I'll also say that I keep hearing how the O-line is not giving JC enough time to throw the ball....I think the O-line is. It's far fetched to think the O-line is going to give him 10 sec. or more to get the ball to someone. In most cases the QB only has 3-7 seconds. In most cases. Which is exactly what JC is getting. I think it has more to do with either the route running the WR's are doing, not getting seperation, or JC is actually so nervous back there he's not observing the whole field.

I read somewhere yesterday (sorry I can't remember where and provide the link) that one of the problems with JC/our passing game is that his lack of trust in the OL is such that he's moving too quickly thru his progressions (as opposed to the 'he locks onto receivers' criticism) which leads to quick checkdowns and missing open receivers.

I read somewhere yesterday (sorry I can't remember where and provide the link) that one of the problems with JC/our passing game is that his lack of trust in the OL is such that he's moving too quickly thru his progressions (as opposed to the 'he locks onto receivers' criticism) which leads to quick checkdowns and missing open receivers.

that's an interesting point. That first sack/fumble was just as much or more on JC as the o line. He stepped up in the pocket but did so too quickly considering he didn't get rid of it. He could've stayed behind his blockers a second or two longer. I see why Zorn said he should've run it, cause he stepped right into the pressure.