Choose Your 2014 Redskins Head Coach

I understand where the people who believe that the Redskins should keep Mike Shanahan and hire three new coordinators are coming from, I just can't believe that they think it's the best course of action.

In 2009, Shanahan got a full year to watch games impartially and build his staff as he wanted it. He wanted...the head coach of the Florida Tuskers, his son, and whoever was already here running the special teams, because that doesn't matter apparently.

That was what careful design got the Washington Redskins. The idea that forcing Shanahan to fire his handpicked coaching staff and hire from only what is currently available (in this case, he would be picking from names that can not find identical positions elsewhere) would lead to better results seems far-fetched.

And that doesn't even address the issue with the job that Mike Shanahan, specifically, has done. It ignores it.

It seems to me that if Shanahan has exceeded your expectations because of the job he did getting the team to rally in 2012, then Kyle Shanahan (specifically) and Jim Haslett (indirectly) should be getting a ton of the credit too. If you think that Shanahan's assistants are problems that cannot be overcome, the answer that follows from that thought process is to clean house, and get a more complementary staff in here that believes in a common goal.

I understand where the people who believe that the Redskins should keep Mike Shanahan and hire three new coordinators are coming from, I just can't believe that they think it's the best course of action.

In 2009, Shanahan got a full year to watch games impartially and build his staff as he wanted it. He wanted...the head coach of the Florida Tuskers, his son, and whoever was already here running the special teams, because that doesn't matter apparently.

That was what careful design got the Washington Redskins. The idea that forcing Shanahan to fire his handpicked coaching staff and hire from only what is currently available (in this case, he would be picking from names that can not find identical positions elsewhere) would lead to better results seems far-fetched.

And that doesn't even address the issue with the job that Mike Shanahan, specifically, has done. It ignores it.

It seems to me that if Shanahan has exceeded your expectations because of the job he did getting the team to rally in 2012, then Kyle Shanahan (specifically) and Jim Haslett (indirectly) should be getting a ton of the credit too. If you think that Shanahan's assistants are problems that cannot be overcome, the answer that follows from that thought process is to clean house, and get a more complementary staff in here that believes in a common goal.

Just wait till next year if they keep him, spend a lot of money on signing FA's and have a bad season. It will be kill Shanahan, I can't believe we retained him!! Then there's the other side of the coin. I say stay tuned and see what happens, still 6 games to play.

I understand where the people who believe that the Redskins should keep Mike Shanahan and hire three new coordinators are coming from, I just can't believe that they think it's the best course of action.

In 2009, Shanahan got a full year to watch games impartially and build his staff as he wanted it. He wanted...the head coach of the Florida Tuskers, his son, and whoever was already here running the special teams, because that doesn't matter apparently.

That was what careful design got the Washington Redskins. The idea that forcing Shanahan to fire his handpicked coaching staff and hire from only what is currently available (in this case, he would be picking from names that can not find identical positions elsewhere) would lead to better results seems far-fetched.

And that doesn't even address the issue with the job that Mike Shanahan, specifically, has done. It ignores it.

It seems to me that if Shanahan has exceeded your expectations because of the job he did getting the team to rally in 2012, then Kyle Shanahan (specifically) and Jim Haslett (indirectly) should be getting a ton of the credit too. If you think that Shanahan's assistants are problems that cannot be overcome, the answer that follows from that thought process is to clean house, and get a more complementary staff in here that believes in a common goal.

Just for clarity, my remarks above were "what if" only. Personally I'd like to see a fresh face on the sideline next year.

Well, neither Haslett nor Danny Smith were his 1st choice

Just for clarity, my remarks above were "what if" only. Personally I'd like to see a fresh face on the sideline next year.For the record, that is how I read your take re: three new systems. I was responding generally/did not quote you.

I do feel like you did a good job giving voice to the "what if" perspective.

Well, neither Haslett nor Danny Smith were his 1st choiceWho was Shanny's first choice for DC?

Well, neither Haslett nor Danny Smith were his 1st choiceI remember he wanted Zimmer.

Which is fine. The point is that he wouldn't likely get his first choice this time through either.

If we keep MS as coach, we will need a serious coaching staff shakeup. Kyle will have to (and maybe want to) go. I like Kyle and think that he does a good job overall. But our offense cannot remain hostage to Shanahan family bickering.

And of course Haslett and Burns will have to go because their units grossly underperform.

So if we keep MS we still should start 2014 with 3 new systems.

And it begs the questions:

Would Mike be up for starting over with new OC, DC, and ST coaches?
Would any quality coaches want to work with Mike?

I think OC/DC candidates could look at it like an interview for possible HC in 2015. But I also have long suspected not a lot of guys want to work with Mike. Why else have we been stuck with Haslett all this time while so many fantastic 3-4 DCs came available? Same could be said for ST and even OC.

Watching Rob Ryan work miracles with the Saints D (bottom of the league last season) just one season into the 3-4 hybrid makes you ask so many questions about the Redskins.

Watching Rob Ryan work miracles with the Saints D (bottom of the league last season) just one season into the 3-4 hybrid makes you ask so many questions about the Redskins.

Even if we have the DC of all time this defense would still suck. Not sticking up for Haslett, just this defense lacks talent at key positions.