Redskins promote Greg Manusky to defensive coordinator

The internal promotions to OC and DC don't bother me very much. There is something about continuity that appeals to me. There are few NFL teams who couldn't find "better" coaches than the ones they already have as evaluated on a stand-alone basis; however, any newly-hired coaches might not mesh well with the HC or all of the hold-over coaches. So, we'll see what happens.

As for whether or not Jay's and Scot's respective contributions warrant long-term contracts for each of them, that is apparently yet to be determined by top management. I'm not overly concerned about their contracts because the NFL is a "What have you done for me lately?" league and I accept that as fact.

Nevertheless, I also think that the team has made good progress under Scot and Jay. So, in the interest of giving the football side of the business a chance to mature into an organization that can eventually produce a perennial contender, I'd like to see both Scot and Jay retained for at least two more seasons, even if Dan Snyder's appraisal of each of them is that they did "good" but not "great" jobs. Poor performance, of course, would be unacceptable.

Redskins HC's under Dan Snyder

22 Norv Turner 1999–2000 (coach since 94 - Snyder bought the team in 99)
23 Terry Robiskie [h] 2000
24 Marty Schottenheimer 2001
25 Steve Spurrier 2002–2003
– Joe Gibbs 2004–2007
26 Jim Zorn 2008–2009
27 Mike Shanahan 2010–2013
28 Jay Gruden

From Spurrier to Shanahan, who did you want DS to keep longer?

Yeah exactly. It's well documented that we should have found a way to work it out with Schottenheimer. But after that, we made the right moves at the right time.

Every owner in the league would have zipped Spurrier at that point, Gibbs retired on his own accord, every owner in the league would have zipped Zorn at that point given that we had a decent team when Gibbs left and Zorn took it in the wrong direction, and Shanny ran himself out of town.

Since Schottenheimer, Snyder's handling of coaches has been exactly what every other owner would do in the same situation.

Now, Snyder's actions under the Cerrato front office certainly undermined some of those coaches. We can pin that on him for sure. But he has since nicely put that to bed, as well with the McCloughan hire.

It took forever but he's finally behaving like an owner who knows how to set up organizational hierarchy and process.

Redskins HC's under Dan Snyder

22 Norv Turner 1999–2000 (coach since 94 - Snyder bought the team in 99)
23 Terry Robiskie [h] 2000
24 Marty Schottenheimer 2001
25 Steve Spurrier 2002–2003
– Joe Gibbs 2004–2007
26 Jim Zorn 2008–2009
27 Mike Shanahan 2010–2013
28 Jay Gruden

From Spurrier to Shanahan, who did you want DS to keep longer?

I'm not talking from my personal opinion necessarily, but I think you could make an argument that he shouldn't have cut short Schottenheimer, Shanahan, and Greg Williams (promised HC position; had rug pulled out from under him).

Williams was never promised anything. If Gibbs had recommended that Williams take over you can be sure Snyder would have hired him, but he didn't.

Redskins HC's under Dan Snyder

22 Norv Turner 1999–2000 (coach since 94 - Snyder bought the team in 99)
23 Terry Robiskie [h] 2000
24 Marty Schottenheimer 2001
25 Steve Spurrier 2002–2003
– Joe Gibbs 2004–2007
26 Jim Zorn 2008–2009
27 Mike Shanahan 2010–2013
28 Jay Gruden

From Spurrier to Shanahan, who did you want DS to keep longer?

No question, Marty Schottenheimer.

It's not an argument of whether or not Dan Snyder made the right firings. It's simply the fact that by year four, a coach either gets extended or gets fired. And he's usually considered in the hot seat (or warm seat) if the team has shown no signs of improvement from year two to three. It's subjective if we think the Redskins shown improvement from 2015. You can say they did improve, because the offense was consistently good throughout the season, where as they struggled in the first part of the 2015 season. However, when it came to wins and losses in 2016, no improvement. And that's what means the most.

So, having said that, rightfully so, Jay Gruden is going to be, at least, on the warm seat going into 2017. It can cool off pretty quickly if the Redskins can get to a fast start, but should the 'skins end 2017 with 8 or 9 wins, I don't think that is enough to have Gruden back for a 5th year. And if that's the case, his coaching staff is probably shown the door as well. And, I don't believe it's going to be because the offense regresses. All eyes are going to be one the defense, and again, as a defensive coordinator, while Jay Gruden might be the one getting the brunt of the blame, all eyes are on you to make the defense at least slightly better. The sentiment is that the defense is what's holding this team back from being contenders.

And that's why I feel these defensive coordinator candidates were probably thinking twice about coming here. That's a lot of pressure. There's not a lot of talent (from what they feel), and it's probably a tough situation. Even Gruden turns out to be completely safe with his job, who's to say that a very rough outing with the defense doesn't get Manusky fired and yet another guy coming in next year? I just believe in the end, the Redskins didn't have a choice but to promote from within. And who knows, that may turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened for the Redskins. I'm a bit skeptical though, but I'm rooting for Greg Manusky.

Hey, bright side, at least we did get a Greg to run the defense! ;)

Redskins HC's under Dan Snyder

22 Norv Turner 1999–2000 (coach since 94 - Snyder bought the team in 99)
23 Terry Robiskie [h] 2000
24 Marty Schottenheimer 2001
25 Steve Spurrier 2002–2003
– Joe Gibbs 2004–2007
26 Jim Zorn 2008–2009
27 Mike Shanahan 2010–2013
28 Jay Gruden

From Spurrier to Shanahan, who did you want DS to keep longer?

I am in the camp that thinks we should extend Gruden. I realize he still has clock management issues, but he is definitely growing in the role.

I really believe if we had done more for the defense last off season (FA or Draft), we could have managed another year of playoffs.

Win or Lose, we are in just about every game and it wasn't always that way.

So, if we improve the defense (it won't be hard compared to last year) and improve the run game a bit, I think we start winning more of those close ones and actually compete with the big boys.

One of the biggest strengths for Gruden is his ability to keep the locker room. His relationship with the team and, more importantly, his decisions to do what is best for the team at risk to himself: i.e Stating KC and canning Haz and JB.

Gruden is pretty damn good at team building. That is what a head coach does. Not the easiest environment to do it in either. I support Gruden here for at least 3 more years.

One of the biggest strengths for Gruden is his ability to keep the locker room. His relationship with the team and, more importantly, his decisions to do what is best for the team at risk to himself: i.e Stating KC and canning Haz and JB.

Gruden is pretty damn good at team building. That is what a head coach does. Not the environment to do it in either. I support Gruden here for at least 3 more years.

Oh me too. Honestly, I think Jay Gruden is one of those coaches that you need to hold on to. I think he's a much better coach than his brother. He's learning to be a head coach in the league. If Dallas can hold on to Garrett all this time, no reason why the 'skins shouldn't.

Oh me too. Honestly, I think Jay Gruden is one of those coaches that you need to hold on to. I think he's a much better coach than his brother. He's learning to be a head coach in the league. If Dallas can hold on to Garrett all this time, no reason why the 'skins shouldn't.

Plus if Jay walks out nobody is coming here, this place is a black hole.