Redskins Promote Kevin O'Connell To Offensive Coordinator; Matt Cavanaugh Moves To Senior Offensive Assistant

O'Connell is already facing a barrier - no quarterback (that is unless we draft a first round QB). It will be good opportunity for O'Connell to show what he can do with bad situations.

I'm really happy Tomsula is coming back, he obviously made positive impact on our Dline players. I'm hoping this is not one year deal?

I think if we're truly being honest with ourselves, the offensive scheme was not the major problem last year. I do think there's something to what Cooley was saying; that the runs and the passes don't look alike so fooling defenses on playactions is tricky.

But the main reasons we didn't click were:

- Alex doesn't make anticipation throws. He waits for guys to come open, then he throws it. It results in low turnover numbers but guys would get open and then the window would close before he threw it. His injury hurts, but the reality is we were going to be saddled with disappointing QB play whether he was playing or not. He gave us only one way to win: play dominant defense and hope to eke out a one-score win like we did against Dallas at home.

- When Richardson, Crowder, and Quinn were all hurt we had NOBODY who could gain separation. So even if you schemed the runs and passes to look alike I don't think they would have been open anyway.

I hope O'Connell can scheme up some good stuff and that Jay listens on making the runs and passes look alike. But I don't think we're improving our offensive performance unless we get a QB in there who's willing to let it rip and make some plays, and some WR play that can separate from DBs.

I know we probably won't get this answer truthfully, but I'd like to know did this come from Jay? Did he like what he's seen from O'Connell and his coaching/scheming that he wanted more from him? Or is this Bruce/Dan going "hey they say this O'Connell kid is the next McVay...let's make him the OC in case we want to promote him to head coach next season. Hey Jay, O'Connell is your new OC...make it work!"

I know we probably won't get this answer truthfully, but I'd like to know did this come from Jay? Did he like what he's seen from O'Connell and his coaching/scheming that he wanted more from him? Or is this Bruce/Dan going "hey they say this O'Connell kid is the next McVay...let's make him the OC in case we want to promote him to head coach next season. Hey Jay, O'Connell is your new OC...make it work!"

I have the exact same question, and it's a very important one to understanding whether Redskins Park has actually taken any steps towards competency.

Judging by the reports that the Bowles and Gregg Williams interviews were being arranged by Snyder, I think we have our answer.

Though I don't know what's worse - Snyder stepping in on the defensive coordinator decisions, or Jay going to bat for Manusky.

Hell, if Jay went to bat for Manusky, if I were Snyder I'd probably stick my nose in too. Except I'd do it the right way - I'd fire Gruden and insist on a new Head Coach who's willing to recruit the best coach available, regardless of whether he has a previous working relationship.

I think if we're truly being honest with ourselves, the offensive scheme was not the major problem last year. I do think there's something to what Cooley was saying; that the runs and the passes don't look alike so fooling defenses on playactions is tricky.

But the main reasons we didn't click were:

- Alex doesn't make anticipation throws. He waits for guys to come open, then he throws it. It results in low turnover numbers but guys would get open and then the window would close before he threw it. His injury hurts, but the reality is we were going to be saddled with disappointing QB play whether he was playing or not. He gave us only one way to win: play dominant defense and hope to eke out a one-score win like we did against Dallas at home.

- When Richardson, Crowder, and Quinn were all hurt we had NOBODY who could gain separation. So even if you schemed the runs and passes to look alike I don't think they would have been open anyway.

I hope O'Connell can scheme up some good stuff and that Jay listens on making the runs and passes look alike. But I don't think we're improving our offensive performance unless we get a QB in there who's willing to let it rip and make some plays, and some WR play that can separate from DBs.

Talent > scheme all day long

Other teams were inquiring about Kevin O

https://twitter.com/john_keim/status/1090389646180343809?s=21

I hope O'Connell can scheme up some good stuff and that Jay listens on making the runs and passes look alike. But I don't think we're improving our offensive performance unless we get a QB in there who's willing to let it rip and make some plays, and some WR play that can separate from DBs.

I have some doubt that Jay will really give O'Connell the authority to have a significant impact. Jay's lame duck status kind of puts him in a lose-lose situation:

If O'Connell has more input / call plays and the team still does poorly, Jay gets fired
If O'Connell has more input / calls plays and the team gets significantly better, then O'Connell gets the credit. Other teams may pursue O'Connell for a HC job. By all reports, the Skins are not going to let O'Connell leave as they did with McVay. So, the end result is that, to keep him around, you've got to make him the HC, so Jay gets fired.


Given these two scenarios, Jay may decide to limit O'Connell's input. He's already consistently demonstrated his insecurity by failing to every bring anyone on staff that could be a threat to him. It would seem to be in his nature to keep control as much as possible.

I have some doubt that Jay will really give O'Connell the authority to have a significant impact. Jay's lame duck status kind of puts him in a lose-lose situation:

If O'Connell has more input / call plays and the team still does poorly, Jay gets fired
If O'Connell has more input / calls plays and the team gets significantly better, then O'Connell gets the credit. Other teams may pursue O'Connell for a HC job. By all reports, the Skins are not going to let O'Connell leave as they did with McVay. So, the end result is that, to keep him around, you've got to make him the HC, so Jay gets fired.


Given these two scenarios, Jay may decide to limit O'Connell's input. He's already consistently demonstrated his insecurity by failing to every bring anyone on staff that could be a threat to him. It would seem to be in his nature to keep control as much as possible.

Pretty excellent breakdown of the power dynamic.

This is why you hold your head coach accountable for their hires and don't get involved. You either like their hires and you keep the staff, or you don't and you fire the head coach.

A big reason Snyder wants to keep Gruden around is he has soured on paying coaches to go away.

But that has to be a cost of doing business if you're going to maintain a healthy power structure.

A big reason Snyder wants to keep Gruden around is he has soured on paying coaches to go away.

But that has to be a cost of doing business if you're going to maintain a healthy power structure.

If Snyder is about anything, its about keeping the power structure as diseased as possible. The bold move would have been to fire Jay and promote O'Connell to HC.

Is Jay still calling plays? If so, Kevin is already being undermined. Not calling plays is chopping the knees from an OC.