Don Breaux Retires

[Manusky91]

Larry Michael just announced on Redskins.com That Don Breux announced his retirement after 17 years with the team..

[freddyg12]

didn't see that coming, but it's not too surprising given his age & the change of coaches.

I hope there's no conflict between the old guys & new & Breaux was just ready to relax.

great career, one of the unheralded skins coaches that was w/Gibbs in some great years. Enjoy retirement Don!

[That Guy]

not to sound mean, but i don't really think he's really a guy we needed here in the first place.

thanks for what you've done i guess, but i'm not really going to miss you much.

[redsk1]

Kind of strange timing you know, a few days before training camp? I'm not even sure what his role is now.

[KokoMike]

Don Breaux was the offensive coordinator, by name only, since 2007:

From Redskins.com..."Breaux returned to Washington, D.C., with Gibbs in 2004 as offensive coordinator, a position he held through 2007. Although Gibbs and later Al Saunders directed the Redskins' offense in those years, Breaux was relied on for his game-planning expertise."

Sherman Smith is the new Offensive Coordinator, from Redskins.com...
"Sherman Smith joined the Redskins on Feb. 15, 2008, bringing with him 22 years of NFL experience as both a player and assistant coach. Smith is working closely with Head Coach Jim Zorn for the second time in his career; Smith and Zorn were teammates with the Seattle Seahawks from 1976-82.
"Sherman brings outstanding leadership to our team and we are fortunate to add him to our coaching staff," Zorn said. "He will lead the effort in putting together our game plan each week, both in our offensive staff meetings and in our player meetings."

Smith is helping lead the Redskins' transition to the West Coast offense, a short, horizontal passing attack that spreads defenses and opens up running lanes. Smith's coaching background is primarily with running backs, but he has worked under several offensive coordinators who have operated versions of the West Coast offense, including Mike Heimerdinger and Norm Chow.

Smith spent the past 13 seasons as running backs coach with the Tennessee Titans (1995-2007). He also held the title of assistant head coach the last two seasons.

In 2007, the Titans finished with the NFL's fifth-ranked rushing attack, averaging 131.8 yards per game. Mobile quarterback Vince Young contributed to that mark. Under Smith's guidance, second-year running back LenDale White led the Titans offense with 1,110 rushing yards on 303 carries. His yardage total placed eighth in the AFC. He logged five 100-yard rushing performances and led the Titans with seven rushing touchdowns.

In 2006, Smith's group of rushers--including QB Young--amassed the sixth-highest rushing total in Titans/Oilers franchise history with 2,214 rushing yards. The team's yards-per-carry average of 4.72 established a new franchise mark. Travis Henry led the Titans' ground game with 1,211 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 270 carries, while White added 244 rushing yards on 61 carries as a rookie.

From 1996-2003, Smith helped running back Eddie George develop into one of the great running backs in NFL history. With 10,441 career rushing yards, George places 18th on the NFL's all-time rushing list. George is one of 20 running backs in NFL history to reach 10,000 career rushing yards and only the second to reach the mark without missing a game. (The other was Hall of Famer Jim Brown.)

Prior to joining the Titans, Smith was an assistant coach at Illinois for three seasons. He coached tight ends from 1992-93 and running backs in 1994. Smith also coached running backs at Miami (Ohio) University, his alma mater, from 1990-91.

Smith played nine years in the NFL as a running back, mostly with Seattle. He joined the Seahawks as a second-round draft choice (58th overall) in 1976 and led the team in rushing yardage in each of his first four seasons. For his career, Smith compiled 3,520 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 834 carries, as well as 217 receptions for 2,393 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Smith departed Seattle in 1983 as the Seahawks' all-time rushing yardage leader. (He totaled 3,429 rushing yards in Seattle, which is currently sixth best behind Shaun Alexander, Curt Warner, Chris Warren, John L. Warren and Ricky Watters). Smith closed out his career with the San Diego Chargers from 1983-84.

At Miami (Ohio), Smith played quarterback. He led the Redhawks to a 33-1-1 record and the Mid-American Conference crown his last three years.

Upon retiring from playing football in 1984, Smith was a high school teacher and football, basketball and track coach for one year at Redmond Junior High School in Redmond, Wash.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Smith and his wife Sharon have two grown children: daughter Shavonne, an elementary school teacher in Nashville, and son Sherman, also a graduate of Miami (Ohio) and resident of Raleigh, N.C."

[mooby]

Originally Posted by That Guy

not to sound mean, but i don't really think he's really a guy we needed here in the first place.

thanks for what you've done i guess, but i'm not really going to miss you much.

Yeah I think that's a general consensus. He didn't serve a huge role on the team after 2004. I hope he has fun enjoying retirement though.

[Darrell_Green_28]

Guess his decision was because of his heart condition. So will someone get promoted or will we search for a new assistant coach?

Redskins assistant coach Breaux retires - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

[MTK]

Hope he gets well.

[billyredskin]

Don was part of the total package that was the first Gibbs era. The 3 Superbowl Trophies speak for themselves. Sad to see him go.
But we still have Joe Bugel!!!!! and he is STILL one of the best O-line coaches.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Darrell_Green_28

Guess his decision was because of his heart condition. So will someone get promoted or will we search for a new assistant coach?

Redskins assistant coach Breaux retires - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

He was no longer an assistant coach as of many months ago. He was set to be an advanced scout this year.

[That Guy]

his position probably won't be replaced.

[70Chip]

Breaux had a very strong football mind. He was an integral part of the innovations made by the coaching staff in the 80s and he continued to coach for other NFL clubs during the Gibbs hiatus of the 90s. So, the idea that he was Gibbs' totey is a little unfair. He didn't do television interviews so I think people tend to underesrimate his contribution. We don't really know what gos on or what the dynamics are. People see Bugel carrying on for the media so they assume he's still got "it" and they don't see a Breaux or a Rennie Simmons and assume that means that they are somehow not doing a good job.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Breaux had a very strong football mind. He was an integral part of the innovations made by the coaching staff in the 80s and he continued to coach for other NFL clubs during the Gibbs hiatus of the 90s. So, the idea that he was Gibbs' totey is a little unfair. He didn't do television interviews so I think people tend to underesrimate his contribution. We don't really know what gos on or what the dynamics are. People see Bugel carrying on for the media so they assume he's still got "it" and they don't see a Breaux or a Rennie Simmons and assume that means that they are somehow not doing a good job.

Good points.

[MTK]

By the way some nice words from JLC on Breaux:

Breaux Retires - Redskins Insider

[birdz4gibbs]

thanks don and happy retirement..