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Why Replace Al Saunders With Jim Zorn?
By Jamie Mottram | January 26, 2008
Let’s not get into why Gregg Williams isn’t good enough to be head coach. Or why Russ Grimm hasn’t even been interviewed. Or why Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato seem to be infatuated with Jim Fassel, Steve Spagnuolo and/or Josh McDaniels. For now, let’s focus on why they fired offensive chief Al Saunders and replaced him with Seattle QB coach Jim Zorn.
Essentially, they’ve discarded an accomplished offensive coordinator whose squads excelled in Kansas City and have been average in D.C. and replaced him with a first-time offensive coordinator whose quarterback coaching was quite good in Seattle.
The obvious reasons to question such a move are at least four-fold: 1) Saunders is proven, Zorn is not. 2) The team spent the past two seasons grasping Saunders’ complex offense. 3) Jason Campbell has to learn yet another scheme. 4) Most times the way it works is you hire the head coach first, then the assistants.
The obvious reasons to support such a move are, well, zero-fold.
So why make it? Is Danny just the petulant child he’s made out to be? Is Saunders, despite his resume, somehow a flawed offensive coach? Is Zorn, at 54, the NFL’s next great offensive mind?
You tell me, because I have no idea. And, judging from the general sense of bafflement and lack of answers, I don’t think anyone else does either.
Update: Jason La Canfora sorts through things, saying that Snyder isn’t a fan of Saunders’. Also that, despite being a good offensive coach, Saunders was handcuffed in D.C. because he never truly ran the offense.
Topics: Mr. Snyder, Redskins | 9 Comments »
January 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
I don’t care much for the Redskins, but I do care that people care about them.
This might just be the biggest, most confusing slap in the face in Redskins history. Maybe Joe Gibbs saw some writing on the wall, because this is genuinely insane.
January 26th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
My inside source says Fassel already has the job. Dan Snyder hates the Giants. Guess who else does? Jim Fassell. He has everyone believing that the defensive coordinator is going to be our new head coach. Including that guy. They are fucking with his head.
Meantime, Danny keeps his entire defensive staff (Except Williams), gets a mentor for Campbell.
Cambell didnt like Saunders offense. At all. Jason Cambell is the golden boy of the franchise.
Best believe Joe Gibbs is behind all this.
When was Campbell must succesful? At Auburn.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=242480002&confId=8
Guess what offense he thrived under?
Yep. WEST COAST! (Throwing up the W as I type)
Greg Blache? Player favorite. Worked wonders with a banged up group of D lineman. Compitant enough to run a Bears defense.
Portis is gone. My source guarentees it.
Carlos Rogers has to sit out next year, or retire.
So far the player reaction has been supportive, he tells me.
To many “cheifs” running around the park.
Gibbs lost control of Saunders and Williams. Williams would question offensive play calling. Saunders would question Gibbs.
Gibbs knew the ship was sinking before ST died.
Everyone put their diffrences aside after, but even making the playoffs wasnt enough to stop this.
Take it as you see fit. My guy is usually right, however he did tell me Champ Bailey wouldnt get traded.
Same source that gave me the inside scoop on the 75th throwbacks way before anyone knew a damn thing about them.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
The Mayor’s theory/source is too sensible to dispel, though it would sadden me deeply to lose Portis and I can’t face the reality of Jim Fassel being the head coach.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:38 am
At least your team doesn’t roster David Carr.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
This is just sad. We are officially the Washington Raiders. We will never have a legitimate/self respecting coach under Snyder & Cerrato. Mayor, I wish I shared you optimism . . . stay strong.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
1) Portis isn’t leaving. He is now the face of the franchise. He is re-doing his deal and will be with the Redskins for the length of his contract, if not longer.
2) AS well as Cambell might strive in the West Coast offense, 11-18 for 120 isn’t going to get the job done in the NFL. Also, it was against ULM. Not exactly a good team right there. Look at some his stats from other games against more solid compitition.
http://auburn.rivals.com/boxscore.asp?Game=16944&Team=AUBURN
http://auburn.rivals.com/boxscore.asp?Game=17002&Team=AUBURN
http://auburn.rivals.com/boxscore.asp?Game=19275&Team=AUBURN
The stats are about the same agasint teams that are alot better than ULM. The only way these type of stats will help the Redskins win is with the D playing lights out and the running game putting up 200+ ypg. If portis goes, that isn’t happening.
3) Everyone saw the Champ Bailey trade coming. He didn’t want to be here. But, I don’t think everyone knew we were getting Portis in return.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I am certainly not a fan of Fassel. But as the #1 Redskin fan on the planet, I will support the team until the day I die.
No matter what.
I think we are going to be okay.
On another note, Champ Bailey apparantly got some girl prego (he was married) and wanted to just get away from the situation.
Portis apparntly will not restructure. All in all, I wish he would. But he holds all the cards. We can’t trade him. I say he gets cut June 1st to delay the cap hit into 2009.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Champ definitely sampled the young ladies during his time in DC. I knew a girl in high school who was ‘dating’ him at the time (she played me voicemails from him because i didn’t believe her).
I would hope Portis restructures, but why would he (or anyone else) do so now? It’s easy to convince a guy to take a pay cut to play for Gibbs, and I think most of our guys would have restructured if Williams stayed – but for Fassil/Zorn/Blache?
January 27th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Funny. Cause I knew a girl that went out with him as well.
She wouldnt bang him, so he jerked off on her and kicked her out of his house.
True story.
I liked Champ, and wish we still had him.