Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post - Who Stays And Who Goes? Perceptions Changing?

12thMan · 12-07-2009, 05:07 PM

I was going to start a separate thread, but it seems to fit neatly within this discussion. Mods, if you feel otherwise give it it's on title and maybe do a poll.

Yesterday the New Orleans Saints were 23 yards and a couple of away feet from losing their first game of the season. For Saints fans, it was a huge sigh of relief knowing they had just escaped their biggest scare of going undefeated. For Redskins fans, well, it was par for the course in what has turned out to be a roller coaster season filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, what ifs and almosts.

The loss to the Saints pretty much settled two matters: The Redskins won’t have a winning record this year and they won’t be going to the playoffs. Further, this team has proven they can thrive offensively without one Clinton Portis churning out three yards per carry. What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of head coach Jim Zorn and, perhaps, by extension Jason Campbell’s future with the franchise. During the first half of the season you could ask just about anyone, myself included, with nominal knowledge of the NFL and they would have told you that Jim Zorn deserved to be fired – and right on the spot. Sentiment on whether or not to fire Zorn is starting to swing in the other direction, in no small part because of Jason Campbell’s new found steadiness and the play calling of Sherm Lewis. Over the past four weeks, I’ve planted my feet firmly in the Jim Zorn stays camp. This thread is not so much me making my case again, although I am, as I am hoping that this like many other fan rants, will make its way back to Dan Snyder.

In other words, this is my banner on the side of the metro bus!

To be fair, Jim Zorn has his short comings. No one’s denying that. Zorn has been erratic in the red zone, poor clock management, and indecisiveness in the waning minutes when the game is close are among the chief reasons many have concluded he was in over his head. But then again, we’ve watched the venerable Bill Belichick blow fourth down calls in consecutive weeks. And if memory serves me correctly, Sean Payton had zero timeouts with the Redskins leading in the fourth quarter about to put the game away. Had the shoe been on the other foot, the fire Jim Zorn chants would have been in full force again today. The difference in perception and giving one coach a pass while calling for the other’s head seems to be that little thing called winning.

As Mike Wise rightly pointed out in his WaPo column, the Redskins have some tough choices to make during the offseason. What to do with the aforementioned Clinton Portis is one of them. And not just whether or not Portis stays or goes, but what should his role be should he stay. It’s clear that you don’t need a marquee running back to win in this league anymore. But the more I watch this group of players compete until the final snap of each game, the more I question the logic of bringing in a new head coach and going for a complete overhaul. For one, regardless of whom they bring in, the make-up of the coaching staff will change dramatically. With that comes a new coaching philosophy and offensive system and time to adjust. You would also have to think that Sherm Lewis, who is arguably central to the offense’s turnaround, would likely be gone as well. From where I sit Jim Zorn, Sherm Lewis, and Jason Campbell destinies seemed to be tied together for at least another year with this organization, if not longer.

So Mr. Snyder while you’ve learned that fans can and will continue to be fickle, this may the time for you to be steady and take your lumps. Ignore the noise and masses and maybe your own natural inclination to win and do something. Bring back Jim Zorn for another year.

12-07-2009, 05:07 PM	#68
12thMan MVP Join Date: May 2005 Location: washington, D.C. Posts: 11,460	Re: Who Stays And Who Goes? Perceptions Changing? I was going to start a separate thread, but it seems to fit neatly within this discussion. Mods, if you feel otherwise give it it's on title and maybe do a poll. Yesterday the New Orleans Saints were 23 yards and a couple of away feet from losing their first game of the season. For Saints fans, it was a huge sigh of relief knowing they had just escaped their biggest scare of going undefeated. For Redskins fans, well, it was par for the course in what has turned out to be a roller coaster season filled with twists and turns, ups and downs, what ifs and almosts. The loss to the Saints pretty much settled two matters: The Redskins won’t have a winning record this year and they won’t be going to the playoffs. Further, this team has proven they can thrive offensively without one Clinton Portis churning out three yards per carry. What is still up in the air, however, is the fate of head coach Jim Zorn and, perhaps, by extension Jason Campbell’s future with the franchise. During the first half of the season you could ask just about anyone, myself included, with nominal knowledge of the NFL and they would have told you that Jim Zorn deserved to be fired – and right on the spot. Sentiment on whether or not to fire Zorn is starting to swing in the other direction, in no small part because of Jason Campbell’s new found steadiness and the play calling of Sherm Lewis. Over the past four weeks, I’ve planted my feet firmly in the Jim Zorn stays camp. This thread is not so much me making my case again, although I am, as I am hoping that this like many other fan rants, will make its way back to Dan Snyder. In other words, this is my banner on the side of the metro bus! To be fair, Jim Zorn has his short comings. No one’s denying that. Zorn has been erratic in the red zone, poor clock management, and indecisiveness in the waning minutes when the game is close are among the chief reasons many have concluded he was in over his head. But then again, we’ve watched the venerable Bill Belichick blow fourth down calls in consecutive weeks. And if memory serves me correctly, Sean Payton had zero timeouts with the Redskins leading in the fourth quarter about to put the game away. Had the shoe been on the other foot, the fire Jim Zorn chants would have been in full force again today. The difference in perception and giving one coach a pass while calling for the other’s head seems to be that little thing called winning. As Mike Wise rightly pointed out in his WaPo column, the Redskins have some tough choices to make during the offseason. What to do with the aforementioned Clinton Portis is one of them. And not just whether or not Portis stays or goes, but what should his role be should he stay. It’s clear that you don’t need a marquee running back to win in this league anymore. But the more I watch this group of players compete until the final snap of each game, the more I question the logic of bringing in a new head coach and going for a complete overhaul. For one, regardless of whom they bring in, the make-up of the coaching staff will change dramatically. With that comes a new coaching philosophy and offensive system and time to adjust. You would also have to think that Sherm Lewis, who is arguably central to the offense’s turnaround, would likely be gone as well. From where I sit Jim Zorn, Sherm Lewis, and Jason Campbell destinies seemed to be tied together for at least another year with this organization, if not longer. So Mr. Snyder while you’ve learned that fans can and will continue to be fickle, this may the time for you to be steady and take your lumps. Ignore the noise and masses and maybe your own natural inclination to win and do something. Bring back Jim Zorn for another year.