Let's talk about the front office situation

[MTK]

So Bruce Allen said he's going to be the one calling the shots personnel wise, leaning heavily on the input of Scott Campbell and Morocco Brown. He hinted that these guys weren't utilized nearly enough under Shanahan (surprise). He also didn't rule out adding someone to the front office structure.

Not sure I'm really liking the idea of this setup since personnel really isn't supposed to be Allen's strength. I'm not saying it can't work, but I'd just feel better if we had a true personnel guy making the decisions.

[WillH]

Yeah, this seems like a step backwards to me. And it was a bit alarming to me that he said they would be changing the profile of the players they are looking for, and oh yeah a new coach might have some ideas too.

Also, it was strange that he lashed back at Shanahan, I'm not convinced that it was shanahan leaking the story, isnt it just as likely that the front office leaked these rumors as a good reason to opt out of his last year?

[RobH4413]

If you heard JLC this morning on the junkies- he delivered a pretty striking sermon regarding the Redskins current FO situation. He didn't have as much pessimism about finding a good coach, but implied that the Dan Snyder can only skin a cat two ways.

• Having the head coach (a la Shotty, Gibbs, and Shanny) have complete control, even when they aren't qualified to do so. Gibbs was not ever known to build a roster. Shanahan was fired from Denver for personnel gaffes as well.

• Or having the front office take control, with Snyder directly involved a la Jerry Jones.

The current look right now is the latter of the two, and JLC was extremely pessimistic about the chances of success for the Redskins, as am I. Bruce Allen's strengths have never been personnel (he's earned his experience through contracts/negotiations with agents), and now we're going to have to live through another round of Danny boy fiddling with the roster

I can't see why it's so damn hard to hire a true GM and step back and let the process play. He wants to be involved, and beyond that I think he LOOOOVESSS to be involved. It's his team and he can do whatever he wants.

I really hope this isn't the case, because we're in for another long stretch folks if it is.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

If you heard JLC this morning on the junkies- he delivered a pretty striking sermon regarding the Redskins current FO situation. He didn't have as much pessimism about finding a good coach, but implied that the Dan Snyder can only skin a cat two ways.

• Having the head coach (a la Shotty, Gibbs, and Shanny) have complete control, even when they aren't qualified to do so. Gibbs was not ever known to build a roster. Shanahan was fired from Denver for personnel gaffes as well.

• Or having the front office take control, with Snyder directly involved a la Jerry Jones.

The current look right now is the latter of the two, and JLC was extremely pessimistic about the chances of success for the Redskins, as am I. Bruce Allen's strengths have never been personnel (he's earned his experience through contracts/negotiations with agents), and now we're going to have to live through another round of Danny boy fiddling with the roster

I can't see why it's so damn hard to hire a true GM and step back and let the process play. He wants to be involved, and beyond that I think he LOOOOVESSS to be involved. It's his team and he can do whatever he wants.

I really hope this isn't the case, because we're in for another long stretch folks if it is.

Nothing Alan said even remotely implied that Snyder would have any input in the roster. Allen essentially said morocco is going to make all free agent evaluations, Campbell will do the same for the draft, and then Allen will make decisions on which guys to bring in based on the recommendations

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Nothing Alan said even remotely implied that Snyder would have any input in the roster. Allen essentially said morocco is going to make all free agent evaluations, Campbell will do the same for the draft, and then Allen will make decisions on which guys to bring in based on the recommendations

He also hasn't said that he won't have any input on the roster. Morocco will make the evaluations, but Snyder's track record has been to influence and often overtake qualified opinion (unless he's contractually obligated not too).

I'm not trying to say Snyder is the big bad wolf, and that everything he does is evil. I'm saying Snyder has a well known history of interjecting when not contractually restrained.

In the current set-up, he's not excluded from the process; and I think that's by design. I wish it wasn't.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

He also hasn't said that he won't have any input on the roster. Morocco will make the evaluations, but Snyder's track record has been to influence and often overtake qualified opinion (unless he's contractually obligated not too).

I'm not trying to say Snyder is the big bad wolf, and that everything he does is evil. I'm saying Snyder has a well known history of interjecting when not contractually restrained.

In the current set-up, he's not excluded from the process; and I think that's by design. I wish it wasn't.

What are you saying? That Snyder told Vinny which players to draft? I highly doubt that.

You want him excluded from the process? Here's a news flash: Snyder owns the team! If I owned an NFL team, I'd make Snyder look as patient and hands off as a Buddhist monk in comparison to me.

Back to reality, Snyder's reputation as a control freak pales in comparison to those of Jerry Jones, the late Al Davis, and some other NFL owners.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by WillH

Yeah, this seems like a step backwards to me. And it was a bit alarming to me that he said they would be changing the profile of the players they are looking for, and oh yeah a new coach might have some ideas too.

Also, it was strange that he lashed back at Shanahan, I'm not convinced that it was shanahan leaking the story, isnt it just as likely that the front office leaked these rumors as a good reason to opt out of his last year?

I didn't get that vibe at all.

It's pretty obvious where the leaks were coming from.

[WillH]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

I didn't get that vibe at all.

It's pretty obvious where the leaks were coming from.

Yeah, I suppose if that was the case MS would at least have implied it.

[skinsguy]

I look at it like this. The plan seemed to be that Brown was to be promoted to GM and Allen to President. So in that case, the set up for this year is pretty much to give those guys a chance to prove their worth of such a promotion. If they succeed they get promoted. If not, hopefully the front office looks elsewhere for help. I thinks it's more of a cost savings thing I think. I don't like it or hate it. I just don't know if it will work.

[skinsfan69]

I actually like this move. Allen basically said yesterday that had they listened to these guys, we'd have better players on the team. There is finally a structure where people in the trenches have a say. Allen might have the final say, someone has to have that. Allen isn't stupid, he knows his strengths and weaknesses. We have stability and I like that. Now go get a coach that isn't a stubborn, control freak, rat faced, whining to the media old hag.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

So Bruce Allen said he's going to be the one calling the shots personnel wise, leaning heavily on the input of Scott Campbell and Morocco Brown. He hinted that these guys weren't utilized nearly enough under Shanahan (surprise). He also didn't rule out adding someone to the front office structure.

Not sure I'm really liking the idea of this setup since personnel really isn't supposed to be Allen's strength. I'm not saying it can't work, but I'd just feel better if we had a true personnel guy making the decisions.

My question is where does AJ Smith fit into this equation? If he was given the responsibility of personnel eval and decision maker I'd feel better. I agree someone else needs to be brought aboard if not AJ Smith in a larger capacity.

[diehardskin2982]

wow ye of lil faith...

Bruce Allen is the President/ GM, the final decision will be his.

M. Brown and S. Campbell are the chief lieutenants Giving analysis on players.

Do not forget about AJ Smith. I am sure that Bruce will rely heavily on his opinion in personnel decisions. Bruce Allen is a former executive of the year. Can't take that away from him.

[KI Skins Fan]

I like the new set-up. Bruce seems to get it in terms of using his subordinates to do what they do best. Now, if they hire the right coach, I think it can work.

BTW, JLC is a dolt.

[Evilgrin]

Not comfortable with the people now, because as Allen said they are 3-13. Hard to have confidence in these guys getting it right with personnel.

That being said, Shanahan has always been a system first guy with virtually all positions, which is not the best way to draft IMO. His draft track record in denver was pretty similar to here, not alot of good ones. Mo Clarrett in the third was on him. Essentially they may have been just doing what they were told. He clearly values guys that will work hard for him, regardless of how little ability they have... LOL.

[diehardskin2982]

It's funny that the two Jason's have the most to say about the situation, They seem to also have the most animosity towards the administration. No matter what Snyder would have done they would have spun it negative.