If Not Joe, Then Who?

[SmootSmack]

Let's suppose that Joe Gibbs decided not to return as head coach next year and instead just moved into a front office role.

Who would you want to be the Redskins Head Coach in 2008?

Let me make this 100% clear. This is not a "Joe Must Go" thread. And I don't want to discuss on this thread whether or not he should return as head coach. That is not what this thread is about.

If you can't abide by that, be advised there will be a zero tolerance policy.

So...tell us, assuming Gibbs didn't come back, who should be the head coach in 2008?

[mredskins]

I would like to see B. Cowher and his new staff. At this point I feel we have the players( at least most of them), I think we need a new captain of this ship, a proven winner!

Please god not G. Williams

[GMScud]

I'd say Cowher. Gregg Williams is a great coordinator but as struggled as a head coach. Saunders has never been a head coach. Cowher was phenomenal in Pittsburgh, and has tons of experience. I would take him in a second (ASSUMING Gibbs leaves of course). I would certainly hope we could retain Williams as def coordinator regardless.

[BrudLee]

First, Joe must stay. I'm angry as hell at that unsportsmanlike call, and it was 100% his fault. But this team would have been worthless under nearly anyone else after this week, and that's gotta count for something.

Gregg Williams has shown the same kind of leadership. He is viewed as a leader by players on both sides of the ball (remember that Santana Moss went to Williams to explain his fumble weeks ago, not to Gibbs). This team has gone through events that should galvanize them, it's the wrong time to bring new faces to the fold.

[BrudLee]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I'd say Cowher. Gregg Williams is a great coordinator but as struggled as a head coach. Saunders has never been a head coach. Cowher was phenomenal in Pittsburgh, and has tons of experience. I would take him in a second (ASSUMING Gibbs leaves of course). I would certainly hope we could retain Williams as def coordinator regardless.

Saunders was a head coach in San Diego years ago.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GMScud

I'd say Cowher. Gregg Williams is a great coordinator but as struggled as a head coach. Saunders has never been a head coach. Cowher was phenomenal in Pittsburgh, and has tons of experience. I would take him in a second (ASSUMING Gibbs leaves of course). I would certainly hope we could retain Williams as def coordinator regardless.

But if you're Cowher why do you come back to be a head coach unless you have absolute complete control? I mean, I'm assuming that Gibbs wouldn't go away entirely. He'd still be the President.

So here you are, Bill Cowher, a proven coach and you're probably getting paid a boatload of money by Snyder. But, at this point in your career don't you want more than just to be head coach? Don't you want something more?

[EternalEnigma21]

i gotta go with GW. He's been around here long enough do deserve the shot and has had the only part of the team that's been dominant. Our ST's has been consistantly good, though...

I do hope gibbs returns, but if he decides not to, I think bringing in an outsider will only set us back 2 years, in which case the same people calling for JG's head will be calling for the new coach's head.


I don't even know if cowher would take the job. we're in cap hell and don't have a history of longevity or tolerance with our coaches...

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I say someone from this site, since we seem to have so many geniuses who would never make a mistake during the draft or free agency, so many people are expert Madden players, etc.

In all seriousness, I want Gibbs back. If Gibbs decides to retire, don't expect a great 2008 season as new head coaches often struggle in their first season with a new team. And expect to see JC regress, or not progress, if we replace Saunders and force him to learn a new system.

If we had to get someone else, I'd probably go with Cowher since I like the guy, he likes smash-mouth football and great defenses, and he is a proven winner. That said, several teams will likely be after him and he supposedly wanted to stay out of football until 2009. He could be saying that he doesn't want to return to football in 2008 to gain leverage in contract negotiations, but who knows.

[squrrelco3]

Russ Grimm...most people that seem to know what they are talking about feel Grimm is ready, I think it would be nice to go for a brand new guy (coaching wise) with a new attitude and system. Wade Phillips has proven in Dallas that it is possible for a new coach to turn it around from one year to the next so long as you have the talent and I think the 'skins still have the talent...

[Beemnseven]

I can find problems with everyone you specifically mentioned.

With Cowher, we're getting a conservative, defensive oriented coach who won't be aggressive offensively. A problem that many have with our offense right now. Plus, he has nothing to prove, and will come here only because of the Golden Parachute.

With Russ Grimm, it harkens back to the notion that this team is grasping at every person they can find from the Glory Years in the hopes that they will lead us back there. It's like writing checks from an account that has long been closed.

And with Saunders and Williams, we'd be going back to the route of choosing coordinators who haven't proven they can take the next step as a head coach.

So, of those arguments against, Russ Grimm is the one I object to least.

[DynamiteRave]

Oops. I said Other but I MEANT Cowher. I just like the guy. He's emotional, he's just that kinda controlling powerhouse kinda guy. I'm kinda eh, middle of the road, about the cupcake , not yelling stuff. Cowher was just all over his players, or at least he made it look like it. I dunno about you, but if a guy yells at me, I'm definitely getting my act together.

[Gmanc711]

Well lets look at the two canidates in our organization first...Saunders I think is hell no. I dont really know what to say about his stay here...but it's sucked. It's def. not his fault, but I just don't think he really earned any consideration here (again, thats prob some on him, some on Gibbs and their style clashes).

Now Gregg Williams is tough, yeah he had a tough stint as head coach before...well so did Bill Belicheck, and Wade Phillips first run was not so great. Its not like he's been the head coach for five teams and sucked with them all. He had a bad team in Buffalo, so I honestly wouldnt care and actually would accept him as head coach...

Now if not Gregg, I really dont want another "big name" guy coming in. I think if we did bring a big name in, Cowher is probaboly the safest bet because the guy can coach football, but I'd rather have Grimm come in and take over. He would be hungry, he knows the orginization, and he can coach offense (which is our real problem right now)...my biggest wonder is that if Williams isnt our next head coach, is there any chance we can get him to stay as our D-Coordinator.

Roughly put, I'm all for a new coach. I'm not a Gibbs "hater", in fact I really like Joe Gibbs the person and love what he's done for this orginazation even though I didn't get to enjoy any of it..and I can certianly understand why people are loyal to him. But to me, you are what your record says you are, and we've sucked, we've given away 4th quarter lead after 4th quarter lead, and I'm just sick of it. I'll say this...if we were "gauranteed" to win the Super Bowl next year, theres no person I'd like to see as our head coach that leads us there than Joe Gibbs. I really realy want him to succeed. I've just seen the same mistakes too many times and just want a change in the organization.

My first choice would be Russ Grimm, but Gregg Williams is right there too. I'd rank Cowher third. Honestly, I dont know who else I'd really want here outside of one of those three. I really dont think Cowher has any real interest in coming back to coach.

[Warrior1971]

I would want to see Bill Cower come online, I feel we are a player or two away from having a dominant team with the right kind of motivating coach. I feel Bill can fill that void. He has a great history of finding talent in the draft as well. If not Bill.....well I would rather see Russ Grimm come home than to give either of our coordinators a shot at HC.

[Skinsfan1967]

I hate to say it but it is coming soon, Coach will step down.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But if you're Cowher why do you come back to be a head coach unless you have absolute complete control? I mean, I'm assuming that Gibbs wouldn't go away entirely. He'd still be the President.

So here you are, Bill Cowher, a proven coach and you're probably getting paid a boatload of money by Snyder. But, at this point in your career don't you want more than just to be head coach? Don't you want something more?

Overall head coaches who act as GMs haven't had a ton of success in the league. Cowher was never a GM or team prez in Pittsburgh and had a great run there. If ain't broke, why try to fix it? I understand the idea of trying to set higher goals and achieve more, but I think he may be setting himself up for failure if he wants complete control.

Wouldn't it seem a little silly to hire another retired coach with a Super Bowl ring(s) who had never been a personnel man before and expect him to excel in both roles?