Update: Saunders Signs Deal with Rams to be OC

[Paintrain]

With Bulger, Jackson & Holt and knowledge/experience in the system I think the Rams offense will be everything we hoped Saunders would have made it in DC.

Freedom to develop and call the gameplan (which he didn't have here) will make a tremendous difference with the Rams..

[hail_2_da_skins]

WHAT IF?

Al Saunders goes to St. Louis Rams and the Rams return to being the greatest show on turf? What does that say about the Washington Redskins and their offensive personnel? Does that mean that the Redskin players are not talented or smart enough to run Saunders offense?

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by hail_2_da_skins

WHAT IF?

Al Saunders goes to St. Louis Rams and the Rams return to being the greatest show on turf? What does that say about the Washington Redskins and their offensive personnel? Does that mean that the Redskin players are not talented or smart enough to run Saunders offense?

Nope. Just means that Gibbs had a big influence on how Saunders called his game...

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by hail_2_da_skins

WHAT IF?

Al Saunders goes to St. Louis Rams and the Rams return to being the greatest show on turf? What does that say about the Washington Redskins and their offensive personnel? Does that mean that the Redskin players are not talented or smart enough to run Saunders offense?

Marc Bulger, when he is healthy and has a good O-line, is probably a better qb than JC at this point of their careers. Steven Jackson should be a superstar. Holt is better than anyone we currently have at WR. STL just needs to get a better line and myabe another wr and they will be tough to stop. I remember when we played them in 06 and they just went off on our defense.

[mcarey032]

Saunders wasn't given the benefit of the doubt here in Washington. Surely two years wasn't enough to judge him fairly. He was given an older QB last year who didn't have the wheels or the arm to make the big throws. Then he got a more physically talented QB, but far less experienced this year. At the end he got someone who knew how to run the offense and was able to execute it and got us to the playoffs. So he gets the boot after those two years? If Daniel Snyder didn't know that Joe Gibbs was handcuffing Al Saunders play calling then he truly doesn't know anything about football or worse, anything about his own team.

[BDBohnzie]

The Rams will be able to fast-track some of that learnin', since guys like Bruce and Holt were around the first time Saunders was in town.

[Defensewins]

Saunders situation is unique. I think lot of the Saunders bashers need to take in to account that the players also bare some of the responsibility of the last two seasons. Saunders had to deal with a very green Campbell and all of his growing pains. Saunders did not throw the interceptions at the end of the Giants and Dallas loses that cost us the games.
I am tired of the NFL tradition of firing someone, usually a coordinator when
things do not go perfectly. They need a fall guy. It is not a magic pill situation to assume a new coordinator will cure all that is wrong with the offense.

[TheSmurfs22]

Good luck to Coach Saunders I do hope he does well in St. Louis, just not well when he plays us in 08!

[SFREDSKIN]

It's official he has signed with the Rams to be the OC according to JLC and ESPN. ESPN - Saunders gets 3-year deal as Rams' new offensive coordinator - NFL

[skinsfan_nn]

JLC Redskin Insider: Al, and a few other coaching moves, his son Bob, Lazor. Will Byner stay?

Meanwhile, here's a news update:
The St. Louis Rams have hired Al Saunders as offensive coordinator, according to an Associated Press report out of St. Louis. LaCanfora says that it's virutually certain that Saunders' son Bob, a Redskins assistant, will join his father there. QBs coach Bill Lazor, whose responsibilities will be taken over by Zorn, could end up in St. Louis as well. ... League sources say RBs coach Earnest Byner had a strong interview Tuesday in Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers intend to interview one more candidate before making a decision. Byner's contract with the Redskins expires Thursday (Jan. 31) and he is the only coach not under contract for 2008. He is mulling a one-year offer from the Redskins.

[Dirtbag59]

Am I so wrong for wanting them to hire GW as well?

[Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor]

Al Saunders will have a top 5 offense in this league. Believe that!

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor

Al Saunders will have a top 5 offense in this league. Believe that!

I'll take that bet. In fact I'll do you one better. I bet you the Redskins will have a better ranked offense in points and ypg then the Rams. Though I don't believe they'll finish in the top 5.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Sean"Big Hurt"Taylor

Al Saunders will have a top 5 offense in this league. Believe that!

I agree. I am sure the Rams will let him do what he is being brought there to do. There wont be a 2 year learning curve, the Rams will be humming by week 3 or 4.

[QBall]

Originally Posted by irish

I agree. I am sure the Rams will let him do what he is being brought there to do. There wont be a 2 year learning curve, the Rams will be humming by week 3 or 4.

Oh really? They have a QB who's best days are far behind him with a terrible offensive line and aging wideouts, tight end?? The worst decision of Gibbs career was to listen to all the experts after our Playoff loss to Seattle. He stopped calling plays for the first time and went out to get Saunders. Gibbs was not the problem in 05' it was Brunnel and no real talent passing besides Moss that year. Gibbs started 6-10 (gets a pass in my book 1st year back) then he won 11 games!! I don't see why he changes the entire system at that point.

Al is a good coach but an entire offensive change was not a good call. Then when he's in Gibbs doesn't like what he is seeing and all of a sudden pulls control from him. Al wan't to blame there. Our offense did show flashes of greatness but also the play calling of Saunders could be questioned in my opinion at times. A reverse to Moss in GB with the lead? Awful call. Gmen game on the goal-line, awful. His redzone plays sucked both years!