Redskins June 2009 OTAs

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I still don't really understand the negativity towards Hixon. It's not like he's been given anything other than scrubs before Thomas and Kelly to try to develop. If Thomas and/or Kelly take off in year 2 will people cut him a break or just chalk it up to anything other than Hixon's coaching?

Matty,
I presented this post to you with what I thought were reasonable questions and I figure at that point you were done with the conversation because you did not answer any of the points. I know you don't - and can't - answer everything thrown at you, but I think these are reasonable points as to why Hixon has so much negativity swirling around him.

Originally Posted by credskinsrule

Can I ask a few questions though:
1) if we can't look at pure stats; and we dismiss the drops, wrong routes, etc as mental errors, then what criteria can we as fans look at to rate a coach. After all; we consider Jerry Gray a top notch coach, but he certainly has naturally gifted players. And Zorn was considered an excellent coach with what he did with Hasselback - but what if Zorn hadn't coached him, would he have been added to the list of "favorite scrubs" and Zorn given a pass?

2) After 5 years, what is the argument FOR keeping him? I am not trying to hate on Hixon, I am confident he is a good guy-or he would have been gone. But the defense of keeping him really seems to be: "he is here, lets keep him".

3) Can we do worse if we bring someone else in? Are we hurting the team by trying to get a top tier WR coach? Does he have a strong locker room or esprit de corps value which is understated?

4) and finally, Through massive coaching changes in the last 5 years, why does he rise above the fray?

I just want to understand what he brings to the Skins that makes him valuable enough to have, what seems like, more immunity - with much less on the field results -than many of the coaches we have released .

[GMScud]

What do you guys think about Landry's absence? I know these OTA's are voluntary, but he's the only guy not there. Literally. And he hasn't returned Zorn's phone calls and texts.

I personally don't think it is or will be a big deal come Sundays this fall, but for a guy with all his talent, I'd kind of like to see him trying to become a leader and locker room presence. Again, I'm not suggesting it's an issue, but from an intangibles standpoint, it would be nice to see Laron on the field right now like everyone else.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by GMScud

What do you guys think about Landry's absence? I know these OTA's are voluntary, but he's the only guy not there. Literally. And he hasn't returned Zorn's phone calls and texts.

I personally don't think it is or will be a big deal come Sundays this fall, but for a guy with all his talent, I'd kind of like to see him trying to become a leader and locker room presence. Again, I'm not suggesting it's an issue, but from an intangibles standpoint, it would be nice to see Laron on the field right now like everyone else.

I don't think it's a big concern. I would LIKE to see him there but I don't think it's anything to worry about. It seems someone is missing every year. Maybe it will give Kareem Moore more attention from the coaches.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Matty,
I presented this post to you with what I thought were reasonable questions and I figure at that point you were done with the conversation because you did not answer any of the points. I know you don't - and can't - answer everything thrown at you, but I think these are reasonable points as to why Hixon has so much negativity swirling around him.

Honestly none of your points, or anyone else's that I've seen, make me think Hixon is a major problem. It seems that some people have taken issue with the WR play, which to me is more due to a lack of overall talent than a coaching issue, and blown it up into this contrived drama that Hixon is a major liability on the staff. I think it just goes along with the general thinking that coaching is the end all answer when a player struggles.

I mean the guy has a pretty good coaching resume. He has 30 years of coaching experience in college and the pros, and I'm supposed to believe some armchair Joe knows what's up as opposed to him? And I'm not sure why people overlook the fact that Moss and Randle El have put up a career years under him.

I just don't see any solid proof that Hixon is a liability on the staff. If he was so bad why hasn't he been replaced by now? Why no internal rumblings that his job is on the line? Why didn't Zorn bring in one of his own guys when he took over?

I'll be really interested to see what people think of him by year's end if Thomas/Kelly develop. Will people give Hixon the proper credit?

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Honestly none of your points, or anyone else's that I've seen, make me think Hixon is a major problem. It seems that some people have taken issue with the WR play, which to me is more due to a lack of overall talent than a coaching issue, and blown it up into this contrived drama that Hixon is a major liability on the staff. I think it just goes along with the general thinking that coaching is the end all answer when a player struggles.

I mean the guy has a pretty good coaching resume. He has 30 years of coaching experience in college and the pros, and I'm supposed to believe some armchair Joe knows what's up as opposed to him? And I'm not sure why people overlook the fact that Moss and Randle El have put up a career years under him.

I just don't see any solid proof that Hixon is a liability on the staff. If he was so bad why hasn't he been replaced by now? Why no internal rumblings that his job is on the line? Why didn't Zorn bring in one of his own guys when he took over?

I'll be really interested to see what people think of him by year's end if Thomas/Kelly develop. Will people give Hixon the proper credit?

Thanks for the answer. I hope both WRs produce big time, and yes, if they do, I will absolutely give Hixon solid credit since he has been with them from day one.

I give the FO/coaches lots of credit, and I know I don't know better than them. As is the case with most of this board, I am just a fan who is wondering aloud about the topics that interest me. That includes whether or not there is a better WR coach available. After 6 years in the pros, and no major talent developed, in my lowly opinion, I think it is at least fair to ask.

As for Hixon's 30 year career that you reference, only 6 was in the pros and that was all here. Yes he did ok at the college level, but he also moved from job to job about every 3-4 years. I would say that is possibly unusual for a college position coach. But again I don't really know, it could also be very common.