D.C. Examiner: Zorn's job in jeopardy? (not so fast he's coming back)

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I think Snyder would like to keep him around. I know people think he gets a kick out of the Redskins being front page news in the off-season but in reality he'd rather just that the team win. But anyway, it's not too big a secret that there have been lots of problems in the locker room over the past month and I hear that it's getting worse. I think that everyone needs to realize that frustrations are mounting because of the losses, and the fact that the Redskins look completely non-competitive. And I would really like to see Zorn given a chance to play the guys he wants and be surrounded by the coaches he wants and fight through this. However, what Snyder doesn't want is a rehash of Spurrier where things got worse in year two and then Spurrier bolted. I don't think it's quite the same though, because I haven't heard anyone say Zorn doesn't really care (the way Spurrier didn't really seem to care).

Of course, I'm not really around the team these days but I was there for the last couple of years of Turner, the Schottenheimer days, and the Spurrier era. Turner-nice enough guy but extremely stubborn and insistent that his ways would work if only the players weren't so incompetent; Schottenheimer-earned the team's respect by respecting them and having a track record; Spurrier-would have rather been anywhere else, didn't put any effort at all into the job. I hear Zorn has Norv-like tendencies.

I think it would be a mistake to switch coaches after this season, even if Zorn resigned I would reject the resignation. The hiring itself was a head scratcher but they made their beds and should lie in them, in my opinion. I understand the fear of a complete mutiny and total failure next season. But, in my opinion, the team is not going to get significantly better until it lets go of this fear of abject failure. If it fails, it fails but I think that's better than constant change.

Anyhow, long story short. Zorn-lacking authority in the locker room, not improving, needs to show some mettle over the next couple of weeks.

Any inside information or hints whether Zorn is really committed to staying? Have there been feelers in regard to positions back in Seattle, etc?

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Because I am way too lazy to read through 21 pages, and because I saw that SmootSmack said in another thread that he feels the possibility of Zorn being released at around 80%, SS, our ESPN insider (if you happen to read this)... Why do you feel that theres a good chance of Zorn being released? (if you haven't already addressed that earlier)

Everyone acts like Zorn and Danny Boy have such a good relationship. I would think that Snyder would wanna see him around for at least one more season..

Thing is Dynamite, who says they have a great relationsip? The Skins PR guys? Those guys are paid liars. Plus, what does it matter if they did get along? Zorn has fallen flat on his face, he has lost the team for the most part, and his system is a dud. Dan might have no other choice than to can him. Also we have to face another dreaded detail. We do indeed have to rebuild. Our line is shot, we have underperforming individuals, and an average QB. Not to mention the as always non existent pass rush.

[CRedskinsRule]

But this does all lead back to the point that our first quarter has been horrendous on both sides of the ball. It seems to me that there has to be some cause.
It's been all season long that our first quarter is our biggest achilles heel. (again can't find the points for and against in the first quarter)

[jrocx69]

im all about "NOT" changing again, BUT... zorn has had some horrible play calls and especially today against the bungs. i mean so bad that if i was the play caller it wouldn't have been that bad. so is he ready???? i think he gets canned and we get cowher. just imo

[GTripp0012]

I tell you what, if his schemes beat Reid and Morningweg's schemes next week, I'll openly support him returning in the offseason. If he pulls the trifecta of getting outcoached within the division, I'm done with Blache.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

If you were Dan Snyder would Zorn's job be in jeopardy?

That's a trick question because if i was Snyder Zorn's job would be in jeopardy because that is exactly the kind of bone football decisions that he makes.

[Joe Kidd]

I'm voting yes, but I wouldn't say his job should be in "jeopardy" per say. Bring him back for another year but he's definitely on the hot seat to show significant improvement in 2009.

What I'm interested to see is how Snyder will see all of this. Is he truly committed to Zorn for the long haul or was he just a stop gap until a sexier name became available? We'll see the answer soon enough.

[MTK]

Today's loss must have Snyder seething, check out some of this, take from it what you will:

Standing just to the podium's side, next to the interview room door was Karl Swanson, a publicity official for owner Daniel Snyder. And while the room was smaller than most in the NFL, he had never taken such a prominent position at a Zorn press conference. The tone was more stern, the mood more ominous.

"So many little things occurred throughout the course of the game that we must look at," Zorn said. "We must play better if we want to earn the right to win. You have to earn a win in this league. We must play better if we are going to earn the right to win. We certainly didn't earn the right to win today."

After a handful of questions, another Redskins official cut the press conference short, the first time such a thing has happened this season.

Looming over everything was the odd tiff that developed this week when star running back Clinton Portis criticized Zorn in a radio interview. Even though Portis later seemed to back away from the comments after a long meeting with Zorn on Wednesday and said nothing critical about the coach on Sunday, the controversy has taken a life of its own. The fact Portis is a favorite of Snyder's led to speculation that Zorn might be in danger of losing his job and might already have lost respect among the players he is coaching.

link: Suddenly a Not-So-Fun Bunch - washingtonpost.com

[44ever]

1989 Dallas Cowboys went 1-15 beating yours only yours truly the Redskins of corse. By 2003 they where in the Superbowl. It takes time. But they kept the same team and organization for the most part. For those of you who don't go back that far. It's the same old Skins. And welcome to our world. For those who do go back that far. You should know better. What's the big suprise guys? Keep things the same for a while!

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by 44ever

1989 Dallas Cowboys went 1-15 beating yours only yours truly the Redskins of corse. By 2003 they where in the Superbowl. It takes time. But they kept the same team and organization for the most part. For those of you who don't go back that far. It's the same old Skins. And welcome to our world. For those who do go back that far. You should know better. What's the big suprise guys? Keep things the same for a while!

This is basically the same team/plan as 2004, it is Gibbs 2 if you will. Basically it is not working and needs a redo. I think it is going to take a Cowher type couch with complete control to turn this ship around. Now will Danny allow that? Yet to be seen but IMO Zorn is not the guy to do it.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by mredskins

This is basically the same team/plan as 2004, it is Gibbs 2 if you will. Basically it is not working and needs a redo. I think it is going to take a Cowher type couch with complete control to turn this ship around. Now will Danny allow that? Yet to be seen but IMO Zorn is not the guy to do it.

You know I love Gibbs but he's been away from the game for too long. Believe me when I heard Zorn was named HC I thought it was some sort of joke. I still do. Cowher would be a great coach no doubt. But all I'm saying is Jimmy Johnson was seen as a joke too. I would give Zorn at least one more year to see if he can improve the Skins. It's not like Cowher is bringing us to the SuperBowl in 1 season. Either way next year will be a transition. I may be wrong. Who knows maybe Zorn was the only one that wanted the job

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by 44ever

You know I love Gibbs but he's been away from the game for too long. Believe me when I heard Zorn was named HC I thought it was some sort of joke. I still do. Cowher would be a great coach no doubt. But all I'm saying is Jimmy Johnson was seen as a joke too. I would give Zorn at least one more year to see if he can improve the Skins. It's not like Cowher is bringing us to the SuperBowl in 1 season. Either way next year will be a transition. I may be wrong. Who knows maybe Zorn was the only one that wanted the job

JJ wasn't seen as a joke. College HC w/ a NC.

Can anyone tell me why we ran the ball w/ 2:10 left in the game down by 10, ball on the 10 yard line, approx? Then ran the screen after that. Bad stuff man.

[44ever]

Originally Posted by redsk1

JJ wasn't seen as a joke. College HC w/ a NC.

Can anyone tell me why we ran the ball w/ 2:10 left in the game down by 10, ball on the 10 yard line, approx? Then ran the screen after that. Bad stuff man.

at 1-15 he was. Spurrier was a great college coach as well. I'm talking Pro's not college. I grew up in a family of Dallas Cowboy fans so I watched them often and had to hear the inside scoop. And he was not liked in 1989. We ran the ball with 2 minutes left because that's what we have been doing for the last 10 years. Why do we treat the last 2 min in the first half like it doesn't matter? Or loss to the worst teams? These things are nothing new. If your implying as much. I'm not arguing we suck. We do. I was only trying to learn from history. Who are we getting after Cowher? When do you start to catch on to what's been going on? Just as frustrated as you are. Maybe more.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by redsk1

JJ wasn't seen as a joke. College HC w/ a NC.

Can anyone tell me why we ran the ball w/ 2:10 left in the game down by 10, ball on the 10 yard line, approx? Then ran the screen after that. Bad stuff man.

Yeah, that's a great point. A microcosm of the second half of our season. Early in the season when the line was healthy and playing well, we could dictate games with our running game. That's not the case anymore and hasn't been for at least a month (with Seattle being the lone exception).

On the road, trailing late in the game with the playoffs on the line, you've got to attack. I really hope Zorn's inability to adjust is nothing more than a symptom of being a rookie HC with too many responsibilities on his plate. I believe in his system, but I think he needs to let someone else call the plays.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by redsk1

JJ wasn't seen as a joke. College HC w/ a NC.

Can anyone tell me why we ran the ball w/ 2:10 left in the game down by 10, ball on the 10 yard line, approx? Then ran the screen after that. Bad stuff man.

You know that was my first reaction too, and said so while watching, but as I said it, I realized it actually was a great call. Everyone knew we needed two scores, no timeouts, every defender had to be thinking pass. But we did have the two minute warning, so we had one shot at pulling a draw or run to break it. He took the shot, used the two minute warning, and it didn't work. Like most of our plays in the second half of the season.