Fassel meets with Redskins over coaching vacancies

[QBall]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

actually some sound points here by Wilbon:

But to the outside world it looks like Snyder, with all these meetings, is trying to find a reason to promote Williams . . . or a reason not to. And that's fine, because Snyder is the one who's going to be on the hook for, what, $12 million at the very least? He ought to make sure he's comfortable with the next coach.

What I really want to know is how this fancy new title changes Cerrato's life. If he's got the exact same duties and has input but no power to make football decisions, so what? If he's the Boss of All Things Football, a position I keep pushing Snyder to create, then this could be a significant step in the right direction. Cerrato has taken more criticism than anybody in the organization. But I know this much: His advice as to what to do was wiser in several instances than the course of action the Redskins took.

Thanks for showing me how to post my link properly!

[drew54]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

Help me understand this one.. Are you related to GW?

No not realated.

I really respect Gregg Williams and have enjoyed watching his defense play over the past four years(except 06).

That and I really hate Fassel. Almost as much as I hated Spurrier before we hired him. But I gave him a chance, and I suppose I will give Fassel one too.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

Maybe this should be in the Vinny thread, but I think it fits here too.
This is what really upsets me about the way this whole thing is being handled:

Other stuff: Two Redskins coaches have their contracts expiring, RB coach Earnest Byner and LB coach Kirk Olivadotti. League sources would not be surprised to see Byner end up back with the Ravens possibly in the same role ... The Redskins contingent in Mobile is up in arms. Players and coaches are distraught over the poorly worded press release regarding Cerrato's promotion and Jim Fassel's emergence as a candidate with multiple interviews. They are taking a lot of grief from other team''s people down there and, according to some league sources, the word "laughingstock" is being thrown around in regards to how the team is operating. The timing of the Cerrato release and the fact that it stated he would have "roster" control was a big issue down there; that's always the domain of the coach. The team later backtracked on that issue when I pushed it with them and said any new coach would pick the players, but the inclusion of that word, clumsily or not, read like a "shot across the bow," according to one GM. Of course the players and coaches have a vested stake in Williams getting the gig, too, as it would mean greater security for them and in many cases a contract extension or re-negotiation.

Redskins Insider (from JLC):

I know all the players and coaches are professionals, but why piss all of them off like this? Pros or not, they should have a big influence on the future of this team but it sounds like Danny and Vinny are just going to do their own thing no matter what.

[QBall]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Maybe this should be in the Vinny thread, but I think it fits here too.
This is what really upsets me about the way this whole thing is being handled:

Redskins Insider (from JLC):

I know all the players and coaches are professionals, but why piss all of them off like this? Pros or not, they should have a big influence on the future of this team but it sounds like Danny and Vinny are just going to do their own thing no matter what.

Wow this is getting alot worse quickly!

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Maybe this should be in the Vinny thread, but I think it fits here too.
This is what really upsets me about the way this whole thing is being handled:

Redskins Insider (from JLC):

I know all the players and coaches are professionals, but why piss all of them off like this? Pros or not, they should have a big influence on the future of this team but it sounds like Danny and Vinny are just going to do their own thing no matter what.

Yea, this keeps getting worse. This is why i stated last night imo, I don't trust our FO to handle this organization the right way. They seem to be able to p*** off our coaches and players like no other. For all of the bs "true redskin" talk and family talk they really could give a sh**. Maybe i'm overreacting a little but let's see what plays out.

Again, can't we do better than renting Jim Fassel for a couple of years?

[redwagonskins]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

Maybe this should be in the Vinny thread, but I think it fits here too.
This is what really upsets me about the way this whole thing is being handled:

Redskins Insider (from JLC):

I know all the players and coaches are professionals, but why piss all of them off like this? Pros or not, they should have a big influence on the future of this team but it sounds like Danny and Vinny are just going to do their own thing no matter what.

I'd caveat that to a degree. They are professionals but to what extent. If there is a new coach from outside the organization, and they are fired, do you think they are going to give their best evaluations of the talent in Mobile? It's like a boss firing somebody and then asking them to fill out some reports. Ain't gonna happen. They don't have to worry about getting a bad reference because everybody in league knows the situation.
Speaking of references, I wonder if DS called up the Giants and Ravens and asked about Fassel. If so, their response was probably something like "well he sucked so bad here we had to fire him but I am sure he'll work out great for you guys. Snicker."

[scowan]

If we are not going to promote from within (Greg Williams), then why are we going after another old fart re-tread in Fassal or should I say Fossell! Geez! I think I will sell all of my Redskins stuff and pick a new team, with a more normal owner! The rollercoaster we have all been on since Snyder bought this Fantasy Football team has to end.

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by redwagonskins

I'd caveat that to a degree. They are professionals but to what extent. If there is a new coach from outside the organization, and they are fired, do you think they are going to give their best evaluations of the talent in Mobile? It's like a boss firing somebody and then asking them to fill out some reports. Ain't gonna happen. They don't have to worry about getting a bad reference because everybody in league knows the situation.
Speaking of references, I wonder if DS called up the Giants and Ravens and asked about Fassel. If so, their response was probably something like "well he sucked so bad here we had to fire him but I am sure he'll work out great for you guys. Snicker."

It's not so much about pleasing the players, it's about hiring a strong coach that has the potential to be a coach for a long period of time. IMO that's not Fassel, it is GW. And if not GW, than find someone better than JF.

[redwagonskins]

Originally Posted by redsk1

It's not so much about pleasing the players, it's about hiring a strong coach that has the potential to be a coach for a long period of time. IMO that's not Fassel, it is GW. And if not GW, than find someone better than JF.

Agreed.

[AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace]

Originally Posted by scowan

If we are not going to promote from within (Greg Williams), then why are we going after another old fart re-tread in Fassal or should I say Fossell! Geez! I think I will sell all of my Redskins stuff and pick a new team, with a more normal owner! The rollercoaster we have all been on since Snyder bought this Fantasy Football team has to end.

don't say things you can't take back...especially around here

[dgack]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

I think you are jumping a pretty big gap in logic here. Just because Gibbs supports Williams and Williams coached under Gibbs does not automatically make him more fit for the job.

The players endorse him, much because they have to. That doesn't mean Snyder should be cornered into hiring Gregg Williams if he doesn't feel he's fit to be coach of the Redskins.

The Redskins went through due process on this one. They interviewed a bunch of candidates. They gave second interviews. Snyder included Vinny and Gibbs in the process. The methodology of this decision had everything we as fans could ask for.

I already know the single best candidate for the job (Schwartz) is going to get passed up. The point is, if Danny feels that Fassel makes a better coach than Williams (and the evidence is conflicting), we really can't produce any conclusive evidence that the team is better or worse off. Why not just optimistically wait and see?

I'm not saying that Gggrilliamsss is more qualified strictly because he coached under Joe. In fact, I'm quite aware and open to the idea that Gregggg could be a disaster as a head coach. However, I think the same is true of nearly every other coach that's been discussed, and doubly so of some.

For my money, I'd like Gregggg to at least have the chance to try and fail, rather than throw away the spirit of the team we've been building for the past 4 years and hope for the best with an entirely new regime.

My point is that Snyder could be making decisions now on a macro level in the same vein as the way we were making personnel decisions on a micro level for the past few years: go for the instant gratification, get the guy who's surely the best "big name" coach, etc.

Business is business, but that's not necessarily what The Redskins is all about. I think Joe proved that in both campaigns here.

Secondly, Snyder isn't being "conned" into anything. If you lure a guy into a role as a #2 guy, keep leading him on to ensure he doesn't chase other potential offers, make him all kinds of assurances that he's the heir to the throne, and he (mostly) does his job well during that time, and then turn around and say "you know, contractually, I don't really HAVE to give you the job, I can contractually just pay you a few bucks out of my enormous wallet", well, I think that sends a pretty clear message to players, coaches and fans.

Contractually he may be in the right, but it sure seems like he's a guy whose word doesn't mean a whole lot when all is said and done.

[SmootSmack]

Here's the thing. If Williams was named coach the day after Gibbs resigned, and then he made wholesale changes (or even if he didn't) and the team tanked then we'd still have people panicking and bitching and asking "Why didn't we go through a diligent interview process?" "What did Williams do to deserve being handed the full reigns?" And so on.

A lot of people feel the need to bitch and moan about everything all the time. That much should be pretty apparent to all of us by now.

[dgack]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Here's the thing. If Williams was named coach the day after Gibbs resigned, and then he made wholesale changes (or even if he didn't) and the team tanked then we'd still have people panicking and bitching and asking "Why didn't we go through a diligent interview process?" "What did Williams do to deserve being handed the full reigns?" And so on.

A lot of people feel the need to bitch and moan about everything all the time. That much should be pretty apparent to all of us by now.

While this is true as a generalism, you're also underestimating the number of fans who appreciate loyalty and effort over the cutthroat, "it's-just-business" mentality.

As a guy who staunchly supported Joe during some of the darkest days of his career this year, I'm surprised you are so ambivalent to the idea of casting Ggggrilliamsss aside and reshuffling the entire coaching staff.

The comments now coming out of Alabama are precisely the kind of thing I was talking about earlier. Snyder is sending a message, and it's not the kind of message we got from Redskins Park when Joe was in town.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Here's the thing. If Williams was named coach the day after Gibbs resigned, and then he made wholesale changes (or even if he didn't) and the team tanked then we'd still have people panicking and bitching and asking "Why didn't we go through a diligent interview process?" "What did Williams do to deserve being handed the full reigns?" And so on.

A lot of people feel the need to bitch and moan about everything all the time. That much should be pretty apparent to all of us by now.

Sooooo, you have no complaints about how this is being handled?

I'm not in love with GW as HC, but I certainly hoped it would happen.

[SmootSmack]

If assured that hiring Williams to be head coach (and only head coach) would mean continuity in terms of keeping key assistants, same philosophy on both sides of the ball, and so on then yeah I think Williams is the best coach for this team. If you're asking is the most skilled head coach, then no I don't think he is. If I'm hiring a coach that's not from this organization then Wiliams is not my first choice, probably not even my second or third. But he is, and that shouldn't be ignored.

Ideally a head coach would have been selected by now, but he hasn't been. And again, while I don't think Fassel is the best choice, I don't think he's a horrible selection (if he were to bring in Billick as his OC then we might have an issue) and I, quite honestly, think people here are being idiots for panicking and saying shit like "I'm going to sell all my Redskins stuff."

So many have wanted Snyder to be "patient" for years now, and it's pretty pathetic that "knowledgeable fans" can't seem to do the same.