Thank You - An Open Letter

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Totally agree. I also agree we'd probably be 4-1 too if Gibbs were here. One thing I want to thank Zorn the most for is the way he's mentored Campbell.

Gibbs really built a solid TEAM, not a bunch of individual talent. When you look at the players Schneed mentioned above, you could easily say we're not the same team without certain key cogs playing in any game.

[MTK]

Zorn has definitely done a great job with Campbell. I think he's taking him to a level he might not have reached under Gibbs/Saunders.

[Dogtag]

Very well stated.

There is one Joe Gibbs good quality that you may have overlooked. When he 'retired' a few months ago, he did not interject himself into team politics. He had the good grace and understanding to let the organization grow. He planted the seeds of a qulaity organization and now he has stepped back and watched it grow and mature. As any parent can tell you when their children leave home, this is not an easy thing to do. However, it speaks volumes towards his good character and respect for the organization.

Thanks Joe.

[EternalEnigma21]

I agree shneed.

I was also thinking about writing a letter to danny boy (ill hold off till we actually advance to a championship game)... sort of a thanks/apology letter for all the crap ive talked about him from the deion sanders bs, to the spurrier splash...

hes a young owner who didn't always have the right results, but always the best intentions, and he's learning...

[tdSKINS1]

very nicely put great post

[skinsnut]

Schneed hits a BULLEYE!

Imagine a west coast offense in the last 2 weeks without the Gibbs Power Rushing game to run out the clock...thats right....its called the Eagles.
What a wicked combo.

Gibbs' players, Running Game Defense and Character, plus the passing attack that Campbell excelled in when he was in college.

I really believe that was the missing link Gibbs was looking for when he hired Saunders.
Imagine if he hired Zorn instead.

This team never quits, and never takes anything for granted and yes...they still "fight their guts out" even when they are "staying medium"

Thank you Joe Gibbs....outside of the last 4 games, you have been the only real anchor to the team since the early 70s....thanks for bringing respect back to DC!!

[dmek25]

good post schneed. as much as i love coach Gibbs, i think the main thing coach Zorn has injected is the play to win mentality. and it shows in his play calling. i think we are all in agreement that coach Gibbs always was, and will be conservative by nature. i say there is no way coach Gibbs goes for it on 4th down in the eagles game

[redsk1]

I'll step out on a limb and say that I'm not sure we'd be 4-1 w/ Gibbs as our coach. I'm as big of a JG's fan there is, and I give him ALOT of credit for the character and team he has built here. However, there is a different aggressiveness that Zorn has brought to our team. We could name 3-4 instances that Zorn has played to win the game when conversely JG's would have played not to lose the game. Could those instances led to a loss? Maybe. In addition, JC is a different guy this year. Would he have been the same guy w/ AS's? Not sure (i was an AS's backer too). So I'm not sure Coach JG2 would have this team at 4-1. Maybe, but I'm not convinced.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Nice post. Agree 100%.

[redsk1]

Yes, good post though. During the last few years, we haven't had the most talent in the world, but I think you could really tell that these guys are high character guys who love to win. I think JG's got all he could get out of them. I don't see that on alot of other teams (just see the Cowboys book thread).

This season in preseason (the first couple of games) you could really see how much they enjoy playing for Zorn. That's what turned the tide for me as a Zorn fan.

[Lady Brave]

Thank you for that Schneed. Everybody knows how I feel about Gibbs, so I'll spare everyone from another emotional outburst. (Your welcome)

The foundation has been laid. I think great things are in store for this franchise and I look forward to our future under Coach Zorn.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Excellent thread. Hess' sig reflects my sentiments. Zorn deserves credit for mentoring JC and bringing in a dynamic offense, but Gibbs left us with guys like JC, Portis, Sellers, Cooley, Moss, Carter, Griffin, Fletcher, Springs, Smoot, Rogers, Landry et al. Gibbs' decision to trade to get JC might have saved our franchise.

[birdz4gibbs]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Amidst all the excitement, the Redskins buzz on the airways, the cheers by the fans, the positive press from national media, amidst high hopes and the praise for new coach Jim Zorn; amidst all of that I just wanted to stop and smell the roses while we sit here at 4-1, and say thank you to the man most responsible for the Redskins' success this season...

Joe Gibbs.

This is in no way to take away from the job Jim Zorn has done/is doing, and in no way to take away from the sound decisions Vinny Cerrato has made since taking the reins as the football boss. It is because of Jim Zorn that our offensive schemes are creative, balanced and unpredictable. It is largely because of Jim Zorn's tutelage that Jason Campbell has taken his game to the next level, winning four out of five tough games without committing a single turnover. It is because of Vinny Cerrato that rookie Chris Horton now mans the safety spot, generating four takeaways for the Redskins through five games. Jim Zorn and Vinny Cerrato have been a success thus far, and we're all excited for what's to come with them at the helm.

But as I watch Clinton Portis put up nearly 150 yards on the Eagles in Philly, I can't help but think of the day Joe Gibbs traded for him. As I watch Shawn Springs shut down Terrell Owens in Dallas, I can't help but think of the day Joe Gibbs flew on Redskins One to sign him as a free agent. As I watch Chris Cooley (who Gibbs traded up to acquire in the 2004 draft) catch a TD pass against the Eagles from Antwaan Randle-El (who Gibbs acquired as a free agent in 2006) I can't help but think of Joe. And especially as I watch Jason Campbell develop into a star QB, making key plays on third down to move the chains and ice games, I think back to the day Gibbs traded three picks to jump up and take him 25th overall.

Marcus Washington. Cornelius Griffin. Rocky McIntosh. LaRon Landry. London Fletcher. Carlos Rogers. Fred Smoot. Casey Rabach. Santana Moss. In addition to the players mentioned above, these guys all have three things in common:

- They're 4-1.
- We love them.
- Joe Gibbs acquired them.

Joe Gibbs built the foundation of this team, but more than that, he restored the pride and character in this team.

How can this team still keep fighting hard every week despite the constant turnover amongst the coaching staff over the years? The change in offensive systems? The departure of star defensive coordinators? How can this team keep fighting hard when they're down 14 on the road to the Eagles? Lesser men would have quit when down 14 on the road against the Eagles. But these are not lesser men, they are Joe Gibbs' men. They were guided first hand by the steadiness of their great coach who picked them up after tragically losing a star teammate and guided them to a December push for a playoff berth. They saw what it meant to come together, to appreciate one another, to demand hard work and commitment from one another.

Far be it for a Redskin fan to draw comparisons to the hated Cowboys, but when Bill Parcells left the Cowboys he left them with a foundation that allowed Wade Phillips to guide them to a 13-3 record. Likewise, Joe Gibbs has left Jim Zorn with a young franchise QB in the making, an experienced and cohesive offensive line, a star running back, a star tight end, and a playmaking wide receiver. He left a defense in capable hands by building a deep coaching staff and who retained players and schemes that have been successful in the past. The only difference between these Redskins and those Cowboys? A better man built these Redskins, and a better coach is taking the reins of these Redskins. And hopefully, results will be better than a divisional round loss at home.

Whatever is in store for the Redskins this season, whether a playoff berth, a division championship, a conference championship, or a Super Bowl victory, Joe Gibbs deserves much praise. Without his work we wouldn't be 4-1 today. He's left his fingerprints all over Zorn's team. Make no mistake, this is Zorn's team now, and the excitement surrounding him is justified. But without you, Joe, we are nothing.

Thank you for all you've done. Your tenure was a resounding success - you've given this team the chance to do something special. Even if you're no longer part of the Redskins, you've left your mark. So enjoy your retirement, and root alongside us for your Redskins to do something special this year.

Hail.

really all i can say is WOW spot on man. i have said this since this winning streak started and even before that ..jim zorn may be our coach now but it was joe gibbs who put this team back together with character and it showed in philly and dallas..jim zorn hasn,t been all that bad either..

keep it up..great post thanks..

[Redskin Jim]

Very nice.

[WaldSkins]

Originally Posted by skinsnut

Schneed hits a BULLEYE!

Imagine a west coast offense in the last 2 weeks without the Gibbs Power Rushing game to run out the clock...thats right....its called the Eagles.
What a wicked combo.

Gibbs' players, Running Game Defense and Character, plus the passing attack that Campbell excelled in when he was in college.

I really believe that was the missing link Gibbs was looking for when he hired Saunders.
Imagine if he hired Zorn instead.

This team never quits, and never takes anything for granted and yes...they still "fight their guts out" even when they are "staying medium"

Thank you Joe Gibbs....outside of the last 4 games, you have been the only real anchor to the team since the early 70s....thanks for bringing respect back to DC!!

What makes you think that Zorn would have got to call plays, because Al Saunders didnt get that luxury.