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

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

What's with the quotes around the word 'expert'? Clearly, the experts were right, and this joke of a front office has been wrong. And what makes you think the market of fans in Washington are the only ones who want instant success? Every market wants that. And with the way the NFL is structured, just about every team has that ability. Look at Atlanta and Miami. Those turnarounds are about as instantaneous as you can get.

It's absurd to say that fans of the Redskins are "hypercritical" or the most impatient when for 10 years we've suffered through F'ed up drafts, over-paid and overrated free agent disasters, draft picks tossed down the drain, the most expensive ticket prices in the league, the most expensive hot dogs and beers in the league, all to watch a team with a losing record ever since the franchise was taken over by complete buffoons. For TEN YEARS we've put up with this crap -- and some people have the audacity to say we're just not patient enough.

The issue with Shottenheimer was that he wanted all the power. They parted ways.

False. According to the terms of the original contract, Schottenheimer already had complete control. Then after the season finished, Snyder tried to weasel his way back into control of personnel decisions and assistant coaching hires which was in total violation of that contract. Schottenheimer refused to relent, and Lil' Danny fired him.

Lil' Danny's next act of wisdom was to bring in the flavor of the nanosecond -- Steve Spurrier, and as we all know, that set the franchise back even further.

It's botch-job after botch-job with our dork of an owner. Looking back, Marty probably had things moving in the right direction better than any other coach. And that includes Joe Gibbs.

Your criticism of Spurrier is valid if you are using hindsight, but how many fans were not thinking that that was a steal of a move. Now many more have college coaches have failed at the transition, but at the time alot of people thought it was a good move.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

As we saw with the coach search to replace Gibbs.

Everything changed after he spent five minutes to hire Spurrier and it completely blew up in his face. Ever since then he's been very deliberate and methodical with just about everything.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

Your criticism of Spurrier is valid if you are using hindsight, but how many fans were not thinking that that was a steal of a move. Now many more have college coaches have failed at the transition, but at the time alot of people thought it was a good move.

My criticism of the Spurrier Experiment had more to do with giving up so quickly on Marty Schottenheimer than anything else. That 8-3 stretch at the end of 2001 was probably the best football the Skins have played in years before or since. And Marty was doing it with the likes of Tony Banks and Kent Graham.

And it was the way Danny tried to go back against the terms of the original contract that really reflects his sleaziness.

So, do I blame Snyder for making a bad decision to hire Spurrier? Yes, I do. Was I supposed to know it wasn't going to work? No. I'm a fan. Snyder hired people around him to advise him in these matters, and with or without the benefit of hindsight, he cannot be absolved for taking a sledgehammer to the foundation that Marty had just begun.

Raider fans don't give Al Davis a pass because he can't see into the future. He deserves the whipping he gets because it's his job to see the trends, and to know which way the wind is blowing. Ditto for Danny. Nobody has a crystal ball. But the league has people who show a knack for making good decisions on a regular basis. Until there is some other method to determine whether people are successful or not, the only thing we have to go on are the results. By definition, that means using hindsight.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

As we saw with the coach search to replace Gibbs.

Point taken, and his rock-solid faith in Vinny Cerrato year after year further confirms that.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

As we saw with the coach search to replace Gibbs.

In which case he becomes reclassified as indecisive.

[MTK]

Cerrato Says Zorn Will Return as Redskins Coach in 2009 - washingtonpost.com

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

So, do I blame Snyder for making a bad decision to hire Spurrier? Yes, I do. Was I supposed to know it wasn't going to work? No. I'm a fan. Snyder hired people around him to advise him in these matters, and with or without the benefit of hindsight, he cannot be absolved for taking a sledgehammer to the foundation that Marty had just begun.

Pepper Rodgers was behind the Spurrier debacle....he's gone, can we get over it? You're bringing up bad repressed memories......my head hurts now.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Cerrato Says Zorn Will Return as Redskins Coach in 2009 - washingtonpost.com

Very good article. Good news IMO (although I hope this isn't the dreaded "vote of confidence" that happens before many an axe has been dropped). Cerrato's take on things is spot-on. I wish the "Cerrato's an idiot" crowd would read this article objectively.

[MTK]

I think this says it all:

Cerrato said he is confident Zorn, whom he strongly recommended to team owner Daniel Snyder for the Redskins' head coaching vacancy last winter, is "learning and he's improving. Just how rookie players learn and improve, same type of steps. He's making progress."

Zorn probably wasn't in any real danger, not as long as Vinny is around.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Cerrato Says Zorn Will Return as Redskins Coach in 2009 - washingtonpost.com

That's the right move

[30gut]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think this says it all:

Zorn probably wasn't in any real danger, not as long as Vinny is around.

Yeah, the local sports media and some Redskins boards (not this site) hype up a story w/o any real evidence.

[PennSkinsFan]

Zorn to Return in 2009, Unfortunately so is Cerrato | DC Pro Sports Report -- Sports news, stats and analysis from the capital of the free world

Here is our article and opinion. Jim Zorn is not the issue, the guy that made the statements IS the issue.

[irish]

As long as DS is the owner VC will be there because no decent GM or football man would want to put up with him.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Very good article. Good news IMO (although I hope this isn't the dreaded "vote of confidence" that happens before many an axe has been dropped). Cerrato's take on things is spot-on. I wish the "Cerrato's an idiot" crowd would read this article objectively.

Before the Philly game, rumor had it Zorn was out. Vinnys "support" for Zorn was very weak and left many with the feeling that Zorn really was about to get fired.... so now let me get this straight:

-we beat Philly 10-3.
-We were inches away from a tied game going into overtime.
-Zorns playcalling was horrible.
-Campbell was throwing bad passes all day.
-Andy Reid foolishly abandoned the run early, keeping us in the game.
-The Philly receivers couldnt catch a cold and were dropping passes left and right, keeping us in the game.
-Our defense played an incredible game, holding one of the leagues most potent offenses to a mere field goal, keeping us in the game.
-Our offense had the ball in great field position half a dozen times and could only score 1 TD

... but we won, so NOW Zorns job is now safe? what the heck?!?

If THIS win tipped the scales in favor of Zorn, then Cerrato definitely needs to be fired. This offense, Zorns offense, is just as bad as it has been all year. While the league has adapted to Zorn, Zorn hasnt adapted to the league - This is why our offense has gotten WORSE as the season has progressed, not better. Cerrato said Zorn is learning? - where is the evidence of that. Zorn is a clown and needs to go. If we bring in a guy like Holmgren to continue the WCO here, then Campbell needs to go too. He is not a WCO QB and he never will be. he may not even be a QB qualified to start in the NFL.

The only reason I think Zorn will stay is becuase Cerrato and Zorn are tied at the hip. Before the season, Cerrato said he and Zorn had two years or they would BOTH be out of their jobs... the only bright side i can see to keeping Zorn is it means - when he fails next year, he -and most importantly, Cerrato- will both be gone forever.

[SmootSmack]

His job was allegedly precarious not for any of the on-field stuff, thought that still leaves a lot to be desired. The issue was more so how things were in the locker room, and they've supposedly improved. Obviously a win helps, but I'm just glad that the front office seems to be allowing the staff and players to work through things.

I still think Cerrato will be less involved this off-season and completely removed next off-season, but i don't think he'll be fired from the organization.