...to have (Denver's) Mike Shanahan coaching your team? I wonder if he'll have complete control of personnel affairs? And, if so, if that's such a good idea in today's complex NFL?
I can't remember where I saw the article, but I'm a big fan of finding a smart quarterback, teaching him the system over a few years, and then letting him playcall while you worry about strategy...the Peyton Manning way.
There's so much talk about Shanahan being expected to take the job, that I'm not sure it's going to happen. I am happy we put Jim Zorn out of his misery. Look, I never liked Zorn and thought he was a terrible hire, but the fact Snyder didn't have the common decency to fire him but rather try and make him quit makes me hate The Danny all the more. It was his mistake to put Zorn in over his head, yet he wanted Zorn to pay the price. But to answer your question, let's assume Shanahan takes the job. First, he and Bruce Allen are going to have to work out their relationship. Make no mistake, Shanahan had complete control in Denver, even though there was a GM. I'm a believer that you let the GM run the team, including hiring the coach. The GM and the coach set the direction, but the GM picks the players and the coach runs the team. If there's a disagreement between the coach and GM, then you involve the owner. Other than that, the owner stays out of it. That circumstance worked really well for Gibbs' first go-'round. Gibbs and Bobby Beathard (and later Charley Casserly) would really go at it over players and Jack Kent Cooke would play the arbitrator. Second, I still like Jason Campbell. That guy has been absolutely screwed since high school. He had four different offenses at Auburn and just as many in his five years in Washington. He needs to make better reads, but he has a strong arm and quick feet. The offensive line was a disgrace this year and is job #1 of the GM. Give Campbell time to learn the offense and time to throw a pass and he can run Shanahan's offense. Third, Shanahan has shown he can put anyone at running back in his system and they'll gain 1,000 yards. I think Portis needs to go and there's no one else worth keeping behind him (Betts' knee injury is going to take that half-step he needed to succeed in this league). I have confidence they can find someone to step in. Fourth, the rumor is that Kyle Shanahan is leaving HOU to become the offensive coordinator and Mike Zimmer is leaving CIN to take over the defense. Hiring his son is basically saying "I'm running the offense". On defense, the front seven is pretty good, but our safeties and corners need significant work. Shanahan has shown in Denver he needs to stay out of personnel decisions on D. He also threw a number of defensive coordinators under the bus in his last years with the Broncos rather than take the blame. Bruce Allen built a pretty decent defense in Tampa and Oakland, so I'd leave him to pick those players. Fifth and most importantly, the Redskins need to change the culture and the way they do business. This needs to be not just an adjustment, but a complete break from the ways of the past. Think Whitsitt to Pritchard/Miller without the Patternash stopover. As long as you kissed La Petite Danielle's ass, you weren't held accountable. The top level players (Portis, Arrington, etc.) constantly went around the coach and GM to get what they wanted. That shit has to stop. I hope Snyder has learned that he can get a ton of credit and respect (which is what he really wants) by staying out of the day-to-day running of the team. You've hired a GM. Work with the GM to hire a coach. If it's Shanahan, just shut up and write the checks. Shanahan runs a tight ship. Bruce Allen has a strong sense of what it means to be a Redskin; his father helped develop the very concept. Focus on the marketing and business aspects of the club. Leave the football to the pros. I hope Shanahan takes the job; I think he would be great. I also hope The Danny doesn't pull what he did with Schottenheimer and fire him when Marty won't let him have the input Snyder had to relinquish to sign him.
Dang, maxie, thanks for the feedback! I had heard that Shanahan was a control freak. Hopefully, he doesn't soon wear out his welcome in Washington. Definitely knows his x's & o's, though.
I love the Redskins as much as I do the Blazers. I've actually had to detach myself from them a bit because I hate Dan Snyder so much. However, if he reforms I'll come back. Vince Lombardi was a control freak. George Allen was a control freak. Joe Gibbs was a control freak. Exactly what my 'Skins need is a control freak. For too long the inmates have run the asylum.
Please. Dan Snyder is the smartest man in the NFL...just ask him. I've said it before and I'll say it now: You can cut or trade bad players; you can fire bad coaches and GMs; there is nothing you can do when your owner sucks and is in his mid-40s. He's going to outlive me and never sell the team. Either he learns his lesson or I'm fucked.
The announcement here in Denver is that Mike Shanahan just reached an agreement in principle to coach the Washington Redskins. I'm pretty pumped.
Yeah, the presser will be at 11:00 AM Pacific on this site: http://www.redskins.com/gen/index.jsp What's funny is I actually broke the news on ExtremeSkins.com, which is the official Redskins' forum. In this case the Denver media was ahead of the Washington media.
