HE MAY NOT
Far more impressive than his 31-36 record or his two wild-card berths in four seasons was the way Gibbs held his team together last fall. Instead of unraveling after Sean Taylor's death
Much of the credit goes to Gibbs. He seemed lost and almost senile during the Buffalo time-out fiasco, but his poise and leadership trumped his outdated play-calling and steered the team through a crisis.
Gibbs is back in NASCAR (with different issues). But as the Redskins open the 2008 season tonight, they could use his wisdom and experience. He left plenty
We'll start with Jim Zorn. He's never even called a play in an NFL game, let alone been a head coach at any level.
As training camp opened, Zorn semed like the anti-Gibbs: youthful, loose and candid. His players fed off his energy, and spirits were high after three straight preseason victories.
But after being outscored 71-6 in their final two tune-ups, the Redskins stumble into tonight's opener. And legitimate questions have arisen about Zorn.
Is his West Coast offense the right fit for Campbell, who seems to have to learn
And most importantly,
It's hard to blame Zorn for replacing oft-injured veteran Jon Jansen with second-year tackle Stephon Heyer. An aging sieve of a line was the primary reason the Redskins' first-team offense sputtered in August.
Still, Jansen is the longest-tenured Redskin and a popular locker room presence. By benching him, Zorn may well establish his authority, but he risks alienating some of his players at a critical time. Washington visits all three NFC East rivals in the next five weeks, and losses in all three could end their playoff hopes before Halloween.
But if Zorn's seat is already warm, Vinny Cerrato's should be sizzling.
The Redskins' vice president of football operations has a reputation as the NFL's version of Waylon Smithers because of his close relationship to owner Daniel Snyder. Now, for the first time, he's in charge of personnel.
No one should expect a draft class without a first-round pick to offer significant immediate help--especially to a playoff team. Still, Cerrato's initial 10-man haul looks rather shaky.
Second-round picks Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, drafted to upgrade a small receiving corps, frustrated Zorn by reporting to camp out of shape. Tight end Fred Davis, another second-round choice, slept through a morning workout during his first minicamp in May.
The only rookie expected to see significant time tonight is punter Durant Brooks. He "beat out" incumbent Derrick Frost, whose preseason average was higher and who raised arguably the biggest stink
(Frost may have a point. Fourth-round pick Justin Tryon was torched repeatedly in preseason, but earned a roster spot ahead of fellow cornerback Byron Westbrook.)
Thomas' and Kelly's slow development could hamstring Zorn, who likes to use four-receiver sets and may not have that many healthy bodies. Even at full strength, the Redskins would have trouble against their division rivals. At less than capacity, it gets exponentially harder.
Of course, there's one other person who should be accountable for the Redskins' performance. Snyder, who has treated the Redskins like a fantasy team since he bought them nearly a decade ago, handed Cerrato the keys and chose Zorn over coaching candidates with far more experience.
But the next time an owner takes the blame for his team's struggles will be the first. Good luck, Dan. You may need it.
Steve DeShazo: 540/374-5443
Email: sdeshazo@freelancestar.com