Redskins fans looking for a ray of hope from coach Joe Gibbs last week had no reason to listen to him exiting four days of meetings for organizational review.
Gibbs, who promised to tear apart the team and figure out what was wrong during the meetings, might have done just that. The problem was that afterward he offered no new insight as to what went wrong or what might be fixed this offseason.
In fact, a 10-minute meeting with reporters revealed so little that Gibbs was asked at its end why he couldn't give any specifics.
"I gave you specifics, but you don't seem to take them," Gibbs said. "I said specifically that we know our roster, we know where our holes are and what we need and what we're going after. Our roster decisions have been made. It's very specific. I won't tell you guys, because I think it would hurt a lot of guys on the team.
"So I'm not going to divulge that. But we made real specific decisions on the roster. Obviously with the staff, we've done some things there. We're actively going ahead with all of our contractual things. That's concrete. We're working on all the different issues there."
To review:
—Gibbs made secret decisions about roster, where a number of the problems were so glaring it didn't exactly take four days of meetings to figure them out.
—He made a switch with his coaching staff, hiring Bill Musgrave to oversee quarterbacks and shifting Jack Burns to an advance role. However, Gibbs said the change had been in the works and wasn't a result of meeting for four days.
—He decided to move forward with negotiations for several of the Redskins' own free agents. In several instances, talks have been ongoing for weeks. In any case, Gibbs provided no specifics as to which free agents he hoped to retain.
Perhaps most strangely, Gibbs came out of the meetings with no revelations as to how he might improve the offensive scheme.
By year's end, it was clear that Gibbs' X's and O's were a big reason for Washington's failings. The unit, once famed for its creativity, was relegated to a batch of 2-yard passes as the Redskins scored fewer points than every NFL team except the Bears. For all the criticism of wide receiver Rod Gardner and the interior offensive line, Gibbs seemed just as much to blame.
No one, frankly, would bat an eye if Gibbs unveiled a totally reconstructed scheme in minicamp. Even offensive coordinator Don Breaux admitted that the Redskins had become handcuffed by a fear of committing turnovers. But Gibbs characterized any offseason changes as simply part of the larger tweaking that was done in-season.
"That's a continued process there," Gibbs said. "We always want to be aggressive. ... We need to try to fix (our downfield game). We need to jump in the end zone with some stuff. We'll look at what we're doing and who's doing it."
Problem is, that was supposed to have happened in those meetings.
NOTES, QUOTES
—Offensive coordinator Don Breaux was surprisingly frank in his analysis of Washington's schematic problems following coach Joe Gibbs' first season back. Breaux pointed to a number of early turnovers and said they constricted the staff's willingness to open up the offense and attack opponents.
"We had to battle back from that," Breaux said. "You put an emphasis on (not turning the ball over). At times, maybe guys get too conscious of trying to protect the ball. Maybe you get a little conservative, and you have a good defense so maybe you try to play to your defense.
"We're at the point where we know, to get where we want to go, we've got to let 'er fly. We've got to have confidence that we can attack offensively. We'll work very hard on that mindset with our players."
Breaux's quotes were notable for their divergence from what Gibbs said the following day. The head coach said Washington is "always" trying to be aggressive and that the scheme will "continually evolve" rather than face an overhaul.
—LT Chris Samuels yielded just one sack this year, a solid rebound effort after his play dropped off considerably in 2002 and 2003. At season's end, he spoke candidly about what had happened to his mindset during his roughest moments.
"Last year, my confidence dropped big-time," said Samuels, a 2001 Pro Bowl starter. "There were times where it would be third-and-long and I was shaking in my boots because if I didn't know if I could hold (off) the guy. I wasn't playing the way I used to. Guys were beating me who shouldn't have had a chance to beat me. I had a bad year.
"I came back this year with a chip on my shoulder. I wanted to prove myself to my teammates, gain their respect back. (Assistant head coach for offense Joe Bugel) took me back to the fundamentals of the game — tight hands, keeping your head back. I told him at the end of (the last) game, 'Buges, you were right on time for me.' "
The Redskins intend to sign Samuels to a contract extension this offseason to spread out the impact of the $6.5 million in new compensation he is scheduled to earn in the final year of his rookie deal. There had been some speculation about Samuels' future, but Gibbs was emphatic that Samuels was a part of the team moving forward.
—Gibbs laughingly refuted the notion that the Redskins might hire a general manager this offseason.
"Y'all prompted the GM talk," Gibbs said. "You guys wanted a GM. We didn't."
There had been some speculation around midseason that Gibbs, in an effort to boost the team, might go out and hire a real general manager. Right now, Vinny Cerrato fills the role of vice president of football operations but is mostly a scouting chief below Gibbs and owner Dan Snyder.
But there are no changes in the works. The development isn't unexpected — Gibbs continually expressed praise for Washington's 2004 personnel moves and never seemed inclined to shake up the scouting operation.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I figured you guys would all like that." — Coach Joe Gibbs, on the hiring of 37-year-old Bill Musgrave as quarterbacks coach. All the questions about Gibbs' aging offensive staff had some wondering whether Musgrave was brought in to inject some youth. Gibbs said he wasn't.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Coaches finished four days of organizational meetings and then ducked out of town for at least a two-week vacation. Redskin Park is strangely silent in early January for the first time since owner Dan Snyder purchased the team in 1999.
Tops on the agenda is re-signing a number of Washington's own free agents. However, coach Joe Gibbs didn't provide any specifics as to which players the club is seeking to re-sign. MLB Antonio Pierce is a no-brainer after a breakout season, but talks are just getting started after he switched agents.
Among other free agents, CB Fred Smoot is a headliner looking for big money.
COACHING CAROUSEL: Former Jacksonville offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was brought in to oversee Washington's quarterbacks. Whether that means a potential resurgence for QB Mark Brunell, who worked with Musgrave in Jacksonville but struggled badly in his first year in Washington, remains unclear. At the least, the Redskins offense should get some needed fresh ideas after a poor 2004 season.
Despite coach Joe Gibbs' age, the Redskins have their icon for at least one more year and probably two. Rumors of Gibbs' failing health during the season were bogus; he actually looked worst in the days leading up to the opener.
None of Washington's assistant coaches seemed to be getting looks for the NFL's few head-coach openings. Defensive line coach Greg Blache, who interviewed for the 49ers' post two years ago, was mentioned in connection with the new opening but wasn't among San Francisco's first half-dozen interviews. Assistant head coach for defense Gregg Williams, whose stock rose after an outstanding season, is expected to remain in Washington for at least one more year.
FREE-AGENT UPDATE:
—OL Ray Brown (UFA, 42-year-old was leaning toward coming back for another year but had to talk it over with his wife. Gibbs loves Brown's veteran leadership and versatility.)
—S Jason Doering (UFA, special-teamer finished year on IR. No indication of club's interest.)
—TE Brian Kozlowski (UFA, veteran was somewhat involved in the offense and Gibbs likes his toughness and intelligence. But Washington easily could upgrade.)
—MLB Antonio Pierce (UFA, four-year pro looking for his first NFL payday after entering league as an undrafted free agent under Marty Schottenheimer. Talks are ongoing.)
—DT Joe Salave'a (UFA, resurrected career after sitting out 2002 and playing sporadically for the Chargers in 2003. A solid run-stuffer on the nose.)
—HB Mike Sellers (UFA, stood out on special teams, and not just because in one game he picked up three personal fouls. Redskins love his big plays in the kicking game.)
—CB Fred Smoot (UFA, has boosted game last two seasons, growing into a legitimate cover man and a team leader. However, he and Redskins differ on his value.)
—RB Rock Cartwright (RFA, mostly a special-teamer as the third-string running back. Redskins are expected to tender.)
—S Pat Dennis (RFA, made a few plays on special teams. Could be tendered.)
—DE Demetric Evans (RFA, started eight games at right end for injured Phillip Daniels. A plugger who will be tendered.)
—S Todd Franz (RFA, not a bad option as a reserve corner/safety and has played special teams fairly extensively. Expected to be tendered.)
—QB Tim Hasselbeck (RFA, the third quarterback. Will be tendered, but not at the first-round level.)
—DT Chad Killings (RFA, late season pickup didn't see much action.)
—S Andre Lott (RFA, former fifth-round pick spent most of the year on IR. Defensive staff likes him, and he should get the low tender.)
—LB Lemar Marshall (RFA, started 14 games at weak-side linebacker and is projected as a defensive contributor and key special-teamer when LaVar Arrington is healthy. Will get tendered, but probably not at the first-round level.)
—RB John Simon (RFA, spent year on injured reserve. Probably won't be tendered.)
—DE Ron Warner (RFA, compiled 3 1/2 sacks in reserve duty and will get tendered. Like Evans, he's a plugger whose value is in a rotation.)
MEDICAL WATCH: LT Chris Samuels (ankle) was scheduled for a cleanup procedure. OL Ray Brown (knee) was to have similar surgery later this month. WR Laveranues Coles (toe) is getting another checkup; surgery probably will be recommended, but Coles seems very reluctant to undergo it. LB LaVar Arrington (knee) spent a few days with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., to get a feel for how he should rehab this offseason. LB Mike Barrow (knee) needs to figure out whether his career is indeed over.
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