Stump Mitchell and the Washington Redskins reached agreement this afternoon on a two-year contract. Mitchell joins Jim Zorn's staff as assistant head coach/running backs. The Seahawks had been reluctant to let Mitchell, their running backs coach since 1999, leave on a lateral move. The "assistant head coach" portion of the title makes this a promotion.
I think the Assistant Head Coach thing is getting used and abused. To my knowledge it was a novel concept when Gibbs bestowed it, now everyone in the league is gonna do it, So our running backs coach is our Assistant Head Coach? Whatev. good to get someone in who knows what the crap Zorn is about, Buges is gonna get sick of West Coast I can see it now, and the linemen will be whining when Jason is getting flattened (as he did all preseason and into the season) they'll say "its because our power running game isn't there and thats what we're built for yada yada" I do see the Coryell and Walsh offenses being pretty stark opposites it'll be interesting thats for sure, remember Seattle has a pretty solid OL, where here we've had to use alot of extra protections. Bottom line is the Saunders system was looking good late with the QB knowing where to go with the ball, and Jason probably would have posted some serious numbers in it next year, maybe not we'll never know, but I don't know all we can do is hope.
So does this mean they're still after Sherman Smith for OC?
If my wife knew I was concerning myself with the Redskins RB coach, I might be in trouble.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax "We're on the rise, man, whether you're on the train or not." - Josh Norman
Well, we did have an assistant head coach and an associate head coach to replace, so I suppose this makes sense. Maybe the front office is trying to convince themselves they have the best coaching staff in the league simply by giving them the biggest titles. The same principle was applied to Vinny's "promotion".
I though Byner was a good running backs coach, personally. But I also see the merit in bringing in a couple of people that Zorn can rely on to help spread the word on the new offence.
Mitchell Joins Staff By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com February 13, 2008
The Redskins have added Stump Mitchell to the coaching staff, naming him assistant head coach-running backs on Wednesday. Earnest Byner, the Redskins' running backs coach from 2004-07, was not retained.
Mitchell joins new Redskins head coach Jim Zorn in making the move from Seattle. Mitchell spent the last nine seasons as the Seahawks' running backs coach.
During that time, Seattle's running backs recorded 1,000 yard seasons seven times. He tutored Ricky Watters, Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris, among other backs.
Alexander earned NFL MVP honors and his third Pro Bowl berth in 2005.
"Stump is an excellent teacher," Zorn said. "He's been a running back in this league and I've gotten the opportunity to know him well during our time together in Seattle. I've seen first-hand how he teaches and he is a great addition to our coaching staff."
Prior to joining the Seahawks, Mitchell served three seasons as head coach at Morgan State University (1996-1998). He spent the 1995 season as offensive coordinator at Morgan State before being promoted to head coach the following season.
His coaching career began in 1991 as the running backs coach with the San Antonio Rough Riders of the World League of American Football (later re-named NFL Europe).
From 1992-94, Mitchell was the head football coach at Casa Grande High School in Arizona
Mitchell was drafted in the ninth round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent his entire career with the Cardinals (1981-1989).
Mitchell still ranks first in Cardinals franchise history in total yards with 11,988 and ranks second with 4,649 rushing yards on 986 attempts and 32 touchdowns.
Redskins add Mitchell as running backs coach Updated: Feb13, 2008, 09:12 PM EST ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Stump Mitchell followed Jim Zorn to the Washington Redskins on Wednesday, joining the team as running backs coach.
Mitchell, the Seattle Seahawks running back coach since 1999, will also have the title of assistant head coach with the Redskins. He and Zorn worked together on the Seahawks staff from 2001 through last season.
"He's been a running back in this league, and I know him very well," Zorn said. "And I know how he teaches. He's an excellent teacher."
Mitchell played nine NFL seasons in the 1980s. He was the coach at Morgan State from 1996-98 before joining the Seahawks.
Meanwhile, Zorn was waiting to hear whether Tennessee Titans assistant head coach Sherman Smith will accept the job as offensive coordinator, the only remaining vacancy on the staff of the new Redskins coach. Smith, also the Titans running backs coach, and his wife visited Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"He's considering this," Zorn said. "He's comfortable there in Nashville. He's just got to decide."
Zorn said he hopes to have an answer by the end of the week and has other candidates in mind in case Smith doesn't accept the position. Zorn and Smith played together for the Seahawks in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Zorn said he will call the plays if Smith takes the job.
"He does not want to call the plays," Zorn said. "And I want to call the plays."
SCSkinsFan wrote:Question - So who knows why he is nicknamed Stump?
When you see him you'll know why...built like a tree stump
Actually that is what most people think, but that is wrong. I have seen Lyvonia "Stump" Albert Mitchell. I watched him during his career as the SoCon player of the year at The Citadel. My brother-in-law attended The Citadel at the same time.
While he is a short, stocky, and a powerfully built guy, the true story (rumor), I believe, was that as a young fella, he had all these knots on his head (probably from playing tackle football without a helmet). Thus the comparison with looking like a tree, and from that, came the nickname "Stump".
