Matt Cavanaugh hired as QB coach.

[fredp45]

I think our team needs this. We have three inexperienced qbs, a new Head Coach trying to do too much on Offense and a 25 year old newbie OC. This and Callahan should help a lot!!!!!

Great hire today!

[Prowl33]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... uarterbac/

This looks like another solid move. He was with the bears the last 2 seasons. Last year wasnt great but year before was. Was coaching qbs with jets during their few successful years. Also was a backup qb in the league under some great qbs and successful superbowl winning teams.

[Countertrey]

Merged!

[Deadskins]

We have three inexperienced qbs

Who's the third?

[riggofan]

I'll say one thing, we have some extremely experienced position coaches. Cavanaugh, Fewell and Callahan all have a ton of experience as coaches, coordinators, even head coaches. Now they just need to give these guys some good players to work with!!!!

[DarthMonk]

We have three inexperienced qbs

Who's the third?

Darrel Young

[markshark84]

I think our team needs this. We have three inexperienced qbs, a new Head Coach trying to do too much on Offense and a 25 year old newbie OC. This and Callahan should help a lot!!!!!

Great hire today!

Yeah. I'd prefer news that we are getting a new OC. The kids resume is literally a joke --- he was a towel boy in Tampa 5 years ago, random assistant for a UFL team, then our TE coach for a couple years (which, during this time our TEs CLEARLY regressed), then mysteriously promoted to OC. Call me crazy, but I'd prefer someone with over 5 years experience and has had a least a speck of success. Perhaps Callahan will be taking more of an active role..... I'd actually prefer him to be OC based on what we've got.

The fact Gruden hired McVay as OC was the first, and rather large, red flag as it relates to his decision making. Then he hires Barry..... My opinion is that he is just not a very good decision maker. For example:
- The majority of his hires are underqualified and "friends" -- see McVay, Barry, Jordan (RB coach with limited resume, played (not coached) for his brother -- Morris, an all-pro clearly regressed in his 1 year as RB coach), Hilliard (recently fired by BUF, was a UFL coach with Gruden).
- He thought he could run an offense by himself last year.... after hiring a 27 year old OC, no QB coach, etc.
- Retained Haslett.
- He was 1 for 8 on NFL challenges. Tied for #1 in most challenges requested and 31st in total amount of successful challenges. CLEARLY worst in the league.

I honestly don't hate Gruden as our coach. I actually think he's a cool guy; I'm just not sure he is smart, meticulous, demanding, and, most important, someone who has earned and expects respect from his subordinates and players. A "friends" network isn't conducive to this. And while I understand people hire people they have worked with before, they mostly hire subordinates they know to be team players and have been successful in the past. His hires don't fit that mold.

As far as Cavanaugh, I like the fact that, along with Callahan, he's outside the "friends" network. Has a good resume. Another hire to supplement his failing and inexperienced OC.

[riggofan]

The fact Gruden hired McVay as OC was the first, and rather large, red flag as it relates to his decision making. Then he hires Barry..... My opinion is that he is just not a very good decision maker.

This whole "hiring friends" things is quickly becoming the "nepotism/Kyle Shanahan" meme of the Gruden era.

Still these are mostly fair and valid points, man. Personally I don't have a problem with Gruden picking the guys he wants to work with. My opinion is that its his job on the line. Its his career, his reputation, and his future at risk. I don't doubt that Snyder would pay to give him any coach he wanted. So if these are the guys he believes can help him get the job done, I'm not going to spend time griping about it. I have a certain amount of respect too for coaches who believe in what they're doing and have the balls to make unpopular decisions.

We've grown accustomed in Washington to always hiring these big name coaches for every last position. (See: Al Saunders and his 30,000 page playbook.) Every big name out there was at one time some young kid whose resume was "literally a joke". Why can't we develop one of these "hot coordinators" for a change?

I don't think the McVay hire was all that crazy or hard to understand btw. Its pretty obvious that Gruden wants to run HIS offense. McVay knows it and runs it. That's one thing I might agree with you about. As head coach Gruden might need to let go of the offense more than he wants. Didn't that basically happen with Jason Garrett?

[Prowl33]

I agree about McVay not being a good choice... you can pick people you know and trust... but they need to have SOMETHING on their resume. Heck atleast even Barry you could say ok look at decent production with their linebackers, his failure in Detroit was a long time ago, hes running a different system under different circumstances.

My guess is Gruden wanted to have major say in the offense (understandable he was an OC) and with a young inexperienced guy he could do it and mold him his way. My thing is... why not find some young position coach that has gone the last few years experiencing great success with a good team and bring him in.

[tribeofjudah]

I read somewhere that McVay is considered by many teams as an Up and Coming OC stud. Am I wrong...?

[fredp45]

Deadskins...

Are you asking who the 3rd is, because:

1) you don't believe McCoy is inexperienced; or

2) McCoy is an UFA??

[Deadskins]

Deadskins...

Are you asking who the 3rd is, because:

1) you don't believe McCoy is inexperienced; or

2) McCoy is an UFA??

#2

[OldSchool]

I hope this guy sticks it seems Griffin has gone through a lot QB coaches.

[Kilmer72]

I read somewhere that McVay is considered by many teams as an Up and Coming OC stud. Am I wrong...?

No you're not wrong. McVay gave Kyle some new ideas.(Who I think is better than Jay) This is the perfect time to give him (McVay) this chance. Jay is supposed to be a real OC. This the perfect opportunity.

[Irn-Bru]

I read somewhere that McVay is considered by many teams as an Up and Coming OC stud. Am I wrong...?

Nope.

[SkinsJock]

I think that Griffin could benefit from having a QB coach like Matt ... let's face it, RG3 has nowhere to go but up and if Matt can get something more out of him, it's a huge plus for everyone - our QB situation is not good and having Griffin become a better QB and then adding a kid in the draft that can be a good back up is all good - with 2 drafts plus adding a FA or 2, the offensive line can only get better as well

long term plans are in play at Redskins Park .... finally

[Hooligan]

The biggest thing I took from this is we didn't have a QB coach last year. That sounds completely ridiculous to me, especially with a whole new system to learn and two young QBs, one of which needs a lot of work on his mechanics and the other with his mental game.

The article said we were one of two teams to go without a QB coach. Why wouldn't a team have one and how common is this?

[Prowl33]

I think that Griffin could benefit from having a QB coach like Matt ... let's face it, RG3 has nowhere to go but up and if Matt can get something more out of him, it's a huge plus for everyone - our QB situation is not good and having Griffin become a better QB and then adding a kid in the draft that can be a good back up is all good - with 2 drafts plus adding a FA or 2, the offensive line can only get better as well

long term plans are in play at Redskins Park .... finally

My money is on Cousins man really. The guy can move the ball well, he is accurate most of the time, and gets rid of it quick. I imagine with a QB coach helping him make better decisions, and a better o line giving him a little more time, he can progress better and be better for this system.

I think in camp we will see a true competition, with a qb coach and gm seeing them for the first time, and both of them talking with Jay, Cousins wins the job early in camp.

[SkinsJock]

I hope both Cousins and Griffin have a great off season and come to camp in great shape and get a lot of help in getting prepared to play QB here - if both are able to play to their capabilities, I know who my money's on ...

actually, in a way, I hope we have both here next season and Cousins is the starter and Griffin is the back up ... for a while

[yupchagee]

The biggest thing I took from this is we didn't have a QB coach last year. That sounds completely ridiculous to me, especially with a whole new system to learn and two young QBs, one of which needs a lot of work on his mechanics and the other with his mental game.

The article said we were one of two teams to go without a QB coach. Why wouldn't a team have one and how common is this?

Esp with 1st time HC & OC.

[riggofan]

I hope both Cousins and Griffin have a great off season and come to camp in great shape and get a lot of help in getting prepared to play QB here - if both are able to play to their capabilities, I know who my money's on ...

actually, in a way, I hope we have both here next season and Cousins is the starter and Griffin is the back up ... for a while

I was listening to Joe Theisman's recent radio interview this morning. Did anybody else hear it? He is convinced that Cousins will be gone early this spring and makes some good points about why. Damn, wish I could find a link for you guys, but he said some of the same things he said in this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... -redskins/

One of the interesting things from that interview though was that he didn't seem as down on Griffin as I expected. He basically said because of the injuries he felt this was RGIII's first year learning to play from the pocket and he thought he improved over the end of the season. I don't know how true that is but it wasn't what I expected to hear from Joe T.

He also said he has heard there is some friction behind the scenes with Cousins and RGIII which may contribute to Cousins being moved out.

Obviously just rumors so take it all with a grain of salt.

[SkinsJock]

I would think that Cousins should be looking forward to becoming the starter here - maybe I'm not listening to the DC radio but from all accounts Cousins ended the season as the front runner to be #1 here - what's changed

Griffin certainly has not become a better QB than Cousins in the last few weeks and Griffin is quite aways away from becoming a pocket passing QB like Jay wants here ... Jay is TOTALLY in charge of who starts at QB ... right?

I would think that Cousins would be antsy to get Matt's help to firm up his #1 status before Griffin makes any progress

[riggofan]

I would think that Cousins should be looking forward to becoming the starter here - maybe I'm not listening to the DC radio but from all accounts Cousins ended the season as the front runner to be #1 here - what's changed

Hmmm. I'm not sure that's true at all. Cousins didn't even dress for those games that Robert started at the end of the season. He was only dressed in the last game because McCoy was injured. How could he be considered the front runner?

Like Theismann said after those bad games vs the Cardinals and Giants: "Jay just never gave Kirk a chance to get back on the football field. And I don’t think he’s going to be given a chance to compete for the job, because he wasn’t given a chance to play during the regular season."

[markshark84]

I read somewhere that McVay is considered by many teams as an Up and Coming OC stud. Am I wrong...?

Nope.

I am not disputing this, but I'd love to know why. After last year, I'm not sure how anyone could say this. Not only was our offense a joke (literally via the media), but there was a CLEAR lack of leadership and direction on the offense --- something that is generally dictated by the OC.

I was told that McVay's reputation is that he is very nice and easy to work with. I hadn't hear he was a great offensive mind, but again, I don't dispute anything you or anyone else is saying in the least.

McVay was basically considered the QBs coach last year...... I don't think anyone can dispute that flat-out failed in his post.

This all being said, if McVay is truly an up-and-comer --- the kid is 27, 28 years old --- NO ONE would have hired him away to be their OC in the next 3 years. No one. If Gruden were smart, he would have hired a capable, seasoned OC, left McVay as a position coach for at least 3 more years with the expectation he would fill the role at a later date (hopefully after we were successful and the OC was hired to be a HC somewhere else)...... but alas, that is what successful organizations do....

[markshark84]

I hope both Cousins and Griffin have a great off season and come to camp in great shape and get a lot of help in getting prepared to play QB here - if both are able to play to their capabilities, I know who my money's on ...

actually, in a way, I hope we have both here next season and Cousins is the starter and Griffin is the back up ... for a while

I was listening to Joe Theisman's recent radio interview this morning. Did anybody else hear it? He is convinced that Cousins will be gone early this spring and makes some good points about why. Damn, wish I could find a link for you guys, but he said some of the same things he said in this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc- ... -redskins/

One of the interesting things from that interview though was that he didn't seem as down on Griffin as I expected. He basically said because of the injuries he felt this was RGIII's first year learning to play from the pocket and he thought he improved over the end of the season. I don't know how true that is but it wasn't what I expected to hear from Joe T.

He also said he has heard there is some friction behind the scenes with Cousins and RGIII which may contribute to Cousins being moved out.

Obviously just rumors so take it all with a grain of salt.

If the Cousins stuff is true, that is a shame. He is the best QB on the roster for Gruden's offense, no question. He's got a quick trigger and goes through progressions very fast; I'd love to see what he can do with a good OL. I can say the same for RGIII, but even with a good OL, I still think RGIII will have the same issues.....

I don't doubt there is friction between Cousins and RGIII. If I were Cousins --- knowing basically for a FACT that I was better ---- and seeing RGIII getting chance after chance after chance after chance..... while Cousins getting PERMANENTLY benched after having 1 bad game, then 2 mediocre ones plyaing against the best 2 DEFs in the NFL ---- I'd be pissed too. Honestly, I do think they may be rumors because it is easy to see that any competitive QB would be upset by this ---- so it would be easy to start a rumor considering it's believable.

As far as JT's RGIII comments --- it is nice of him to say, but the old "new coordinator", "new offense", "injuries" excuses are the oldest and most commonly used in the book. And if by the term "improvement" he meant going from an 8 QBR to a 30, then I guess he's right..... but a 30 QBR still puts him 30th in the league, just below Geno Smith and Josh McCown......