The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

From the Post...

Among the things that the Redskins coach said was that he and other team officials, including owner Daniel Snyder, toasted late safety Sean Taylor at dinner here Tuesday night on what would have been Taylor's 25th birthday. Zorn said that he's having a collage of pictures of Taylor assembled to hang in his office at Redskins Park to help ensure that any visitors remember what the organization lost when Taylor was shot and killed last fall.

His playbook is ready for his first offseason practices, he said. He has begun working with quarterback Jason Campbell, doing mostly footwork drills. Zorn said he's been pleased to find that Campbell has good footwork and should be able to move fluidly in the pocket as required by Zorn's version of the West Coast offense.

He said he was in Snyder's office at 1:30 a.m. on the opening day of free agency and the Redskins studied the possibilities in the market as aggressively as the organization had done in the past. But team officials couldn't strike deals that they thought made sense with the players they'd targeted, Zorn said, so they stood pat in free agency and now look to the draft to address a list of needs that still includes a safety, a defensive lineman, a wide receiver and depth on the offensive line.

On readying for the offseason practices: "What encompasses being a head coach, it's a unique and new challenge. I think we could all be further along. But I feel confident in the assistants I have. We're ready for our first minicamp playbook-wise."

On Jason Campbell: "He's just in for a lot of different thoughts of how to get rid of the ball in rhythm, how to understand how fast the game is played. He's got to meet the tempo of the game. We've worked on some footwork drills. A lot of quarterbacking is change of direction."

More Campbell: "Matt [Hasselbeck, Zorn's former pupil in Seattle] developed over several years. I think Jason is going to develop over several years. What we're gonna have to do is not give him so much that he can't function....

On the Redskins' offensive approach: "We'll probably have a run-first philosophy initially because of who we have as a running back and how developed our running game is. [But] I want to create balance as long as I'm here."

On the team's aging offensive line: "It's what we have. It's a good group of guys and they're tight-knit.... If we can stay injury-free with those guys and keep them together, I think we're all right."

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/nflinsider/2008/04/zorn_at_the_league_meeting.html

Everything I've heard Zorn related so far I like. If his actions follow what I've seen so far, I think we have a new era upon us. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or delusional. He sees the work he has ahead, but always stays focused and determined with a positive attitude. I like that he's addressed the strengths and weaknesses and has a long term and short term goal, which is needed in any business, not just Redskins football. I can't help but be optimistic with what I've seen.

VetSkinsFan wrote:Everything I've heard Zorn related so far I like. If his actions follow what I've seen so far, I think we have a new era upon us. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or delusional. He sees the work he has ahead, but always stays focused and determined with a positive attitude. I like that he's addressed the strengths and weaknesses and has a long term and short term goal, which is needed in any business, not just Redskins football. I can't help but be optimistic with what I've seen.

Now, if only certain Redskins fans would recognize the long-term goal portion. One mediocre draft class isn't going to immediately improve this Washington Redskins team. It will take two or three mediocre draft classes, or one very good one. The draft class of 2008 falls short of very good. And it looks like Jim Zorn knows it.

GSPODS wrote:

VetSkinsFan wrote:Everything I've heard Zorn related so far I like. If his actions follow what I've seen so far, I think we have a new era upon us. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or delusional. He sees the work he has ahead, but always stays focused and determined with a positive attitude. I like that he's addressed the strengths and weaknesses and has a long term and short term goal, which is needed in any business, not just Redskins football. I can't help but be optimistic with what I've seen.

Now, if only certain Redskins fans would recognize the long-term goal portion. One mediocre draft class isn't going to immediately improve this Washington Redskins team. It will take two or three mediocre draft classes, or one very good one. The draft class of 2008 falls short of very good. And it looks like Jim Zorn knows it.

I agree. While the draft class might appear to be lacking in quality, with the number of picks and hopefully the "wizardry" of Cerrato and his bunch, we could easily end up with adding some much needed depth and youth to this team.

A draft class takes years to evaluate and really the hardest part is not in finding and identifying the talent it is identifying the talent that suits your team's needs.

From what has happened recently and by their inactions I think that Zorn and the FO guys stayed out of the FA pool this year for the same reason - the potential was not there for our team. Everything we have seen and heard since Free Agency opened up and the draft started to be discussed has been aimed at this. These guys are looking at who they have and where they want to go. Good job IMO so far!

Hopefully the former idiot and now potential FO genius (based on his 49er years, NOT on anything accomplished here!) is going to show us and the Redskins what he is capable of now that he is in charge of the player acquisitions.

It also can be pointed out that while we have a number of draft picks there is also the June cuts to take into account to maybe help in certain areas.

All in all, there are some encouraging signs and hopefully we can nail some selections in this draft.

I also like what Z man said and also I agreed that this may not be a very good draft year specially for us that pick 21st. However, I do see the Redskins getting 1 or 2 players that can help right away and the rest of the picks for developement. I have the feeling that Zorn will try to get the best out of his rookies giving the a chance to start at positions needed probably more than Gibbs would have done because Z has to prove to the front office and us that he is the man for the job long term. I think the only way to do that is by showing he can develope players quick and show us we have a bright future.

PeetyPa wrote:I also like what Z man said and also I agreed that this may not be a very good draft year specially for us that pick 21st. However, I do see the Redskins getting 1 or 2 players that can help right away and the rest of the picks for developement. I have the feeling that Zorn will try to get the best out of his rookies giving the a chance to start at positions needed probably more than Gibbs would have done because Z has to prove to the front office and us that he is the man for the job long term. I think the only way to do that is by showing he can develope players quick and show us we have a bright future.

I think the class is good at some positions, like DE, which we need. It is weak at OG & S where we need depth. based on what I've read, there are a lot of good WR's, but may not be any great 1's.

Z man, i like that. Z man

VetSkinsFan wrote:Everything I've heard Zorn related so far I like. If his actions follow what I've seen so far, I think we have a new era upon us. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or delusional. He sees the work he has ahead, but always stays focused and determined with a positive attitude. I like that he's addressed the strengths and weaknesses and has a long term and short term goal, which is needed in any business, not just Redskins football. I can't help but be optimistic with what I've seen.

Zorn has done a very good job so far imho. There were a couple of things that did stick out at me from his comments though. One was...

More Campbell: "Matt [Hasselbeck, Zorn's former pupil in Seattle] developed over several years. I think Jason is going to develop over several years. What we're gonna have to do is not give him so much that he can't function....

At some point the team is going to have to stop treating JC as a rookie and just let him play. Obviously it's going to take some time for JC to pick up the offense but we really don't have the luxury of it taking several years as Zorn insinuated.

On the Redskins' offensive approach: "We'll probably have a run-first philosophy initially because of who we have as a running back and how developed our running game is. [But] I want to create balance as long as I'm here."

I was hoping that by brining in Zorn that was an indicator that the team had finally realized that the NFL is becoming a passing league. Apparently that wasn't the case. The run-first approach is what has given us a such a mediocre offense over the past few seasons.

CanesSkins26 wrote:

VetSkinsFan wrote:Everything I've heard Zorn related so far I like. If his actions follow what I've seen so far, I think we have a new era upon us. He's not egotistical, arrogant, or delusional. He sees the work he has ahead, but always stays focused and determined with a positive attitude. I like that he's addressed the strengths and weaknesses and has a long term and short term goal, which is needed in any business, not just Redskins football. I can't help but be optimistic with what I've seen.

Zorn has done a very good job so far imho. There were a couple of things that did stick out at me from his comments though. One was...

More Campbell: "Matt [Hasselbeck, Zorn's former pupil in Seattle] developed over several years. I think Jason is going to develop over several years. What we're gonna have to do is not give him so much that he can't function....

At some point the team is going to have to stop treating JC as a rookie and just let him play. Obviously it's going to take some time for JC to pick up the offense but we really don't have the luxury of it taking several years as Zorn insinuated.

On the Redskins' offensive approach: "We'll probably have a run-first philosophy initially because of who we have as a running back and how developed our running game is. [But] I want to create balance as long as I'm here."

I was hoping that by brining in Zorn that was an indicator that the team had finally realized that the NFL is becoming a passing league. Apparently that wasn't the case. The run-first approach is what has given us a such a mediocre offense over the past few seasons.

I think the key word is INITIALLY. You have to go with what you have, but he plans to develop the passing attack.

Exactly. And do you really think a former QB, now a head coach, is going to publicly disclose he offensive schemes and plans? Yeah, right. Let everyone think we're going to just run the ball like we used to under Gibbs. Not that we aren't going to run, we have a couple of good backs, but I'd be blowing as much smoke as possible. That's the great thing about Zorn, defenses won't have a clue what to expect.

SkinsFreak wrote:That's the great thing about Zorn, defenses won't have a clue what to expect.

Neither do we . . . that's what makes this all so Bloody Exciting!!!!

NC43Hog wrote:

SkinsFreak wrote:That's the great thing about Zorn, defenses won't have a clue what to expect.

Neither do we . . . that's what makes this all so Bloody Exciting!!!!

I know.