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

Tight end Chris ey today shed some light on the Redskins' play-calling process in an interview today on "The SIRIUS Blitz" on SIRIUS NFL Radio.

ey, speaking with co-hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon, provided insight into how the Redskins have installed their weekly game plans, practiced during the week and handled play-calling during games since owner Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations, stripped Zorn of play-calling duties before the Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. ey said that Sherman Lewis, who was originally hired as an offensive consultant and then given playcalling responsibility, and quarterback Jason Campbell hardly interact during the week, which is highly uncommon for a quarterback and the person directing a team's offense. The Redskins have declined reporters' repeated requests to speak with Lewis.

"We have a really weird deal going on right now with the kind of rotation of who calls the plays, to where it goes, to who gets it and how it gets to Jason," said ey, who was placed on the season-ending injured-reserve list Monday. "It's almost unheard of. And the funny thing is the last couple weeks the offense has looked better than it has."

Schein pressed ey for a more detailed explanation, which he gladly provided.

"Okay, so what goes on is our coaches sit together at the beginning of the week and they design a game plan," ey continues. "All the coaches design the plays, they all have different responsibilities. Some coaches have third down, some coaches have the passing game, some have the red [zone], and then they all get together. So then what happens is Sherman Lewis, who is our offensive consultant [and play-caller], will install the regular game plan and then we go practice that. And then on Thursday, Jim Zorn will install the third down and then he'll also install the run game. And apparently, because I haven't really been there, is that Sherman Lewis never talks to Jason Campbell throughout the week.

"I mean, they don't have direct communication. Jim Zorn and Chris Meidt, who is Jason Campbell's quarterbacks coach, do all the coaching for Jason. So, anyway, that's confusing, I know. It was easier on TV this week when they just drew pictures of everyone. But what happens is we get to game day, Sherman Lewis sits in the box; he calls plays. He's the play caller. And he calls them down to our offensive coordinator, another person in the mix, Sherman Smith. And he looks at plays and basically calls them - they're wristband numbers - so he'll say, 'Wristband 5,' and that's what's relayed to Jason Campbell, who then looks at his wristband and calls that play. The funny thing is, is that when we want to call a run play, Sherman Lewis will call and say, 'give me a run' and then Sherman Smith has to pick a run and give that to Jason. So it's, uh, it's a carousel of calls."

frankcal20 wrote:It's put points on the board but I wonder if a little communication b/w the guy calling the plays and the QB would do to put more points on the board. Maybe give the QB more opportunities to audible when he see's something on the field and know's that the play won't work.

CanesSkins26 wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:It's put points on the board but I wonder if a little communication b/w the guy calling the plays and the QB would do to put more points on the board. Maybe give the QB more opportunities to audible when he see's something on the field and know's that the play won't work.

I agree. The problem, I think, is that they already have so many guys talking with JC. Apparently, he works with Sherm Smith, Chris Meidt, and Zorn. The ideal situation, imo, would be for Meidt or Zorn to back off. It seems like the less things that Zorn touches the better off the team is.

TincoSkin wrote:i cant believe that the game plan is set then zorn adds runs plays? and third down plays?? i dont even understand that! how can a game plan be set if there are no running plays??? or third down plays? im sooo confused!! and mad!! In addition the running plays and third down calls that zorn has come up with are not added to the mix until thursday!! what??

this thread should be in smack.

frankcal20 wrote:

CanesSkins26 wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:It's put points on the board but I wonder if a little communication b/w the guy calling the plays and the QB would do to put more points on the board. Maybe give the QB more opportunities to audible when he see's something on the field and know's that the play won't work.

I agree. The problem, I think, is that they already have so many guys talking with JC. Apparently, he works with Sherm Smith, Chris Meidt, and Zorn. The ideal situation, imo, would be for Meidt or Zorn to back off. It seems like the less things that Zorn touches the better off the team is.

From what I'm hearing, Meidt is the main one running the offense. He's in the box with Sherm and assisting him calling the plays. I wonder how much Sherm is really doing and if it's really Meidt doing the majority of playcalling. Wonder if he'll get a look at for an OC somewhere.

Dump Campbell. Draft McCoy or Bradford.

riggofan wrote:

Dump Campbell. Draft McCoy or Bradford.

Yeah that's the big problem in DC. That's what we need to do with our first round pick.

Why not just change your sig file to:

_________________
my opinions should not be taken seriously

frankcal20 wrote:I don't think that's what he's saying. I interpret what he's saying is that it's not the "BIG" problem. The "BIG" problem is the front office and the lack of an offensive line. That's the consensus of the fanbase along with the majority of people who are watching the NFL. QB is not our biggest area of need and I really don't think that you think it is. You would just like to see a better QB at the position. But even if we had any other QB running the show, I don't think we are a playoff team with this current offensive line and our inability of the front office to view that as an area of need or identify any bit of talent is ridiculous. I look at Cody Glenn - who's not on the team any more - what a waste of a pick. The thought process there made no sense when we all knew that pick and others should have been used for linemen - plain and simple.

frankcal20 wrote:I can't imagine why an O.C. would not be talking to QB. Those are two very important positions on the team and for them not to be talking explains a lot of why things just don't work. How can Sherm know what JC is seeing if they don't talk?

CanesSkins26 wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:I don't think that's what he's saying. I interpret what he's saying is that it's not the "BIG" problem. The "BIG" problem is the front office and the lack of an offensive line. That's the consensus of the fanbase along with the majority of people who are watching the NFL. QB is not our biggest area of need and I really don't think that you think it is. You would just like to see a better QB at the position. But even if we had any other QB running the show, I don't think we are a playoff team with this current offensive line and our inability of the front office to view that as an area of need or identify any bit of talent is ridiculous. I look at Cody Glenn - who's not on the team any more - what a waste of a pick. The thought process there made no sense when we all knew that pick and others should have been used for linemen - plain and simple.

Maybe I misinterpreted what he was saying. I certainly agree that the front office is far and away the #1 problem with the organization. Vinny needs to go, Snyder needs to take a step back, and a competent GM and coach need to be brought in. There is ZERO doubt about that imo.

Once you get away from the FO/coaching structure, I think that the oline and qb are the two main issues that plague this team. Imo, for us to be anything other than mediocre BOTH need to be addressed.

frankcal20 wrote:believe it was the saints last year or the year before. off the top of my head.

frankcal20 wrote:So you don't think that the defense bears some of that responsibility? For argument sake, the last two weeks, all they needed to do - at the end of the game - is get the defense off the field. I think that the defense has a better chance of doing that than the offense to make plays at the end of the game. But our team hasn't shown the ability to do either.

CanesSkins26 wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:So you don't think that the defense bears some of that responsibility? For argument sake, the last two weeks, all they needed to do - at the end of the game - is get the defense off the field. I think that the defense has a better chance of doing that than the offense to make plays at the end of the game. But our team hasn't shown the ability to do either.

That's not really fair frank. Against Dallas we gave up 7 points. No way should a team lose when it gives up 7 points. And against Philly the offense had the ball in their hands late in the game and couldn't even get a first down, if I recall correctly. The defense has done more than its fair share for this team.

CanesSkins26 wrote:

frankcal20 wrote:So you don't think that the defense bears some of that responsibility? For argument sake, the last two weeks, all they needed to do - at the end of the game - is get the defense off the field. I think that the defense has a better chance of doing that than the offense to make plays at the end of the game. But our team hasn't shown the ability to do either.

That's not really fair frank. Against Dallas we gave up 7 points. No way should a team lose when it gives up 7 points. And against Philly the offense had the ball in their hands late in the game and couldn't even get a first down, if I recall correctly. The defense has done more than its fair share for this team.

frankcal20 wrote:So you don't think that the defense bears some of that responsibility? For argument sake, the last two weeks, all they needed to do - at the end of the game - is get the defense off the field. I think that the defense has a better chance of doing that than the offense to make plays at the end of the game. But our team hasn't shown the ability to do either.