Washington Redskins VP (man it is hard to say that) Vinny Cerrato dismissed speculation on Jim Zorn’s future, confirming that Zorn will return as Head Coach in 2009.
Speaking on his radio program on ESPN 980 last week, Cerrato said Zorn’s status had not been discussed in the Redskins’ front office. He took things a step further yesterday, describing a question about Zorn’s standing as “crazy. Why wouldn’t he be back?”
Cerrato said he is confident Zorn, whom he strongly recommended to team owner Daniel Snyder for the Redskins’ head coaching vacancy last winter, is “learning and he’s improving. Just how rookie players learn and improve, same type of steps. He’s making progress.”
Zorn and the Redskins started the season off on fire, with an impressive 6-2 record in the first 8 games. From there, the season tanked. The Redskins fell in 5 of their last 6 games, including troubling losses to Cincinnati and St.Louis, teams that should have been solid victories for the Redskins.
Zorn has received his share of criticism for lack of creativity of play calling, failure to make adjustments to blitz schemes, and his handling of personnel, such as his back and forth argument with RB Clinton Portis.
But, in reality, Jim Zorn’s coaching is the least of the problems with the Washington Redskins. The roster is a mess, the offensive and defensive lines are horrendous. The two biggest problems facing the Redskins are the failure to protect QB Jason Campbell, allowing him tome to execute the Zorn offense, and the failure to pressure the opposing quarterback from the front four. It has been a problem for years.
As we have said before, it has been since the year 2000 since the Washington Redskins invested a first or second round pick on arguably the most important unit of the offense, the offensive line. You can’t run the ball if your Line can’t open holes. You can’t pass the ball if you fail to protect the Quarterback. The offense doesn’t move if tghe Line uis sub-par. Ask the 2008 Redskins.
For nearly 7 straight years, the Redskins have been unable to establish or sustain a solid pass rush from the front four on the defensive line. It has been since 1997 (Kenard Lang) since the Redskins used a first or second round pick on a defensive end. That is not only stunning, but appalling. This year, the highest sack total from a defensive end is 3.5 from reserve DE Demetric Evans. The Redskins have a TOTAL of 11 sacks from ALL defensive ends on the roster, combined. That is pathetic.
Jim Zorn is NOT the problem. Zorn make some rookie mistakes. Zorn perhaps should not have taken on both head coach and play calling duties in his first season. Zorn may have handled something wrong. BUT, then again, Jim Zorn is young, this is his first season, and Zorn is learning. I still think Jim Zorn has everything needed to be a great head coach in the NFL and the Redskins franchise.
The problem is the front office. The problem is the decision making. The problem is the drafting. The problem is the approach to the draft. The problem is talent evaluation. The problem is the combination of Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder making the decision they have proven incapable of making. The failure to address the Lines mounts to gross negligence and while Jim Zorn should stay, Vinny Cerrato should be fired.
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