04/19/24
January 04, 2010
Washington Fires Head Coach Jim Zorn: Jim Zorn has been fired as Washington's head coach after two years with the team. Zorn's record was 8-8 last season and 4-12 this time around, despite what was regarded as an easy schedule. The next coach will be the seventh since Daniel Snyder bought the team in 1999.
Two years isn't enough time to evaluate a head coach in the NFL. Snyder would have better results if he didn't keep throwing out coaches and starting over.
posted by rcade at 10:46 AM on January 04, 2010
Zorn didn't even get a full two years. Snyder started interfering earlier this season. He took Zorn's play-calling away quite some time ago. This season was pretty much a nightmare for Zorn. Snyder has really made this job pretty unattractive. At least Snyder has hired a GM in Bruce Allen, but they don't seem like a great match to me. Allen didn't have any success through the draft at the Bucs. Snyder likes bringing in overpriced free agents. This seems like a bad plan.
The rumor is that Shanahan and Snyder are buddies and that Shanahan is going to take over sometime this week. If Shanahan can just get Elway and Davis to come back, they might just have a chance.
posted by bperk at 11:19 AM on January 04, 2010
The NFL ought to have a second Rooney Rule.
Anyone wishing to buy a franchise has to demonstrate that they are at least half as capable of owning and running a team as the Steelers ownership group.
posted by beaverboard at 11:26 AM on January 04, 2010
Hell, if Seattle had any sense (they don't) they would snatch Zorn up right now to work as OC and possibly be something of a QB coach. Hasselbeck has looked horrible this season. His mechanics are completely fouled up and it isn't helped by the fact he has had to learn a completely new system with completely new coaching and play with a completely new O line (that is completely horrible).
posted by THX-1138 at 11:36 AM on January 04, 2010
Two years isn't enough time to evaluate a head coach in the NFL. Snyder would have better results if he didn't keep throwing out coaches and starting over.
I'm amused that Zorn wasn't even hired as head coach - he only got the gig when no one else would take Daniel's poisoned chalice.
While I wouldn't trust Snyder to run a bath, his stewardship of the Redskins is still pretty tame compared to what Zombie Al Davis is doing at Oakland.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:42 AM on January 04, 2010
While I wouldn't trust Snyder to run a bath, his stewardship of the Redskins is still pretty tame compared to what Zombie Al Davis is doing at Oakland.
Davis has been a disaster since the 2002 season. Still, Snyder would have to have a remarkable turnaround to glimpse the success that Davis has had. Davis knows (or at least he knew) football. Snyder doesn't seem to have a clue.
posted by bperk at 12:14 PM on January 04, 2010
I hear Mike Leach is available. Snyder and Leach might be a marriage made in hell.
posted by jm_mosier at 12:43 PM on January 04, 2010
While I wouldn't trust Snyder to run a bath, his stewardship of the Redskins is still pretty tame compared to what Zombie Al Davis is doing at Oakland.
The Hoser promises to steal this line this week.
posted by wfrazerjr at 01:26 PM on January 04, 2010
Zorn was screwed pretty much from day one, and I'm not sure he ever actually wanted to be head coach. He got stuck with the job. The way the Redskins publicly undermined him this year was reprehensible.
Also, he's getting blamed for things that aren't his fault. For instance, Michael Wilbon says anyone who watched the Redskins' ridiculous double-fake field goal against the Giants is scarred forever, but how is that Zorn's fault? He was cut out of the play-calling: offensive consultant Sherman "Bingo" Lewis told offensive coordinator Sherman Smith to run or pass, then Smith decided the specific play and told it to Campbell.
posted by kirkaracha at 01:56 PM on January 04, 2010
kirk, you clearly didn't get the ESPN memo: anything Wilbon says is a fact, because he says it loudly and doesn't listen to reason or bloggers, who all live in their mothers' basements.
posted by yerfatma at 02:46 PM on January 04, 2010
kirkaracha, wasn't Zorn still in charge of installing the special teams packages for each game? I'm remembering a recent interview with a player (Cooley? Google is not helping) who ran through the coaching mess they had to deal with each week. Either way that play looked like they hadn't practiced it since pre-season.
Snyder is in that special little group of team owners like Micheal Heisley, Bill Wirtz and Jeffery Loria that make me bitter and angry when I think they might be getting some of the money I spend on my sports addiction.
posted by deflated at 10:02 PM on January 04, 2010
I don't care who Washington hires as long as Dan Snyder is the owner they are not going to do anything.
posted by twgibsr at 07:13 PM on January 05, 2010
Finally, we won't have to hear "Dead Man Walking" everywhere Zorn goes.