04/20/24
February 10, 2002
Marvin Lewis becomes highest paid assistant: in the NFL. For $850,000 he will run the Redskins' defense under Steve Spurrier. The architect of one of the best defenses ever will tag team with the Fun-N-Gun offense. Of course, there's no quarterback yet but a defense with Champ Bailey, LaVar Arrington, Darrell Green and Bruce Smith is a start.
synder learned the hard way that paying top salaries to bring in free agents isn't a sure recipe for success in the nfl. so he tries the same approach, only with coaches. if snyder can stay out of the way, washington looks to improve mightily over the next few years.
posted by lescour at 08:56 PM on February 10, 2002
Yes. I am happy. I am very happy. I'm especially happy there's no salary cap for coaches and that the Ravens hired idiot Mike Nolan to be their DC (Skins defense was ranked 27th under him). Now Danny, go get us a quarterback and wideout.
posted by owillis at 11:38 PM on February 10, 2002
i have never ever never ever ever been this excited about hiring coaches in my life. LaVar "ray Lewis" Arrington could well be defensive mvp next year, if Marvin lets play him play somewhat freestyle like schottenhiemer (yeah i spelled it wrong, i don't have to care about that crap anymore) did last year. the m.Lewis deal is now up in the 1million-1.1million range. that danny sure is something.
posted by danostuporstar at 08:13 AM on February 11, 2002
I'm with my fellow Skin fans on this one, I could not be happier. Between the NFL and playoff experience he brings to the coaching staff, the proven system he employs and the continued growth of LaVar and a young defense, this is win, win, win. Now they just need a team (QB, WR, DL, S) and I think we've got it wrapped up for next year.
posted by 86 at 08:32 AM on February 11, 2002
I don't expect much from the Redskins in the first year under new coaches. The players need some time to figure out a new system on offense and defense, and Spurrier needs some time to figure out the NFL.
posted by rcade at 08:36 AM on February 11, 2002
I seriously always doubt the whole "figuring out the new system" thing. We kept hearing Tony Banks was having trouble with the system because he came over late from Dallas, but he was the starter from the third game in the season. Yet fast forward to week 14 and he's still calling timeouts in the first quarter 'cause he can't get the play off? No, the system is fine. The QB is an idiot. All I want is a 10-6 style wild card spot (that could probably even win the East).
posted by owillis at 12:16 PM on February 11, 2002
I rise in defense of Tony Banks. Kurt Warner calls more 1st quarter timeouts than any QB I've ever seen. He's the MVP. Becoming the starter as soon as you join a team has to be a challenge. New terminology, 100+ plays a week, 80% you've never run before. When Banks joins in week 3, he's missed 4 weeks of training camp, 3 weeks of practice, plus whatever time was dedicated to qb's and backs only before training camp starts. The main reason those TO's get called is because QB's now are supposed to run the clock down to the last second before they snap it, and when the defense figures out what the offense is doing (because they see it happening or they know what the audible means--these things happen more now in the NFL than ever before) the QB has no real choice but to stop the play and try again. He's not an idiot, he's doing you a favor.
posted by pastepotpete at 07:53 PM on February 11, 2002
You can defend Banks' use of timeouts, but that's not nearly the complete picture of his struggles. Banks (throughout his career) has been a sub-par performer. He's never read the field well and has always had trouble holding onto the ball. This year he consistently focused on one receiver for the duration of a play, missing open ones and making mistakes in the process. Furthermore, I know his leadership and dedication were questioned at past stops in his career and at no point during this year did the Skins look to be rallying around or anywhere near their QB. He can be be average at times and show infrequent flashes above that, but Tony Banks, idiot or no idiot, is not a top 25 NFL quarterback and therefore, not a QB you want guiding your team.
posted by 86 at 10:26 PM on February 11, 2002
I don't think 10-6 wins the East next year. The Eagles are still on the way up.
posted by rcade at 08:10 AM on February 12, 2002
Excited, owillis? :) I have to admit, the idea of combining Spurrier and Lewis would have me salivating if I were a Skins fan. I can't think of another recent pairing of such a high-profile set of coaches on opposite sides of the ball.