rskinsfan10
02-10-2008, 12:24 AM
Fresh from the set of Fox5 DC studios where he talked about the naming of Jim Zorn as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins, Doc Walker now gives his up close and personal thoughts to his pals at hailRedskins. Hey, you gotta love it....
rsf10- Well, it's Jim Zorn. Give us a snapshot of what you think of this development.
DW- Well, like most I was surprised when I heard it because there weren't any leaks that he was being considered to be the head coach, but he was the first coach that they hired. Jim has not been a coordinator, but neither had Andy Reid, and Andy Reid has simply dominated the NFC East. So, I don't think that there is a remedy to it. They've tried college. That didn't work. They've tried recycled coaches. That didn't work. Maybe Schottenheimer would have worked, but they didn't allow him to continue. They brought back the Hall of Famer. That didn't work. So, I'm open to change if it will simply give us more production on offense. The defense and special teams didn't need to be disassembled. I think that Greg Blache is an excellent coordinator, and Danny Smith has shown what he can do with this special teams group. I'm far more concerned about the players that they bring in during the off season at this point. I also think that Jim Zorn will have to bring a QB coach or an offensive coordinator in himself. All these things I think we will find out about next week.
rsf10- Part of your Fox5 segment you just wrapped included yourself and Trevor Matich saying that he would be better served not trying to do too much himself as you just mentioned. Is there someone out there that is flying under the radar with those Holmgren bloodlines that you've heard might be in the mix for the coordinator position?
DW- No I haven't, but it might not be a coordinator. It may be a QB coach, someone that Jim himself has worked with. His staff has basically been assembled for him. I would like to think that as head coach and offensive coordinator, I would be able to bring someone in that is familiar with what I would like to teach in regards to the terminology. When Saunders came, he brought his backup QB. I think those are very important tools. To bring in a QB that fits the system I think would be highly advantageous to help Campbell in his development.
rsf10- One of the trends these days seems to go with fresh new faces in regards to choosing head coaches, yet the popular belief was that we were leading towards bringing in a retread. Do you like the hiring of Zorn in comparison to Fassel or Mariucci?
DW- Yes I do. Absolutely. I think that there was some issues off the field that concerned them when it came to Fassel, and I don't think that Mariucci would have been a very good coach at all after what happened in Detroit. In San Francisco with the Hall of Fame QB, he did well, but most coaches would have. Of course you need players. We won't know now. I'm not opposed to a guy getting a second chance. I was hopeful that it was going to be Williams. I think that Gregg would have given them the most continuity had he been able to name his own offensive staff. I don't agree that you carry over another man's staff. I think that it killed Pettibon's chances of being a successful head coach, and I wouldn't want to do it if I were in that position. You can't let everyone lay it all out for you then expect the players to respect you as being the one that is in charge.
rsf10- Are you somewhat disappointed that Ron Meeks wasn't given a opportunity here?
DW- I thought that Ron would have been an excellent choice because of the work that he has done as a teacher. With Greg Blache being the defensive coordinator, there may have been a conflict in regards to the philosophy, though they may have been able to work that out. I was leaning more towards an offensive minded person because I think that is where our weakness is. Our defense is fine. Our special teams are fine. I think that our weak link is the offense, so I lean towards an offensive talent coming in, adding some ingenuity and getting the best out of this talent. I don't think that this talent has been maximized over the last four years
rsf10- Well, it's Jim Zorn. Give us a snapshot of what you think of this development.
DW- Well, like most I was surprised when I heard it because there weren't any leaks that he was being considered to be the head coach, but he was the first coach that they hired. Jim has not been a coordinator, but neither had Andy Reid, and Andy Reid has simply dominated the NFC East. So, I don't think that there is a remedy to it. They've tried college. That didn't work. They've tried recycled coaches. That didn't work. Maybe Schottenheimer would have worked, but they didn't allow him to continue. They brought back the Hall of Famer. That didn't work. So, I'm open to change if it will simply give us more production on offense. The defense and special teams didn't need to be disassembled. I think that Greg Blache is an excellent coordinator, and Danny Smith has shown what he can do with this special teams group. I'm far more concerned about the players that they bring in during the off season at this point. I also think that Jim Zorn will have to bring a QB coach or an offensive coordinator in himself. All these things I think we will find out about next week.
rsf10- Part of your Fox5 segment you just wrapped included yourself and Trevor Matich saying that he would be better served not trying to do too much himself as you just mentioned. Is there someone out there that is flying under the radar with those Holmgren bloodlines that you've heard might be in the mix for the coordinator position?
DW- No I haven't, but it might not be a coordinator. It may be a QB coach, someone that Jim himself has worked with. His staff has basically been assembled for him. I would like to think that as head coach and offensive coordinator, I would be able to bring someone in that is familiar with what I would like to teach in regards to the terminology. When Saunders came, he brought his backup QB. I think those are very important tools. To bring in a QB that fits the system I think would be highly advantageous to help Campbell in his development.
rsf10- One of the trends these days seems to go with fresh new faces in regards to choosing head coaches, yet the popular belief was that we were leading towards bringing in a retread. Do you like the hiring of Zorn in comparison to Fassel or Mariucci?
DW- Yes I do. Absolutely. I think that there was some issues off the field that concerned them when it came to Fassel, and I don't think that Mariucci would have been a very good coach at all after what happened in Detroit. In San Francisco with the Hall of Fame QB, he did well, but most coaches would have. Of course you need players. We won't know now. I'm not opposed to a guy getting a second chance. I was hopeful that it was going to be Williams. I think that Gregg would have given them the most continuity had he been able to name his own offensive staff. I don't agree that you carry over another man's staff. I think that it killed Pettibon's chances of being a successful head coach, and I wouldn't want to do it if I were in that position. You can't let everyone lay it all out for you then expect the players to respect you as being the one that is in charge.
rsf10- Are you somewhat disappointed that Ron Meeks wasn't given a opportunity here?
DW- I thought that Ron would have been an excellent choice because of the work that he has done as a teacher. With Greg Blache being the defensive coordinator, there may have been a conflict in regards to the philosophy, though they may have been able to work that out. I was leaning more towards an offensive minded person because I think that is where our weakness is. Our defense is fine. Our special teams are fine. I think that our weak link is the offense, so I lean towards an offensive talent coming in, adding some ingenuity and getting the best out of this talent. I don't think that this talent has been maximized over the last four years