Sherman Smith is Redskins Offensive Coordinator

[hail2skins]

It is looking like Sherman Smith will be joining the Redskins as the offensive coordinator according to the Wash Post. Smith wanted to inform the Redskins of his decision (whether he's accepting the offer or not) but he wanted to meet with Jeff Fischer first. We might find out today if he accepts it or not.

If he does accept it, the coaching staff would be completed. Stump Mitchell was signed as the RB coach earlier in the week and the Redskins also signed Chris Meidt, head coach of St. Olaf College, to be an offensive assistant.

Read the article here (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/14/AR2008021403526.html).

[chrisbcbu]

No question about it, I'm really excited about the opportunity Z-man has offered me," Smith said yesterday, referring to Zorn. "I work for a great organization right now, and he's giving me a chance to work for another great organization. I've heard great things about the Redskins and I obviously know about Z-man and what he wants to accomplish. I feel really comfortable about a lot of this, but there is a process I have to follow."
So does this mean we have to call our coach Z-man?

[Redskinmayhem]

Smith was wanted to inform the Redskins of his decision (whether he's accepting the offer or not) but he wanted to meet with Jeff Fischer first.

you know, that says alot about his character. Most guys would just "up and leave". I actually respect that he wants to talk to Fish first.

[chrisbcbu]

you know, that says alot about his character. Most guys would just "up and leave". I actually respect that he wants to talk to Fish first.

He has been working for him for a very loooong time! He feels he owes it to him to let him know.

[Canuck]

you know, that says alot about his character. Most guys would just "up and leave". I actually respect that he wants to talk to Fish first.

Agree 100%. Like most I'm concerned that we've hired a HC lacking a lot of experience. What I really like is the people Z-man bringing in all appear to be straight up guys who know what they're doing.

IMO Mitchell and Smith are definite upgrades over Byner and Saunders.

[skin4ever]

If he does accept it, the coaching staff would be completed. Stump Mitchell was signed as the RB coach earlier in the week and the Redskins also signed Chris Meidt, head coach of St. Olaf College, to be an offensive assistant.

.

I am a little concerned about this new OC and Meidt. I heard somewhere (980 probably from Zab so it may be false) that Smith told the skins he didnt want to call plays. I cannot think of one OC that would not want to call plays. I mean youare implementing this offense, and you dont want to have a hand in seeing it play out. And Zorn doesnt have this experience either?

Also, Meidt. Why? I read somewhere, that he is expect to help teach the offense to the players and staff, so that Zorn can work with JC. WHat? Zorn is a HC, not a QB coach. He should be doing this, not someone else? That would be like, in a business setting, the CEO hiring someone to run his org, so that he can manage one of his divisions or offices. And what is Don Breaux going to do next? Isnt he also an offensive associate. Not that i support Breaux, b/c he is IMO excess fat that should be trimmed.

[skin4ever]

you know, that says alot about his character. Most guys would just "up and leave". I actually respect that he wants to talk to Fish first.

he might be using this to pull a spagnolo and get the heck out of actually coming to the skins. LOL, but maybe not.

[Canuck]

Also, Meidt. Why? I read somewhere, that he is expect to help teach the offense to the players and staff, so that Zorn can work with JC. WHat? Zorn is a HC, not a QB coach. He should be doing this, not someone else? That would be like, in a business setting, the CEO hiring someone to run his org, so that he can manage one of his divisions or offices. And what is Don Breaux going to do next? Isnt he also an offensive associate. Not that i support Breaux, b/c he is IMO excess fat that should be trimmed.

A good CEO delegates tasks to others so he has more time to do what he excels at. Bill Gates did this for years at MS, he would delegate a lot of business decisions to his VPs so he could keep his head involved on the technology side.

IMO this shows me that Zorn may not be in over his head. A common mistake people make when promoted to higher management levels is that they try and do too much themselves without delegating some of the work to his staff who are just as qualified as he is to complete the work.

[skin4ever]

A good CEO delegates tasks to others so he has more time to do what he excels at. Bill Gates did this for years at MS, he would delegate a lot of business decisions to his VPs so he could keep his head involved on the technology side.

IMO this shows me that Zorn may not be in over his head. A common mistake people make when promoted to higher management levels is that they try and do too much themselves without delegating some of the work to his staff who are just as qualified as he is to complete the work.

Well if they are just as qualified, why not name Meidt as the HC and keep Zorn at OC. I see what you are saying, but i dont think that, it is the norm, for many CEO's to let someone else run the show so they can do lower positions. Bill Gates may have had to do that b/c he is a technical comp guy and may not have had as great a sense for running a corp. But this is football, we have coaches at every position and an OC to manage them, and a HC to tie it all together.

I think its great that Zorn wants to work with JC. I think HC's should want to help their players learn, but to hire someone to teach his system to everyone else, seems a little odd to me. Work with JC, but dont put off your other responsiblities as a HC, thats what his title is and thats what he gets paid to do. Who will the players go to with problems, or questions, their HC or the person who is teaching them.

[Canuck]

Well if they are just as qualified, why not name Meidt as the HC and keep Zorn at OC. I see what you are saying, but i dont think that, it is the norm, for many CEO's to let someone else run the show so they can do lower positions. Bill Gates may have had to do that b/c he is a technical comp guy and may not have had as great a sense for running a corp. But this is football, we have coaches at every position and an OC to manage them, and a HC to tie it all together.

There's a big difference between running the show and delegating some tasks to subordinates. A CEO's main responsibility is to set the vision, mission, values and objectives (VM/VO) of an organization. How the VM/VO is implemented will vary widely amongst organizations because no two groups of people are exactly the same. You tailor the roles and responsibilities based on the abilities of the individuals within the group.

Having said that, I wonder if you're interpreting Meidt's role incorrectly. I see it as him acting like a middle-man/buffer to Zorn. Instead of Zorn having to explain some WCO basics to existing staff and players they can ask Meidt. I see Meidt as a subject matter expert as opposed to someone with real authority. This actually frees up Zorn to concentrate on other things (like FA, draft, etc.)


I think its great that Zorn wants to work with JC. I think HC's should want to help their players learn, but to hire someone to teach his system to everyone else, seems a little odd to me. Work with JC, but dont put off your other responsiblities as a HC, thats what his title is and thats what he gets paid to do. Who will the players go to with problems, or questions, their HC or the person who is teaching them.

Zorn's goal is to win a superbowl. He feels the best way to do that is to implement the WCO. To enable that goal the QB play is critical. Right now Zorn feels that no one else can coach the QBs at an adequate level to reach his goal. I'll agree with you that this may be a mistake on Zorn's part, but at the end of the day it's his butt on the line. If I'm Zorn I look to bring in a young coach to eventually take over this task. If we hire another QC coach on offense with some sort of QB background then it's clear that this is what Zorn is planning.

[skin4ever]

Hopefully, you are right. and I agree it is his butt on the line if this fails. I still think that there are or is going to be too many chefs in the kitchen, like with Gibbs 2.

[Redskinmayhem]

he might be using this to pull a spagnolo and get the heck out of actually coming to the skins. LOL, but maybe not.

man, I hope we don't get "spagged" again lol.

[Canuck]

Hopefully, you are right. and I agree it is his butt on the line if this fails. I still think that there are or is going to be too many chefs in the kitchen, like with Gibbs 2.

I have the too many chefs in the kitchen fear as well. Hopefully Zorn's experience as a player and his learning under Holmgren confirm that you need one voice to the QB on game day.

[bergiemoore]

Hopefully, you are right. and I agree it is his butt on the line if this fails. I still think that there are or is going to be too many chefs in the kitchen, like with Gibbs 2.

There's no where near the number of "assistant head coaches" as we had with Gibbs 2. If anything, they've removed a lot of the confusion from the coaching tree.

[skin4ever]

There's no where near the number of "assistant head coaches" as we had with Gibbs 2. If anything, they've removed a lot of the confusion from the coaching tree.

From my count, on offense we have an Zorn(HC), Breaux and Meidt(offensive associates) and Smith (OC). Thats an aweful lot of guys in the kitchen, who as the Skins have put it, "everyone has imput". I agree that, hopefully, we dont get into the gibbs type deal where one coach calls plays between the 25 yard lines and another for goalline to 25 yards, but comeon, 4 high ranking coaches/associates before we get to position coaches. How many other teams have this kind of structure?

[OCSkinzFan]

So does this mean we have to call our coach Z-man?
I think we should call everybody z-man:
- "You z-man."
- "Naw you z-man."

[NCskinsfanatic]

So maybe Smith is not coming...wonder who plan B would be for Zorn?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/

[OCSkinzFan]

So maybe Smith is not coming...wonder who plan B would be for Zorn?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/
I think I read somewhere that Stump would be the next in line.

That would be weird. An OC promoted to HC without ever actually being an OC and an RB coach promoted to OC without ever being the Washington BR coach.

[cal_junior]

I'll feel so much better about things if he brings in somebody who can call the game for him. Jay-Z doesn't need to overload his plate too quickly.

[OCSkinzFan]

From my count, on offense we have an Zorn(HC), Breaux and Meidt(offensive associates) and Smith (OC). Thats an aweful lot of guys in the kitchen, who as the Skins have put it, "everyone has imput". I agree that, hopefully, we dont get into the gibbs type deal where one coach calls plays between the 25 yard lines and another for goalline to 25 yards, but comeon, 4 high ranking coaches/associates before we get to position coaches. How many other teams have this kind of structure?

You left out Assistant Head Coach-Running Backs Stump Mitchell who will have significant input in devising running plays and, along with the offensive coordinator, help teach Zorn's scheme to the coaching staff and players.

It's not a lot of cooks though. It's a pretty standard ammout by NFL standards, and BTW offensive associats are not considered "high ranking."

[chrisbcbu]

Its official Smith OC
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/
Sherman Smith Takes The Job With The Skins

Smith just informed the Tennessee Titans he is taking the Redskins' offensive coordinator job, league sources said. Look for an announcement shortly.

Also, league sources say the Titans are very much interested in fired Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner to work with their running backs, and plan to contact him shortly.

So the Skins' coaching staff is essentially in place.

[OCSkinzFan]

Its official Smith OC
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/

Thank Goodness!

Wow never without drama. For the last twenty minutes I've been trying to get my head around the fact of yet another plot twist in the epic tale of "Looking for Mr. Good-coach."

I am physically relieved.

oops, I think I just peed.

[hail2skins]

From my count, on offense we have an Zorn(HC), Breaux and Meidt(offensive associates) and Smith (OC). Thats an aweful lot of guys in the kitchen, who as the Skins have put it, "everyone has imput". I agree that, hopefully, we dont get into the gibbs type deal where one coach calls plays between the 25 yard lines and another for goalline to 25 yards, but comeon, 4 high ranking coaches/associates before we get to position coaches. How many other teams have this kind of structure?A lot of teams have offensive assistants. They don't do much. Do you know what Breaux did last season? No and neither do I.

A head coach has coordinators and position coaches for a reason. They teach while the coach provides the direction. Look at Gibbs, he was basically the offensive coordinator before he hired Saunders.

All Zorn is trying to do is get people in a position where he can spend time with the QB's which is basically what he was bought here for anyway.

I have no problem with what he is doing, the question is will it work. Only time will tell.

[OCSkinzFan]

A lot of teams have offensive assistants. They don't do much. Do you know what Breaux did last season? No and neither do I. And neither did Breaux.

I heard that his headset just played show-tunes from his younger days.

On the Redskins website his title is listed as "---" Seriously, look it up here. (http://www.redskins.com/team/coachingstaff.jsp)

[BostonSkins]

Sherman's March to the Super Bowl?

I'll settle for Sherman's march to 21 PPG

[silverspring]

Glad this is all wrapped up...now they need to put together a playbook.

[VegasSkinsFan]

Sherman's March to the Super Bowl?

I'll settle for Sherman's march to 21 PPG

As long as it isnt Captain Smith of the Titanic. GO SKINS !!!!!!

[WarEagle]

Glad this is all wrapped up...now they need to put together a playbook.

It better fit on a wristband. ;)

[PennSkinsFan]

Good deal. I like the offensive staff, although I am still worried a bit by Zorn trying to be a HC for the first year, wanting to work with campbell as well, and calling plays.

[silverspring]

It better fit on a wristband. ;)

I just hope it isn't 700 pages.

[VegasSkinsFan]

It better fit on a wristband. ;)

Maybe they pull the old ' first 20 plays are already planned' ala walsh i believe. Welcome Coach Smith. GO SKINS !!!!!!!

[shally]

i think they will clearly script the first group of plays.. will take some of the pressure off of zorn that way

[skin4ever]

A lot of teams have offensive assistants. They don't do much. Do you know what Breaux did last season? No and neither do I.

A head coach has coordinators and position coaches for a reason. They teach while the coach provides the direction. Look at Gibbs, he was basically the offensive coordinator before he hired Saunders.

All Zorn is trying to do is get people in a position where he can spend time with the QB's which is basically what he was bought here for anyway.

I have no problem with what he is doing, the question is will it work. Only time will tell.

Dont assume we didnt know what breaux did for the skins, we all saw him each sunday in the booth with a headset on, listening to journey.LOL.

Thats what i dont understand, if thats why we brought him here for, then why, why is he our HC, I know hes an offensive mind, but we have Qb coaches and now associates and an OC to help him, the HC, while i like him wanting to spend time to teach JC, shoudnt be doing it his way? I dont know, thats just what i think.

But like you said, Hopefully it works out.

[Chief Seeway]

Good deal. I like the offensive staff, although I am still worried a bit by Zorn trying to be a HC for the first year, wanting to work with campbell as well, and calling plays.


Exactly my concerns as well. It can be done but it won't come easy.

[skinsfan36]

glad to have the staff in place in time for the combine.this draft is very important imo

[GloryHog]

Dont assume we didnt know what breaux did for the skins, we all saw him each sunday in the booth with a headset on, listening to journey.LOL.

I think at this point in time Breaux is a coach "emeritus". While he dodders around and has forgotten more than what some coaches know, he probably is still a wealth of experience and he's not hurting anything. I think I't kind of cool that Snyder is willing to have a place for him in the Redskins. Every organization should have a "Grandpa" figure as part of the family.

From what I've read it sounds like the offensive game plan will be primarily developed with the ideas of Bugle, Mitchell, Smith and Zorn. Breaux will probably wake up once in a while and give them a gem or two. Zorn wants to actually call the plays, I don't have a big problem with this. I understand he called at least some of his own plays when he was a quarterback. Seems like pretty good on the job training. If he did a good job of calling plays while being chased around by large angry men, somehow I think he'll be able to handle it on the sidelines with a clipboard.

[firehawk157]

"I'm just very excited about the great opportunity to work with my man Z-man [Zorn], the great opportunity to be a part of that great organization there in Washington and having an opportunity to develop more as a coach and an offense coordinator there," said Smith, who agreed to a three-year deal. "The more I thought about it, joining Jim and the Redskins was the right thing for me."

After telling Tennessee Coach Jeff Fisher he planned to remain on the Titans coaching staff, which he joined in 1995, Smith called Zorn, who told Smith to take more time before making his decision. Smith told Fisher he needed to speak with his family again and then decided he needed to join the Redskins.
"That's definitely how it went," Smith said. "I had more peace about staying. The reason I did is because that didn't affect my family. If I stayed, we didn't have to move. My daughter would be happy, my son would be happy and my wife, she wouldn't have to do all that moving stuff, so it was easy to feel better about staying than about leaving. But leaving was the best thing to do. I'm in."

Interesting little tidbit from Smith. I really like how persuasive Zorn is in this case. If he can convince somebody to get out of their comfort zone and come to a place where they know they're job is on the line year in and year out, I like his chances convincing our players to get out of their comfort zones and play to their max.

[Battle Cat]

Well if they are just as qualified, why not name Meidt as the HC and keep Zorn at OC. I see what you are saying, but i dont think that, it is the norm, for many CEO's to let someone else run the show so they can do lower positions. Bill Gates may have had to do that b/c he is a technical comp guy and may not have had as great a sense for running a corp. But this is football, we have coaches at every position and an OC to manage them, and a HC to tie it all together.

I think its great that Zorn wants to work with JC. I think HC's should want to help their players learn, but to hire someone to teach his system to everyone else, seems a little odd to me. Work with JC, but dont put off your other responsiblities as a HC, thats what his title is and thats what he gets paid to do. Who will the players go to with problems, or questions, their HC or the person who is teaching them.

Jon Gruden, Brian Billeck, and Norv Turner. I prefer the Jon Gruden example but regardless this is not unprecedented. All of these guys especially Gruden teach the quarterback come up with the offensive plays and have called the plays as a head coach before. I would argue that NFL teams are not corporations with CEO's like J. Gibbs ran the team but more like mom and pop start ups or Internet start ups where everyone even the boss gets their hands dirty.

[meloveskinslongtime]

glad to have the staff in place in time for the combine.this draft is very important imo

lets just hope the geniuses of the front office actually listen to their opinion

[Baker24]

lets just hope the geniuses of the front office actually listen to their opinion

hahaha...sorry i thought you said the geniuses in the front office...hahahaha