Washington Redskins coach Jim Zorn has been stripped of playcalling duties as a result of the team's sluggish start. But is playcalling really the Redskins' problem?
Not according to ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, who has watched every single Redskins play this season in preparation for calling their game on Monday night.
"This change right now [in] the playcalling is unsettling," Jaworski
said on ESPN 980, per Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. "And in preparation for this game, I've gone through every
Redskins game. It's not about the playcalling. It just seems to me it's
some sort of crutch right now that somebody wants to hang their hat on.
It's about the execution of plays that are called. It's that simple.
"I've gone through every single play offensively. Can you, in
hindsight, look back and say, 'Oh, you should have called this, you
should have called that?' Sure, when you have access to results, that
second-guessing is easy. But if I look at the plays and break down
where the ball should be going, the things that are happening, it's NOT the playcalling. It's execution."
Of course, "it's execution" is another way of saying, "it's the players." And it's a lot harder to blame all the players -- and the personnel people who acquired the players -- than it is simply blame the playcalling, and hope changing that one element of the team changes the team's fortunes.
Jaws: Zorn's playcalling not Redskins' problem
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 23, 2009 1:40 PM ET
Permalink
40 Comments 
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
Latest stories in: Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, Top Stories, Washington Redskins
AGREE...HE IS SURE GETTING A BAD WRAP
WASHIGTON IS MESS NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT
even if the same 20+plays are called 2 or 3 times a game...redskins recievers are not gettin open as they can and when they do get open the balls in inaccuratly thrown...all nfl starts with the qb redskins just need to get a RELIABLE QB and desperatly need to look at getting the OL fixed with the next draft and maybe a cornerback carlos rogers is horrible..o yea and need to get CP back on track...
Jaws is right on. It is not about x's and o's but the Willy's and Joe's. I know what a great coach Vince Lombardi was at Green Bay but his teams were bad when he went to coach Washington. He did not become dumb, he just did not have Bart Starr and the rest of the stars he had in Green Bay. If you have the players you are a lot smarter.
So, what Jaws is saying is that he went through every offensive that the Redskins have run this year? That guy is getting on my nerves.
"Of course, "it's execution" is another way of saying, "it's the players." And it's a lot harder to blame all the players -- and the personnel people who acquired the players -- than it is simply blame the playcalling, and hope changing that one element of the team changes the team's fortunes."
So, wouldn't calling plays that the players COULD execute help the situation......
This team needs to be imploded like the Raiders...from the GM to the Water Boy. CTRL-ALT-DEL, Mr. Snyder....time for a re-boot!
AMEN. I too have seen every Redskin play this season and it IS the players. They are dropping passes, dropping interceptions, tip-toeing to the gaps, missing the open receivers.
I am still on the Jim Zorn bandwagon. I like his style of coaching. He simply does not have the tools to get the job done. The line is folding like a Japanese fan every time a decent pass rush is applied. That cascades into other problems, and cannot be laid at the feet of Zorn. That is the fault of a front office who has not drafted an O-lineman in the first three rounds for 10 years. The guys try hard enough...sometimes...but the talent is just not there.
Zorn deserves to have not only playcalling restored, but he deserves a GM who knows how to rebuild a team and he deserves some input on the players selected to run his system.
Why does Jaws always go out of his way to tell us how much film he watches?
We assume you have watched all the games because we assume you are a professional.
You don't get a pat on the back for doing the expected, Jaws.
Lets not forget -Zorn was first hired to be the Offensive Coordinator. Snyder was spurned by those he desired to be his Head Coach... All Backwards.. Hire a Head Coach and let him hire his Coaches.. not backfill the Head Coach spot last ...Snyder needs to pick a GM/Head Coach and write the checks and say Thank You....They Hired Greg Williams as an Assistant Head Coach/ next in line and let him walk....no sense
ESPN CHANGES LANES ON MONDAY NIGHT
Posted by Michael David Smith on October 23, 2009 1:51 PM ET
Facing considerable backlash from the viewing public angry that such a bad match-up so early in the season, ESPN has decided to not air the Monday night football game between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles. In its place they will air "3" the story of Dale Earnhardt.
I respect Jaworski's opinions about play-calling, so what he says makes sense. With the Redskins' offense dating back to the return of Joe Gibbs, it's lack of productivity was often blamed on execution problems too.
What this ultimately looks like is just an attempt to further shake things up, on a bigger and probably more risky scale than just swapping starting QBs. But you have to wonder if the Redskin decision makers (read: Snyder, Dan) could have handled this any worse. Probably not.
I wonder if Jay Cutler or Mark Sanchez (both trade rumors before the season started) would be doing any better in DC than Campbell is? Probably not again.
that is retarded. Every play called if executed correctly is supposed to work. But if you call the wrong play at the wrong time or the defense knows what your going to call the chances of it's success is decreased. Duh Jaws.
MDS sez: "Of course, "it's execution" is another way of saying, "it's the players." And it's a lot harder to blame all the players -- and the personnel people who acquired the players -- than it is simply blame the playcalling, and hope changing that one element of the team changes the team's fortunes."
It's execution can also be an indictment on the quality of coaching that the players receive.
Of course, it could just be the players.
First, Campbell is horrible, I wouldn't have him running my practice squad. He can't read the defense well enough to execute the play, and the receivers obviously can't either, which is clearly shown in their inability to get open. That's why we run so many screen plays and 3yd dump offs.
Second, so many people are down on Sherman Lewis for having not called plays for 4 or 5 years. Remember this, until last year, Zorn never called a play in his life! At 5 years removed, Sherm still has more experience than Zorn ever had. And, hopefully, the ability to call plays that our team can understand and execute. All he needs to do is call plays that match our talent level. I hate to say it, but dumb it down a little.
We have a very athletic team, but not a very smart team and you need both to be talented. I've been a fan all my life and this year is breaking my heart, but I take comfort in knowing this is rock bottom and it can't get any worse. Only place to go is up.
I actually feel sorry for Zorn. The Redskins mess is the making of an owner who wanted to play rich man's fantasy football. They've been a mess since he took over with all the crazy free agent flops. Why would any established successful coach want to take over a team owned by Snyder?
A coach is not officially fired in the NFL until they tell you he's going to stay. Cerrato's ringing endorsement is the kiss of death. It no longer matters if Zorn calls the plays, or not.
cancerville
So maybe Lewis will call plays that the players can execute more effectively? That is, if he can remember the terminology come Monday. 108-6 Eagles.
the redskin management look like they just got out of the clown car at the circus,terrible.
It's not the playcalling.....it IS the players. The offensive line is......well...offensive. You could put Joe Montana in that pocket and he would look like Ryan Leaf. CP is done.....the guy goes down on first contact (or slips) and has no burst left, we have Betts as a 3rd down...decent pass catcher but ain't gonna scare ya' between the tackles. On top of that, we have no one that can get to the edge. So, no power, no speed and a sloppy line. Moss shows up 1 out of 4 games...and the 2nd year players?.....they don't show up at all. The defense can be a really good unit but they're always playing from behind, and it doesn't allow them to pin their ears back and take risks. Always catching.
The plays aren't working because of the playcalling.......it's the PLAYers...or lack thereof. This team should be ashamed of itself. As a group, they are quitters.
We already know they dont scout for the draft, seeing how they generally give away all of their picks. Now we have evidence that they don't self scout either - It's a sad situation when a color commentator is more informed about a team than it's front office...
Jaws is an idiot. If every team in the league knows your going to run the ball on first and goal, and you always do, then the playcaller is at fault for not mixing it up. Sure, players missed blocks, but the plays called should be called to the Redskins strengths (if we have any) and there not. Portis up the gut (not pitches to turn the corner). Betts or Portis on a short out/screen. Draw plays or QB runs on second down. And, for the love of God, find Chris Cooley. Thats play calling, ands its bad. Remember, Jaws thinks the wildcat is a gimmick. Espn only hires morons for primetime NFL analysis. Kornheiser, Theisman, Fauts. Give me a break...
The Redskins problems run too deep to name them all. Poor ownership, lack of talent, and terrible coaching are just a few.
Are we supposed to just believe a man that wears ladies frames?
On a side note, welcome back MDS. Now get back to work on Florio's pet project, CFT.
More dazzling insight from Jaworski.
We watch the same game you do, no friggin' s...
it's the players. Whether they're hurt, too high on themselves, or just plain suck, they're not getting it done.
Paint a turd a new color, it's still a turd.
Will say it again, nobody worth a squat on that team except Fletcher, Cooley, and Orakpo. The rest are either talented and lazy (Haynesworth, Portis), hurt and/or past their prime (Samuels, Thomas), or just not able to perform effectively at this level (any of the free agents they seem to pick up).
Of course Zorn isn't the problem, nor will his replacement be the solution. Not w/ this 'team'.
I can not understand how any proven, big name available coach (e.g., Cowher, Shanahan, Gruden, and especially Zorn's former boss Holmgren) even sets foot in the place for an interview, let alone takes the job. This looks to be such an incredibly toxic situation they would all be fools to set themselves up for defeat and humiliation like that.
Then again, they've all had success in the past, so maybe the inevitable huge pile of cash is what they'd be after at this point.
wow, when did MDS come back?
Comment Submission Error
Your comment submission failed for the following reasons: Registration is required.
I wish that would stop coming back.
"ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, who has watched every single Redskins play this season in preparation for calling their game on Monday night."
Every single play? I know ESPN is a s**thole, but torturing their analysts that way is just wrong. That's more than any one man should be asked to endure.
It is obvious to everyone, except a particular former lawyer, that top to bottom there's not much to the Redskins - period besides a great-but-underutilized TE and a mouthy, overpaid, injury-prone RB who statistically-fantastic but you'll never convince much of anyone otherwise. Add a dash of Gomer Pyle to the QB position and factor in the owner who doesn't know what the draft is for, likes to overpay players who don't live up to the hype and you apparently do NOT have a Super Bowl contender.
At least it's apparent to me, but what do I know?
I guess i'm missing something here....how in hell do you call a stretch play out of your own the end zone? All those 4-6 yard pass plays that Zorn be calling just don't make any sense at ALL
www.sellOURteamdannyboy.com snyder is the one to blame for all of this
GiantsDefenseRules says: October 23, 2009 1:53 PM
"So, wouldn't calling plays that the players COULD execute help the situation......"
__________________________________
If a player cannot execute ALL the plays in the playbook, why would he be on the field?
Jaws is right...even though he's a terrible on MNF.
You can call poop peanut butter because its brown and you can spread it on a cracker and eat it... but it would still be poop.
I'll concede that the players Synder has aquired have amounted to garbage.
However to say it is ALL on the players is wrong. The entire system is failing there.
After all, and I might be wrong about when it occured... But wasn't their first trip of the season into the red zone where they were denied a touchdown attempt on a half back pass?
So if that's the case, then Campbell audibled to it?
I find that hard to believe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWT19J1Rjf0
SNYDER andCERATO = THE REDSKINS PROBLEMS! they shopped for the groceries and the chef to prepared the meal with! it is obvious that they do not know how to shop! CHEF BOY R DEE couldn't prepare a meal with these ingredients!
Jaws is full of hot air, and I never did like him in the booth.
There were multiple times during multiple games that I watched where I wondered wtf is Zorn doing calling a certain play. So damn vanilla & predictable...No wonder that offense stinks.
Granted there are many other problems with that offense, but yes, sometimes the play calling was lame.
Jaws: Not an NFL Analyst.
Jaws actually pulled his lips off Favre's ass long enough to watch film?
Hard to believe.
Twiz -
Yes the comment was meant as sarcasm. The players can't execute any of the plays properly, so the coach can't call good plays. Showing the flaw in Jaws' logic, which isn't hard to do sometimes...
"Execution" also falls on the coaches to ingrain in the players the attention to details and discipline necessary to achieve a high level of execution.