Redskins coach Jim Zorn has accepted the fact that he no longer calls his team's plays, mostly because he had little choice but to accept it. But he acknowledges that he still feels frustrated.
Zorn, speaking on local radio station ESPN 980, said he has turned his focus to other aspects of coaching, but he says he thinks calling plays on offense is something he could be doing -- and doing well -- for the Redskins.
"I think I try to take the overall responsibility of being the head football coach and getting everybody to help these guys not jump offsides or to not line up in the neutral zone," Zorn said, per SportsRadioInterviews.com. "I'm responsible for that stuff too. Those are the kinds of things that keep the game going and having to pay attention. It certainly takes away something that I think I'm very good at and that's a frustration."
Although he was only using "help these guys not jump offsides" as an example, it sounds a little pathetic for a head coach to talk about such a basic task as what he focuses on now that he no longer calls plays. Zorn sounds like a head coach who is coaching on borrowed time, even if he claims he's hoping to be in Washington for years.
"I've really enjoyed all the things that the D.C. area, the Virginia area and the Maryland area and just the surroundings," Zorn said. "It's just an amazing place. I love that part. I hope I'm here for a long time."
Zorn: not calling plays "a frustration"
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 11, 2009 1:16 PM ET
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26 Comments 
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Maybe the Browns can convince Big Dan to trade Zorn for Mangini? Mangini currently calls his own plays and sucks, so not calling plays in DC could be a relief for him. Zorn can try his luck calling plays for the two most inept QBs in the league not named Russell. How much worse can he be than Mangini?
A win-win (no lose, as we used to call it) proposition.
I blame Snyder for this. Zorn should have never been a head coach. He should have been an offensive coordinator. He's in over his head because of Snyder and Vinnie. And by the way "Danny" hire a head coach and let him hire his own assistants. Hire Mike Holmgren or Ron Wolf and then get the heck out of the way!!!! If you're not willing to do that, then sell the dang team!
Redskins Fan since 1973 - Daniel Snider critic forever
Here's a strange question. If he's not calling plays, does that mean he also doesn't call time-outs or throws challenges, or any of the other things you do that are somewhat associated with play calling? I'm curious how you would go about implementing a seemingly crazy practice like removing the head coach's responsibilities without removing the head coach himself. Does he just stand there and clap his hands?
Zorn seems like a nice guy, but it's getting harder and harder to respect him at all. I think 99% of guys in his situation would tell the boss to shove it up his ass and walk away. Zorn is ultimately killing his credibility in a profession built in large part upon the dominant male ego. How will he ever possibly be expected to be a "leader of men" after this?
not too mention that haynesworth jumped offsides twice on the opening drive against the falcons and Doughty lined up in the neutral zone on a punt to give them a first down, so he sucked at playcalling and now he sucks at making sure people line up properly.
Why doesn't Zorn ask a good employment lawyer to find out if has justification to leave his job at the end of year while still getting paid the full contract?
If Holmgren goes to Cleveland as GM, he will hire one of his boys like Gruden and have Zorn go back to coaching QB's. He could do some good for Quinn/DA. BINGO!!!!!
Holmgren isnt going to DC because of what Ooompa is doing to his friend. Coaches are a fraternity
The L'il General hired his OC before he hired an HC. This type stuff has been going on since the first day he over the team.
Zorn could be a good OC with a good GM but no one could have success with Black Heart at the controls and anyone who could won't touch that leprosy stricken organization.
It's funny, florio didn't write this. Same thing with warner winning NFC offensive player of the week. The little punk florio is NOT MAN ENOUGH to write these articles. He picks and chooses based on how much egg he has on his face. The redskins thing (SB prediction) really makes him look stupid, and his "old ass man" harping on warner has him looking stupid as well.
So he can't man up to write about it. Hilarious. Shows him for what he is.
He's doing the correct thing. If he walks away, he's walking away from a ton of money. If he gets shit caned then the idiot owner has to pay up. Stay Zorn don't leave buddy.
not too mention that haynesworth jumped offsides twice on the opening drive against the falcons and Doughty lined up in the neutral zone on a punt to give them a first down, so he sucked at playcalling and now he sucks at making sure people line up properly.
I still don't see how it is that big a deal for Zorn to be on the sidelines not calling plays. Wade Phillips has been nothing but a title on the sidelines for the past couple of seasons too.
Zorn should just post up on the sideline wearing mesh shorts and a skins wife beater in a lawn chair and itch his nuts every time the camera is on him, just to mess with Danny boy.
It's simple: if he quits, he loses millions. If he stays, he gets paid. What player won't respect that?
Zorn also said that he loves Ben's Chili Bowl, but he's frustrated that Dan Snyder won't tell him what the other half of a half-smoke is.
between our lovely climate, D.C. crime, and the 3rd worst traffic in the nation, whats not to like, Jimmy? for a second there I thought you were pandering. silly me
Zorn loves the D.C. area and wants to keep living there? No problem: when some owner or GM of a team with a lackluster Offense forgets about what happened in Miami and hires Cam Cameron as their next head coach, Zorn can get a job as Baltimore's OC.
Depending on where he lives now, he'd be looking at a pretty short commute.
There are alot of coaches who don't call their own plays, aren't there? I mean they have the final word if a play call is made and they don't like it, but generally the head coach has too much he has to pay attention to during the course of the game than to worry about calling each and every play, that's why the have offensive/defensive coordinators.
Maybe it's just me, but there are things more important than money. Besides, I'm sure he'd be able to get another coordinator job or college coaching gig. It's not like he would be hurting for income...
you make walking away from millions sound so easy. I would want to stick Synder for everything I can get.
# Richm2256 says: November 11, 2009 1:34 PM
Maybe the Browns can convince Big Dan to trade Zorn for Mangini? Mangini currently calls his own plays and sucks, so not calling plays in DC could be a relief for him. Zorn can try his luck calling plays for the two most inept QBs in the league not named Russell. How much worse can he be than Mangini?
A win-win (no lose, as we used to call it) proposition.
Except mangini doesn't call the plays, dipshit. Brian Daboll does.
"Except mangini doesn't call the plays, dipshit. Brian Daboll does"
You honestly think this control freak of a coach doesn't dictate what Daboll runs?????? Who's the true dipshit here, halitzor?
If no play calling is a frustration you have to live with, what do you call having to live with that horrific team Snyder put on the field?
test
The good news is Jim is not to blame for the calls now
The NFL should step in and have the Skins and Raiders sold to real business men not these wealthy fans
"The NFL should step in and have the Skins and Raiders sold to real business men not these wealthy fans"
What, Cleveland is in great shape?