What are the true expectations for Zorn this season..

by zojoy4u on May 15, 2008 10:26 PM EDT

We all know Redskin fans are not the most patient or forgiving so lets gauge what the expectations for Zorn's initial season...It seems to me a lot depends on health if bot lines stay healthy it means we can run the ball which does two things 1) Helps minimize the pressure on J Campbell...2)Minimizes the time the Defense spends on the field. Also the additions to the WR corp should open up more scoring opportunities having more speed and athletes in the ranks. The one thing I believe must be addressed is CB. But if all thing fall into place I think 9-7 or 10-6 is a real possibility.

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New coach? No experience? Play calling, coaching the QBs, and then doing all the stuff that a head coach does… On paper it looks grim.

On the other hand the Redskins were within a TD of winning most games, and rarely scored over 25 points. Despite our lack of pass rush our D was pretty hard nosed last year, keeping all our games close despite our inability to actually score TDs, even (especially) from within the 5 yard line. If the D can maintain similar productivity, Zorn may have inherited the perfect baby for himself. The same power running game mixed with a more flexible passing game, in addition to three extra 6’2” plus targets, may have some actual results.

Still though, it seems like most of the question mark rests on our offensive players. If the transition is smooth from Al to Jim’s playbook, there is lots of potential success in Zorn’s future.

What I like is the fact that we (now) have two young QB’s who Zorn can mold into his UberQB, and a multiplicity of younger, large targets for them to hit. I would be more nervous about his playcalling, but since I that was the most dismal part of last year’s offense, I can’t really see Zorn’s presence being a problem.

Pau.

by Ach on May 16, 2008 3:14 AM EDT reply actions

I agree on defense.

Greg Blache is a different coach than Gregg Williams, but he’s been here for a minute and so there is some coaching continuity there. I think we have a huge amount of talent defensively, though I am concerned about injuries, specifically to the old guys on the line and to our young starters like Carlos Rogers and Rocky McIntosh. I think we’re thin at linebacker, though that’s without knowing yet what we have in The Hamburglar.

Lots of talk this week about developments in the Sean Taylor murder case; time has not made it more distressing. Although the team rebounded well defensively after his murder, he was a special, potentially once in a generation type player, and we aren’t the same team without him. I worry about the effect his absence will have over the course of a 16 game season. Are we still a top 10 defense?

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on May 16, 2008 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Great Expectations

I will echo much of Ach’s comments. So many close games last year. Our offense failed to have consistent drives much of the year (3rd down conversion problems) and was almost anemic in the red zone. I saw three reasons for this: 1) the injuries along the offensive line were devestating (two starters gone for the season, others playing hurt, backups hurt, people playing out of normal position, etc. This limits play calling and, obviously, timing. 2) The lack of tall wide out and injurires with Moss and REL, at times, effected passing game, also. 3) Apparent problems between Gibbs and Saunders.

These offensive problems then translated into the defense having to be on the field too long. Then the injuries on the defensive hit and then came the loss of Sean Taylor .

Despite all this, the Redskins were close except for the NE game.

Holmgren’s tree shows a lot of successful coaches. Zorn knows the offense. He not only taught a QB proper techniques, he taught the QB how to read the defenses and where to go with the ball. The running game plays are apparently mostly the same, the bigger changes come in the passing game.

At first, I thought to many changes, too many coaches jumping far up the ladder in jobs to be effective in the first year. Now, I think, that the changes are going to be incrementally installed, the offense should be more productive (hope we do not have the same injury problems), the defense should get more rest, and some of the younger players last year proved they can play – and play well.

The biggest question will be how well and how quickly Jason Campbell adapts to all the changes Zorn will be implementing in the QB position.

by saratogan on May 16, 2008 9:45 AM EDT reply actions

I wish we were hearing more

about Zorn and Campbell than hamstring tweaks. It’s been unsettlingly quiet on that front and I’d like to know how Campbell is taking to the new offense.

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on May 16, 2008 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll go on record...

Others won’t like it, but I could deal with a 7 win season. Remember that even HoF coach Joe Gibbs (albeit with a less talented team) won just 6 games his first year with the team.

Given the personnel, though, it wouldn’t shock me if this team won 9-10 games either.

Go register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on May 16, 2008 10:11 AM EDT reply actions