Stump Mitchell is the Redskins running backs coach

by Skin Patrol on Feb 13, 2008 1:40 PM EST in News Comment 10 comments

So sayeth Emilio Garcia-Ruiz at Redskins Insider:

Jason Reid reports: Even when J La is supposed to be getting some well-deserved time off, the guy still works the phones like an animal. We've confirmed the Redskins have a new running backs coach: Stump Mitchell...

Zorn, formerly the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach, worked with Mitchell in Seattle and Mitchell has experience in the West Coast offense Zorn plans to implement. With the hiring of Mitchell, the status of Earnest Byner is unclear.

The article goes on to point out that this means "limbo" for Earnest Byner -- he'll find work -- and that Zorn is avidly pursuing Sherman Smith from Tennessee for the O-Coordinator position. Smith is a personal friend and former teammates to Head Coach Jim Zorn. However:

But Smith has never been a coordinator. Zorn, who served two weeks as the Redskins' offensive coordinator before being promoted last week, also has never been a play-caller in the NFL.

Take that how you want.

I should note, and newcomer tallbear13 gave me the idea in his diary, that Zorn has already demonstrated an amount of control over the hiring position that certainly doesn't gel with my initial reaction to the hire, that being this was merely a Dan Snyder puppet coach. This will be especially true if the team lands Sherman Smith (for better or worse, more on him here) because, though puppet coaches may get to pick some of their positional coaches, they certainly don't get to pick their offensive coordinators. I would've predicted that the OC came directly from Snyder, perhaps someone who was on the short list when Zorn got the job. That doesn't appear to be the case and thus it looks increasingly like I was wrong. Shocking, I know.

It is an encouraging thought that our newest Head Coach is getting latitude to operate, as I think every HC needs to succeed. And anything that (at least) appears to limit Snyder's role is mostly a good thing, (only) in my opinion. But maybe he's just being given enough rope with which to hang himself (and there is reason for skepticism over Zorn's future)? That all depends on the results.

PS: Per the Bog we now have a "stats nerd" on the staff!

[N]ew Skins offensive assistant Chris Meidt... appears to be a stats nerd; according to this article he "spent two years as an information technology analyst before entering coaching and has a bachelor's degree in math and an MBA in information sciences. By applying his math and business knowledge to football, Meidt has found that there's a lot to be gained from aggressive, against-the-grain play calling. Two-point conversions and surprise on-side kicks are common practice for his teams."

The only thing I like more than stats nerdery are surprise on-side kicks and two-point conversions. In the world I rule, there will be no punting or kicking.

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Are we to presume...

that "stats nerd" means something equivalent to a sabermetrics nerd in baseball, or even close to what FO does?

Because that would be cool.

Also, I think some of the most successful coaches in the NFL take chances on 4th. Belichick comes to mind, Parcells used to do it often, Gibbs was never really shy about a 4th and 1 run call, and Hogs Haven's official college coach, Mike Leach of Texas Tech, goes for it on 4th down so much that it takes fans the full 4 years to learn the punter's name.

If, and this is a big if because the tendency of a "stats nerd" doesn't always translate to the head coach, this is true, it makes me happy.

by TexSkins on Feb 13, 2008 2:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I forgot...

but how much does hiring the running backs coach and an offensive coordinator (when you as an offensive head coach are expected to bring in your offensive system) translate to a demonstration of control?

Just asking. It seems more like a concession (read: signing bonus/peace offering) on the part of Dan (like, "Sure, you can hire the guy you want to help you install your offense. Running backs coach? Why not?") than it does Zorn asserting his power in the organization.

Or, I am misreading this. I do that a lot.

by TexSkins on Feb 13, 2008 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Distinction with no difference

Whether it be Jim Zorn asserting himself or Dan Snyder making concessions, the result is still the same; the former makes a decision that I would have predicted the latter would've made. Maybe Zorn had no hand in getting an OC, it was just Dan being lazy and tired and saying "Alright, get your guy..." But if I'm of the opinion that Snyder should not make football decisions, then if he fails to make them for the assertive conduct of his HC or Dan fails to make them because he's just lazy, he still fails to make a football decision. Just my two cents.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Feb 13, 2008 2:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what difference does it make

if they haven't called a play in the NFL? It's about the players and then the game situation. experienced callers get it wrong, and vice versa. I do want to know how much he called in the huddle when he was a QB-and a rather decent one IF I am am not mistaken. His best OC option will come from college if whoever is looking for at least a measure of experience...I just don't like guys that come straight from the college ranks.

Play calling in my humble opinion is about knowldge and logic just as much as experience-especially in this rapidly changing league. Though dont get wrong-I am not discounting experience.

by JustinU804 on Feb 13, 2008 3:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

To this, I would say...

that at some point in their careers, Holmgren, Reid, Gruden, etc. had never called plays. Like I've said before, the West Coast (more than most NFL systems) is about feel, timing, execution. Experience helps, obviously, but there is only one way to get experience when you don't have any...

Know what I mean? I think we're on the same page here...

by TexSkins on Feb 13, 2008 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Andy Reid

Became a HC straight from a quarterbacks coach for Mike Holmgren. Assuming similar amounts of control existed then -- I have no idea but suspect that Reid wasn't calling plays until he became HC in Philly -- then perhaps that is a starting data point on which to rest what the two of you are saying.

Go Register. Or else.

by Skin Patrol on Feb 13, 2008 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Zorn's a step closer than Reid

Reid could be the 1 in a million, however Zorn has more of an upside by calling plays as an NFL quarterback and a college OC. Reid was a coach out of college where he played as a lineman.
Coached offensive lines before becoming a quarterback coach...to that is really no experience!

by dr WNC on Feb 13, 2008 4:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone is the post

makes great points on this issue.

What does the "group that made it so Fassel not get hired" think about how Ernest Byner got screwed out of a job? From what I heared there was a one year contract on the table for EB, and they said nevermind we're looking in another direction..after he went to look at a possible job in Tampa and now he's out of a job. If that's the case it really grinds my gears.

Justin, sorry for coming off like a dick on a previous post. I had a couple of beers when responding to your comment and I thought "the fanhood" was being questioned. My bad.

by CptChaosSidekick on Feb 14, 2008 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs