A Good Start

As I am preparing my first blog entry regarding the Washington Redskins (yes, Atlanta, I am seeing someone else now) as the "home team" I am mulling over in my mind a question on one of the Redskin fan blog sites asking whether or not the Redskins should keep their name. As someone who tries in this blog to not be politically correct I would answer this question with an adamant "No." The Redskins have the most politically incorrect name in all of professional sports. Actually, the LA Lakers come close (there are no lakes in LA, and the only "lake" there is actually is a tar pit). However, they have had that name since the start of the franchise. Why change now? What would change into? The Murderers? The Congressmen? The Bought Off? The Gun Ban Posse? The Monuments? The Presidents? The President's Hookers? I mean it could go on and on. All the other names are taken...the Capitals, the Nationals (they really should have brought back the Senators), the Wizards (this is so racist against wizards). So what would be the point? The world needs a lot less political correctness anyways. PC has kept people from speaking their minds and from their heart. Sure, people may not like what some other people may have to say, but we all have the RIGHT to say it. I respect people who speak their minds, mean exactly what they say, and give me the honest truth. Don't give me some sugar coated response that could mean a hundred different things. Just give it to me straight. If I don't like I'll tell you. So, in other words, the Redskins should stay the Redskins if that is what they want.

Jim Zorn is the new head coach of the Redskins.

Hmm...the former quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks (also a non-PC name). He spent most of his entire career being chased after by Raiders defensive linemen and having his brains splatted all over the Kingdome turf. This is the guy you want as a head coach? Well, at least Dan Snyder did not get some flashy big name who either had no clue what he was doing coaching pro ball (Spurrier, who left for South Carolina as an escape hatch) or the game had completely passed him by (Gibbs, and I know I'll get killed for this, but if you really had a brain you would agree). Dan (who is one of the worst owners I have seen in football) did not go after Tom Landry or tried to exhume George Allen. He did not get a top college coach, which I guess is good. College coaches who succeed in college can't do the same thing using the same methods in the pros (like sleeping). It shows also that maybe the big name is not what the Redskins need now. They need a coach and a fresh head coach at that. I am still unsure of this decision (due to Zorn's lack of head coaching experience and spending his entire career getting killed in Seattle, Green Bay and Tampa-sure to cause brain damage), but it is a fresh start.

So far, the reports that I have read from training camp (aside from key injuries to starters and potential new starters) is that Zorn is trying to put his stamp on the team from day one. He has been a bit of a drill sergeant, which professional athletes need (but don't want) continuously demanding continued repetitions and hustle. He has been demanding of his players and so far has not taken any grief from them. He has demanded attention, respect, and drive. One player that seems to have responded well to this is Clinton Portis. Yes, Clinton, the man with all the wigs, big sunglasses, and the desire to be the NFL's version of Dennis Rodman, has been working harder in this off season and this camp than in previous seasons. The team's best offensive player working hard is a great sign. He has signaled to his teammates that it's time to get to work. It's not time for warm and fuzzy time. It's time to be serious if things are going to get better.

I expect Zorn to have some definite mis-steps in his first head coaching season, but the early signs are quite positive. It will be much easier for him to loosen the reigns if he needs to be, then it would be to crack the whip later on. This is why taking a hard line approach is the best plan to establish oneself (as long as you don't go into overboard land like Barney or Dippy the Pirate Bear when he trained his dog to attack ants and parked cars). Hey, it eventually worked for Tom Coughlin.

Zorn is planning to install the West Coast offense for the Redskins. I question this move mainly because I wonder if the team has the right personnel for it. However, the players have been quite happy with it so far in comparison to Gibb's predictable 1983 offensive of strategy. Zorn has also installed a more aggressive pass defense strategy which also has players more involved in the action (corners will be playing closer to the line). So far, so good and maybe Zorn did not have too much brain damage from hitting his head on the Kingdome turf too many times...but there is a lot left to go and Howie Long still works for Fox Sunday.