Former Redskin Great Joe Jacoby Wants to Coach...

First, Joe Jacoby needs to be in the Hall of Fame. Along with Russ Grimm.

It was reported last month that former Redskins Hog Joe Jacoby wanted to get into coaching. And it was reported today that Jacoby took a "volunteer" assistant coaching job with the small Shenandoah University.

You'd think that the Washington Redskins would have room for a guy of his caliber to help out Joe Bugel with the offensive line, especially with Bugel being out for some time to be with his ill daughter. And, the fact that Jacoby is volunteering at Shenandoah University makes me think either Jacoby didn't want to start coaching in the pros or the Redskins didn't want him to start here either. Whichever the case, I think Jacoby would make one hell of a coach and if he eventually coaches in the NFL like Russ Grimm he would likely increase his chances of getting into the Hall of Fame due to the publicity and being around the game more.

Joe Jacoby #66

With Bugel getting up there in age, and retirement a possibility, I think Jacoby would fit in nicely with the Dirtbags. There is no doubt he could help teach the young guys (Heyer, Reinhart). Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Other notable former players turned coaches:

Tom Landry, Dan Reeves, Mike Ditka, Mike Singletary, Bill Cower, Tom Flores, Jim Zorn, Sam Wyche, John Madden, Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Earnest Byner

Share your thoughts on Jacoby coaching, or any other former player turn coach.

Jim Zorn Pulls Pants Down; Bonds With Redskins Players

I knew the Redskins got a nutty coach on February 10th 2008. The infamous Maroon & Black press conference was just the beginning of the quirky head coach from Seattle. Sally Jenkins was one of DC's first to write about Zorn's likability...and she was right. The man is an open book that says what he thinks, and does so in his own unique way. That's exactly what went down recently, according to Matt Mosley of ESPN. According the the article, Zorn got his point across, and continued the bond he has formed with his players. As the Redskins were getting ready to travel to Ohio for the Hall of Fame game Zorn had a meeting about the dress code:

In what must've been a surreal moment for the players, Zorn began naming off certain brands (True Religion, Republic, 7's for All Mankind) and noted that he understood that people would be wearing $250 T-shirts.

Then he turned around, pulled down his pants and tightened his belt.

"But I don't want you to wear saggy jeans," he said to roaring laughter.

Campbell characterized it as a breakthrough moment for the new staff.

Steve Largent & Jim Zorn (looking kinda brokebackish)

I couldn't imagine former Redskin coaches Joe Gibbs, Steve Spurrier, or Marty Schottenheimer pulling that one. Jim Zorn gets his point across, but in his own way. And in a town full of politicians with full time speech writers telling you what they think the people want to hear, we have Jim Zorn, who only says what he wants to say. This could be well received by the DC people for the foreseeable future...all Jim Zorn has to do now is WIN.

Jim Zorn Signature (via his right brain artist stuff)

Here are some interesting facts about Jim Zorn:

• Given name: James Arthur Zorn (Art Monk's given name: James Arthur Monk)
  
• The meaning of Zorn in the modern German language means wrath but its meaning in old Germanic is more to "tear apart" or destroy.
  
• The town of Zorn, Texas is 233 miles from some crappy city called Dallas, Texas
  
• Jim Zorn led the NFL in pass attempts in 1976 (over Tarkenton and Staubach)
  
• Jim Zorn led the NFL in interceptions in 1976 (over Stabler and Namath)
  
• Jim zorn led the NFL in yards per completion in 1977 (over Bradshaw)
  
• Jim Zorn led the NFL in sacks in 1978 (over Theismann, Jaworski, Manning)

Quotes on Jim Zorn:
Steve Largent: "There's no question, Jim comes at things from a different perspective, he thinks about things differently than a normal person does."

Matt Hasselbeck: "He's just honest. He's a very bad liar. He'll tell you what he thinks, and he'll tell you the truth."

Mike Holmgren to Dan Snyder: "You absolutely did the right thing. Now help him as an owner. Help him. Do everything you can to help him because you've got a good man."

Quotes by Jim Zorn:
"I always want to be good at everything" - July 16, 2008

"I won't be here until 2 o'clock in the morning" - July 21, 2008

"We're just going to jump right in" - July 21, 2008

"Bigger, faster stronger - that's what this league is" - July 30, 2008

"It's going to be really fun, but there are going to be some errors" - August 2, 2008

"You sort of have that image in your mind of how a head coach is supposed to behave" - August 7, 2008


HAIL.

Redskins 2008 53 Man Roster - Prediction

The Washington Redskins kick off the regular season in about 4 weeks. The guys on the fringe have a lot of time left to get noticed, so this can change, especially if there is an injury. Here is my prediction of the 53 man roster when the Washington Redskins walk into the Meadowlands on September 4th and give the NY Giants a beat down.

Quarterback

Campbell, Jason
Collins, Todd
Brennan, Colt

Running Back

Portis, Clinton
Betts, Ladell
Cartwright, Rock

Fullback
Sellers, Mike

Wide Receiver

Moss, Santana
Randle El, Antwaan
Thrash, James
Thomas, Devin
Kelly, Malcolm
McMullen, Billy

Tight End
Cooley, Chris
Davis, Fred
Yoder, Todd

Offensive Line
Rabach, Casey

Samuels, Chris
Jansen, Jon
Thomas, Randy
Kendall, Pete
Heyer, Stephon
Fabini, Jason
Wade, Todd
Rinehart, Chad

Defensive Tackle
Griffin, Cornelius
Golston, Kedric
Montgomery, Anthony
Alexander, Lorenzo
Boschetti, Ryan
Defensive End

Taylor, Jason

Carter, Andre
Evans, Demetric
Wilson, Chris
James, Erasmus (PUP List)

Linebackers
Fletcher, London
Washington, Marcus
McIntosh, Rocky
Blades, H.B.
Campbell, Khary
Sinclair, Matt

Safety

Landry, LaRon

Doughty, Reed

Fox, Vernon

Horton, Chris

Moore, Kareem
Corner Back
Springs, Shawn
Smoot, Fred

Rogers, Carlos
Torrence, Leigh
Tryon, Justin

Kicker
Suisham, Shaun

Punter
Brooks, Durant
Long Snapper
Albright, Ethan

Jim Zorn may decide to keep two fullbacks, and if that is the case you may see Nehemiah Broughton take a roster spot from an aging offensive lineman. Either Fabini or Wade could be out since most teams usually only carry eight linemen. But, I think Broughton will end up on the practice squad if he is still eligible for it.

The safety position really scares me. Who would have thought that this time last year when the late great Sean Taylor was teaming up with LaRon Landry to form one of the greatest tandems ever seen? If Landry gets dinged up from his wild man play then you're looking at a pretty big step down. Blache has indicated they will keep five safeties, and including the two rookies Moore and Horton, that's all they have.

The defensive end position looks good. Jason Taylor and Andre Carter are getting a ton of rest this training camp and should be ready to roll come September 4th. Demetric Evans will rotate in on some downs, while Chris Wilson is strictly a back up pass rusher. Erasmus James is still hurt, so he will be on the PUP list until October and will not count against the roster until then.

A lot of people love Marcus Mason and he has looked good so far this camp. But you have to be real here. You have three very capable running backs on the roster ahead of him. Having four running backs is a luxury and that one extra spot could be used at a position with more need, like the defensive line or linebacker. Mason will likely end up on the practice squad again.

Well, that's my take. There is plenty of time for people to play well, play poor, and get hurt. So it will be interesting to see how this looks in four weeks. But, I would not mind heading into the regular season with the roster above....pretty solid in my opinion.

Hail.

Washington Redskins Cut Adam Archuleta 2.0

Phew...that was quick. Adam Archuleta, err, Stuart Schweigert was cut yesterday afternoon by the Washington Redskins.

I saw this news come across the wire about 6:30 pm yesterday...and didn't think much of it until today. Then I realized how close the Redskins were to Archuleta Redux. No, not the huge contract, but the possibility of a malcontent.

You see, the Washington Redskins have put themselves in a bind in the past. They sign a guy to a huge contract, it doesn't work out, then the player gets unhappy. The only problem is that crazy huge contract makes it almost impossible to part ways the moment things go sour.

Not in this case. Stuart Schweigert was a decent safety in Oakland and he had a decent shot at making the Redskins roster even though the Skins drafted Kareem Moore and Chris Horton late in the 2008 draft. Enter Sunday...Chris Horton had a great game (for a rookie) and Schweigert didn't show up. If you factor in the practices the writing is on the wall. After two weeks of training camp Horton improved (and impressed) and Schweigert didn't. Two men enter, one man leave.

You see, the Redskins are learning. No huge bonuses being thrown around, no draft picks wasted, and most importantly no time wasted at another players expense. Another player as in, Moore and/or Horton. Those guys will only benefit from the departure of Schweigert. Go back to 2006, when Archuleta was on the Skins roster. That was also the year Pierson Prioleau blew out his knee and the year we drafted Reed Doughty. You can't help but imagine how much more Doughty would have learned/improved had Archuleta been released the moment the Skins realized he wouldn't fit in. Or, the long shots Antuan Edwards, Ben Emanuel, or Mike Rumph...maybe they "could have" had just that much more attention from coaches to make a difference.

Maybe Kareem Moore and Chris Horton make the team in 2008, maybe they don't. But, by the Redskins releasing Stuart Schweigert they will have a better chance not only making the team, but to learn more in the coming weeks. That's how you grow your team through the draft.

Hail.

James Thrash is 3rd Redskins WR, Others fight for 6th spot

Redskins Insider reported Washington Redskins veteran wide receiver James Thrash has the third wide receiver spot locked down. This isn't surprising since rookies Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly are both injured, but what is clear is that it appears likely Thrash will make this squad.

There was some speculation earlier in the year that a youth movement may be underway in the Redskins receiving corps. But it looks like the special teams stud, Thrash, will remain and may even contribute to the offense while Thomas and Kelly heal and try to catch up on what they missed.

The following will definitely make the team:

Santana Moss
Antwaan Randle El
James Thrash
Devin Thomas
Malcolm Kelly

These dudes are on the bubble, with likely one spot left on the roster:

Anthony Mix
Billy McMullen
Horace Grant
Burl Toler
Maurice Mann

My bet is on McMullen. I was a fan of Mix, but a lot of drops early in training camp followed by an injury may have given McMullen an advantage.

The other dudes are too raw in my opinion, but you never know.

Besides, does the 6th wide receiver really matter? Sure depth is good, but Campbell already has many options when he drops back (Moss, Randle El, Cooley, Davis, Portis, Sellers).

Pictures from Hall of Fame Weekend

I am trying to recover from the weekend and catch up on work...will be updating some more later. But, here are some pics from an awesome weekend in Canton Ohio.



HAIL.