Following an embarrassing 4-12 record for the 2009 NFL season, the Washington Redskins have begun the welcome process of rebuilding. Vinny Cerrato, Vice President of Football Operations and right-hand man of owner Dan Snyder resigned under pressure in week 15 of the season. Previous coach Jim Zorn, who was not even given enough respect to be fired privately and after the season’s conclusion, learned of his official dismissal at halftime of the Redskin’s final game of the season earlier this month in San Diego.
Brought in to replace Vinny Cerrato and to serve as the first General Manager of owner Dan Snyder’s ten year career is Bruce Allen, son of former Redskins Superbowl-winning coach George Allen. Bruce has posted successful tenures in both Oakland and Tampa Bay as a Superbowl contending General Manager. Shanahan himself has been to two superbowls and coached some of the most prolific and entertaining quarterbacks to ever bless the NFL with their presence. Steve Young, Joe Montana and John Elway all played under Shanahan.
However, other than those two superbowl appearances with John Elway, Shanahan has yet to again reach the big game. No doubt that his above .500 record overall, his successful playoff record and his extreme offensive genius is appealing to an ailing Redskins organization whose fans were rabidly displeased with the way the team has been run the past decade under Dan Snyder. Yet we as fans have learned through years of experience that we cannot get our hopes up too soon, and that this is the time to rebuild and rebuilding takes time.
So it is wise for us to start thinking about a playoff appearance next year or maybe even a Superbowl? Shanahan is a good choice for coach not only because of his positive record and effective run-first style of offense, but because he is the type of coach that will cut a play loose if he feels it is necessary. He will sit a superstar down the day of a crucial game or bench a runningback for a week for fumbling the football. He is exactly what the pre-madonnas of the Washington Redskins need. Shanahan has also been very successful at training runnin backs to fit into his system, and was actually Clinton Portis’s coach at Denver when Portis had his two highest rushing seasons ever. And with the NFL becoming more and more a pass-happy league, runningbacks have become more expendable and interchangeable than ever.
The complete overhaul of the Redskins is something that has needed to happen for far too long. For once, the coach will have the final say on football issues and will be able to put together his own coaching staff that cater to his style of coaching and to goals for the future of the franchise. This is something that only happens every so often for most teams. However, Washington, which has, on average, a new coach every two years, is the exception. Hopes are high that Shanahan will stir a big change not only in the way the Redskins are managed, but in the team’s the performance on the field.
Another interesting variable to consider is the style of blocking scheme that Shanahan favors: a zone blocking scheme requiring quick, athletic offensive linemen. The Redskins’ main problem this year was the weak and discombobulated offensive line which featured over 11 different combinations of players this year.
If the Redskins are ever going to be a successful team and organization in my lifetime, they need to all be on the same page and strive for the same end result, a Superbowl.
However championship games are determined by more than just the talent of the team and the coaching staff; they are is dictated by how badly a team strives to win the championship. The metropolitan area has been waiting for the day when the Redskins can resurrect a winning streak. Hopefully with the complete overhaul of the team, the term “maybe next year” will become less familiar to Redskins fans.
