Jim Zorn, Dan Snyder, and Vinny Cerrato

One Washington Post article I read when Jim Zorn was first hired questioned Dan Snyder's qualification at judging Jim Zorn. Specifically, he said to Joe Gibbs, "This guy (Zorn) would make a terrific head coach."

The questioning of his assessment ability is spot-on. Snyder has no idea what makes a "terrific head coach." His best coaching hire was one that was already voted into the Hall of Fame coach.

What's the most galling to Redskins fans is the lack of a credible organizational support structure. As long as Snyder owns the team, which may be for the rest of his life, Vinny Cerrato will have a job as de facto GM. Gibbs was the only one to which they were going to defer There won't be another football man like that (unless Bill Belichick goes crazy and decides he wants to work under crazy-man Snyder).

The Skins may have enough talent and schemes to compete. But if they ever do make it in the playoffs, they won't go very far. And they won't be able to compete consistently (see previous post about 2-year grace period for coaches). A quality long-term core just isn't there and won't be until Cerrato retires.

Jarvis

Gregg Williams and Jim Zorn

He deserved so much better. Four years as heir apparent. Support of the team and fans. Support of yours truly. Four long interviews.

But he obviously sealed his own fate all along. He apparently had never reached out to form a relationship with Snyder. He hadn't earned Snyder's admiration and respect. He didn't have the charm that Snyder found with Zorn (and seemingly saw in Mora as well).

It was a big mistake not to let Gibbs know about the 10-player thing after Taylor's death. Of course Gibbs would have given his blessing. But by catching Gibbs off guard withthat, Williams didn't appear to pay the same homage to him that Snyder would have expected.

Gregg Williams moves on to a better situation. So long as Snyder and Cerrato are in charge, the best coach for the Skins was Gibbs. No other coach will ever have the same respect from Snyder unless he can immediately have the Skins contending in the playoffs and do so consistently.

Zorn will have two years. Mark my words. If there is ever a two-year period where the Skins aren't in the playoffs (including these first two), he will be gone. Say he pulls it off and has the Skins contending and even wins a Super Bowl (knock on wood). If he then hits a dry spell, that SB will probably buy him one extra year of leeway. So three years out of the playoffs and he's gone. .