JLC: The HC Horserace

Mooch looks like the front runner, not just on the wp, but in reality a lot of signs point to him as JLC has noted.

AT this point the biggest surprise would be Meeks IMO. I wouldn't be unhappy w/him or Mooch. Like most, for some reason I don't want Fassel here, but objectively I think he was a decent coach w/the g men & could be here.

My vote goes to Meeks, not because I actually thought Snyder would hire him, but because I feel he has the potential to be a good HC.

Considering the way this coaching staff has been put together, it would be difficult for me accept any concept other than it was Snyder's every intention to hire Jim Fassel from the very beginning. I believe Fassel was on board with Zorn, and Blache after the deal for Ryan fell through.

After witnessing the backlash to Fassel from the Redskin nation because of the overwhelming support for Williams, somewhere, it was leaked that Williams had made some derogatory coments about Gibbs, in an atempt to subdue the support for Williams.

Snyder then proceeded to expand his search to other prospective candidates while public opinion chilled. I believe it is his intention to use this [so called, expanded search] to interview other candidates so in the end he'll be able to say, we've exhausted our search, interviewed numerous candidates extensively, and have come to the conclusion that Jim Fassel is the best candidate to lead the Redskins into the future. I hope I'm wrong, but I honestly believe that Fassel was Snyder's man all along. I believe this simply because of where Fassel was in the interview process when the remainder of the staff was agreed upon.

You raise some valid points here. It certainly is interesting to take a step back and evaluate this whole process so far. From most accounts it seems that Snyder was very close to hiring Fassel last week, and the extreme backlash may have been a factor in them pulling back and deciding to let things play out further.

I'm not so sure I buy that though.

I don't think that Mariucci came outta nowhere, I think he was there on the back burner all along. Ultimately I believe it's a 2 man race between Fassel and Mooch. Meeks is the long shot and while Spagnuolo will get an interview my feeling is we'll lean towards an offensive minded HC.

The only ones that fit the current staff that's already in place are Mooch and fossil. I will take Mooch hands down.

At this point, it really doesn't matter who the head coach is, as long as that person is able to lead the team on the field and assure that both Zorn and Blache get the job done. Both Fassel and Mariucci are capable of leading teams, and it seems as though everyone involved is on board with the coaching staff as is.

While GW would have been nice, I'm looking forward to whomever becomes HC, whether it be a fan favorite (Mooch) or a fan villain (Fassel).

You raise some valid points here. It certainly is interesting to take a step back and evaluate this whole process so far. From most accounts it seems that Snyder was very close to hiring Fassel last week, and the extreme backlash may have been a factor in them pulling back and deciding to let things play out further.

I'm not so sure I buy that though.

I don't think that Mariucci came outta nowhere, I think he was there on the back burner all along. Ultimately I believe it's a 2 man race between Fassel and Mooch. Meeks is the long shot and while Spagnuolo will get an interview my feeling is we'll lean towards an offensive minded HC.

good point that hasn't been made yet to my knowledge. The danny prefers the O minded coach, he wants his teams to light up the scoreboard & entertain. Marty fired for Spurrier says it all, and it was the O staff that was changed this offseason.

I like Mooch & think he might have the hunger to come back & get to the super bowl, but I don't think he's likely to stay long. That & the opportunity to hire a young guy who wants to make a name for himself are the main downsides to him IMO.

Mooch is 52, he's got plenty of good years ahead of him.

I think this stuff about hiring a young guy is so played out. I guess it's the new trendy coaching pick these days.

Mooch is 52, he's got plenty of good years ahead of him.

I think this stuff about hiring a young guy is so played out. I guess it's the new trendy coaching pick these days.

I want to know where it's coming from too. Something tells me it's all based on Jason Garrett for some reason...

You raise some valid points here. It certainly is interesting to take a step back and evaluate this whole process so far. From most accounts it seems that Snyder was very close to hiring Fassel last week, and the extreme backlash may have been a factor in them pulling back and deciding to let things play out further.

I'm not so sure I buy that though.

I don't think that Mariucci came outta nowhere, I think he was there on the back burner all along. Ultimately I believe it's a 2 man race between Fassel and Mooch. Meeks is the long shot and while Spagnuolo will get an interview my feeling is we'll lean towards an offensive minded HC.


I agree at this point it has become pretty much a two man race. We may have other candidates we'd like to see in the discussion, [Russ Grimm] for example should have at least gotten an interview. Now, as this process is obviously winding down now, the remaining candidates scheduled for a possible interview are no more than window dressing to complete the process.

Spagnuolo is defensive minded, McDaniels is too young in my opinion [I just don't think Snyder would hire him]. It would apear an offensive minded coach is dominating their thought process.

Mooch is 52, he's got plenty of good years ahead of him.

I think this stuff about hiring a young guy is so played out. I guess it's the new trendy coaching pick these days.

No doubt that he's young enough to coach here for a long time. From what I've read his wife isn't keen on the east coast or at least cold(er) climates. He's from the midwest & spent a lot of time on the west coast. Just from the sound of things in his personal life, I got the impression that he might not want to stay in DC long term. If things go well & he's at home here & successful, that could obviously change.

I'm not riding the young coach bandwagon because it's the latest trend in the nfl. Rather, I look back at the hiring of Gibbs e.g. in 81 and wish we could find a guy in that situation, one that will make his name here as a head coach. Whether the coach is young or old I want to see someone that's hungry, which often are younger coaches. I question whether a guy like Cowher would come here solely to win if a lot of $ were thrown at him. While Mooch is not young per se, he does have something to prove.

No doubt that he's young enough to coach here for a long time. From what I've read his wife isn't keen on the east coast or at least cold(er) climates. He's from the midwest & spent a lot of time on the west coast. Just from the sound of things in his personal life, I got the impression that he might not want to stay in DC long term.

The hot rumor a couple of weeks ago was that Mariucci was interested in the Seattle gig. With Holmgren back now and Mora Jr. the supposed successor that's probably out of the picture.