Hog1:
Here is what I believe about the Redskins actions in the last six weeks:
1. Mike Shanahan is a significantly better NFL head coach than Jim Zorn was - - and probably than Jim Zorn will ever be.
2. Bruce Allen is a significantly better NFL exec than Vinny Cerrato could ever imagine himself being.
3. Jim Haslett is a better-than-average defensive coordinator meaning he is an upgrade over Greg Blache who is average-at-best as a defensive coordinator.
4. I would have preferred it if Shannahan had turned over 100% of the old coaching staff but if he really wants to keep a few of the position coaches, I can live with that.
Here is what I want to believe but cannot yet bring myself to believe:
1. Danny Boy has changed his nature from being a "hands-on" manager/executive who believes that his input makes things "better" to an owner who will allow Mike Shannahan and Bruce Allen to do what THEY think are the important things to do - - even if in the dark of night, Danny Boy wants to do something else...
I acknowledge that it may be the case that Danny Boy has "seen the light" and is committed to changing his behavior. However, after watching what he has done in terms of Bigfooting his way into the football decisions of the Redskins for the past decade, I will need to see evidence of changed behavior before I believe it. And no, having him sit in the front row of the news conference to introduce Mike Shannahan instead of him being at the podium with a speaking role is not enough...
The reason I put that last point in here is very simple. IF Danny Boy does not step aside and let people who know what they are doing do the job, then all of this change is merely cosmetic. And it may be a year before there is enough data to make that call. I hope he does change his managerial style here but I am not going to declare that he has until I have seen some evidence. If declarations were all it took to put a winning team on the field, Danny Boy's teams would never finish worse than 14-2.