RI: Stump's Take

[MTK]

Redskins Insider



From JReid:
Stump Mitchell, Redskins assistant head coach-running backs, just took a short break from helping Coach Jim Zorn with the new playbook and preparing for the draft. Mitchell poked his head into the press room and I'm the only guy here (maybe everyone is watching the NCAA tournament?), so I got a little one-on-one time with one of Zorn's top lieutenants.

"It's a busy time," Mitchell said. "The draft is coming up, you're looking at college players, and at the same time you're trying to implement a new offense and also trying to get to know players at your position, in particular, and other players on the team. So it really is a busy time, but it's an exciting time at the same time, being with Jim Zorn, having the opportunity to come and try to put your stamp on a team.

"You have an opportunity to try to help the coaches that have been here, the organization and the players that have been here, to achieve more success than they have in the recent past. But you're also chasing history that some of the former players have achieved in the past. It's all encompassing. It's a great challenge, but it's a great thrill at the same time."

Zorn, formerly the Seattle Seahawks' quarterbacks coach, hired Mitchell from the Seahawks on Feb. 13. Considered an outstanding teacher, Mitchell is well versed in the offensive scheme Zorn is implementing and was heavily involved in diagramming running plays while with Seattle.

Mitchell, a running back who played his entire nine-year career with the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals, is impressed with Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis. "When I look at film of Clinton on the field, he's definitely someone that you'll be happy to have on your side," Mitchell said. "He gives ultimate effort. He's a total back. You want him to be able to run the ball; that you know he can do.

"He had [47] receptions last year, so he can catch the ball. And just the effort that he gives when he's not the primary player in the play, in terms of pass protection, in terms of blocking down field, you don't see that effort a whole lot from most of the players playing the game right now."
Of course, every player can improve, Mitchell said.

"As a runner, it's my hope and desire to get Clinton to be more elusive in the open field," Mitchell said. "But other than that ... man. He gives you the effort that every coach would want their running back to give them."

Zorn, Mitchell and offensive coordinator Sherman Smith are making progress on the playbook they're preparing for minicamp, which begins May 2.

Concerned about overloading players early, Zorn is trying to find the right balance of how much information to put into the first version of the playbook, and he's leaning on Mitchell and Smith help him.

"It's a challenge not to put too much in, but it's also a challenge not to put enough in," Mitchell said. "We want these guys to comprehend everything we do, but we don't want them to be bored with what we're doing. We want to challenge these guys to be students of the game.

"We want them to have to look in that playbook. We don't want them to leave it in their lockers and say, 'This is too easy.' After the first day [of minicamp], we'll see how things go, but we'll have that right mixture."

[Dirtyskin21]

i can't wait to see what CP does this year. Im so excited he's on our team.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Redskins Insider



From JReid:
Stump Mitchell, Redskins assistant head coach-running backs, just took a short break from helping Coach Jim Zorn with the new playbook and preparing for the draft. Mitchell poked his head into the press room and I'm the only guy here (maybe everyone is watching the NCAA tournament?), so I got a little one-on-one time with one of Zorn's top lieutenants.

"It's a busy time," Mitchell said. "The draft is coming up, you're looking at college players, and at the same time you're trying to implement a new offense and also trying to get to know players at your position, in particular, and other players on the team. So it really is a busy time, but it's an exciting time at the same time, being with Jim Zorn, having the opportunity to come and try to put your stamp on a team.

"You have an opportunity to try to help the coaches that have been here, the organization and the players that have been here, to achieve more success than they have in the recent past. But you're also chasing history that some of the former players have achieved in the past. It's all encompassing. It's a great challenge, but it's a great thrill at the same time."

Zorn, formerly the Seattle Seahawks' quarterbacks coach, hired Mitchell from the Seahawks on Feb. 13. Considered an outstanding teacher, Mitchell is well versed in the offensive scheme Zorn is implementing and was heavily involved in diagramming running plays while with Seattle.

Mitchell, a running back who played his entire nine-year career with the St. Louis/Arizona Cardinals, is impressed with Pro Bowl running back Clinton Portis. "When I look at film of Clinton on the field, he's definitely someone that you'll be happy to have on your side," Mitchell said. "He gives ultimate effort. He's a total back. You want him to be able to run the ball; that you know he can do.

"He had [47] receptions last year, so he can catch the ball. And just the effort that he gives when he's not the primary player in the play, in terms of pass protection, in terms of blocking down field, you don't see that effort a whole lot from most of the players playing the game right now."
Of course, every player can improve, Mitchell said.

"As a runner, it's my hope and desire to get Clinton to be more elusive in the open field," Mitchell said. "But other than that ... man. He gives you the effort that every coach would want their running back to give them."

Zorn, Mitchell and offensive coordinator Sherman Smith are making progress on the playbook they're preparing for minicamp, which begins May 2.

Concerned about overloading players early, Zorn is trying to find the right balance of how much information to put into the first version of the playbook, and he's leaning on Mitchell and Smith help him.

"It's a challenge not to put too much in, but it's also a challenge not to put enough in," Mitchell said. "We want these guys to comprehend everything we do, but we don't want them to be bored with what we're doing. We want to challenge these guys to be students of the game.

"We want them to have to look in that playbook. We don't want them to leave it in their lockers and say, 'This is too easy.' After the first day [of minicamp], we'll see how things go, but we'll have that right mixture."

My question is why are they waiting til May for the 1st mini camp? When new coaches come in aren't they allowed to have two extra camps? One in March and one in April?

[hagams]

Agreed, I like CP a lot. I wanted to start a thread about him the other day, but I figured there's enough out there already. He really "sounds" like he's going more agressive this year.
On a side note, I would like to hear how they plan on uses big Mike Sellers this year. I think we need to give him some more carries. Even if he only gets a few yards at a time, usually someone is getting trucked.

[Rajmahal33]

I would like to know about Sellers but also Betts and even Cooley in the running game. Will we see any end arounds with Santana or ARE? Are they thinking about using Rock at all as a 3rd down guy? Is there a possibility of drafting a RB if some must-have talent becomes available? I guess these questions are a bit premature but I think Stump is gonna have a big say in these kinds of things. To me it feels like this whole Zorn administration's style is more democratic, fluid, and free. Each assistant appears to have the green light to help form the playbook and impact coaching strategy, rather than be told how to coach their specific position, etc.

[J. Spanky]

i'm very excited to see portis in a spread offense again. i think all our backs will greatly benefit from this change.

[Dirtyskin21]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

I would like to know about Sellers but also Betts and even Cooley in the running game. Will we see any end arounds with Santana or ARE? Are they thinking about using Rock at all as a 3rd down guy? Is there a possibility of drafting a RB if some must-have talent becomes available? I guess these questions are a bit premature but I think Stump is gonna have a big say in these kinds of things. To me it feels like this whole Zorn administration's style is more democratic, fluid, and free. Each assistant appears to have the green light to help form the playbook and impact coaching strategy, rather than be told how to coach their specific position, etc.

we dont need to do end arounds, thats how we lost the green bay game. Santana fumbled the ball. Not everyone should be running the ball, especially when we have one of the best backs in the leagues and one of the best back-ups in the league. I agree different people should see the ball on GOAL-LINE, but that's it.

[KB24]

I could definitey see Sellers used for goal-line situations. As much as I love Portis, I don't think he's built to take the pounding of a Gibbs-style offense that does a LOT of running between the tackles. Sellers' body is more suited to that and, as many of you here have seen, can move piles forward.

[Longtimefan]

It's easy to understand how/why Lyvonia would be enamored with the work of CP since that's the position he coaches. Will be interesting to see his take on the other backs we have on the team.

Early reports have CP excited about the offense since it will be simular to what he did in Denver where he had his most productive years.