JLC: The HC Horserace

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

I like that Spags is a younger guy and could come in with the same fire that upstart coaches typically have. However, he has no real experience and this troubles me...I don't think with the team that we have currently, we can afford a lot of on-the-job training. Every year wasted is an opportunity missed.

I agree 100%. Of the coaches in the playoffs this year, 6 of them were on at least their 2nd team (including 3 of 4 on championship game weekend) and all of them had significant experience as a coordinator before becoming a head coach..

I don't think a veteran playoff team, one that should have won 11 or more games, one with a coaching staff already 98% complete, is a proper fit for a first time NFL head coach.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I agree 100%. Of the coaches in the playoffs this year, 6 of them were on at least their 2nd team (including 3 of 4 on championship game weekend) and all of them had significant experience as a coordinator before becoming a head coach..

I don't think a veteran playoff team, one that should have won 11 or more games, one with a coaching staff already 98% complete, is a proper fit for a first time NFL head coach.

I don't either.

It's going to be Fassel. I can't wait to see the...

[QBall]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I don't either.

It's going to be Fassel. I can't wait to see the...

So you would rather Fassel just b/c he has experience coaching the Giants years ago? We're getting a better Williams here, don't get you guys at all.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by QBall

So you would rather Fassel just b/c he has experience coaching the Giants years ago? We're getting a better Williams here, don't get you guys at all.

I never said I want Fassel, I'm just saying I think it's going to be Fassel.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by QBall

So you would rather Fassel just b/c he has experience coaching the Giants years ago? We're getting a better Williams here, don't get you guys at all.

Getting a better Williams here?

[Mc2guy]

We'll I'd rather see Mariucci, but that is probably because I just plain like him better than Fassel since they both have a very similar record. Spagnuolo is really intriguing, but lets not forget that the Giant's D gave up 95 points in the first two games of the season. Nor should we forget that the Giants have far and away the best pass rushing D-line in football, and that any coach will look good with players making plays like that. Further, Blanche will not likely work well with a strong defensive head coach, especially since DS made so many concessions to him on staff and player acquisition...they can't both be in charge of the defense, and Blanche only agreed to come back and not retire if he was in charge.

Danny has painted himself into this corner...seems like only Mooch or Fassel fit the position we have created, and given that we heard basically NOTHING after the Mooch interview, I am guessing the meeting didn't go that well. I'd put 3:2 that Fassel has the job by tomorrow afternoon.

[wilsowilso]

What I get is that nobody around here really has any clue who will be the best fit for us including myself. Just make the pick and buy the man a steak Danny Boy.

[MTK]

Say what?

[QBall]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Say what?

Hahahaha. Thinking big!

I'm sorry I think Andre Carter is just as good as Osi and Tuck and Strahan just has not had the career of Mike.

[wilsowilso]

Hey if Spags feels like the Redskins head coaching job is something that he really wants and feels strongly about then I say that they should go for it and take a shot with him. I think he needs to say something like "well I really need to meet with coach Blache before we continue further in this process so we can try and figure out if we would work well together."

[Redskins]

I guess I don’t understand all of this mess and hopefully someone with greater knowledge can explain this to me.

I feel like we are picking between the lesser of two evils as neither Mooch nor Fassel really have good pedigrees in the “Wins Department” (and let’s face it, there is really too much against Meeks and Spagnuolo to make this a four horse race). Both Mooch and Fassel are mediocre coaches at best. Sure, Mooch appears to be very likeable and personable (which is why I figure he has many Skins fan in his corner), but this isn’t a personality contest. Fassel reminds me of a watered-down schlub (as if being a schlub were otherwise exciting). Fassel isn’t going to be burning up the sideline with coaching words of wisdom or giving fans hope with his outgoing demeanor (which is apparently how we’re judging coaching competency these days). He isn’t bringing to the table a resume of wins or a history of great player/personnel choices. And let’s face it, neither he nor Mooch has fans stammering for their time like other Redskin (or high profile) coaches we know.

Think back when we learned that Gibbs was coming back, or for that matter, when we pulled Spurrier out of college. Skins fans collectively had a stain forming on the front of their pants because of the simple knowledge that these guys were bonafide winners. Mooch nor Fassel are winners, and to be honest, other than the Skins, is anyone else actually pursuing these guys for head coaching positions? There is probably a reason for that.

When Cowher’s name was being thrown around, I pretty much felt the same thing…except for the fact that he IS a better coach then both Mooch and Fassel. Unfortunately, to me, winning a single Superbowl in a decade with a team really isn’t terribly impressive. Maybe I’m biased by the pre-free-agent years of Gibbs, the Niners, Cowboys, etc. and the runs recently made by the Bronco’s, Colts and Patriots, but is a single Superbowl in a 10-year period really that great of an achievement? Maybe I’m clueless on that issue, but in the end I don’t think Cowher would have been the right fit in DC anyway. Again, a personality thing.

I guess my point is that we all seem to be polarizing ourselves to Mooch or Fassel because that is the hand we’ve been dealt by the think-tank of Snyder/Cerrato – but really, should we be impressed with their efforts considering neither of these guys have records which would lead a reasonable person to believe a new savior is coming to town? Considering this factor, WHY NOT simply give the reigns to someone new in the pool of young up-and-comers who may make a difference in this league one day. If I were given the choice to have a guaranteed 8-8 season with mediocrity across the board or the questionable stakes of an unknown person who could run the gamut or fall on their face, I guess I’d choose the young unknown person because other things have been tried, failed, and all of this mess is just a short-term attempt to fix a big problem. If either fails, they are replaceable, so why not go with the “unknown hope” instead of the “known mediocrity”? I’d even be for making amends with Schottenheimer before signing Mooch or Fassel.

Just a thought.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Redskins

I guess I don’t understand all of this mess and hopefully someone with greater knowledge can explain this to me.

I feel like we are picking between the lesser of two evils as neither Mooch nor Fassel really have good pedigrees in the “Wins Department” (and let’s face it, there is really too much against Meeks and Spagnuolo to make this a four horse race). Both Mooch and Fassel are mediocre coaches at best. Sure, Mooch appears to be very likeable and personable (which is why I figure he has many Skins fan in his corner), but this isn’t a personality contest. Fassel reminds me of a watered-down schlub (as if being a schlub were otherwise exciting). Fassel isn’t going to be burning up the sideline with coaching words of wisdom or giving fans hope with his outgoing demeanor (which is apparently how we’re judging coaching competency these days). He isn’t bringing to the table a resume of wins or a history of great player/personnel choices. And let’s face it, neither he nor Mooch has fans stammering for their time like other Redskin (or high profile) coaches we know.

Think back when we learned that Gibbs was coming back, or for that matter, when we pulled Spurrier out of college. Skins fans collectively had a stain forming on the front of their pants because of the simple knowledge that these guys were bonafide winners. Mooch nor Fassel are winners, and to be honest, other than the Skins, is anyone else actually pursuing these guys for head coaching positions? There is probably a reason for that.

When Cowher’s name was being thrown around, I pretty much felt the same thing…except for the fact that he IS a better coach then both Mooch and Fassel. Unfortunately, to me, winning a single Superbowl in a decade with a team really isn’t terribly impressive. Maybe I’m biased by the pre-free-agent years of Gibbs, the Niners, Cowboys, etc. and the runs recently made by the Bronco’s, Colts and Patriots, but is a single Superbowl in a 10-year period really that great of an achievement? Maybe I’m clueless on that issue, but in the end I don’t think Cowher would have been the right fit in DC anyway. Again, a personality thing.

I guess my point is that we all seem to be polarizing ourselves to Mooch or Fassel because that is the hand we’ve been dealt by the think-tank of Snyder/Cerrato – but really, should we be impressed with their efforts considering neither of these guys have records which would lead a reasonable person to believe a new savior is coming to town? Considering this factor, WHY NOT simply give the reigns to someone new in the pool of young up-and-comers who may make a difference in this league one day. If I were given the choice to have a guaranteed 8-8 season with mediocrity across the board or the questionable stakes of an unknown person who could run the gamut or fall on their face, I guess I’d choose the young unknown person because other things have been tried, failed, and all of this mess is just a short-term attempt to fix a big problem. If either fails, they are replaceable, so why not go with the “unknown hope” instead of the “known mediocrity”? I’d even be for making amends with Schottenheimer before signing Mooch or Fassel.

Just a thought.

I guess I really don't understand why people think Fassel has proven nothing as a head coach; or why there is a feeling he can't be successful (even more so than he was during his first stint) in his second go around. I mean I know I've been harping on this aren't Coughlin and Belichik prime examples that the past isn't necessarily prologue?

One Super Bowl in 10 years may not be much I suppose but it's better than most coaches accomplish in their lifetime.

[QBall]

From Post 20 min ago, not much:

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder began courting New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo last night, league sources said, when the men engaged in a phone conversation. By Wednesday morning they will become much better acquainted.

Spagnuolo is set to fly to Dulles in a few hours, after the Giants parade concludes, and he will begin formally interviewing for the head coaching position tonight after Snyder completes a press conference at Redskins Park with Art Monk and Darrell Green. Spagnuolo's session is scheduled to continue into Wednesday, league sources said, and he is very excited about this opportunity.

As I pointed out in today's story, the staff issues that come with hiring a head coach last are not the end of the world in this case and they could work around much of that. If the Redskins decide that Spagnuolo is their man, then I think there would be ample mutual attraction to get a deal done. Jim Fassel has been their front runner, but this plot has changed several times already and they've left Fassel by the side of the road before. That's part of the deal when you're doing business with these guys.

I hear that the initial communication between the sides was very positive. We'll see how it goes when they get down to hashing out issues of football, strategy, personnel and staff.

[JoeRedskin]

Part of me likes the "Ohh, he's new and shiny" aspect of Spags. At the same time, what do we really know about the guys ability to coach? How much of the Giants impressive D is Spags and how much is Strahan, Pierce, Tuck, and Usimhowyaspellhisname? Not sure.

As for retread coaches, and I think this point has already been made, since 2000, only two first time coaches have won the SB - Cowher who took YEARS to do it, and Brian Billick. Since then we have also had, Gruden, Bellichick, Coughlin, Dungy - all guys working with their second team.

At this point, I am looking at Fassell as the best option. I am very anti-mooch (when did he win with less than elite players?)(plus, he's a rah rah guy that I just don't see as going over well with a veteran team like the Skins).

I still would've preferred that Williams had gotten a shot, but I guess that's pretty much everybody's take.

[SmootSmack]

I'd like to know a few things before getting excited about Spagnuolo as our next head coach

-How does Blache feel about the move? Will he really have the say he expects he will have?

-How do we feel about letting Zorn be the man on offense without anyone to guide him in his first year as Offensive Coordinator? Is Joe Bugel going to serve as his mentor? Is this why Don Breaux is supposedly staying on as some sort of "consultant"

-If Spagnuolo is ok with the staff that was put in place it's hard not to imagine that someone will press "tampering" charges against the team (and may win)