I don’t know whether or not Jim Zorn will be back to coach the Washington Redskins in 2010 (and, yes, I know that I’m in a distinct minority in that belief).
I am nearly certain that if Zorn does return he will need to find a new defensive coordinator. The chances of Greg Blache filling that position next year were slim and none and slim left Redskins Park this afternoon.
It was announced today that Blache would no longer answer questions from the media. NFL rules require that coordinators speak with the press at least once a week. The Redskins got permission to skirt that rule by having Blache make an opening statement and then having secondary coach Jerry Gray answer the questions. That arrangement will continue throughout the rest of the season.
The league issued a statement saying, “Coach Zorn explained the situation and we granted approval. Jerry Gray will speak to the media about the defense.”
According to Zorn, the arrangement was made for “personal reasons” and that Blache “needed a break” from dealing with the media.
I’m not quite sure what he needs a break from. It’s 10 or 15 minutes once a week. The Redskins press corps is fairly tough but far from unreasonable. It’s not like he’s getting grilled week after week. Other coaches face far worse questioning.
If he needs a break from the weekly “15 minutes of hell” that tells me that he’s done. Burned out. Stick a fork in him. It’s apparent that he can’t take the heat so he’s going to get out of the kitchen.
Remember that Blache was going to retire after Joe Gibbs left. Dan Snyder persuaded him to stick around and replace Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator. Once you make a decision like that at his age (60) you might decide to go back on it for a year or two but it’s not a long-term deal.
One might have seen this coming during the preseason when Blache picked a fight with Trevor Matich on Comcast Sports Net. Matich’s query about the pass rush was quite rational and there was no reason for Blache to get defensive. At the time it seemed odd to me and looking back at it now it seems to be foreshadowing.
It seems that the only question left to answer is whether Zorn, or whoever the new coach is, will be able to pick his own defensive coordinator.
Update: At 5:21, Ryan O’Halloran reported that he had just seen Blache getting into his car and leaving the facility. Barring some sort of illness or a personal emergency–certainly possibilities–working Spurrier-like hours is not a good sign.
4 games into the season and we are in hell. Someone tell me what separates us exactly from the Raiders, Browns, and the Matt Millen Lions?
@PEC, per Google Maps, 2,810 miles, 372 miles, and 525 miles, respectively.
Any possibility that it was actually Zorn (or maybe Snyder) who doesn’t want Blache talking to the media? If he really is toast, does that mean he wouldn’t take over as interim coach if Synder makes the mid-season decision to can Zorn?
You can’t completely discount anything in the bizarro world of the Redskins.
I appreciate all Blache has done for the Skins but it seems clear that his heart isn’t in it anymore. I hope the team brings in a creative, hungry D coordinator that designs schemes around our players and brings lots of pressure.
Time to play consultant bingo. Which consultant will be brought in next – this time, it appears for the defensive staff.
BTW, PEC, the only thing separating the Skins from the others is that there hasn’t been a truly awful season in 10 years. Lots of misses of the playoffs, but never fewer than 5 wins. Just in the last 4 years, 15 different franchises have won 4 or fewer games at least once. Since 2000, 22 different franchises have won 4 or fewer games. Since 1994, when the Skins won 3 games, 26 other franchises have won 4 or fewer games at least once (and the Rams did it in both St. Louis and LA, and the Houston Oilers/Tenneesse Titans also did the combo). Only New England, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Minnesota have also avoided that fate. And Tampa Bay appears headed towards that fate this year.
Of those 5, NE and Pittsburgh are truly exceptional, though they had middling years. Tampa had a brief run, Dallas was at the end of its run when this analysis started, and Minnesota just had middling performance. But at least Minnesota had a few good years, including that 15-1 year. The Skins never did better than 10 wins, I believe. And that really shows their fate – they’ve been decidedly average the whole time. Never putrid, but never excellent. And that can be exceedingly frustrating as a fan.
Sometimes, bottoming out is necessary to clear out the dead wood – just like in a recession. Free market fans call it creative destruction.
You guys are too dramatic. It’s possible that Blanche, like most people, just doesn’t have the patience to answer all the “gotcha” questions from reporters.
He may get so worked up over it, that it’s not good for his health, the man is a senior after all. I can see my old man in the same situation, he would loose it when some fool purposely asks a ridiculous question. His heart would go racing…
Your reading too much into this.
Blache is stepping away from Media dutys because he secretely knows he is going to be named the interim head coach when Zorn is fired during the bye week. And that is sure to happen barring a miracle, ie: The offense magically starting to score 30 pts per game. Sherman Lewis (Blaches old friend) has been brought in not to “Observe and be second set of eyes”, but to learn the personnel and playbook so he will be ready to step in and call the plays when it all comes down. Blache does not want to have to lie to the media when they start asking him these questions. I don’t believe Blache wants to be head coach, but will be the good soldier and take the team through the rest of a busted season. He will also provide cover on the Rooney Rule when Snyder goes out and brings in Shanahan or Holmgren. You heard it here first.