Redskins coach Jim Zorn knew there would be days when football seemed like the last thing on his agenda. The first one came yesterday.
Tight end Fred Davis didn’t show up for the final mini camp practice. It took awhile to find the rookie, whose absence Zorn labeled in the “screwed up category.” Instead of promising sanctions and making threats, though, Zorn talked of how it must have been “mortifying” to the rookie.
“I’m very disappointed, but part of this is this will be the first time I get to deal with the situation, too,” he said. “[Problems are] going to come at some point.”
This is a defining moment for Zorn. How he handles a wayward rookie will resonate through the team. There’s only so much Zorn can really do. An undrafted rookie would have been cut, but a second-round pick isn’t going anywhere. Nor can Davis be fined because he’s not even under contract yet. The rookie isn’t a starter so Davis can’t be demoted, either.
But, Zorn needs to show such antics won’t be tolerated or team discipline will be tested. And once players don’t fully respect a coach, it all goes downhill. Practices won’t be as sharp, which leads to losing. Former Redskins coach Norv Turner appeared weak in public, but he could curse people out in the back room with the best. When Turner mishandled Michael Westbrook sucker punching Stephen Davis during a 1996 practice, some confidence in the coach was lost in the lockerroom.
Unfortunately, rookies don’t return until June 2 and those practices are minus pads. Some past Redskins coaches would have a veteran discipline a rookie on the field for Davis’ miscue. When LaVar Arrington arrived late after a 2000 holdout, tight end James Jenkins started a fight with the first-rounder in the opening practice. Training camp is 2 1/2 months away so Davis missed this punishment, but Zorn needs to pin the rookie’s ears back so everyone in the building knows who’s boss.
Mini camp was a little lax at times. Quarterback Jason Campbell fumbled during a seven-on-seven drill and nobody grabbed the ball off the ground — nobody. That normally would have had some coach screaming. Players sometimes walked back to the huddle when past coaches would have barked for such a casual approach. It wasn’t until cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot goofed off during an interception that Zorn raised his voice, and even then it was G-rated.
Davis missing a mini camp practice won’t lead to a 4-12 year, but Zorn is being watched by players. Late Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke, who could rebuke employees with the best, once displayed a sign above a Redskins Park player entrance that said you can always work harder than you think possible. It takes a special boss to gain everyone’s best effort without being Attila the Hun. Joe Gibbs was one of those rare leaders.
Coaching isn’t always about playcalling or gameplanning. Fortunately, Zorn’s people skills appear strong. Davis will be scolded and life will move on. Zorn gets an easy one for his first crisis.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
