Because we have nothing better to do than post transcripts from radio shows, in between trying to, you know, actually work.
Here’s what Chris Cooley had to say on The Sirius Blitz radio show with hosts Adam Schein and Rich Gannon.
Adam Schein: “Jim Zorn is likely going to lose his job at the end of the year and I don’t think the organization did you guys in that locker room any favors by stripping him of his play calling duties. I think, in some way, shape or form, kind of neutered the head coach and made you guys look the other way, basically saying, ‘he’s a dead man walking.’ What’s your take on all the above and do you think we’re looking at another coaching change in Washington?”
Chris Cooley: “Well, I really can’t guess as to what’s gonna happen. I’ve got to give Jim Zorn a ton of credit for handling the situation the way that he has. He’s really just stepped into the role that he’s kind of been assigned now, done as much as he can to coach the players. I know on the practice field he’s more involved with individual players than he was with the play calling. And I think he’s done all he could do in the situation. We have a really weird deal going on right now with the kind of rotation of who calls the plays, to where it goes, to who gets it and how it gets to Jason [Campbell]. It’s almost unheard of. And the funny thing is the last couple weeks the offense has looked better than it has.”
Schein: “You say it’s almost unheard of. Explain the process that goes on in Washington.”
Cooley: “Ok, so what goes on is our coaches sit together at the beginning of the week and they design a game plan. All the coaches design the plays, they all have different responsibilities. Some coaches have third down, some coaches have the passing game, some have the red [zone], and then they all get together. So then what happens is Sherman Lewis, who is our offensive consultant, will install the regular game plan and then we go practice that. And then on Thursday, Jim Zorn will install the third down and then he’ll also install the run game. And apparently, because I haven’t really been there, is that Sherman Lewis never talks to Jason Campbell throughout the week. … I mean, they don’t have direct communication. Jim Zorn and Chris Meidt, who is Jason Campbell’s quarterbacks coach, do all the coaching for Jason. So, anyway, that’s confusing, I know. It was easier on TV this week when they just drew pictures of everyone. But what happens is we get to game day, Sherman Lewis sits in the box, he calls plays. He’s the play caller. And he calls them down to our offensive coordinator, another person in the mix, Sherman Smith. And he looks at plays and basically calls them – they’re wristband numbers – so he’ll say, ‘Wristband 5’ and that’s what’s relayed to Jason Campbell who then looks at his wristband and calls that play. The funny thing is, is that when we want to call a run play, Sherman Lewis will call and say, ‘give me a run’ and then Sherman Smith has to pick a run and give that to Jason. So it’s, uh, it’s a carousel of calls.”
Cooley: “I think they have it down. I think it was very tough for them the first week. There are five coaches really involved and I think they’re comfortable with the system now. But again, I think it would be very tough for Jim Zorn, who loved calling plays and loved being that part of the offense and was ultimately hired to do that when he got here. I think it’s been tough but, again, I’ve got to give him credit for handling it the way he has.”
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