For three months, Washington coach Joe Gibbs sounded like someone’s befuddled grandfather who wasn’t quite sure what was happening around him. He told off-topic stories on the podium, had a glazed look in his eyes and seemed one loss away from the old coaches home.
It was really sad to see a legend lose his way like Willie Mays falling in the outfield. The game not only passed Gibbs by, it ran over him.
Gibbs finally looked like his old self after Sunday’s 24-14 loss to Atlanta, though. He didn’t talk about the great fans (who left long before game’s end), feeling bad for owner Dan Snyder (who deserves no one’s pity) or working harder (despite 20-hour days).
No, Gibbs was finally honest with the media and most importantly himself. He conceded without directly saying so that the season was over and the Redskins were playing for 2007.
Thanks, Joe, for finally being honest. This team stinks. It’s largely your fault. It’s time to rebuild once more and that requires complete honesty.
The coaching staff needs new energy. Maybe some younger bodies. If Tom Friend’s ESPN.com story was even close to the truth on the defensive discord, fire disgruntled coaches. Working in the NFL is a privilege and anyone thinking otherwise doesn’t deserve to stay.
Offensively, it appears you’ve already had a heart-to-heart with offensive guru Al Saunders that may be working. However, spend the offseason fitting the system to the roster rather than what the system does best.
The roster doesn’t have to be blown up, but it needs work:
» Keep receivers Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash and toss the rest. The backfieldwill probably lose free agents Ladell Betts and T.J. Duckett so draft someone with those lower round picks. The offensive line needs a new center and maybe another guard. Again, use the draft picks.
» Defensively, the line is improving. Andre Carter is earning his money lately and newcomer Kedric Golston may be a real find. However, lose tackles Joe Salave’a and Cornelius Griffin, whose best days are gone. Promote linebacker Rocky McIntosh and cut safety Adam Archuleta.
» For goodness sake, find a kicker. This team hasn’t wielded a good one since Chip Lohmiller left in 1995.
» But most of all, what is it going to take for Gibbs and Snyder to admit they need a general manager? Another embarrassing season like this one when everyone was thinking Super Bowl and ended up with the Tidy Bowl?
The Redskins have only their first, fifth, sixth and seventh round picks next spring because of poor planning. The first might even fall to a third because of the Duckett trade. That doesn’t provide much help, especially since the Redskins have only one starter in 32 picks beyond the first round under player personnel director Vinny Cerrato. That’s a beyond-embarrassing stat.
The Redskins must rebuild with young players. Last offseason brought free agent busts in Brandon Lloyd and Archuleta and only fair performances by Randle El and Carter. Maybe a real football man running personnel can do better. The Redskins had that in Marty Schottenheimer, but Snyder’s ego couldn’t handle someone else running the team. Ask Charley Casserly to return. It’s that simple.
Gibbs will spend the next four games looking to 2007. This humbling experience finally seems to have shocked him back to reality. Maybe that will make a real difference. Otherwise, nothing will improve.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
