A few things we’ve heard about the Redskins new offensive line coach Chris Foerster:
1. He wanted to return to this area » He coached in Baltimore from 2005-07 and apparently still has family in the area. That’s why he appealed to Mike Singletary to let him go. Initially, the 49ers denied Washington permission to speak with him. But they granted him permission Thursday morning.
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2. His last five lines have not done very well » One Niners insider blamed the struggles this year on schemes and personnel. In his three seasons with Baltimore his lines had mixed results, with one good year sandwiched between two terrible years. A year after he left the Ravens line was actually solid.
3. He tried to use a zone-blocking scheme in San Francisco » Also had to use a gap-style power blocking system that was favored by head coach Mike Singletary. They require diferent sorts of players. You can mix the two, but not all players can perform in both systems.
4. Don’t be surprised if unrestricted free agent right tackle Tony Pashos follows Foerster to Washington » He signed with San Francisco specifically because of Foerster, but he ended the season on injured reserve. He was hurt in his first start last season on Oct. 27. Before that, he was alternating at right tackle. Pashos was cut on Sept. 5 by Jacksonville; he had started 31 of the Jags’ previous 32 games. He started 23 games in two seasons for Foerster in Baltimore.
5. Brian Billick apparently liked Foerster, and Ravens insiders say others did as well » But when Billick was fired there was no outcry to keep Foerster. One knock is that he did not groom any players. Guys like Jonathan Ogden make themselves. Then again, Joe Bugel did not exactly groom a lot of guys in his second tenure. But sometimes it’s hard to know where a guy like, say, Stephon Heyer would have been without Bugel. Probably out of the league.
» Foerster was the offensive coordinator for Miami in 2004 and the offensive line coach in Tampa Bay from 1996-2001. He also coached the tight ends in Indianapolis (2002-03) and Minnesota (1993-95), where he was also an assistant line coach.
