New coach is Snyder’s seventh in 11 years
ASHBURN – He rattled off a list of qualities the Redskins wanted, stressing leadership, passion and an embracing of the franchise’s history. Then Bruce Allen boiled it down to four simple words.
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“We got our man,” Allen said.
Yes, the Redskins did, hiring Mike Shanahan as their next coach — the seventh in owner Dan Snyder’s 11 years.
This also was the first time Snyder did not introduce the new coach, perhaps signaling a shift in his intention to let Shanahan and executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen make the decisions. Nor did the team display its three Super Bowl trophies, another first when introducing a new coach.
Shanahan signed a five-year deal worth $35 million and was given the title of executive vice president/head coach, providing him final say over all roster moves.
In 14 seasons with Denver, Shanahan won two Super Bowl trophies, after the 1997 and ’98 seasons, and compiled a 138-86 record with the Broncos (he also was 8-12 in two seasons with Oakland).
However, in his last three seasons he was just 24-24. He won one playoff game in his last 10 seasons.
“There’s always lessons,” Shanahan said. “Anytime you’re a head coach for 14 years, you make mistakes. You do some good things, you get an idea what it takes to succeed. You look for that consistency.”
He talked about players putting in the offseason work — stressing it for the veterans such as running back Clinton Portis, who rarely takes part in these workouts. And Shanahan did not want to use the R word: rebuilding.
“That’s always tough,” he said. “Anytime you win four games, that’s going to happen. I have very high standards and I can’t tell you how long it will take. I hope it won’t be long until we’re back where this organization has been.”
To those who know him, there’s no doubt what he brings.
“Credibility,” former Redskins guard Mark Schlereth, an ESPN analyst who played for Shanahan in Denver. “He’s a championship caliber coach that’s won. There won’t be any question who’s running the show.
“To have that confidence to walk into an opposing team’s stadium and know that if you take care of business and execute, you’re gonna win. That’s worth its weight in gold.” Players harped on discipline on Monday, saying there wasn’t enough under Jim Zorn, partly because he lacked the proper authority.
“You have to be focused in order to play,” said Redskins end Phillip Daniels, a pending free agent. “I’m sure he can get the guys focused to play the way he needs to play. He’s won championships; that’s all you can ask for.”
Shanahan is not expected to retain many, if any, of the current assistants. Linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti is among a long list of candidates for the defensive coordinator position with the New York Giants. Shanahan’s son, Kyle, will be the new offensive coordinator.
“Sometimes new faces can help a team,” Daniels said. “Sometimes it pushes us to learn new things and excel. The coaches that were there did a good job. But sometimes you need change.”
