If the Jim Zorn era ends this coming offseason, we may have just seen why.
The Washington Redskins barely survived the hapless St. Louis Rams on Sunday, 9-7. They didn’t score a touchdown. That’s one end zone trip in two games with only good fortune of a lousy opponent keeping Washington from an 0-2 start.
Zorn has forgotten more football than I’ll ever know, but I know the look of someone over-thinking: complicating the game too much, trying too many gadget plays, a goal line option pass not by former quarterback Antwaan Randle El, but by running back Clinton Portis — hardly known for his touch air precision.
Zorn needs to keep it simple, clear the mind and reboot the thinking. And the only way to do that may be talking with a mentor. Someone who reminds Zorn of what he knows best.
Do I hear “consultant” once more from the owner’s box? Maybe, especially if this scoring funk doesn’t end by the Nov. 1 bye. And if the second coming of Bill Arnsparger reaches Redskins Park, we know this coaching regime is done just like previous administrations departed after getting midseason mentoring.
This is where Zorn keeps his job. Either he figures out what’s wrong in a real hurry or owner Dan Snyder loses confidence. And the last two times that happened, someone else was coaching either before season’s end or shortly thereafter.
Zorn wasn’t overjoyed following the win. He said the locker room wasn’t either. They needed reminding it was a victory. So do the fans, who booed several times throughout the game, including the end when victory was assured. That’s not good. Everyone needs to exhale.
Ironically, the Redskins were close to scoring four touchdowns. It was bad luck that Mike Sellers dropped one and Devin Thomas saw another score come off his pads. Then again, why did the Redskins entrust third options over playmakers? Zorn figured he’d surprise St. Louis’ defense. Indeed, if players did their jobs, then Zorn isn’t reviewing game film on Monday to reconfigure his “mixed bag” of calls.
“It’s the scoring that’s frustrating. We’re not going to stay there. That’s the bottom line here,” Zorn said. “I’ve got to look at this really hard here. That’s my responsibility. I can wave all kinds of magic wands, but I have to come up with the right play.”
Otherwise, Zorn may be performing a disappearing trick as another playoff chance vanishes.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
