It’s an interesting pick. Not exactly an inspiring one, but at least the newest Redskins coach didn’t arrive on Sunday with the stink of failure some other candidates presented. The Seattle assistant should reach the preseason before fans begin second-guessing the choice. Then again, yahoo.com posted poll on how long before Zorn is fired just moments after the press conference ended.
The Redskins are already in spin control over Zorn’s selection. The press release was three pages instead of the usual one paragraph, as if they were selling the choice to the media. That the announcement came late Saturday — the slowest time in the news cycle — was also meant to reduce any backlash.
Maybe Zorn will be a good head coach. Maybe he’ll crash and burn just like those before him during owner Dan Snyder’s tenure. We’ll get a glimpse during the offseason when viewing the free agency, draft and minicamps before the Redskins open in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 3.
However, it doesn’t matter who coaches this team to some degree. With a front office led by vice president Vinny Cerrato and Snyder, Vince Lomardi wouldn’t win consistently in Washington. Neither did Joe Gibbs — 31-36 mark in his second tour that included his worst two seasons in Washington. We’re supposed to think a quarterbacks coach with no head coaching experience can do what the Hall-of-Famer couldn’t? Zorn didn’t even get the team colors right, saying maroon and black instead of burgundy and gold.
But let’s take the upside on Day One. First, fans are going to like Zorn as a person. He is remarkably candid while exuding hope. Zorn is positive without the arrogance predecessors Marty Schottenheimer and Steve Spurrier possessed. Zorn is a little like Norv Turner in a good-neighbor-who-keeps-his-grass-cut kind of way.
Zorn admitted his jaw dropped when asked if he wanted to interview for the top job. Zorn knows this is his dream come true. He called his hiring “miraculous” while laughing over having a 41 percent approval rating in a TV poll on Saturday night, sayingit’s “better than the president of the United States.”
In the end, Zorn has one season to prove himself or it’s the Bill Cowher sweepstakes again. Hopefully, a nice guy doesn’t finish last.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
