The Redskins, from the owner on down, say they want stability. Which is why many around the NFL expect Gregg Williams, who is expected to have his second interview today, to be hired as Joe Gibbs’ replacement.
That doesn’t mean everything will be the same if Williams, the defensive boss the past four seasons, is hired.
Here are some areas where it could be different:
Al Saunders » Williams would reportedly consider dismissing Saunders, the Redskins associate head coach/offense. But a handful of players, team and league sources say they haven’t detected a rift between the two coaches.
“I haven’t heard that,” said the agent for a Redskins defensive coach, which was echoed by another league source, who is close to Saunders.
One defensive player said, “They sit next to each other in team meetings and they’d laugh with each other. They seem like the same type of guys — family guys who care about the team. I couldn’t see their personalities conflicting.
“If it was that bad, everyone would know it.”
“It could work out and not be a shock,” an offensive veteran said. “But it wouldn’t be a shock if it didn’t.”
The draft » Williams pushed for the defense to get younger and faster, something he’s accomplished via the draft over the past two offseasons. According to a team source, he tried — mostly without success— to get the organization to focus more on the draft than on free agency.
It worked for the defense: At the start of the season, the Redskins had five starters who had been drafted within the last four years; the offense had two. Of the last nine offensive draft choices, only two (Jason Campbell and Chris Cooley) are on the roster. Seven of the last 12 defensive picks were on the roster at season’s end — latesafety Sean Taylor would have been the eighth.
General manager » It remains to be seen what sort of control Williams, or any other coach, would have. Williams has talked fondly of former general manager Floyd Reese, whom he worked for in Tennessee. Reese is available, but the Redskins seem intent on having a Dan Snyder/Vinny Cerrato power setup. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Snyder said. One team source said Cerrato and Williams aren’t particularly close.
Organization » Williams would be much more organized than Gibbs, who used to frustrate some with his penchant for last-minute changes or by not announcing what players’ schedules would be until late. Williams, by contrast, would likely have the entire offseason mapped out in relatively short order. And when the season started, there’d likely be little variance.
“He’s OCD about that stuff,” one defender said. “That’s what I like about him.”
Interview insight
» If the Redskins want to interview Colts assistant Jim Caldwell, they can now do so after San Diego beat Indianapolis. That would fulfill their requirement with the Rooney Rule, which states that teams must interview a minority candidate. The could also accomplish that by interviewing a minority member of their coaching staff.
