Dan Quinn hired as HC of Commanders

[burgold]

I vocally said I didn't want a retread so Quinn was far from my number one. So here's my rationalization.

Washington needs a gray beard among its decision makers. Marrying a rookie GM to a rookie head coach can be a recipe for disaster. There's too much neither know and no one around to guide them. So having a "been there done that" coach to pair with the hot shot GM may be practical. Washington does need someone in the room who can anticipate the little things that pop up that a rookie won't foresee. Now, I thought that role could go to the coordinator. Ben Johnson's DC could have been the gray beard. Peters, for the moment, has Hurney and Mayhew, who for all their faults have run an NFL team for a few years.

So maybe hiring a retread has some advantages in that not everyone in charge has to learn on the go.

That said, I will repeat my first response.

Blech. I mean yay.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Is this the line where you think points to too many voices in the process? Or was it something else? I would suspect Peters is getting opinions from others in the organization, but I don't think that necessarily means he's trying to get consensus or not have the power to make the decision himself.

The biggest indications from the article itself are probably in these lines (but there are others elsewhere):
Many in the league anticipated Washington hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Although he was a favored target of at least some in the Commanders' search, that wasn't a unanimous opinion, one source said.

When Washington hired Peters last month, one source said he was clearly the Commanders' top choice. But shortly after Peters was hired, one source said there was no coaching candidate who stood out like Peters.
Actually taking another look at the line, it is weirdly worded and Keim is a pretty deliberate writer and speaker from my experience (not prone to typos or mistakes). "Shortly after Peters was hired" indicates they were already reviewing coaching candidates without a GM in place. I find that very easy to believe based on other quotes I read (many), that indicated Harris and others wanted involvement in the HC decision. I think Harris said something to that effect when he was talking about the search for GM, something about how they were going to look for a GM and then a HC, and the indication was that he, Myers, and Spielman would all be involved. It makes sense from his perspective, because he was looking at Myers as an "Organization builder" - someone who knew how to build a "winning culture" and had the skill of hiring good people. I respect that concept totally.

I don't think this is so bad, really - I can definitely see the logic. I think if they knew the GM better, he would have their trust. They just hired him, so that wasn't really likely. My personal opinion, however, is to empower the GM more; sort of like how I think Lynch was empowered by SF when he was given the role. So, I understand the Harris thinking here, and again this is not based only on this article. I just would have had a lot less involvement outside of Peters.

 

[Solitary Man]

I apologize if it has been mentioned. Micah Parsons is blaming the front office in Dallas for the blowout loss against GB. Whether that means he thinks players on the Defense were not good enough, I don’t know. Also, Jahan Dotson is lowkey tryna recruit Micah to come to DC

 

[Miles Monroe]

We were committed to under-going a comprehensive process to identify and then hire the very best candidate for this position in our organization and I think we have done that.

Dan was our #1 choice from the very beginning. He encapsulates every thing we wanted in a Head Coach going forward to be a steward for our franchise into the future. He is the very definition of a leader and we are damned happy to have him join us in building a collaborative, aligned vision going forward.

Thanks, just shot iced tea out my nose.

 

[Bulldog]

The problem I have with the 'group' approach to hiring the head coach is that everyone in the room EXCEPT for Adam Peters and Rick Spielman have ABSOLUTELY ZERO NFL experience.

Building an NBA franchise out is not the same as building up an NFL team.

ONE player in the NBA means so much to a team while the head coach is often a replaceable part.

So, Myers and Magic Johnson to me have less valuable input into the HC search than a selected Commanders' season ticket-holder.

Any other minority owners are just that, minority owners.

In most business I have been involved with you have a decision-maker and minority partners/silent partners are just that - supporters but not drivers of the enterprise.

If this process had been just Harris working with Peters and perhaps having Spielman there as a veteran hand would have been one thing.

But what we are hearing now, this process was just short of a circus.

 

[Chris]

I was today years old when I could finally understand the difference between partly sunny and partly cloudy.

There isn’t any.

 

[Pokey]

So, Macdonald was my choice but I'm certainly no NFL insider.

Most of the qualms I have about Quinn are not relly rational but emotional/superstitious.

So, welcome to Washington Coach. Win us games and we'll all love you.

 

[Chris]

Leverro reached an entirely new Loverro-level in the first 30 minutes of today’s The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.

I mean…my gawd. Dude needs either more fiber in his diet or a powerful laxative. Maybe even both.

 

[Boone]

 

[Canadian Hog]

Interestingly enough, Jay Gruden was 35-49-1 in his NFL coaching career with an 0-1 record in the playoffs.

Going out and getting the hot shot coordinator like he was at the time isn't always a recipe for success either.

Jay should know that first hand.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Interesting tidbit in Macdonald comments:

Seahawks GM on Macdonald: 'This is the future'

Seahawks general manager John Schneider said he was looking for a coach who could "change the marketplace" when he landed on former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for the job.

www.espn.com

Call me crazy, but this may -- just MAY -- be a hint at NOT wanting to join the Commanders. I am reading tea leaves here, I know it's inexact, but often times there are stray lines in quotes that do tell tales. Sometimes, of course, it's off - but there are lots of hints already out there that Peters has had his hands tied. When you add them all up, it at least looks awkward.

I find it a little strange he thanked the owner for "empowering" the GM. That would typically be standard and expected; unless he saw something elsewhere that stood in contrast? Also, he makes a comment soon after on how the Seahawks felt "first-class." Look, I know personally, if I go to an interview with 5-on-1 or worse, and then go for one with 1 or 2 on 1, I know which one will seem smoother to me. I know which one will come off looking better.

**
Macdonald thanked Seahawks owner Jody Allen for empowering Schneider and having the patience to wait on him.

"Thank you for hanging in there," he said. "I was wishing that we would have to wait a couple more weeks but it did happen fast, but [we] felt like it was a first-class operation. Her investment in this city and how much she cares about this team became very obvious to me, and that was very appealing."

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Well, this franchise is not first class at this time. It’s going to take Harris time to rebuild everything. The facilities are terrible, the stadium is a dump, and the front office is really the only place that has been rebuilt so far. And that is even an unknown at this point having just started. Maybe he’s taking a shot, but I don’t know why he would. It would be petty and unnecessary. Plus, he’d be sort of telling Seattle he didn’t really want to be there, he just came there because he didn’t get what he really wanted. I think he’s just being complimentary of his new organization, which is what new coaches do. And yes, the Seattle franchise is head and shoulders above this franchise right now. Maybe he was spooked off by how bad things were and how the process went with a new ownership group, but I don’t see anything in those comments other than him praising his new team and his new bosses.

 

[Boone]

You may be right that the way interviews were conducted is what swayed Macdonald. Personally, I think the obvious answer is an additional 2 years of big paydays (given the average coaching lifespan a 6 year offer is very rare). But it was a very competitive situation. We have someone with very close ties to the situation and there was a lot of momentum in the Macdonald camp to come to Washington. I think being the perceived ‘2nd choice’ didn’t help Washington’s case.

 

[burgold]

... or third choice.

Actually, I'm not sure if Quinn was our third choice or our fourth. Part of me wonders if the order was Johnson, Morris, MacDonald, Quinn. In the morning after, you can make an argument that Quinn is a fine choice, even a solid choice, but it'll take some games to get excited about his hire.

 

[Chris]

This doesn’t actually convince me that this was a 2 on 1 encounter-

‘Schneider and the rest of the Seahawks contingent flew to Detroit on Monday afternoon for an interview with Johnson, who later informed Seattle and the Commanders that he was staying with the Lions. The Seahawks flew to Baltimore on Monday evening to meet with Macdonald the next morning.’

And this doesn’t sound like a edge over Harris & Co either-

“Her investment in this city and how much she cares about this team became very obvious to me, and that was very appealing."

Harris & Co. have more than checked off those boxes, by any measure.

I believe that Macdonald made a smart business decision more than anything. Seattle has a proven tenured GM, a significantly better overall roster, a great stadium, modern practice facilities, and a rabid fan base that does not need to be reconstituted. I personally would have chosen Seattle over Washington as well.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

This doesn’t actually convince me that this was a 2 on 1 encounter-

‘Schneider and the rest of the Seahawks contingent flew to Detroit on Monday afternoon for an interview with Johnson, who later informed Seattle and the Commanders that he was staying with the Lions. The Seahawks flew to Baltimore on Monday evening to meet with Macdonald the next morning.’

And this doesn’t sound like a edge over Harris & Co either-

“Her investment in this city and how much she cares about this team became very obvious to me, and that was very appealing."

Harris & Co. have more than checked off those boxes, by any measure.

I believe that Macdonald made a smart business decision more than anything. Seattle has a proven tenured GM, a significantly better overall roster, a great stadium, modern practice facilities, and a rabid fan base that does not need to be reconstituted. I personally would have chosen Seattle over Washington as well.

No, it is not some strong case (his quote). They only sometimes are, when it's more of a slip-up. These could definitely just be some general talk, I realize that. I do think the "empowering" line sounds awkward, and Schefter/Keim have reported that after Johnson, there was "mixed" interest in Macdonald (not everyone agreed; even with Johnson, there was reported "mixed" interest). That is why, combined with the "empowering" line, it sounds a bit worse. You have to realize that the Seattle story with Macdonald is, they did NOT meet with him virtually! Their FIRST meeting (at all) was this week. So they moved quite fast, probably that is what he means by "empowered" - that's not possible otherwise. It's unlikely a direct slight against WAS, but I think there are more cooks in the kitchen on our side; as others have said, that doesn't really mean Peters lacks final say, but it could slow things down or muddy the waters (maybe at best, that is what we had).

I fully believe that this group doesn't meet Quinn that many times if uninterested, and I also think they wanted particular qualities. I don't really think this is a 1,2,3 type of situation as much as a 1a, 1b, 1c situation. I honestly think they saw pluses/minuses to all of them, and frankly I generally agree with that logic because no matter what your analytical process, history has taught us pretty solidly that the "secret sauce" is not obvious. So as long as the choice should be ok, rolling with it is fine.

I don't think they saw any big problems with Quinn throughout the process. Also, Schefter has a video now where he says one factor in Quinn's selection (not the only one) was that they received the MOST calls in support of his selection from league sources for Quinn, and it wasn't close; and that is among a deluge of calls in general.

Overall, I think the ownership and execs are great. They are human, we don't have complete visibility, so if there are some flaws in the process, hopefully they get it worked out. I just don't believe we have the horrible combination of ego and incompetence that we had before, so even if it takes time, we have actual hope now. That's an amazing thing to have, finally. I think when the Peters move was made so beautifully, I hoped there wouldn't be any questions in the HC process; I don't care if the final choice is someone I disagree with. It doesn't really look like they got their first choice, that's OK. It doesn't look like the process was as perfect; that's OK too. Quinn could work out, and I think they have their "1c" option at worst.

Let's GO!!!! Hoping the draft looks good. Grant Paulsen claimed he thinks the two biggest moves for the team were GM and QB. For me, it's clearly in this order:
- GM
- HC
- OC
- General Draft

I definitely accept the QB's importance, but with a team with this many holes, I don't think you make a dynasty by filling that hole first. I think you waste some of those cheap contract years if you find "the guy" when you have this many holes, potentially. I'm not sure though. Looking forward to seeing what they put together! Exciting when the top isn't impossibly horrendous.

I personally don't think someone with Quinn's HC record excites me, but I do think he had some issues with his personnel at the time. So, it could definitely be better here if the org is set up nicely.

 

[Boone]

OC is the biggest move. You hired a guy who has no clue on offense (that’s what got him fired in Atlanta after Kyle left).

If we don’t get a very talented OC none of the rest will matter.

 

[Chris]

No, it is not some strong case (his quote). They only sometimes are, when it's more of a slip-up. These could definitely just be some general talk, I realize that. I do think the "empowering" line sounds awkward, and Schefter/Keim have reported that after Johnson, there was "mixed" interest in Macdonald (not everyone agreed; even with Johnson, there was reported "mixed" interest). That is why, combined with the "empowering" line, it sounds a bit worse. You have to realize that the Seattle story with Macdonald is, they did NOT meet with him virtually! Their FIRST meeting (at all) was this week. So they moved quite fast, probably that is what he means by "empowered" - that's not possible otherwise. It's unlikely a direct slight against WAS, but I think there are more cooks in the kitchen on our side; as others have said, that doesn't really mean Peters lacks final say, but it could slow things down or muddy the waters (maybe at best, that is what we had).

I fully believe that this group doesn't meet Quinn that many times if uninterested, and I also think they wanted particular qualities. I don't really think this is a 1,2,3 type of situation as much as a 1a, 1b, 1c situation. I honestly think they saw pluses/minuses to all of them, and frankly I generally agree with that logic because no matter what your analytical process, history has taught us pretty solidly that the "secret sauce" is not obvious. So as long as the choice should be ok, rolling with it is fine.

I don't think they saw any big problems with Quinn throughout the process. Also, Schefter has a video now where he says one factor in Quinn's selection (not the only one) was that they received the MOST calls in support of his selection from league sources for Quinn, and it wasn't close; and that is among a deluge of calls in general.

Overall, I think the ownership and execs are great. They are human, we don't have complete visibility, so if there are some flaws in the process, hopefully they get it worked out. I just don't believe we have the horrible combination of ego and incompetence that we had before, so even if it takes time, we have actual hope now. That's an amazing thing to have, finally. I think when the Peters move was made so beautifully, I hoped there wouldn't be any questions in the HC process; I don't care if the final choice is someone I disagree with. It doesn't really look like they got their first choice, that's OK. It doesn't look like the process was as perfect; that's OK too. Quinn could work out, and I think they have their "1c" option at worst.

Let's GO!!!! Hoping the draft looks good. Grant Paulsen claimed he thinks the two biggest moves for the team were GM and QB. For me, it's clearly in this order:
- GM
- HC
- OC
- General Draft

I definitely accept the QB's importance, but with a team with this many holes, I don't think you make a dynasty by filling that hole first. I think you waste some of those cheap contract years if you find "the guy" when you have this many holes, potentially. I'm not sure though. Looking forward to seeing what they put together! Exciting when the top isn't impossibly horrendous.

I personally don't think someone with Quinn's HC record excites me, but I do think he had some issues with his personnel at the time. So, it could definitely be better here if the org is set up nicely.

In the spirit of being completely transparent (😉)…

I believe that Dan Quinn was ultimately their 3rd choice behind Johnson and Macdonald. Johnson flaked out and Washington was Macdonald’s 2nd choice. Shit happens. I am hoping for the best for a very selfish reason: I would like to have the opportunity to root for a serious contender while I am still above ground.

 

[Chris]

So when is the damn introductory press conference? Are they putting Quinn on a Greyhound this time?

 

[Boone]

Well, technically the team hasn’t even announced his hiring yet…