Jim Zorn Monday press conference

[Spence]

Jim Zorn’s Monday press conference ranged over the quarterback, the rookie pass-rusher, the running backs and the punt return problems.

On the subject of injuries, Zorn said FB Mike Sellers will be jogging on the treadmills and will try to practice later this week. Right now, both Sellers and CB DeAngelo Hall are “questionable” for Sunday’s game against the Giants. DT Albert Haynesworth will try to practice Wednesday and will be evaluated later in the week. RT Stephon Heyer will be limited in practice this week, but is extremely likely to play on Sunday.

Read it all.

 

[Elephant]

[To me, this sounds like Zorn trying to take credit for Campbell's improvement, since he doesn't call the plays anymore but the decision to bench Campbell WAS [allegedly] made by Zorn.]


[To me, this looks like another attempt by Zorn to deny credit for any improvements to Sherman Lewis and to claw back as much credit for himself as possible.]

Just curious, but is there any basis for these statements or is it simply conjecture as indicated by stating, "To me..."

I guess the one thing I haven't gathered from Zorn is that he is petty. I have seen him blow smoke up our backsides, I have seen him appear frustrated by the treatment from the FO, I have even seen him in complete dismay on the sidelines, but I guess I have just not seen the type of petty jealousy you suggest.

Do you really think Zorn has played no part in JC's improvement? Do you really believe he does not think Sherm Lewis has helped?

I'm not buying it.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

D. Hall questionable again....so glad we extended him. /sarcasm

 

[Spence]

Just curious, but is there any basis for these statements or is it simply conjecture as indicated by stating, "To me..."

I guess the one thing I haven't gathered from Zorn is that he is petty. I have seen him blow smoke up our backsides, I have seen him appear frustrated by the treatment from the FO, I have even seen him in complete dismay on the sidelines, but I guess I have just not seen the type of petty jealousy you suggest.

Do you really think Zorn has played no part in JC's improvement? Do you really believe he does not think Sherm Lewis has helped?

I'm not buying it.

I'm not sure how much anyone has helped Jason Campbell improve this season apart from Campbell. I'm sure Zorn, Lewis, Meidt all deserve some credit. Campbell, I think, probably deserves more credit than the rest of them put together.

It is certainly speculation on my part, since I have no way of knowing precisely what Jim Zorn is thinking. My guess is based on what Zorn said, what he has said in the past and what I know others have said and done this season. It's not a matter of Zorn being petty so much as protecting his backside and his reputation on the team and throughout the league. All coaches do this to some extent. [Norv Turner was notorious when he was in D.C. for taking aside a reporter or two during the week and explaining why the latest loss was not his fault. Norv is hardly the only coach to do that sort of thing.]

My understanding is that Zorn is still very upset about his play-calling demotion and thinks he deserves as much or more credit for any improvement as Lewis or Sherman Smith. I think this is why Zorn repeatedly refers to "game plans" or "game-planning" instead of "play-calling" when he discusses the improvement in the offense. Obviously, he's involved in the game plans, but not so much in the actual calling of plays. I don't think Zorn's repeated use of that language is an accident.

 

[Bulldog]

What has to be most embarrassing for Zorn is the emergence of the younger TE and WRs since Cooley went out and ARE' role has diminished.

A lot of us were clamoring ofr playing time to see what these guys could do and Zorn continually held back from making any real changes until the injuries forced him to act.

Now he acknowledges their improvement.

But it wouldn't have happened without the chance to play.

With the Redskins scoring 10-14 points per game earlier in the season and getting squat from some of the vets, Zorn should have acted to shake things up and get Davis, Thomas and others on the field.

Instead he just sat there and watched the team lose winnable games to KC and Detroit.

I am used to seeing successful coaches stick with veterans that won for him in the past but the Redskins haven't won anything and EVERYONE's job should be on the line each week.

Zorn made things to comfortable for Portis and a lot of the vets and the team came out of camp not ready for the season.
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[servumtuum]

I'm kind of leaning with Elephant on this...sort of, anyway. We all tend to put spin on things and if Zorn is in some sort of defensive ego-protection mode, I have no problem with it-it's simply a human attribute we all share. I do think the author of the article made a pretty "iffy" reach in trying to determine what Zorn's motives may or may not be.

 

[Spence]

I'm kind of leaning with Elephant on this...sort of, anyway. We all tend to put spin on things and if Zorn is in some sort of defensive ego-protection mode, I have no problem with it-it's simply a human attribute we all share. I do think the author of the article made a pretty "iffy" reach in trying to determine what Zorn's motives may or may not be.

The author is me. Obviously, it is speculation on my part so plenty of people may disagree with it. What I reported he said is accurate. If you prefer another explanation of his motives, go with it.

 

[The Burgundy Ghost]

Frankly,
I think Campbell just said **** it and just played football.
Sure, he's improved upon his technique that Zorn helped develop with him and he's taken advantage of the play call by Lewis that helps get players open but limits some mistakes (Campbell plays better when they run crossing routes vs. going vertical).

But in the end it's Campbell that's actually hitting his targets and making plays with his feet and stepping up into the pocket (did that a bunch of times in Oakland). Zorn should get some credit, but it's many people that should be attributed to the improvement.

Of course Zorn is trying to save his career, so I can't blame him for trying to get as much credit for anything that's considered positive.