I don't think Dan Snyder is going to fire a coach during the season again as he did in 2000 with Norv Turner. He has realized that is one of the football taboos, unless a coach vacates his responsibilities as Petrino did in Atlanta, you let him finish out the season.
So, I expect Zorn to be here regardless of how the team performs in 2009.
That said, I think he is very close to making a case for his own ultimate dismissal as HC.
Why?
1. He has fumbled with the development of Jason Campbell and continues to refuse to challenge Campbell to make plays. The play after the 34 yard Portis run was set up for the quarterback to challenge the defense down the field. Instead Zorn decided that having his #3 WR throw the ball on the run was a more efficient way to try and get positive yardage. Regardess of whether Randle El was able to get off a pass or not, isn't it MORE important for Campbell and his teammates to see #17 make the plays in that position to propel the team forward. Zorn keeps talking about being a teacher, but that seems to go by the wayside when the chance to run a trick play comes along. Ditto here for the drive after the defensive stand on the 3 yard line. 3 straight running plays, no passes to try and get the first down and show some confidence in the entire offensive unit. This has to have Snyder and Cerrato shaking their head as Zorn appeared to be the one almost guaranteeing that Campbell would be better in 2009 and yet he seems to be the one holding him back getting a fair chance to compete.
2. Zorn fails to get the younger players on offense integrated into the flow of the game. Malcolm Kelly was supposed to be new and improved. To Zorn I guess that means he can now count on the 6'4 receiver for 1 catch for 6 yards each week. Fred Davis also provided a cameo role in helping to chip on Justin Tuck on the outside. Ironically, though neither player was ever isolated with a chance to make a play on the ball, especially in the red zone.
Jim obviously didn't watch the last 2 Gibbs years here in 2006 and 2007. The club struggled to score points because the offense never varied itself from Moss downfield and Portis between the tackles. He is falling back into that dependency despite the fact Moss is now 30 and Portis is 28.
With all the open space the Giants provided yesterday and the fact that both starting corners were ailing, you can't tell me a targeted plan to use Kelly on crosses and slants would not have served to make this offense more productive.
Thomas may not be ready to contribute but I think Kelly and Davis are and if they were on a different team WOULD in fact be making those contributions.
3. Zorn runs a loose ship. Washington under Zorn has committed a lot of penalties and each week we continue to see players take unsportsmanlike 15 yarders that cost the team. The reason why they continue to exhibit this behavior is because there is no sanction. Landry knocks Jacobs down out of bounds because no one is going to sit him for the balance of a game to challenge him to be intelligent and accountable on the field.
The Giants don't have the most talented skill players in the NFL but Coughlin runs a disciplined and structured ship. That is obvious to all.
You may beat NY but NY is not going to beat itself with those kinds of mental mistakes.
Meanwhile, Washington is not good enough to overcome these lapses, even against lesser competition like the Rams or Lions as we saw last season.
The time is ticking on Zorn and his ability to grasp what it means to be a HC in the NFL.
He has a book of philosophy 1,000 pages deep but this football team doesn't need a professor, it needs a leader.
So, I expect Zorn to be here regardless of how the team performs in 2009.
That said, I think he is very close to making a case for his own ultimate dismissal as HC.
Why?
1. He has fumbled with the development of Jason Campbell and continues to refuse to challenge Campbell to make plays. The play after the 34 yard Portis run was set up for the quarterback to challenge the defense down the field. Instead Zorn decided that having his #3 WR throw the ball on the run was a more efficient way to try and get positive yardage. Regardess of whether Randle El was able to get off a pass or not, isn't it MORE important for Campbell and his teammates to see #17 make the plays in that position to propel the team forward. Zorn keeps talking about being a teacher, but that seems to go by the wayside when the chance to run a trick play comes along. Ditto here for the drive after the defensive stand on the 3 yard line. 3 straight running plays, no passes to try and get the first down and show some confidence in the entire offensive unit. This has to have Snyder and Cerrato shaking their head as Zorn appeared to be the one almost guaranteeing that Campbell would be better in 2009 and yet he seems to be the one holding him back getting a fair chance to compete.
2. Zorn fails to get the younger players on offense integrated into the flow of the game. Malcolm Kelly was supposed to be new and improved. To Zorn I guess that means he can now count on the 6'4 receiver for 1 catch for 6 yards each week. Fred Davis also provided a cameo role in helping to chip on Justin Tuck on the outside. Ironically, though neither player was ever isolated with a chance to make a play on the ball, especially in the red zone.
Jim obviously didn't watch the last 2 Gibbs years here in 2006 and 2007. The club struggled to score points because the offense never varied itself from Moss downfield and Portis between the tackles. He is falling back into that dependency despite the fact Moss is now 30 and Portis is 28.
With all the open space the Giants provided yesterday and the fact that both starting corners were ailing, you can't tell me a targeted plan to use Kelly on crosses and slants would not have served to make this offense more productive.
Thomas may not be ready to contribute but I think Kelly and Davis are and if they were on a different team WOULD in fact be making those contributions.
3. Zorn runs a loose ship. Washington under Zorn has committed a lot of penalties and each week we continue to see players take unsportsmanlike 15 yarders that cost the team. The reason why they continue to exhibit this behavior is because there is no sanction. Landry knocks Jacobs down out of bounds because no one is going to sit him for the balance of a game to challenge him to be intelligent and accountable on the field.
The Giants don't have the most talented skill players in the NFL but Coughlin runs a disciplined and structured ship. That is obvious to all.
You may beat NY but NY is not going to beat itself with those kinds of mental mistakes.
Meanwhile, Washington is not good enough to overcome these lapses, even against lesser competition like the Rams or Lions as we saw last season.
The time is ticking on Zorn and his ability to grasp what it means to be a HC in the NFL.
He has a book of philosophy 1,000 pages deep but this football team doesn't need a professor, it needs a leader.
Last edited: