Does Jim Zorn Make it through the 2009 NFL Season?
June 11, 2009 – 9:00 am by Lance Zimmerman
The Redskins started the 2008 season hotter than any team in football. The jumped out to a 4-1 record with impressive road wins over the Cowboys and Eagles. Then, the wheels came off. The Redskins finished the season on a 4-7 run, missing the playoffs with a final record of 8-8. The heat was turned up on first year Head Coach Jim Zorn, and questions began circulating that he might not be back for 09 with the likes of head coaches Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren , Mike Shanahan, and Jon Gruden looking for work.
Team Owner Daniel Snyder signed Albert Haynesworth to the largest contract ever shelled out to a defensive tackle this off season, and also made a major push to upgrade the quarterback position as well. The Redskins were unable to acquire Jay Cutler or trade up high enough to select Mark Sanchez. Regardless, the pressure no doubt will be on Zorn to get the Redskins into the playoffs this season. A slow start and Zorn could be in the long list of former NFL head coaches looking for work.
Jim Zorn joined Brock and Salk on 710 ESPN Radio in Seattle to discuss his team’s future as well as the whole situation with Jason Campbell and upgrading the quarterback position.
Zorn was asked how the team looks this year in comparison to this time last year:
“Well, you can imagine, last year I was trying to get to know everybody’s names. We were putting in our version of that West coast offense. I think where we were last year was very sluggish, so where we are today is a lot faster. Our group is just so much further ahead. We probably put in 30% more than what we did last year. Our defense is quicker. We have some new players at some key positions.”
On how Jason Campbell took the news when it was reported the Redskins were interested in trading for Jay Cutler and looked at drafting Mark Sanchez:
“I tried to be very upfront and realistic with him as these things were coming up. He sat in my office and I explained to him that Jay Cutler said that he wanted to be traded and that we were going to take a good look at that, and then the media got a hold of it and did their due diligence. And then the same thing happened with Mark Sanchez during the draft. He (Campbell) had to endure a coupe of very difficult situations and I think did a pretty good job just based on him keeping up to date with what was going on. I think that helped him. One of the things that he did through the whole situation is not put himself on hold but he kept things rattling right along.”
On the demands of a head coach as opposed to a position coach and dealing with the media in Washington DC:
“I think the demand has been more than anticipated because I’m answering questions for the entire team, not just a position. As much as I can be upfront and honest I will be, but there are certain things that I cant say because I honestly don’t know the direction that I’m going, or there isn’t enough information to say anything. There’s times when I hold back, but when I can say it I really do try and say the truth and I try to be as upfront as I possibly can.”
Listen to Jim Zorn on ESPN 710 in Seattle with Brock and Salk
Tags: football interviews, Jim Zorn, NFC East, Washington Redskins
