Monday, January 13, 2014

Organic: It's What's for Winners



 (credit: UPI/Mike Theiler)

Last week, the Redskins announced the hire of their new head coach, Jay Gruden. The promotion for the former Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator and brother of Monday Night Football analyst John Gruden has mixed reactions to it, but it's a breathe of fresh air for any fan of the burgundy and gold.

I claim no allegiance to the Redskins, but living in the DMV area I know many fans of the storied franchise, and this latest hiring is definitely a hot topic of any conversation. The days of Joe Gibbs, Super Bowls and perennial playoff-contending teams is a thing of the past (twenty-two years and counting). The franchise has stumbled on its quest to restore the franchise to those successful times, but may have gotten it right this time.

The Redskins have only seen six winning seasons in since 1993, the revolving door of coaches beginning with Norv Turner. While he improved each of his first three seasons, inconsistency plagued his tenure and was ousted during the 2000 season. The very next year began the "brand name effect". Snyder looked to grab headlines by going for name value with the winning of championships all but a formality. He hired former Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer in 2001- the pedigree was there, and hopefully the wins would follow. Schottenheimer would go 8-8 that season with all eight wins coming in the final eleven games to barely miss the playoffs. But that was all Snyder wrote, as Marty was fired to make way for Steve Spurrier. Spurrier never lived up to his billing, compiling a 12-20 record in his two seasons on the sidelines. 

But like fashion, retro was back in. Enter Joe Gibbs 2.0- two playoff appearances, and two ousts courtesy of the Seattle Seahawks. It was a nostalgic attempt to revive the past- except the game and everything that came with it had changed. Yet Gibbs managed to succeed despite it- just not to the level Snyder and fans hoped. Jim Zorn's hiring was similar to Tom Hanks' character in Big ; he was simply out of his league.

After being coaxed by Snyder, Mike Shanahan had four years to deliver- and failed. Three sub- five hundred seasons and a lone NFC Division title are not what fans expected. The trouble with hiring him (outside of his terrible decision-making and lack of accountability) is he had the name value and nothing else. After winning two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos, the Washington franchise and fan base had the same heightened expectations- with less capable personnel, and a Shanahan who was essentially a shell of his former self.

It's time for Snyder and company to take a new approach- the organic one. Let Gruden put together his staff to help mold the team into his vision.

I know, you are thinking, "Snyder will never let it happen." But he should- or he's bound to repeat the past. There's only so many times you can hit a reset button and clean a slate until a fanbase loses faith. Plus, Griffin has already lost one year of his career due to inept decision-making. Don't compound it.

Rome was not built in a day. Give Gruden time to change the culture in Washington without pulling the rug out from under him. More time may not be what Redskins fans want to hear, but it's what they need if they plan on pulling themselves out of the NFC East cellar. 

Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know @SeanNeutron

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