Jim Zorn knows what the questions mean. They’re about the offense. But what the question really means is this: Do you deserve another season? But, for now, the questions are stated this way: Doesn’t the West Coast offense take more than two years to master?
When Zorn answers, there’s a sense that he’s thinking this, “Yes it does; but I probably won’t get that third year.”
Anyway, here are some highlights from his appearance today on ESPN 980.
And for what it’s worth, he’s optimistic about DT Albert Haynesworth’s return, but not as much about CB DeAngelo Hall’s.
On if the Redskins’ offense is on the right track and if the upside of this group is big: Yeah, I think it is. If I reflect back on he Seattle experience and others too, Matt [Hasselbeck] lost his job the first year we were there to Trent Dilfer. The only way he won his job back was because Trent tore his ACL because he tried to scramble. After that he sort of had this large improvement. But the receivers hadn’t yet. It wasn’t until another couple of years that the receivers started going fast and our run game started going with Shaun Alexander and our blocking got together….Being together for a lot of years… If you look at what New Orleans is doing, they’ve been together. This is, what, Drew Brees’ fourth or fifth year in the system? Now this thing is really starting to go. It does take a while to get comfortable to understand how to play fast at all positions. Some guys will improve quicker than others. I think Matt improved quicker than the receivers. It was frustrating for him. Santana is playing at a fast pace. Antwaan is playing at a fast pace. The younger guys are still coming on. Our running game has been stymied because Clinton has been unable to stay healthy. Our group of backs are playing hard. Things are looking up. The problem in talking about all this stuff is still the L. I’ve got the loser slapped right on my forehead. I know it doesn’t matter unless we win.
On projecting the offense a year from now and if it could be really good: Absolutely. And I’ll tell you how it works. We have a width and a depth to our offense. Right now we’re working on a little bit of width and the depth comes when the guys start understanding all we’re trying to do and how it fits together. When we get the width and the depth to it, then you can really go. We’re still growing. That’s how I look at it.
On saying he called all the plays that didn’t work: Well, that’s not true. But that’s the way I felt. I called the play that Jason threw the interception on. I called the play the little quick screen out to Devin that was tackled for a two-yard loss. Those things make you feel bad. Not everything was a disaster. I just felt like it on those couple plays, it didn’t work. It didn’t happen.
On if he called plays in the two-minute drives and on the final drive: Yes.
On if it’s planned: Yes, that’s part of the plan. I’ve got this thing sitting in front of me and it’s fairly easy to relay.
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