The Redskins: A Tale of Woe
Like most Redskins seasons, this one began with some high profile off season acquisitions, some quarterback drama, and a lot of high hopes. And again like most Redskins season, it is on course for a tragic ending that leaves everyone shaking and scratching their heads. So as we enter the bye week, I think it's a good time to assess the state of the Redskins. This will be a series of posts over the next few weeks, but we start from the top.
Ownership & Management
The management of the team is the root of the team's dismal performance, and ultimate responsibility rests with the men at the top. Dan Snyder* makes three crucial mistakes in running this team.
First, he involves himself with personnel decisions on a regular basis. This is unproductive for two reasons: he is not good evaluator of football talent, and he is undermining the authority of those who work for him. Because he does not have a particular skill in football talent evaluation, he ends up simply finding the biggest star (the wisdom of crowds approach) out there and offering him bags of money to come play for the Redskins. It's like he's building his own fantasy football team. Which is a horrible way to create a winning football team, because it ignores the team building and strategic vision aspects of the game. Plus, as he does this constantly, he is undermining the authority of his coaches and talent scouts. If coaches have a strategic vision for the team in which they need players with A, B, and C qualities, and Mr. Snyder insists on acquiring someone with X, Y, and Z qualities because they are "playmakers", it kill the vision and demoralizes the coaching staff.
Second, Dan Snyder wants to win today, not tomorrow. Now, ordinarily this is not a bad thing, and most fans and players will tell you they want to win today also. But the problem lies in the fact that you cannot immediately assemble a team that will win today by putting together a bunch of talented players. Basic common sense argues for a longer term strategy. If it generally takes 2-3 years to develop a good quarterback and for him to develop a rhythym with his receivers, then perhaps changing quarterbacks every year is not the smartest move.
Third, Dan Snyder does not delegate. From the previous two points this should be clear, but deserves it's own focus because delegation is very important for a well run organization. Dan Snyder has great business instincts -- it's almost as if he can't make a mistake. But when it comes to football, 10 bad years should demonstrate to even him that he does not have the same luck with football. His job (along with Vinny Cerrato - see below) should be to hire the most talented and ambitious coaching and scouting staff possible, give them resources and get out of their way.
Vinny Cerrato is also part of this problem. In fact, I would argue that although Dan Snyder's actions are the main cause of the Redskins decline, this can be quickly fixed by simply removing him from all tactical and most strategic decisions -- just sit back and rake in the money, and let the football planning be done by those who've grown up doing this stuff. Vinny, on the other hand, there is no quick fix for. I'm sorry to say that I believe the Redskins would be better off if they found another GM and let Vinny go.
Vinny's main problem is that he is not a good manager. I don't know the man personally and I've never seen him in action, so the only evidence I have to back up this assessment is the performance of the Redskins organization. However, that is enough. A good manager makes a mediocre organization a good one, and a bad manager does the opposite. Vinny has had many years to show us what he can do, and I'm afraid it's not good. There are a basketful of examples I could use to illustrate this, but two will suffice. First, the complete failure to address the Offensive Line during the draft last year. Second, the disastrous way that the coaching position was filled two years ago. I don't feel the need to expound on these issues -- if you're familiar with the Redskins they will be self-evident, and if not then it would take far too much time and space to explain, and you've already indulged me by reading this far.
I have season tickets, and don't plan on giving them away at the end of this year. But I could be convinced otherwise. I hope that does not happen.
*The Washington Redskins are owned by Dan Snyder, who acquired the team through an auction about a decade ago after the previous owner (the much admired Jack Kent Cooke) passed away. It was universally believed in the DC area that Jack's son, John Cooke, would inherit the franchise which had earned the loyalty of millions of fans. Alas, it was not to be. Dan Snyder engaged in a hard fought auction, and was only 34 when he acquired the Redskins. Since then Mr. Snyder, although those close to him continue to insist his priority is winning football games, has failed to establish stability in the coaching staff, the quarterback, or the team strategy. He has, however, turned the Redskins into one of the most profitable franchises in football. Actions speak louder than words.
Like most Redskins seasons, this one began with some high profile off season acquisitions, some quarterback drama, and a lot of high hopes. And again like most Redskins season, it is on course for a tragic ending that leaves everyone shaking and scratching their heads. So as we enter the bye week, I think it's a good time to assess the state of the Redskins. This will be a series of posts over the next few weeks, but we start from the top.
Ownership & Management
The management of the team is the root of the team's dismal performance, and ultimate responsibility rests with the men at the top. Dan Snyder* makes three crucial mistakes in running this team.
First, he involves himself with personnel decisions on a regular basis. This is unproductive for two reasons: he is not good evaluator of football talent, and he is undermining the authority of those who work for him. Because he does not have a particular skill in football talent evaluation, he ends up simply finding the biggest star (the wisdom of crowds approach) out there and offering him bags of money to come play for the Redskins. It's like he's building his own fantasy football team. Which is a horrible way to create a winning football team, because it ignores the team building and strategic vision aspects of the game. Plus, as he does this constantly, he is undermining the authority of his coaches and talent scouts. If coaches have a strategic vision for the team in which they need players with A, B, and C qualities, and Mr. Snyder insists on acquiring someone with X, Y, and Z qualities because they are "playmakers", it kill the vision and demoralizes the coaching staff.
Second, Dan Snyder wants to win today, not tomorrow. Now, ordinarily this is not a bad thing, and most fans and players will tell you they want to win today also. But the problem lies in the fact that you cannot immediately assemble a team that will win today by putting together a bunch of talented players. Basic common sense argues for a longer term strategy. If it generally takes 2-3 years to develop a good quarterback and for him to develop a rhythym with his receivers, then perhaps changing quarterbacks every year is not the smartest move.
Third, Dan Snyder does not delegate. From the previous two points this should be clear, but deserves it's own focus because delegation is very important for a well run organization. Dan Snyder has great business instincts -- it's almost as if he can't make a mistake. But when it comes to football, 10 bad years should demonstrate to even him that he does not have the same luck with football. His job (along with Vinny Cerrato - see below) should be to hire the most talented and ambitious coaching and scouting staff possible, give them resources and get out of their way.
Vinny Cerrato is also part of this problem. In fact, I would argue that although Dan Snyder's actions are the main cause of the Redskins decline, this can be quickly fixed by simply removing him from all tactical and most strategic decisions -- just sit back and rake in the money, and let the football planning be done by those who've grown up doing this stuff. Vinny, on the other hand, there is no quick fix for. I'm sorry to say that I believe the Redskins would be better off if they found another GM and let Vinny go.
Vinny's main problem is that he is not a good manager. I don't know the man personally and I've never seen him in action, so the only evidence I have to back up this assessment is the performance of the Redskins organization. However, that is enough. A good manager makes a mediocre organization a good one, and a bad manager does the opposite. Vinny has had many years to show us what he can do, and I'm afraid it's not good. There are a basketful of examples I could use to illustrate this, but two will suffice. First, the complete failure to address the Offensive Line during the draft last year. Second, the disastrous way that the coaching position was filled two years ago. I don't feel the need to expound on these issues -- if you're familiar with the Redskins they will be self-evident, and if not then it would take far too much time and space to explain, and you've already indulged me by reading this far.
I have season tickets, and don't plan on giving them away at the end of this year. But I could be convinced otherwise. I hope that does not happen.
*The Washington Redskins are owned by Dan Snyder, who acquired the team through an auction about a decade ago after the previous owner (the much admired Jack Kent Cooke) passed away. It was universally believed in the DC area that Jack's son, John Cooke, would inherit the franchise which had earned the loyalty of millions of fans. Alas, it was not to be. Dan Snyder engaged in a hard fought auction, and was only 34 when he acquired the Redskins. Since then Mr. Snyder, although those close to him continue to insist his priority is winning football games, has failed to establish stability in the coaching staff, the quarterback, or the team strategy. He has, however, turned the Redskins into one of the most profitable franchises in football. Actions speak louder than words.
Labels: Entertainment/News
posted by slithytoves at 9:32 PM
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