Joe Gibbs affect on our success

[Mike Bass]

I have noticed that on a lot of our fan boards ( not this one ...thank GAWD) that some of our fans are stating how happy they are that we have Jim Zorn and no longer have to deal with Joe Gibbs conservative play calling. I would now,  like to  add my opinion on the subject. I am elated that we have Jim Zorn and I love the way that he has adjusted to his head coaching position. In fact I really think that he is doing a better head coaching job than my coaching idol, Joe Jackson Gibbs could've done in todays NFL. BUT lets put things in perspective when we say that he is no longer with us.

When I look at our team, I see Joe Gibbs all over it. I do not think that Snyder and Cerratto makes decisions like trading Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis if Gibbs is not here to urge this one on. The move to get Jason Campbell in the draft was a move made by a football genius who recognizes talent and I do not think that it is made by just any NFL football mind, JG knows that there is something special in this QB. Perfect timing and draft/player knowledge by Gibbs gets us Chris Cooley in the third round.  Carlos Rogers and Laron Landry was drafted and players like Fred Smoot, Shawn Springs, Andre Carter and Cornelious Griffin  were brought in because Joe  knows EXACTLY what it takes to build a team.

Without Joe we have the Heath Shuler's and the Taylor Jacobs' but with Joe we have the Clinton Portis' and the Jason Campbell's...that ought to say somethng about his worth and contributions in its self.

Some may say that the coaching moves that he made did not work out but I say that the move to bring Joe Bugel back with him was a perfect move and when he has a healthy O-line, we see the obvious positive results.  And without the move to get Greg Williams, I do not see us having London Fletcher on our roster nor Greg Blache as a then defensive coordinator to be able to promote. Al Saunders?...well nobody's perfect...LOL... I think that was a bad move. These are the moves that Superbowl Champion teams are made of.

I think that the main move that was made and is another JG signature move that we all forget about is the one that he made earlier this year AFTER he retired when he sat in on coaching interviews. It was Joe who pointed out to Dan and Vinny that, after coach Zorn's interview and after he was hired as the O-coordinator that he thought that this guy would make a great head coach.

Without Joe Gibbs we may have Jim Fassel as our head coach right about now who may not've made the great play calls and gutsy offensive moves that we have had from coach Zorn so far this season. So like I stated earlier, fans need to keep things in perspective when they are so giddy that we do not have Joe Gibbs anymore because trust me, Joe Jackson Gibbs is still with us.

I am taking absolutely nothing away from coach Zorn because I simply love him as our coach but we have to give Joe his just dues.

[redskin_ty]

Joe Gibbs was the core builder of this team.  He maybe out of touch with his conservative play calling but he still is a great evaluator of talent.  Who can forget his first pick when he came back!!!  Sean Taylor!!!  12 out of his 22 draft picks are still on the team, that is pretty dam good!!!  He name is still stamped on this team.

[Drumlinboy]

Gibbs put in place the fundation and first floor, Zorn is just completeing the finnishing touches

[HOGWILD21]

I love what Zorn has done with this team.I honestly see a younger Gibbs in Zorn.Coach Gibbs will always be the Top Dog in Redskin Nation. What he has done for our team is phenominial.Even though he isn't the coach this year I can safely say that he built this team. I totally agree with you MB about what he saw in the players he selected in the drafts.I remember questioning the JC pick.I had seen JC  play in the SEC title game and wondering why we selected him.Now look what JC has done for us this year.He is on top of his game and all thanks goes to Coach Gibbs.
  If I recall Coach Gibbs was always going after free agents in the 80's and 90's.Correct me if I am wrong but most of those teams were made up of FA's. I believe he would still be with us if we didn't have a headache called Salary Cap.I think he realized that the game he loved moved quickly for him.I am glad he was a big part on selecting Coach Zorn.He might have saw himself in Coach Zorn.

[LuvDaSkins]

I agree that Joe Gibbs still has somewhat a stamp on this team...He was always great at picking talented, great character players...Also the run game has stayed the same...Coach Zorn has just put a 2008 spin on it all

[NCSKINSFAN]

Coach Gibbs brought winning back to DC! We had forgot what it was like to win and go to the playoffs consistently.

Zorn is different kind of a coach than Coach Gibbs.

You can tell that Zorn  is smart and he knows the game, but he has not done anything yet. Hopefully before it is over we will put him up on a pinnacle with Coach Gibbs.