Take your pick: best of the decade

Def. Coordinator Greg Blache joining Zorn?

It was inevitable. A 4-10 team routinely under astronomical expectations comparable to only a handful of other franchises in all of American sports had virtually resisted finger-pointing up until this point.

1. The offense-oriented head coach has already been stripped of play-calling duties.
2. The long-time executive VP of football operations has already been canned.
3. The QBs future with the team, despite impressive performances, is looking bleaker each week.

Now, the $100 million star tackle is calling out the coaching staff; infighting is just around the corner. It's official, the Washington Redskins are beginning to unravel less than two weeks shy of season's end.

Redskins Park's newest source of controversy: Scheduled for 10 rounds... Fighting out of the red corner, weighing in around 220ish I'd guess, your de-fen-sive coordinator, Greggggg Blache... And his opponent, fighting out of the blue corner, weighing in at 350 pounds... Albertttttttt Haynessssssworth!

"I'm still playing as hard as I possibly can. But you can only do so much within the system that's put around you. And I'm not talking about the players. The players have been great. I couldn't ask for any better guys. I'm talking about the system. And [the coaches] can say whatever they want about that [the reason he was sent home Friday]. The main thing it's coming from is what I said after the game about leadership and about the team."

Taking sides might seem juvenile but does anyone doubt that's exactly what new-sheriff-in-town Bruce Allen will be forced to do come offseason? With some admitted hesitation, I think I'm in Haynesworth's corner. Here's why:

Haynesworth, 28, is still in his prime, yet his production in his first year as a Redskin is visibly down from his final years as a Titan. He blames Blache's scheme, claiming it restricts the potential impact of defensive lineman so that linebackers can make more plays. He went on criticizing his coordinator for refusing input and seemingly rejecting change according to the Washington Post.

Greg Blache generally puts a top 10 defense on the field every year but this isn't the first case of a star player knocking the scheme in Washington. Big names seemingly have had trouble "fitting in" ever since Snyder took over in 1999. There's been Dana Stubblefield, Jessie Armstead, Jeremiah Trotter, LaVar, Adam Archuleta, Jason Taylor, and now Haynesworth. Even Landry seems to be playing the wrong position at times this season.

"We got great corners and safeties here that can play if they were used right. They make a million checks before the ball is snapped. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of reacting. Guys are sitting there thinking instead of playing. When you're sitting there thinking about what you're going to do when you're trying to run, you don't go as fast. When it's natural and it comes to you, you do it. You know? It's instinct. You know what I mean? What they want us to do is think and be robots. This is just ridiculous."

The Patriots are currently experiencing the same headache. Belichick holds his scheme above the players and thus seen names like Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin, Asante Samuel, Eugene Wilson, Ellis Hobbs, and soon-to-be Adalius Thomas leave through free agency. As a result, New England's so-called dynasty has seemingly come to an end.

Bruce Allen's in, Shanahan seems to be right behind him, and NFL Network reports he could be bringing his old defensive coordinator, Bob Slowik, with him. Ironically, Blache replaced Slowik in Chicago nearly a decade ago. The only certainty is that Haynesworth and Blache won't be playing for the same side in 2010.

But don't forget defensive backs coach Jerry Gray. A four-time pro bowl corner himself, Gray coordinated a defense in Buffalo from 2001-2005 that finished 2nd in the league twice before joining Washington's staff under Gregg Williams. Earlier this year, he turned down an offer from the University of Memphis and was recently reported to have interviewed for the head coaching job when Zorn is eventually dismissed.

"They don't want to take input. They don't," Haynesworth said. "[Blache] . . . doesn't want to change. I mean, I'm watching film, it's like, 'Dude, this day and age, you get killed the way that we're running stuff.' And we've got way more talent [than the Titans]."

Gray, 47, young, intense, and in tune, might be the answer.

R.I.P. George Michael

Worthwhile reading/viewing

"Those guys were prepared," Moss said. "They knew everything. I remember guys calling my routes off of my alignments. It's very interesting."

Redskins Notes 12.23: Moss Says Giants Knew Routes

by Rich Tandler

“I’ll be honest. I used to be one of those guys who tries to beat around the bush a little bit,” Campbell said. “But I’ll be honest, I think some guys have [quit].”

"Inner part" of Campbell keeps him going

By Rich Tandler

The origin of 45-12.

Preparation: F

Execution: F

Effort: F

Attendance: Absent

Washington's report card would most likely mirror that of Ferris Bueller's so let's scratch grades this week.

Instead, focus on the clear differences between the Redskin and Giant franchises that materialized on the field Monday night at FedEx.

#1: Depth

Washington's favorite defense for their poor play this season has been the injury bug. On the offense, Randy Thomas, then Cooley, Samuels, Portis, Betts, and Rhino have all cashed out. Sellers has been nonexistent, Campbell consistently needs medical attention, and Mike Williams and Heyer are struggling to start back-to-back games. On the defensive side, Chris Horton and Jeremy Jarmon are out while Haynesworth, Griff, and DeAngelo Hall have all missed considerable time.

"So what," says New York. The Giants have been without starting DT Jay Alford, S Kenny Phillips, and linebackers Antonio Pierce and Gerris Wilkinson. Plaxico "Chedder Bob" Burress is currently serving time for weapons charges. The Giants secondary is sutured together on a weekly basis. Both RBs Jacobs and Bradshaw have been battling injuries and veteran OT Kareem McKenzie sat out on Monday.

The difference is the drop off in talent once second and third-stringers are called upon.

In part, the blame falls on ex-GM Vinny Cerrato. Excluding players such as Levi Jones, Fred Davis, Kedric Golston, and H.B. Blades, the drop off from starter to backup in Washington has been alarming. Case in point: D'Anthony Batiste, Stephon Heyer, and [Enter any Washington RB not on IR].

But some of the blame falls on the players because Vinny can't be held wholly accountable for Campbell's 38 sacks. The difference on Monday between NY and DC was visible. New York replacement RT Will Beatty held Redskin defensive ends without a sack, replacement LB Jonathan Goff impressed, and replacement defensive backs Aaron Rouse and Terrell Thomas accounted for 7 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 2 interceptions and a TD.

Washington new kids on the block Fred Davis and Devin Thomas have risen to the occasion, few else. Enter Bruce Allen.

#2: Leadership

There's no denying the Giants are Tom Coughlin's football team. He runs the show, he enforces the rules, and if you don't like it then you'll most likely be watching the game from the sidelines much like recently benched DE Osi Umenyiora. His authority trickles down to Eli Manning (forget his demeanor), Antonio Pierce, and Justin Tuck. They lead the Giants on the field, mentor rookies [case in point: Giants' young WRs], and get in players' faces if need be.

As for the Redskins, Zorn fails miserably at this particular head coaching responsibility; his authority was undermined weeks ago. Campbell can barely walk back to the huddle after being pummeled the last 15 weeks, and the rest of the offense maintains a backseat role. Offensively, the Redskins lack a true honcho.

Defensive veterans Andre Carter, Griff, and Fletcher seemingly lead by example rather than as hype men, but still fail to connect with younger players when the game begins to get out of hand. Hall, Haynesworth, Landry, and Smoot (surprisingly) were all caught in a 3rd quarter scuffle that saw punches thrown, a direct result of frustration and lack of composure.

#3: Stability.

Snyder's apparent kryptonite. The bottom 9 NFL teams this season are each led by coaches in their first or second year. 7 of those 9 teams have had multiple QBs start a game this season.

Coughlin has been with the Giants for the last 6 years. So has Eli. In comparison, during that time, the Redskins have brought in Gibbs, Al Saunders on offense, and Zorn who is undoubtedly coaching his last two games in Washington. They've been quarterbacked by Mark Brunell (ugh), Patrick Ramsey, Todd Collins, and Jason Campbell who also appears to be on his way out.

It's easy to see and, therefore, hard to understand why frequent house-cleaners Dallas and Washington have such a hard time realizing how to keep up with Philly and NY in the NFC East. Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have led the Eagles since 1999. During that same decade Dallas brought in Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, and Wade Phillips who, much like Zorn, might be on his way out. At QB, they've started Aikman, Quincy Carter, Chad Hutchinson, Testaverde, Bledsoe, and Romo.

Dan Snyder and fans alike both want improvement, yet they're unwilling to give a coach or QB time to establish himself in Washington. Everyone was so quick to denounce how significant the fact Campbell had as many coordinators as years played but his recent improvement in a scheme finally stable suggests he's a legit NFL quarterback.

Stability at head coach and QB allows a franchise to concentrate their offseason efforts on lineman then skill players. Look what Drew Brees and Sean Payton brought to New Orleans. Mike Smith and Matt Ryan seem to be doing the same in Atlanta much like Harbaugh and Flacco in Baltimore.

That being said... I vote dump Zorn, keep Campbell, and bring on Señor Shanahan. My rationalization? 4-10 and 45-12.

Giant reality check

On December 17th, almost a week ago, the Washington Redskins announced the sudden resignation of Vinny Cerrato. Even more unexpectedly, Snyder announced his overnight successor Bruce Allen, son of the late Redskins coach George Allen. Consequently, local media outlets and prominent analysts seemingly became amnesic to the 4-9 record, the slew of injuries, Zorn's future, and the grocery list of roster needs (and question marks) across the board. Case in point...

ESPN- The hiring of Bruce Allen signifies change in salary-cap management for Washington.

USA Today- Jon Gruden: Bruce Allen 'will be a huge asset to the Redskins.'

Washington Post- Bruce Allen returns to Washington, ready to build on experience.

Washington Post blog- Jaworski on Allen: "I think it's a good move."

Redskins fans readily followed suit. An undeniable, yet superficial, newfound aura of hope (excuse the cliché). However humiliating, Monday night's blowout at FedEx was a much needed wake up call for an oblivious fan base, myself included.

Speechless...

Check back later.