Me So Zorny: Up For Jim Zorn's Last Stand With Washington Redskins

The weather around Redskins Park is heating up, and the same can be said for the seat Jim Zorn is sitting in that once belonged to Joe Gibbs, Steve Spurrier, Marty Shottenheimer, and Norv Turner before him. 

It is no secret that Coach Zorn, after only one full season as Redskins' coach, is on the hot seat and needs a playoff run to keep the Redskins' brain trust from starting to look for the next big splash at head coach. 

And let's not kid ourselves, it is no secret Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato already have Mike Shanahan and other out of work coaches, i.e. Bill Cowher, on speed dial.

Unfortunately, this is the work environment Jim Zorn and his staff have to endure as they prepare for this critical 2009 season. But, as a Redskins fan, I believe in Zorn and what he is trying to establish in Washington. 

It has been years since the Redskins have had a young coach with a new, current, and proven, offense that has brought success to several teams across the NFL. 

Sure, Washington may not have all the right players it needs to execute Zorn's hybrid West Coast offense right now, but there are plenty of capable players and proven Pro Bowlers who should be able to adapt and succeed.

The critics have said that Jim Zorn is not ready to be a head coach in the NFL, but I disagree. The first half of the 2008 season for Washington brought a glimpse of what was possible with a Zorn led team when it was executing and healthy. 

I believe that the 2009 season has the potential to be a success and mirror the 2008 start, if the team continues to work to learn the offense and believe in Jim Zorn as their leader.

Ultimately, the success of the 2009 Washington Redskins will fall on the backs of the players. Specifically, team leaders Jason Campbell, Clinton Portis, and London Fletcher. 

If these players can lead by example and buy into Jim Zorn's philosophy and guidance, then players like Albert Haynesworth, Devin Thomas, and Brian Orakpo will spend more effort learning the system rather than questioning the coach. 

This will speed up the process for a once prestigious franchise to get back to making a Super Bowl run. But that run may come later down the line, and it may be headed by a new coach who we'll see standing behind the podium and the three Super Bowl trophies next summer.

It is the reality of the business, however, I am excited about the upcoming season and I think Jim Zorn is going to surprise with a run at the postseason.

High hopes? Maybe. I mean, I was up for Spurrier too and we all know how that ended up. Sigh.