For Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell, It's a Make-or-Break Year

Dan Snyder isn’t a patient owner. He wants big results, and he wants them right away.

Unfortunately, Snyder’s blueprint isn’t one many teams would want to follow.

Since Snyder took over the Washington Redskins in 1998, he has brought in a variety of big-name players. Most of these players were huge busts either because they were past their primes or didn’t fit the system.

The results with these teams tell the whole story—just three playoff appearances in 11 years and just two playoff wins. Throw in five coaches (not counting interim Terry Robiskie), and Snyder hasn’t really made the 'Skins a picture of stability.

Draft picks are few and far between, and so is production from overpaid stars. On and off the field, the 'Skins are a bumbling, stumbling mess.

Still, Snyder reels most Redskin fans in each offseason by inking top players to big deals. He gives fans the hype, and it keeps them wrapped around his finger. It’s a good business trick, but it’s not a really a tip that many would give to a franchise that is interested in winning.

The high turnover rate will most likely continue after this season in regards to head coach Jim Zorn. Zorn wasn’t Snyder’s first choice when the 'Skins were in need of a new coach last year, and last year’s results weren’t exactly enough to win Snyder over.

In fact, rumor had it that Snyder was ready to fire Zorn before the Redskins pulled out a dramatic Week 16 win over the Eagles. That win was apparently enough to put Zorn’s firing on hold, but Snyder seems to be flirting with the recently fired Mike Shanahan as a replacement for Zorn next year.

So Zorn is potentially a lame duck coach coming into the year. He really can’t afford to miss the playoffs, but with the roster Snyder has given him, there’s a good chance that won’t happen.

The 'Skins have an aging offensive line and a lack of depth at weak-side linebacker and defensive end. No receiver has stepped up to become a strong secondary option to Santana Moss and Chris Cooley, and Jason Campbell is still a work in progress at QB.

Campbell is in the final year of his contract, and Snyder has yet to approach him for an extension. Granted, Campbell has done little to merit one, but Snyder risked killing Campbell’s relationship with the team when he pursued Jay Cutler last week.

Campbell handled the matter graciously and is reportedly using the slight as motivation. Like Zorn, he will need to give a good performance, or else he will join the ever-growing ranks of America’s unemployed.

To succeed, Campbell must be more assertive with the football. Too often last year, he played not to lose rather than opening up the passing game.

Of course, part of that can blamed on receivers not getting open and poor blocking execution, but Campbell needs to take chances. The offense bogs down too often with predictable play calling and lack of effort. Campbell is the one who can change that with the help of Zorn.

Both are desperate. Their jobs are on the line. With this in the back of their minds, maybe we’ll finally see the Redskin offense play with some reckless abandon.

As a long-suffering fan, I certainly hope so.