JohnnyUtah
February-11th-2008, 09:23 AM
I was reading the article, "Preparing to Move Forward," in the Post today about Zorn: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021002764.html
In it, they discuss possible assistant coaches that Zorn may hire. While at this point everything is speculation, I know that there are some Seahawks' fans on this board somewhere or someone that may know something about these guys. I'm curious, does anyone know anything about either of them:
Sherman Smith
He is in the process of completing a list of candidates for the two positions he plans to fill on the offensive side of the ball. Numerous league sources expect Zorn to contact Tennessee (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tennessee?tid=informline) for permission to interview their assistant head coach, Sherman Smith, for the offensive coordinator position (Smith and Zorn are former teammates and close friends), among others. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Daniel+Snyder?tid=informline) and executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Vinny+Cerrato?tid=informline) have also told league sources and former head coaching candidates of their desire to streamline the coaching staff after it bloated with high-priced assistants under Gibbs. Zorn is expected to hire a younger, less-experienced candidate to assist him with the quarterbacks. Bill Lazor (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Bill+Lazor?tid=informline), the Redskins' former quarterbacks coach, signed last week to replace Zorn in that capacity in Seattle, league sources said.
"I see a guy in that [quarterback coach] role, but I'm going to be as much hands-on as I can," Zorn said. "I've got to really teach. That's my aim. That really was one of my selling points to Mr. Snyder. Just because I'm now the head coach, I still want to do that. Kind of one of the things I'm most excited about doing, staying involved that way."
Stump Mitchell
Zorn is also interested in hiring Seattle running backs coach Stump Mitchell, who has spent nine seasons with the Seahawks, to fill the same position in Washington, league sources said. Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Earnest+Byner?tid=informline) signed his one-year offer from the team last week after interviewing with the Buccaneers (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers?tid=informline), league sources said, but has been informed that his status remains still in the air.
Several league sources said the Redskins would like to broker a trade of sorts with the Seahawks, but the feasibility of that remains to be seen with Mitchell under contract there. Seattle's staff was coaching at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Hawaii?tid=informline) last week and the situation could be resolved after it returns home.
In any case, I hope that Zorn keeps Byner on staff, but as we all know, a new coach likes to surround himself with people that he feels comfortable with. We'll see what happens... :munchout: (http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=24#)
In it, they discuss possible assistant coaches that Zorn may hire. While at this point everything is speculation, I know that there are some Seahawks' fans on this board somewhere or someone that may know something about these guys. I'm curious, does anyone know anything about either of them:
Sherman Smith
He is in the process of completing a list of candidates for the two positions he plans to fill on the offensive side of the ball. Numerous league sources expect Zorn to contact Tennessee (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tennessee?tid=informline) for permission to interview their assistant head coach, Sherman Smith, for the offensive coordinator position (Smith and Zorn are former teammates and close friends), among others. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Daniel+Snyder?tid=informline) and executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Vinny+Cerrato?tid=informline) have also told league sources and former head coaching candidates of their desire to streamline the coaching staff after it bloated with high-priced assistants under Gibbs. Zorn is expected to hire a younger, less-experienced candidate to assist him with the quarterbacks. Bill Lazor (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Bill+Lazor?tid=informline), the Redskins' former quarterbacks coach, signed last week to replace Zorn in that capacity in Seattle, league sources said.
"I see a guy in that [quarterback coach] role, but I'm going to be as much hands-on as I can," Zorn said. "I've got to really teach. That's my aim. That really was one of my selling points to Mr. Snyder. Just because I'm now the head coach, I still want to do that. Kind of one of the things I'm most excited about doing, staying involved that way."
Stump Mitchell
Zorn is also interested in hiring Seattle running backs coach Stump Mitchell, who has spent nine seasons with the Seahawks, to fill the same position in Washington, league sources said. Redskins running backs coach Earnest Byner (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Earnest+Byner?tid=informline) signed his one-year offer from the team last week after interviewing with the Buccaneers (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Tampa+Bay+Buccaneers?tid=informline), league sources said, but has been informed that his status remains still in the air.
Several league sources said the Redskins would like to broker a trade of sorts with the Seahawks, but the feasibility of that remains to be seen with Mitchell under contract there. Seattle's staff was coaching at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/related/topic/Hawaii?tid=informline) last week and the situation could be resolved after it returns home.
In any case, I hope that Zorn keeps Byner on staff, but as we all know, a new coach likes to surround himself with people that he feels comfortable with. We'll see what happens... :munchout: (http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=24#)