DNJ: Redskins ask permission to speak with Titans' assistant

[bubba9497]

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/SPORTS/80211057



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Redskins ask permission to speak with Titans' assistant

NASHVILLE — The Washington Redskins today officially asked the Titans for permission to speak to assistant coach Sherman Smith about their offensive coordinator’s position, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Smith currently serves as assistant head coach/running backs for the Titans, where he’s worked under Coach Jeff Fisher since the 1995 season.

The Titans aren't expected to keep Smith from interviewing, if Smith is interested in the position. Neither Fisher nor Smith could be reached for comment Monday night.

The Redskins are looking for an offensive coordinator after Jim Zorn was hired as the team’s head coach over the weekend. Zorn was initially hired to be the Redskins’ offensive coordinator before owner Daniel Snyder decided to make him head coach in Washington.

Smith and Zorn have remained close friends since their playing days with the Seattle Seahawks, where Smith starred at running back in the late 1970s-early 80s, and Zorn was the team’s quarterback.

With the Titans, Smith has been responsible for developing young running backs like LenDale White, Chris Henry and Chris Brown in recent years. White finished with 1,110 rushing yards in his second NFL season last year.

Between 1996 and 2003, Smith helped Eddie George evolve into the all-time leading rusher in Titans/Oilers history. In ’03, George became only the 17th running back in NFL history to reach 10,000 career-rushing yards.

[RWJ]

Think the news about Smith's hiring will come on Wednesday or Thursday.

[skinfan2k]

Besides being friends, what does he know about the WC?

[SkinsMaster88]

Bio: http://www.titansonline.com/team/coaches/staff.php?PRKey=9

Sherman Smith
Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Sherman Smith is in his 13th year as the Titans' running backs coach and his second year with the Assistant Head Coach title.

This year, Smith will be counted on to direct a young group of talented runners to become dependable cogs for the offense. Second-year running back LenDale White and rookie Chris Henry will compete for carries this fall and each will be counted upon to carry part of the rushing load for the Titans this season. This will not be the first time the organization has called upon Smith to mold a talented rusher. Eddie George came to the Oilers as a Heisman Trophy winner, started his first game with the team and ended his tenure as the organization’s all-time leading rusher.

Last season Smith’s group of runners helped amass the sixth-highest rushing total in team history and fifth in the NFL for 2006, as the Titans gained 2,214 yards on the ground. The yards per carry for the season (4.72) established a new franchise mark, besting the previous high of 4.61 yards per carry set in 1992. Travis Henry accounted for the majority of the yards with 1,211 and LenDale White added another 244 yards in his rookie campaign.

Between 1996 and 2003, Smith helped Eddie George evolve into one of the all-time great running backs in NFL history and the all-time leading rusher in Titans/Oilers history. In 2003, George became only the 17th running back in NFL history to reach 10,000 career-rushing yards and only the second to reach the mark without missing a game (Jim Brown). His rushing total of 10,009 yards in his first eight NFL seasons ranked seventh on the NFL's all-time list behind Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Jim Brown and Curtis Martin. In his tenure with the team (1995-2006), the Titans rank ninth in the NFL in rushing over that time period and have produced nine 1,000 rushers.

A former standout during his collegiate career at Miami (Ohio) University, Smith coached the running backs at his alma mater for two seasons (1990-91) before moving to Illinois. With the Illini, Smith served as tight ends coach from 1992-93 and added running backs coach to his title in 1994.

After joining the Seahawks as a second-round draft choice in 1976, Smith went on to play nine years in the NFL. Smith led a fledgling Seahawk team in rushing in each of his first four seasons, finishing his Seattle tenure with 3,429 yards and 28 touchdowns on 810 attempts, as well as 210 receptions for 2,445 yards with 10 touchdowns. Smith left Seattle among the all-time rushers in Seahawks history before closing out his NFL playing career with the San Diego Chargers from 1983-84.

As a quarterback at Miami (Ohio), Smith led the Redhawks to the Mid-American Conference crown in his final three seasons while compiling a 33-1-1 record.

In 1985, Smith began teaching in the Northwest where he coached (basketball and track) and taught at Redmond Junior High and coached football at Redmond High School before returning to the college level as a coach in 1990.

A native of Youngstown, Ohio (11/1/54), he and his wife, Sharon, have two grown children: daughter, Shavonne, who is an elementary school teacher in Nashville, and a son, Sherman, who graduated with an engineering degree from Miami (Ohio) and currently works in Rockford, Ill.

Sherman Smith Coaching Ledger

2006-07: Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs, Tennessee Titans
1995-05: Running Backs, Tennessee Titans
1994: Tight Ends/Running Backs, University of Illinois
1992-93: Tight Ends, University of Illinois
1990-91: Running Backs, Miami (Ohio) University
1985-89: Assistant Coach, Redmond H.S., Redmond, WA

[voicekiller]

that was fast...

[cvagnier]

lets see what he can do

[Jumbo]

Interesting that if he were to be added we'd have a head coach and an OC who both played and coached at passing and running, respectively. :) That's kinda cool.

[praise_gibbs]

Interesting that if he were to be added we'd have a head coach and an OC who both played and coached at passing and running, respectively. :) That's kinda cool.


yup. I'd kinda have to say that they are "In The Know". :)

[Seabee1973]

Interesting that if he were to be added we'd have a head coach and an OC who both played and coached at passing and running, respectively. :) That's kinda cool.

Both played on the same team and if hired both will coach on teh same team what are the odds of that?

[voicekiller]

Both played on the same team and if hired both will coach on teh same team what are the odds of that?
ya, that would be pretty cool...what is the odds of that happening

[zoony]

Tennessee hasn't exactly been known as an offensive juggernaut over the past several years.

Seems like an exercise in croneyism. Which is what Darrell Green assured us that would not happen in the new Snyder era. (after a conversation with Snyder of course)

That said, I'll reserve judgement until I see the product. I hope it works out.

[voicekiller]

Tennessee hasn't exactly been known as an offensive juggernaut over the past several years.

Seems like an exercise in croneyism. Which is what Darrell Green assured us that would not happen in the new Snyder era. (after a conversation with Snyder of course)

That said, I'll reserve judgement until I see the product. I hope it works out.
true but he is a running backs coach who will create a offense with Zorn. it will proably a hybrid of a Holmgren system

[2006Skins]

I'm not too big of a fan of hiring friends or former teammates. Especially for a first time coach. Just my 2 cents, but from what I've seen, hiring friends and former teammates doesn't always work out the best.

I hope I'm wrong.

[bobisimo]

A guy who spent 11 years as a RB coach - without the Asst HC preface? And not one season as a coordinator? What's wrong with the guy?! This is worse than hiring Zorn!!!

(haha, kidding :p)

[elkabong82]

I know there is concern for croneyism, but Smith has some good qualifications. The Titans had the 5th best rushing game this season and in '06. He was the one who coached Eddie George. Zorn takes care of the pass game, Smith takes care of the run game. It certainly seems like this will be a good move for Portis. I hope it works out well, Jeff Fisher is a good coach and Smith has worked with him a long time.

[jtyler42]

Get er done...

[#1AZRedskinfan]

Bubba. Do you ever sleep?

[Smurf85]

It would be good for Zorn to get someone is knows and can trust and work with.

[SuperSmartQb#8]

Interesting that if he were to be added we'd have a head coach and an OC who both played and coached at passing and running, respectively. :) That's kinda cool.

We'll also have an offensive minded Head Coach and an Offensive Coordinator with ZERO combined experience running an NFL offense and calling plays.

[COWBOY-KILLA-]

This makes total sense. Jeff Fischer is a great coach and the guy has hung around for 10 years, good sign. He has also known Zorn for over 25 years as they were teammates and have remained friends through the years, that familiarity can only help. There buddies, can't you just see them sittin around drinkin a beer together "alright lets put an offense togther" matter fact I bet this is a long time coming for both of them.
Their wildest dreams just came true, How to run an NFL offense.

[Ernie5]

Besides being friends, what does he know about the WC?

Both Chow and Heimerdinger run variations on the WCO, so that shouldn't be an issue. I don't think this is simply an exercise in cronyism -- Smith is highly-regarded (apparently) and if he provides some comfort for the new HC, more power. Zorn needs to get people in w/whom he knows he can work.

[Ernie5]

We'll also have an offensive minded Head Coach and an Offensive Coordinator with ZERO combined experience running an NFL offense and calling plays.

Yr right: it's doomed to fail. Why even watch?

Andy Reid had never called a play in his life when he took over the Eagles. He hired a totally green John Gruden to coordinate and help him call plays. I'm not a Gruden fan at all, but that worked out pretty well for Philly.

[Ernie5]

By the way, I think I'm wrong on Gruden, but the rest of what I said stands.

[skinsince72]

I think we could be seeing the makings of a great offense. HC is a QB guy and OC could be a RB guy. No doubt they will have some fresh ideas. I'd love to see some Hybrid-type offense that no one has seen before.

[motorhead]

This makes total sense. Jeff Fischer is a great coach and the guy has hung around for 10 years, good sign. He has also known Zorn for over 25 years as they were teammates and have remained friends through the years, that familiarity can only help. There buddies, can't you just see them sittin around drinkin a beer together "alright lets put an offense togther" matter fact I bet this is a long time coming for both of them.
Their wildest dreams just came true, How to run an NFL offense.

I like the beer part. :applause:

[noshirtforyou]

This makes total sense. Jeff Fischer is a great coach and the guy has hung around for 10 years, good sign. He has also known Zorn for over 25 years as they were teammates and have remained friends through the years, that familiarity can only help. There buddies, can't you just see them sittin around drinkin a beer together "alright lets put an offense togther" matter fact I bet this is a long time coming for both of them.
Their wildest dreams just came true, How to run an NFL offense.

Finally someone that makes sense, people complain when you bring in guys who don't mesh well. So what do you guys do when they bring in 2 former team mates and good friends? complain more!

It appears Zorn will handle the passing scenarios, while smith will handle the running plays. I don't see what the problem is.

[JimmyConway]

Like the hire. If the guy is good enough for Fischer he is good enough for me. Sherm has also proven he can produce a solid running attack, which won't be hard with CP. I will be interesting to see the kind of offense Sherm and JZ put together.

[jimster]

By the way, I think I'm wrong on Gruden, but the rest of what I said stands.

Gruden was Ray Rhodes' OC when he was HC at Philly. When Reid got their he had Childress as his OC, but Reid called the plays.