So who benefits under Zorn?

There is a ton of discussion out there on who will benefit the most in the Redskins new Offense under new head coach Jim Zorn. The answer is — well, we don’t know yet, because only Zorn has the ideas in his head. But, we can make assumptions.

First off — personally, I think the entire Redskins Offense benefits. One thing is for sure about the new west coast style being implemented, you can get the drift and hear it in Zorn interviews, the Offense is going to spread out, be more unpredictable, much less conservative, and some guys could have big years. Take it for what you want, this does not intend to be a harsh criticism of Joe Gibbs, but I think we can all admit, when it came to Offense for the Redskins under Gibbs, particularly in the years of Al Saunders, the Offense was marred by division and confusion, lack of creativity, and certainly strangled by Gibbs conservative nature. Ok, maybe it does.

The two significant changes thing I think you get immediately from Zorn is the fact he won’t be conservative, he will play a west coast Offense and not hold back, and second, I just don’t think you will see Zorn sit and stand pat with a lead, go conservative and play to not lose, instead of to win. It is the one criticism that can be fairly be levied at Joe Gibbs, because he, Al Saunders, and Gregg Williams admitted the fact they sat on leads instead of putting teams away. Jim Zorn will not be in that fold.

The three I think unquestionably benefit with Coach Jim Zorn:

Jason Campbell:  This is obvious.  Zorn had a pretty substantial reputation Around the NFL as an upcoming offensive mind, mostly because of his incredible work with quarterbacks.  Once a stellar NFL QB himself in Seattle, Zorn understands the offensive schemes, the position itself, and can instill the confidence and knowledge to lift a QB to success.  He has been given a ton of credit and praise for his development of Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck.  Yes, Campbell will be in yet another new offensive system.  Throw that out though.  No one cares.   Fact is, Campbell will have a coach that has incredible amounts of confidence in him and a coach that knows how to coach quarterbacks.   One of the best.  Campbell will also get to zip the ball around instead of being withheld on much of the play book, like Gibbs and Saunders did.  Campbell will be given the keys to lead the Offense.  Completely.  Remember many of those plays you saw Todd Collins run, but not Campbell?  Won’t happen under Zorn.   Jason Campbell should be the number one guy on this team with the biggest smile.

Chris Cooley:   With a west coast offnese and the intent of Zorn to move the ball around, spread the Offense out, Cooley will benefit with mis-match coverages and could be in for an even bigger year than 2007.  Heck, just having a healthy Offensive Line will free up Cooley int he pass zones more than last year where toward the end of the season, and certainly in second halves of most games, Cooley was forced to stay in and help protect. Cooley is excited at his prospects.

Tight end Chris Cooley made the Pro Bowl last year, but he’s also enthused about the possibilities of Zorn’s quick-hitting scheme.

“It’s an Offense that I think I’ll be more comfortable in,” Cooley said. “I walked out of the offensive staff meeting and the last words were, ‘We are going to get you the ball.’ [You] gotta be excited about that. I’ll have the chance more to make big plays with my legs. Our old Offense was completely a timing-based Offense. We were supposed to be exactly where we were supposed to be exactly when we were supposed to be there. This isn’t that. It’s ‘get open.’ “

Finally, Clinton PortisL  As close personally as Portis was to Coach Joe Gibbs, his results will more than likely be better under Coach Zorn.

After studying Clinton Portis on tape during the Offseason, Redskins coach Jim Zorn is preparing the seven-year vet for a bigger role in the Offense.

Portis, who finished sixth in the league in rushing with 1,262 yards, is spending his Offseason training at the team’s complex. “We think that he can be a 1,800-yard back this season,” assistant head coach/running backs Stump Mitchell said. “Running behind that Offensive Line, he should average four-and-a-half to five yards per carry.”

That’s exciting.  We all know Portis can be a super explosive back.  At times I felt he was held back in the Gibbs system.

Furthermore, the Redskins are contemplating expanding Portis’ role as a receiver after the vet hauled in a career-high 47 passes last season.

Critical.  As we saw several times last year, Portis can be absolutely deadly to Defense when thrown into the flat behind blockers.   Same with Ladell Betts.  Looking for these guys to have bigger years with receptions and yards is another notch for more mis-matches for Cooley.

So, nothing to worry about?  Not quite.

As we have seen under Steve Spurrier, then Joe Gibbs. sometimes this team struggles getting comfortable in a new system, and at times, takes them nearly half a season to get int he groove, by then, already in Playoff trouble.  But, one thing different in 2008, those years saw big roster turnover, creating not just issues with a new system, but chemistry as well.  This year, that doesn’t exist.  Don’t underestimate the power of team chemistry.

More at hailRedskins.com