Local Football Coaches on the Hot Seat
It has been a frustrating season for Terps and Redskins fans. Both the Fridge and Jim Zorn are entering must win weeks. However, I believe the damage has been done. The Terrapins (1-3) find themselves with their backs against a very big wall, while the Redskins (1-2) have a little bit of breathing room.
Maryland Terrapins
The Terps have started much slower than expected. The loss to Cal can be forgiven considering that they are a top 25 team. I am sure more people expected the game to be closer, the fans need to be more realistic about the chances of beating the Golden Bears. This game is not the issue. The next 3 games however, slam a steak into the heart of Terps fans. Chris Turner and the rest of the offense has a hard time getting going against James Madison. Nothing against JMU, but this game should not have gone into OT. JMU has played at a high level for the last few year and won a National Title, but to think that they could beat the Terps never crossed my mind. The Maryland Defense has always had a hard time stopping an option offense or a running quarterback. This was the case against JMU who cycled quarterbacks the whole game. Following a scary win against JMU the Terps hosted Middle Tennessee State. This is a team that the Terps lost to on the road last year and shocked everyone. I figured that on our home field and remember that loss last year would be enough to push Turner and crew past MTSU. We all thought wrong. Another loss in the final minutes of the game. It was with a 1-2 record that Maryland hosted the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Rutgers has been a great program the last few years, but seem to find themselves in a rebuilding year. This game should have been a lot closer and with a Maryland win. However, a pick-6 on the games first offensive play had the Terps playing from behind almost the whole game. Rutgers wanted that game more. They seemed more spirited and excited about playing in front of a depleted Maryland crowd.
That moves us to this upcoming weekend. Clemson will be visiting College Park this Saturday for a Noon kick off. This may be one of three games Maryland has a chance of winning over the remaining schedule. Clemson always plays the Terps tough. For some reason they enjoy playing Maryland and get up for that game. Alex Wujciak and Andrew Moten will need to get the defense back on track. Clemson holds an edge on the Terps in the all time series 30-25-2. However, the last time Clemson came to town, they routed UMD 30-17. The remaining schedule includes: Wake Forest, Virginia, Duke, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College. I have the Terps as 3 - 9 when it is all said and done. I hope that I am wrong. If I am correct, The Fridge needs to go.
Washington Redskins
Being a die hard Eagles fan, I am some what enjoying the recent down fall of the Skins. However, I do like the NFC East being known as the best division in football and the Skins are hurting that legacy. Jim Zorn was originally hired as the offensive coordinator then immediately promoted to head coach. This move seemed to work out great at the beginning of the season last year when the Skins went 6-2. However, since then, the Skin have been 3-8 since then. The most significant loss came last week again the 0-19 Detroit Lions. Now, lucky for Zorn, they face the Bucs, Panther and Chiefs before they start the division schedule. For Zorn to keep his job, he will need to win all three of these games. That will bring them to 4-2 going into a tough stretch of games. October 26th will mark the stretch of tough games for the Skins. The Eagles will be in town followed by Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles again, and the Saints. There is a good chance that the Skins are 4-7 after this stretch. The remaining schedule is Oakland, Giants, Dallas, and San Diego. The season outlook at this point is 5-10.
The biggest reason for this seems to come in age. Clinton Portis, Antwaan Randle El, Santana Moss, and others arent necessarily in the prime of their careers. Jason Campbell has not flourished the way people expected under Jim Zorn. Add that to the bust of Albert Haynesworth, who came to the Skins out of shape. He has not lived up to the hype, which I knew he wouldn't. Haynesworth suffers from Andruw Jones disease. Get the money and stop caring.
The outcome of each of these seasons could and should see coaching changes at both teams. Let's hope that both can turn it around and prove me wrong.
Maryland Terrapins
The Terps have started much slower than expected. The loss to Cal can be forgiven considering that they are a top 25 team. I am sure more people expected the game to be closer, the fans need to be more realistic about the chances of beating the Golden Bears. This game is not the issue. The next 3 games however, slam a steak into the heart of Terps fans. Chris Turner and the rest of the offense has a hard time getting going against James Madison. Nothing against JMU, but this game should not have gone into OT. JMU has played at a high level for the last few year and won a National Title, but to think that they could beat the Terps never crossed my mind. The Maryland Defense has always had a hard time stopping an option offense or a running quarterback. This was the case against JMU who cycled quarterbacks the whole game. Following a scary win against JMU the Terps hosted Middle Tennessee State. This is a team that the Terps lost to on the road last year and shocked everyone. I figured that on our home field and remember that loss last year would be enough to push Turner and crew past MTSU. We all thought wrong. Another loss in the final minutes of the game. It was with a 1-2 record that Maryland hosted the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Rutgers has been a great program the last few years, but seem to find themselves in a rebuilding year. This game should have been a lot closer and with a Maryland win. However, a pick-6 on the games first offensive play had the Terps playing from behind almost the whole game. Rutgers wanted that game more. They seemed more spirited and excited about playing in front of a depleted Maryland crowd.
That moves us to this upcoming weekend. Clemson will be visiting College Park this Saturday for a Noon kick off. This may be one of three games Maryland has a chance of winning over the remaining schedule. Clemson always plays the Terps tough. For some reason they enjoy playing Maryland and get up for that game. Alex Wujciak and Andrew Moten will need to get the defense back on track. Clemson holds an edge on the Terps in the all time series 30-25-2. However, the last time Clemson came to town, they routed UMD 30-17. The remaining schedule includes: Wake Forest, Virginia, Duke, NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State and Boston College. I have the Terps as 3 - 9 when it is all said and done. I hope that I am wrong. If I am correct, The Fridge needs to go.
Washington Redskins
Being a die hard Eagles fan, I am some what enjoying the recent down fall of the Skins. However, I do like the NFC East being known as the best division in football and the Skins are hurting that legacy. Jim Zorn was originally hired as the offensive coordinator then immediately promoted to head coach. This move seemed to work out great at the beginning of the season last year when the Skins went 6-2. However, since then, the Skin have been 3-8 since then. The most significant loss came last week again the 0-19 Detroit Lions. Now, lucky for Zorn, they face the Bucs, Panther and Chiefs before they start the division schedule. For Zorn to keep his job, he will need to win all three of these games. That will bring them to 4-2 going into a tough stretch of games. October 26th will mark the stretch of tough games for the Skins. The Eagles will be in town followed by Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys, Eagles again, and the Saints. There is a good chance that the Skins are 4-7 after this stretch. The remaining schedule is Oakland, Giants, Dallas, and San Diego. The season outlook at this point is 5-10.
The biggest reason for this seems to come in age. Clinton Portis, Antwaan Randle El, Santana Moss, and others arent necessarily in the prime of their careers. Jason Campbell has not flourished the way people expected under Jim Zorn. Add that to the bust of Albert Haynesworth, who came to the Skins out of shape. He has not lived up to the hype, which I knew he wouldn't. Haynesworth suffers from Andruw Jones disease. Get the money and stop caring.
The outcome of each of these seasons could and should see coaching changes at both teams. Let's hope that both can turn it around and prove me wrong.
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