Friday, January 15, 2010

Redskins decide to part ways with Sherman Smith

According to Redskins Insider's Jason Reid, Mike Shanahan and the Redskins have decided not to retain Sherman Smith, the team's offensive coordinator the last two seasons. Shanahan's son, Kyle, will be the offensive coordinator, and the new running backs coach (under the position "assistant head coach-running backs" according to Reid) will be Bobby Turner, the Denver Broncos' former running backs coach.

Some speculated that Smith would be given a chance to stay, but his fate was ultimately sealed when the Redskins hired Turner.

Jason Campbell, who still isn't completely sure what his role will be next season, or if he'll even be playing in Washington, had some nice things to say about Smith:

"I'm definitely sorry to see him go. . . . Coach Sherman Smith is a great guy. He's a guy full of character. When he spoke, he spoke with a lot of knowledge.

"You just listened when he spoke because the words he used were so meaningful. He knew how to get your attention. He's a real motivator. I just wish him all the best. Wherever he winds up, the team he goes to will be lucky to have him on the staff."

As far as the rest of Shanahan's coaching staff goes, Barry Svlruga did his best in an earlier Redskins Insider post to sort out the situation so far.

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache and offensive line coach Joe Bugel are both retiring. Jim Haslett has been hired to be the team's defensive coordinator, and former Steelers defensive assistant Lou Spanos has agreed to become the Redskins' new linebackers coach under Haslett. Other than that, it's all speculation. Svlruga thinks defensive backs coach Jerry Gray is on his way out, and here are some of the other possibilities he lists for coaching positions:

Defense backs: Bob Slowik
Special teams: Danny Smith (retained)
Defensive line: Mike Waufle or Tim Krumrie
Receivers coach: Richard Mann

Again, those are just Svlruga's educated guesses. Svlruga mentions that there are still question marks at offensive line coach, quarterbacks coach, safeties coach, and tight ends coach. He also asks an interesting question: "Will linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti, the longest-tenured member of the Redskins staff, remain with the team?" With Spanos on board, that doesn't seem likely.

Anyway, this is just a quick summary of the coaching staff situation. Both articles contain a lot of information and should be read by anyone looking for more information on the process taking place. Still, at least one thing's for sure: The Redskins coaching staff is going to look a whole lot different next season.

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