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Redskins: Riggo’s Rag Mailbag: QB depth chart, preseason, and more

By Ian Cummings

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Hogan #8 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to run the ball in the third quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Kevin Hogan #8 of the Cleveland Browns attempts to run the ball in the third quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 9: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 9: A Washington Redskins helmet sits on the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 9, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /

Position coach problems?

Manuel Mitchell brought up an interesting reality in his question: Why aren’t any of the Redskins’ greats, such as Darrell Green and Art Monk, awarded jobs as position coaches? After all, they’re some of the best to play their positions in league history.

In a vacuum, it would be a huge plus to have the first-hand insight of Green and Monk on the coaching staff. Many position coaches boast careers in the NFL as players, but few can say they transcended the competition, earning gold jackets in the process.

That said, there’s a whole lot more that goes into coaching than experience as a player. As a player, you job is to hone your craft on the field, personally using your talents to compete. But a coach’s job isn’t as simple. Coaches must teach players. While players can work with clashing personalities on the field, to an extent, if a coach can’t get through to a thicker personality, he’s failed his job.

Coaches don’t necessarily have more on their plate than players; Both have countless things to juggle with every task. But coaches can’t just know the game. They have to convey and communicate what they know in a way that relates to their players. Otherwise, they won’t get the best out of what they have.

That’s not to say that Darrell Green and Art Monk would be bad coaches. But perhaps it just isn’t for them. Green is currently the Associate Athletic Director of George Mason University. Art Monk, upon retiring, co-founded Alliance Merchant Services, taking on a business career path. Every player’s off-the-field passion is different. Some (many) are better coaches than players. Others are better players than coaches. For Green and Monk, the latter might be true. They seem okay with it.

It’s also worth mentioning that the Redskins seem to be in good hands already. Torrian Gray hasn’t wasted any time since becoming the Redskins’ defensive backs’ coach. He’s overseen developmental successes like Quinton Dunbar, Montae Nicholson, and, most notably, Kendall Fuller, who became one of the NFL’s best slot cornerbacks under Gray’s watch. Ike Hilliard has a less compelling track record as the team’s wide receivers coach, but he’s helped Jamison Crowder build a reputation as one of the league’s more consistent slot receivers. In 2018, the hope is that Josh Doctson can make a sizable leap under Hilliard’s watch.

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