5 things the Redskins must avoid doing in the offseason of 2019
By Ian Cummings
Don’t… hire a re-tread head coach
Times are changing in the NFL. Once-innovative head coaches can be outdated in the blink of an eye.
There’s no time to slow down, and there’s no time to settle. The Redskins could very well be in the market for a new head coach this offseason, and they can’t fool themselves into thinking a candidate with pre-existing head coaching experience is any better than a newcomer.
In fact, it could be worse.
The NFL is trending toward an offensive preference, and the teams with the most innovative, forward-thinking play callers and schemers will find themselves rising to the top. These changes can happen quickly. Look at the Colts with Frank Reich. Look at the Rams with the all-too-familiar Sean McVay.
If the Redskins ultimately part ways with Jay Gruden, a fate which appears more and more necessary each day, the Redskins need to recognize the coming trend and go against the grain, sifting through the NFL ranks for innovative up-and-comers, rather than settling for the recognizable name. If Washington can find a coach who can jumpstart their offense with a new-mold scheme and a penchant for motivation, then they’ll be ahead of the curve, while other franchises cling to the past.
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Who might the fitting candidates be? Names such as Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell come to mind, but the options run far and deep. Perhaps Kevin O’Connell has some new tricks waiting, if he ever gets an increased role in the Redskins’ offense. The possibilities are wide-ranging. But they have to stop at re-tread coaches. The Redskins can’t afford another half-decade of stagnation.