Just a regular working Joe

Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs kept chugging along on his first full day at Redskin Park. Sighted only occasionally yesterday as he journeyed between the coaching and personnel sides of the building and as he ducked out for dinner just before 7 p.m., Gibbs had time for only a few quick questions from reporters.

A work-filled night after Thursday’s 5 p.m. introductory news conference — a team official said Gibbs didn’t leave until at least midnight — and a similarly busy first day fit right in with the workaholic image Gibbs left behind from his legendary first run as Redskins coach from 1981 to 1992.

Although Gibbs joked about dallying on prospective play calls — “sneaking a couple blitzes on the board,” he called it — the first order of business remained the assembling of his staff. Gibbs received permission to speak to at least two assistants from other clubs and apparently was in line to add at least three coaches to the five he announced Thursday.

Buffalo Bills special teams coach Danny Smith and defensive assistant Steve Jackson were granted permission to speak to Washington, according to a Bills spokesman, and a source said the two were at Redskin Park with newly hired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, their coach in Buffalo in recent years.

Meanwhile, permission was believed to have been granted by the Atlanta Falcons for Gibbs to speak to offensive line coach Rennie Simmons, who assisted Gibbs and Richie Petitbon from 1981 to 1993. NFL sources believed the Redskins would hire Simmons, perhaps as offensive line coach or assistant offensive line coach.

Gibbs said no hires were complete but he hoped to have some done by “the end of the day or so.” He reiterated how difficult it has been to navigate NFL rules restricting access to other teams’ assistants. In the 11 years Gibbs was out of the league, stringent guidelines were implemented to limit contact.

“You’ve got a lot of hoops you’ve got to jump through,” Gibbs said. “We’re fighting our guts out. But still we’re making some progress.”

Smith’s likely hire means the departure of Redskins special teams coach Mike Stock, who arrived with Marty Schottenheimer in 2001 and was retained the past two years by Steve Spurrier. Smith repaired a group of dreadful special teams when he arrived in Buffalo with Williams in 2001.

Jackson, who played for Williams with the Tennessee Titans and oversaw safeties and third-down situations in Buffalo, apparently is the first piece of Williams’ Redskins staff. Williams is interested in other Bills staffers but remains in a holding pattern while Buffalo searches for his replacement.

“The league rules on this I think are really hurting some guys,” Gibbs said. “What they basically say is, ’If you’ve got a contract, we’re not going to promise you you can work here, but you can’t go look anywhere.’ Which to me, doesn’t add up. But we’re abiding by the rules.”

Adding Simmons would increase to four the number of staffers from Gibbs’ first tenure. On Thursday, he announced the hirings of assistant head coach Joe Bugel, Jack Burns and Don Breaux. Although specific roles weren’t defined, Burns is expected to oversee quarterbacks and Breaux running backs.

Offensive coordinator remains a key unresolved issue. Gibbs didn’t respond to a question Thursday about whether he plans to hire a coordinator or simply oversee the unit himself.

If Gibbs hires an offensive coordinator, he is believed to be eyeing Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm, a former Hog and longtime Redskins assistant, and Ernie Zampese, a longtime NFL coordinator who coached with Gibbs in the San Diego Chargers organization in 1979 and 1980.

There is even some speculation that Gibbs wants to groom Grimm as his successor. Asked whether he is looking at Grimm, Gibbs replied, “I think Russ has a very good job. And my experience right now is, when somebody’s under contract and he’s a good coach, you’re going to have a tough time getting him out of there. It’s going to take a stick of dynamite.”

It remained unclear whether Gibbs would retain any of Spurrier’s assistants. A holdover like offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, defensive coordinator George Edwards or defensive backs coach George Catavolos could help Gibbs familiarize himself and his new staff with the Redskins players, but as of yesterday it appeared Gibbs hadn’t reached out to any of them.

Former longtime trainer Bubba Tyer, who was inducted into FedEx Field’s Ring of Fame last month, could return in an advisory role.

Gibbs plans to begin evaluating personnel next week. In limited comments, he acknowledged he would like a running back capable of pounding the ball. Said Gibbs: “We’ve got to be able to run the ball, that’s for sure.”