Zorn out to do it his way as Redskins coach

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PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jim Zorn has been coach of the Washington Redskins for two months, so the 54-year-old has had plenty of time to consider the challenges of succeeding Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs and competing in the rigorous NFC East.

"I won't pretend to try [to be Joe Gibbs]," he said yesterday at the NFC coaches' breakfast here before the conclusion of the NFL's spring meetings. "I'll try to do my thing. I can't worry about comparisons. We're starting out with a clean slate. Players realize that things change. Joe did it his way. That's out. I'm saying let's do it this way now. I'm not discounting what Joe did. I can sense that throughout the building. But we do have to move forward."

The first serious test of that move forward will come in the NFL's season opener Sept. 4 against the Super Bowl champion New York Giants in their stadium on national television.

"I didn't think someone was out to get me, but I did think, 'Oh my gosh,' " Zorn said. "But in the next breath, you set yourself and go ... what more could a rookie head coach ask for? The challenge is there. The challenge is set. I hope to meet the challenge, not only as a head coach. I hope our team is well prepared to really go out and play hard."

Although the Redskins began their offseason workouts March 17, they won't be on the field collectively until their only minicamp May 2-4, so Zorn doesn't have a great feel for his personnel yet.

"I won't know that until we're practicing," Zorn said. "I have to rely on the video and the [coaches] that were there. Initially, it's going to be a run-first philosophy because of who we have at running back and how developed the running game is going to be versus the passing game, but I want to create balance as long as I'm here."

Zorn chose to have just one minicamp because the Redskins have an extra preseason game and because "we didn't have wholesale change. Defense, special teams, running game are all the same."

That leaves the revamped passing game in which Zorn has worked extensively with quarterback Jason Campbell.

"Jason's in for a lot of different thoughts of how to get rid of the ball in rhythm, how to understand how fast the game is played," Zorn said. "Jason's going to have to develop over several years. The thing we've got to do is make sure that we don't give him so much that he can't function. ... I don't want him to have to think all through training camp, 'Woe is me. I have to learn a whole 'nother system. I have to be with a bunch of new guys.' "

Zorn said the 6-foot-5, 233-pound Campbell has "excellent" feet.

"A lot of quarterbacking is change of direction," said Zorn, an NFL quarterback for 10 years. "You might have to throw on the move inside the pocket. It's not standing there stoically waiting for somebody to come open. It's getting back, getting forward, and once you step forward, the ball should be gone. Those things are going to help him to be on board when the onslaught of the offense comes in."

The Redskins, famous for their flurry of free agent signings during owner Dan Snyder's regime, haven't added a player this year, but the lack of acquisitions hasn't stunned Zorn.

"It's not a shock," Zorn said. "It's kind of the way it's worked out. There were several guys that we looked hard at. Sometimes you just get immediately out of being able to sign a guy because that's not what you want to spend on that player and somebody else does."

Zorn said the Redskins would like to add a pass rusher in the draft and perhaps a safety to compete with Reed Doughty to fill the void caused by Sean Taylor's shooting death in November.

"There might be four or five guys at different positions sitting on that board [when the Redskins pick 21st]," Zorn said. "The idea is to meld that with your needs and figure out which one of these guys is going to be a longtime starter in this league. Sean Taylor was special, a dominant player, an up-and-comer to be an enforcer. With that gone, somebody has to step up."

Although Zorn didn't know Taylor, the Pro Bowl safety's locker will remain enclosed in plexiglas as a tribute. Zorn also will have a prominent collage of photos of Taylor in his office for players and coaches to "remember and learn from as well."

Zorn, a protege of Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, said he has a lot to learn because he served as an offensive coordinator for only two weeks before he became coach Feb. 9.

"There's other [position coaches] out there as well who could be qualified," Zorn said. "It's not an exact science. There isn't one formula. I'm just glad I didn't have to be on the fast track."