Snyder starts over again

Four years ago, Joe Gibbs flew to Buffalo and persuaded Gregg Williams to sign a multiyear, multimillion dollar contract to assume full control of the Washington Redskins’ defense.

The long-term goal: Williams would succeed Gibbs.

Two years later, Gibbs jetted to Kansas City and persuaded Al Saunders to sign a multiyear, multimillion dollar contact and assume full control of the Redskins’ offense.

The long-term goal: Saunders would develop quarterback Jason Campbell into a reliable performer.

But in a week when Vinny Cerrato was made the front office’s point man (drawing snickers from the rest of the league), Jim Fassel was pursued and temporarily turned aside (ditto), the Redskins axed Williams and Saunders yesterday, replacing them with Seattle quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and Redskins defensive line coach Greg Blache.

The Danny & Vinny Show has destroyed 66 percent of Gibbs’ master plan, which had the Williams-Saunders-Campbell trio leading the Redskins into the future — in a mere 18 days. The moves also have diminished Gibbs’ impact on the franchise.

When he returned to the NFL in January 2004, Gibbs wanted to win, but just as importantly, he aimed to stabilize a franchise that had defined “turbulent” since Snyder seized control of the team in 1999.

And during Coach Joe’s four seasons, the coaching staff remained largely intact (only one coach was fired) and in Week 1, 14 of their 22 starters were in at least their third season with the Redskins.

The win-loss record was below average (31-36, including playoffs), but at least the Redskins twice reached the playoffs, had young players in place at several key positions and had embraced a youth movement on defense.

Now, the Redskins will be partly starting over.

A third offensive system in four years could slow Campbell’s development. Some new wrinkles to the defense, even though Blache was on the Redskins staff, will require a transition, a theory that gets chucked if the Redskins opt for Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

(Interlude: Yesterday’s news puts Fassel back in play. He was involved in the Zorn wooing earlier in the week, and like Gibbs, he’s offense-first so he would give the keys to Blache. Why would Spagnuolo be interested in the job since both of the coordinators are already on board?)

The past two-plus weeks not only ruined much of Coach Joe’s labor, it should torque him off. Why should he, now in the vague role of “special advisor” care what the Redskins do now, after his opinions were ignored?

The franchise is now back in the same state of disarray Gibbs encountered four years ago, only with somewhat better talent on the roster.

On Jan. 8, Snyder used the word “continuity.” Two assumptions were made: Williams would get the head coaching position, Saunders would continue as the offensive play-caller.

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