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Trying to Put The QB in Coach
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He's clearly got a learning curve to overcome, and the schedule-makers did not do Zorn any favors. His first three games on the road are against NFC East opponents. Washington opens with Ring Night at the Meadowlands against Eli Manning and the Super Bowl champions.
But he seems undaunted and convinced that in time he will adapt to the job. He's a little bit corny, which this franchise needs. When nearly 30,000 fans showed up to watch the Redskins scrimmage in Ashburn, Zorn told the players it would be "a happening."
"I have a great foundation here, I'm keeping it simple and I'm trying not to get ahead of myself," Zorn said. "That part is important. As for other quarterbacks who didn't become great coaches, well, I can't do anything about that. Except not worry about it."
For what it's worth, Huff told Zorn he reminds him of Tom Landry, his former defensive coordinator in New York, who was about decency in Dallas and life. "Just the way he treats people, " Huff said. "He actually told me he appreciated me coming out one day."
Zorn thanked him, mentioning he also played for Landry, before he threw for more than 21,000 yards and 111 touchdowns in Seattle. In 1975, before catching on in 1976 with the Seahawks, Zorn almost became the Cowboys' third-string quarterback, behind Roger Staubach and Clint Longley.
"Isn't that something?" Huff said.
It's good trivia, like the fact that Landry, a Pro Bowl defensive back as a player, also moonlighted at quarterback.
Probably portending his Hall of Fame coaching career, he completed 11 passes in 47 attempts for one touchdown and seven interceptions with the Giants in 1952. Tony Dungy was equally awful as an emergency quarterback in 1977, throwing two interceptions in eight attempts.
But they exuded class, dignity and won titles, something no bona fide NFL quarterback has done as a coach before or after Flores.
So Jim Zorn has a 1-in-25 shot. Not bad, no?
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