Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Washington Post's Jason La Canfora has some additional details on Jim Zorn's efforts to round out his coaching staff.
The Redskins' so-far failed attempts to install Stump Mitchell as running-backs coach highlight an uncomfortable aspect of two unusual coaching situations. In Seattle, the Seahawks are lining up Jim Mora's future staff while Mike Holmgren remains the head coach. In Washington, the Redskins were lining up their staff without knowing Zorn would become the head coach. Ernest Byner remains the Redskins' running backs coach, but his situation is tenuous given reports that Zorn wants Mitchell in that role.
Zorn took the Redskins' initial offer to become offensive coordinator in part because he knew Mora would have his own candidates for that job in Seattle. The name I keep hearing there is Greg Knapp, currently with the Raiders and previously a Mora assistant in Atlanta. Mitchell must also know his days in Seattle could be numbered. If Knapp becomes Mora's offensive coordinator in 2009, Tom Rathman becomes a logical candidate to coach running backs (he is working with Knapp in Oakland presently).
But we're a year ahead of ourselves thanks to Seattle's decision to name Mora coach in waiting. There isn't much the Seahawks can do about these positions now. They'll have to wait until next offseason to fill out Mora's staff. That leaves Holmgren's existing staff somewhat in limbo.
