Redskins Must Learn From Sherman Lewis' Wisdom

In his first 48 hours, Sherman Lewis felt the eyes on him. He joined the Washington Redskins on Tuesday as an offensive consultant. As "a fresh set of eyes," the Redskins described it.

Lewis is 67.

He had coached football for more than three decades before retiring four years ago.

He knows how a look-see can twist into a look out.

"I understand," Lewis said via telephone late Thursday night from Redskins Park. 'If I was a coach in their situation, I wouldn't want someone to come in here consulting four games into the season. It's kind of a slap in the face. And you weren't conferred with, but just informed? I would be upset, too. But I'm here. And I'm not looking for somebody's job."

He is there to help fix the Redskins' offense.

To boost communication between coaches and players that leads to better execution and results.

If I were a Redskins offensive coach, if I were a Redskins offensive player, I would pull up a chair, grab a pen and pad and listen to this Bill Walsh disciple and inhale every grain of wisdom.

Too, I would pay attention to how he reaches across boldly different personalities to strike a common chord.

"If I was a coach in their situation, I wouldn't want someone to come in here consulting four games into the season. It's kind of a slap in the face. ... But I'm here, and I'm not looking for somebody's job"
-- Sherman Lewis on joining the redskins as an offensive consultant This is what Sherman Lewis brings.

Let's see if the Redskins coaches and players cash in, beginning with their production at the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

This is a man born in 1942 in Louisville, Ky., who was denied the chance to play at the University of Kentucky or any other SEC school due to racism. He took his running back skills to Michigan State and later wound up coaching there from 1969 through 1982.

It was on to Walsh as a receivers coach and three Super Bowl rings. Then stints as an offensive coordinator in Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.

Sherman Lewis is a reservoir of NFL knowledge first, football knowledge second and -- most importantly -- a profound teacher.

Head coach Jim Zorn, offensive coordinator Sherman Smith, quarterback Jason Campbell and the rest of the Redskins would be wise to tap fully into this resource.

It isn't working their way.

In 20 games as the Redskins' head coach, Zorn's offense has yet to score 30 points in a game. This season, Washington's highest scoring game is 17 points in its opening night loss at the Giants and seven of those originated from a fake-field goal trick. Washington ranks 27th in scoring offense. It has one rushing touchdown. In four games, the Redskins have scored 56 points compared with the league-leading Saints' 144 points. Eight other NFL teams have scored at least 101 or more points. Eight more have scored at least 80.

In an offensive-driven league, the Redskins' offense will not do. It is a mess.

Enter Lewis.

"The young kid is talented," Lewis said of quarterback Jason Campbell. "I did not know him or hadn't seen him up close until now. A really good looking player. He's got a beautiful arm. The wind was blowing 40 miles per hour and his ball was tight in practice. It was cutting right through the wind. I love that about him. I think the best is ahead for him. The offense is moving the ball. It's just not getting into the end zone.

"I will meet with coaches, watch film, learn terminology, sit in on offensive meetings, watch the install, evaluate. The owner (Dan Snyder) and the GM (Vinny Cerrato) have asked me to be honest in my assessment and to contribute. I have no problem doing that. Coach Zorn has been pleasant and gracious in his response. Other guys have been, too."

Sherman Lewis was working with senior citizens in Novi, Mich., during his retirement. He drove a Meals on Wheels bus route. He was mentoring "teenage kids who were on the line," he said. He was tailgating at high school and college football games, something he always wanted to do when as an NFL coach he used to walk past them while they "were having so much fun and my stomach was in knots getting ready for the game."

He was calling Bingo numbers for senior citizens.

"I was as old as they were," he said, laughing. "But they didn't know it."

It won't take long for Lewis to discern what ails the Redskins' offense.

What they do with what he finds will help shape careers, from Zorn trickling downward.

"I am confident I will be able to help," Lewis said. "The team already has some resilient qualities. We're going to work hard together."