Gibbs has returned to familiar territory

Today marks the Redskins coach's ninth playoff appearance during his 14-year career.

By JOANNE KORTH
Published January 7, 2006

ASHBURN, Va. - When Joe Gibbs returned to the Redskins last season after an 11-year retirement, one of the first changes he made was to take down photographs of former players lining the hallways at Redskins Park.

It was a new era.

But some things never change.

In just two seasons, Gibbs has molded another winner in Washington with new faces but the same formula he used to win three Super Bowls more than a decade ago. Now, as then, the Redskins are a reflection of Gibbs' commitment to character.

"We're all in this thing together, and everything starts at the top with Coach," veteran quarterback Mark Brunell said. "He tells us how important character is; not only as a football player, but as a person. He's a great example, a great role model for all of us.

"Character is critical. It goes beyond X's and O's and what we do for a living. It's who we are. This is probably the best group of guys I've ever been around."

Gibbs returned to the Redskins with instant clout, a Hall of Fame coach with jaw-dropping credentials.

In his 12 previous seasons, the Redskins recorded 10 winning seasons and made the playoffs eight times. They went to four Super Bowls and won three.

After he left, Washington made the playoffs once in 11 seasons.

"It's one thing to have a coach who really hasn't proven himself. You'll second-guess him," fullback Mike Sellers said. "This coach, everybody knows what he's done. I don't think anybody's brave enough to question the man. Everybody knows he knows what he's doing. It's his call anything that goes on.

"We just believe."

Gibbs went 16-5 in the playoffs during his first tenure. His 16 wins are tied for third all time with Chuck Noll, behind Tom Landry (20) and Don Shula (19).

Though Gibbs has said many times the past doesn't buy anything, his record of success makes players eager to help him continue the winning tradition.

"It gives us the confidence that he knows what he's doing and has done it before," offensive tackle Jon Jansen said. "But none of us were part of that, so we have to prove to him that we can carry on the same way as his teams in the past have."

Of course, not everything about Gibbs' return to coaching came easily. Last season, the Redskins went 6-10 as Gibbs adjusted to changes in strategy, got to know players and learned how to operate in a vastly different NFL. When Gibbs retired, there was no instant replay, the play clock was longer and plays were signaled from the sideline, not spoken through speakers in the quarterback's helmet.

It took a year to get reacquainted.

"After the first year, we were all disappointed," Gibbs, 65, said. "We had a bad year. But you always need to be a good student of what's going on. We put everything on the table. We gave everybody on the coaching staff different areas to research; the best running teams in the league, best passing teams, best pass-protection teams. So it was a real learning process for us."

What Gibbs did get a head start on before last season was assembling the right people, both on his coaching staff and in the locker room. He brought back several assistants from his first stint in Washington and hired former Buffalo coach Gregg Williams to run the defense.

He traded for Brunell and running back Clinton Portis. He drafted safety Sean Taylor in the first round. He established what he calls a core of leaders.

Good people are good people, whether it's 1985 or 2005.

"The teams I've dealt with, the one thing that doesn't change is human nature," Gibbs said. "If you treat people with respect and you're dedicated to what you do, they look at it and say, "He's doing his part.' I don't think it's me reaching them. I think we pick the right kind of guys, and they're self-motivated."

When the Redskins lost six of eight in the middle of this season to drop to 5-6, several veteran players met with Gibbs. They had worked too hard in the offseason, they agreed, to let it slip away.

Washington won its final five games to claim the NFC's final wild card. And though little about the NFL's 12-team playoff format makes it easy for a wild-card team to reach the Super Bowl, the Redskins believe they have what it takes to overcome.

They have Gibbs.

"Joe's told the team all along, and told us coaches, this is a new time, a new era," longtime assistant Don Breaux said.

"And believe me, he is as competitive as I've ever seen him. He really likes this team. And he wants it bad."

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:15:51]