Is Gruden On Hot Seat?

Winter is Coming. Or maybe it’s Is Winter Coming? Either way, Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden’s future will be debated after every loss this season.

- Rick Snider

Opening the season with a loss for the fourth straight time exposed Gruden to public scorn once more. Maybe his training camps were too easy? Perhaps he didn’t play starters enough in preseason games? Could be Gruden just isn’t the right coach to move the team forward off two mediocre, but winning seasons.

Public expectations weren’t that big entering the season despite the first consecutive winning seasons in a quarter century. Beaten down by overall losing since owner Dan Snyder arrived in 1999, Redskins fans are used to change.

Is Gruden’s time up? Joe Gibbs lasted four years in his second tenure. So did Mike Shanahan. The rest were one or two years and done. Only Gibbs left with a smile and a winning season.

Gruden enters his fourth year after 3-13, 9-7 and 8-71 seasons. He has done a good job rebuilding the franchise. But the question begs – is Gruden capable of taking a good team to great?

Snyder’s patience is notoriously thin and losing yet another opener certainly didn’t calm speculation. Indeed, suspicions are growing Gruden will depart after this season, especially if the team opts not to pay quarterback Kirk Cousins $34 million.

It’s only whispers in the wind for now. Every victory silences the maelstrom while every loss increases the tornadic volume.