When the Old Man Is 33

Since 2000?

The Washington Post ran a gameday piece on Redskins linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti. Amazingly Kirk has been with the team since 2000, Norval Turner's last season. He hung on through Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier and apparently he wowed Gregg Williams and Joe Gibbs enough to retain him.

How can this be, that there is still a holdover from Dan Snyder's first year as owner?

After Dale Lindsey was fired last January, Kirk was promoted and the players just rave about him. Whereas I am not necessarily a fan of the super old school Bear Bryant ways of guys like Dale, it was Dale that was in charge of the linebackers in 2004 when the Redskins were a top five defense and in 2005 when they were a top ten. I am also leery of coaches that are player favorites, there needs to be some distance between the coaches and players.

But the Redskins linebackers are playing well so far this season, Dale may have had a hand in holding back Rocky McIntosh last season and certainly after the fiasco with Shawn Springs and Dale making fun of LaVar Arrington before the Giants game you need to evaluate for character.

Kirk is the longtime son of Tom Olivadotti, the Dolphins' defensive coordinator from 1987 to 1995, a man so hated by Dolphins fans for running weak defenses during Dan Marino's prime that he was the inaugural inductee into the Dolphins Ring of Dishonor. Let's hope the nut falls far from the tree.



Kirk Olivadotti: Getty Images photo from here.