At the conclusion of a 4-12 campaign in his first year at the helm of the Washington Redskins, head coach Jay Gruden vowed to make whatever changes would improve the team's performance heading into the 2015 season.
On Wednesday team officials announced another step in that process, with the hiring of Matt Cavanaugh to the new post of quarterbacks coach.
A former standout college quarterback at Pittsburgh who played 14 seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, Cavanaugh has 22 years of experience as a coach in the college and pro ranks. That includes four different stints as an NFL quarterbacks coach, with the Arizona Cardinals (1994-1995), 49ers (1996), New York Jets (2009-2012) and, most recently, Chicago Bears (2013-2014).
From 1997 to 2008, he served as offensive coordinator with the Bears (1997-1998), with the Ravens (1999-2004) and at his alma mater (2005-2008).
Among the NFL's 32 teams, only New England and Washington went without a quarterbacks coach in 2014.
Gruden said in early December that he'd consider adding a quarterbacks coach for the 2015 season but noted that he didn't think his quarterbacks had suffered for lack of one.
Instability at quarterback was a running theme of Washington's disappointing season. While injury was partly to blame, so too was the fact that none of Washington's three quarterbacks impressed sufficiently to lay claim to the starting job.
Robert Griffin III, sidelined in Week 2 by a dislocated left ankle, finished with a quarterback rating of 86.9, throwing four touchdowns and six interceptions in the nine games in which he appeared.
Kirk Cousins, who took over once Griffin went down, threw a team-high 10 touchdowns. But his productivity was undercut by nine interceptions, which left him with an 86.4 rating.
And Colt McCoy, who opened the season third on the depth chart but ascended to the starting job only to suffer a season-ending neck injury, finished with a team-high passer rating of 96.4. In McCoy's five appearances, which included leading Washington to an overtime upset at Dallas, he tallied four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Cavanaugh, 58, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, led Pittsburgh to the 1976 national championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the Sugar Bowl after the Panthers' 27-3 victory over Georgia.
He was selected by the New England Patriots in second round (50th overall) of the 1978 NFL draft. The bulk of his pro career was spent as a backup, and he finished with 19 starts in 112 regular-season games, completing 305 of 579 passes for 4,332 yards and 28 touchdowns.
--Liz Clarke, The Washington Post
Et cetera
AACS' Murray named McDonald's All American
Annapolis Area Christian School's Taylor Murray has been selected to play in the McDonald's All American game April 1 in Chicago. Murray, who has signed to play at Kentucky, was one of two players from Maryland named to play in the game. C.H. Flowers' De'Janae Boykin was also selected out of 18 nominees from the state. Murray, averaging nearly 30 points a game for the 16-3 Eagles, is one of 24 players selected out of 362 nominees across the country. She will play for the East team in a game that will be televised live on ESPNU from the United Center.
—Bob Hough, Baltimore Sun Media Group
Horse racing: Two $100,000 stakes that were snowed out Saturday at Laurel Park will be run today. The 10-race card will be highlighted by the Marshua and Frank Whiteley, Jr. stakes; both are for 3-year olds. Eloquent Tribute is the 8-5 morning line choice in the Marshua, which has eight fillies. The daughter of Tapit broke her maiden this month with an impressive 86 Beyer Speed figure after trainer Rudy Rodriguez added blinkers. Julian Pimentel will be aboard for the first time. Seven colts and two geldings will start in the Whiteley, which is headed by even-money favorite Majestic Affair. The Chad Brown trainee finished second in Laurel's James F. Lewis Stakes last year, then started 2015 with a victory in the Fred Caposela Stakes at Aqueduct. Kendrick Carmouche has the mount.
Baseball: The Arizona Diamondbacks have hired former Orioles outfielder Joe Carter as special assistant to general manager Dave Stewart. They played together for two seasons with Toronto, including the Blue Jays' 1993 World Series-winning team. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a minor league contract with former Orioles left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard. Bedard, 35, had a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts and two relief appearances last year with the Tampa Bay Rays. ... The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with reliever Casey Janssen on a one-year, $3.5 million deal that includes a mutual option for 2016, a source told The Washington Post. Janssen, 33, had a 2.94 ERA and saved 81 games for the Blue Jays over the past three seasons. ... The Orioles named Jim Misudek as manager of media relations. Misudek 31, spent the past five seasons with the Atlanta Braves as media relations coordinator.
Men's college lacrosse: Loyola Maryland was picked in the Patriot League preseason poll to finish first; Navy was picked for sixth. The All-Patriot preseason team included Greyhounds senior attackman Nikko Pontrello, sophomore midfielder Brian Sherlock, senior defenseman Pat Frazier and sophomore defensive midfield specialist Ryan Fournier and Midshipmen senior midfielder Gabe Voumard.
Women's college basketball: Former Maryland assistant Jeff Walz, 43, can earn his 200th victory as head coach at Louisville tonight, when the No. 8 Cardinals (18-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) host No. 23 Syracuse (14-5, 4-2).
Men's gymnastics: Donnell Whittenburg, a U.S. senior national team member from Baltimore, will compete at the Winter Cup Challenge on Feb. 19-21 in Las Vegas.
Major Arena Soccer League: Blast forward Tony Donatelli was named to the Team of the Week. Defender Onua Obasi received honorable mention.
Sailing: Annapolis Yacht Club will host a "What's Next?" seminar Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Commodore's Room to help prospective participants prepare for the June 5-6 Annapolis-to-Newport Race. Panelists will be Will Keyworth, Mike Jones, Jay Herman, Bruce Bingman, Garth Hichens and Ralph Naranjo. To reserve a seat, call 410-263-9279. For information, go to annapolisnewportrace.com.