ASHBURN – Bill Callahan said he had options; Washington just happened to be the place he wanted.

There was familiarity with the staff: He’d worked with assistant coaches Matt Cavanaugh and Wes Phillips in the past. He coached Randy Jordan at Nebraska, and he knew Jay Gruden through working for his brother Jon in Oakland. Callahan also worked for Redskins president Bruce Allen in Oakland. So it made sense for Callahan.

That’s why he said he wasn’t worried about not being a coordinator in Washington, a role it was believed that he wanted upon leaving Dallas. Callahan had those duties stripped from him with the Cowboys.

“I just wanted to coach the line, and this is a great situation,” Callahan said. “I felt really comfortable and confident I could add and contribute to the organization.”

The Redskins could use his help. It’s not as if his predecessor, Chris Foerster, was bad. He wasn’t. But Callahan’s reputation is rather strong, and he provides Gruden with a wider variety of knowledge, having also served as a head coach. Callahan will have a big say in the run game, but, as I’ve stated several times in the offseason, Gruden will be the only one calling plays (despite how he framed it during the spring).

From what I’ve been told, Callahan won’t be changing the run game, but his input has led to some tweaks. He has coached both power and zone schemes so that obviously will continue here.

“When you have balance in your run game, whether gap schemes or zone schemes, using zones or wide zones or tight zones, it keeps the defense off balance,” Callahan said. “It plays to your players’ strengths. That’s what we’ll try to do here. I’ve been flexible going back. You look at the players first and what they do best and cast your system around their strengths and skill levels.”

It’s clear he still loves coaching. Callahan would do extra work with his players after every practice.

“I have a passion for this game,” he said. “I look forward to practice every day. I’m just an old-school ball coach. They’re a good group of kids; the work ethic is tremendous. I couldn’t ask for anything more from them.”

Chances are he’ll be asking for a lot starting later this month.