The Official Defense Has Major Issues/Fire Jim Haslett Thread

Just getting a head start on it. No Haslett wasn't responsible for that McNabb pick, but we already knew the game was over. I know the offense has problems, but I've seen enough of the offense to know it's not anything that can't be corrected. The rushing game started to come around today before we abandoned it, and the passing game is good enough and will only get better if McNabb keeps gelling with his receivers.

The real issue at hand in this thread is our defense. I was willing to give a pass for getting gashed by the Texans offense, but letting a rookie quarterback missing a Pro Bowl running back in the backfield look like he did today is unacceptable. I don't believe the players are at fault as much as the scheme is, and the scheme sucks.

The players aren't made for it. The majority of the players on our defense were damn good at being in a 4-3, and while some players have emerged in this scheme, namely Orakpo and Landry, I just don't believe that Haslett's defense will be successful in this league. We're not even 4 games into the season and the secret is out, and everybody knows it. Our offense isn't to the point yet where we can get into shootouts and win, and the more I see of this defense the more I think our offense is going to have to keep putting up more and more points on the board if it expects to win games.

All we heard all offseason was about how the majority of our defensive players would have an easy transition to the 3-4. Well our defense has looked historically bad so far, and honestly I do believe next season we would be better off going back to a 4-3. I understand making the transition to a 3-4 from a 4-3 isn't easy, but we shouldn't be this bad this early in the season. Jim Haslett's defense is trash, and I just don't believe that if he can't make adjustments this early in the season then he won't ever be successful here in Washington. Instead of throwing away the majority of the players this offseason we should just go back to the defense they are comfortable with.

Btw congratulations St. Louis. We just gave you your first September win in 4 seasons, and your second overall win in your last 29 games.


So we should look good now and bad later in the season?

I'm listening to 106 too, Longtimefan. Who should the fans be blaming? Please tell me who? Seriously.

The stats don't lie, we're the worse defense in the National Football Legue. The word is out on the street, you can run and look for certain blitz packages when you play the Washington Redskins. Sam Bradford, a rookie without his best running back, looked pretty darn good yesterday. We've effed around with our best defensive lineman for the entire offseason, plug him in nickel packages, Andre Carter is covering running backs, and Kemo, who can't be cut fast enough, is playing on roller skates the entire game. This falls squarely on Haslett's shoulders.

Yes, yes, yes, yes...this team is rebuilding and we don't have all the pieces right now. But what team has all the pieces? The Jets, horrible example I know, lost Kris Jenkins for the season and didn't skip a beat. My point is, teams adjust based on their current roster personnel and they move on. This is why there is so much outrage at Has and justifiably so.

I agree with every word you say. They're not going to fire Haslett after 3 games. What people are doing here is repeating over and over what anyone who knows anything about football has known all along. We don't have the proper personell at this point to run a 3-4 defense and there's no easy way out of the situation. I just think all the talk about firing the coach after 3 games is totally absurd because it's not going to happen. I'll say it again, it's going to take a while to right the ship, question is, will they get the necessary time?

I agree with every word you say. They're not going to fire Haslett after 3 games. What people are doing here is repeating over and over what anyone who knows anything about football has known all along. We don't have the proper personell at this point to run a 3-4 defense and there's no easy way out of the situation. I just think all the talk about firing the coach after 3 games is totally absurd because it's not going to happen. I'll say it again, it's going to take a while to right the ship, question is, will they get the necessary time?

I'm actually starting to think that firing him might not be a bad idea. Sure keep the 3-4 for now, but I have zero confidence in this guy Jim Haslett. While it's true we don't have the talent to run this defense, we do have talented players on defense; two Pro Bowlers and maybe two more in the making, Landry and D.Hall.

The opposing offensive coordinators seem to be two steps ahead of him and we're constantly reacting.

I'm actually starting to think that firing him might not be a bad idea. Sure keep the 3-4 for now, but I have zero confidence in this guy Jim Haslett. While it's true we don't have the talent to run this defense, we do have talented players on defense; two Pro Bowlers and maybe two more in the making, Landry and D.Hall.

The opposing offensive coordinators seem to be two steps ahead of him and we're constantly reacting.

Again I agree with you......We do have a few talented players on defense, they're just not being utilized properly, therefore their talents are virtually being wasted. I've always believed "good" coaches find a way to maximize players talents. Our D/C prefers scheme over personell and it's not working. Maybe Haslett is not a "good" coach but for now we're stuck with him.

Still seems to me that the secondary is more the issue and not the front seven. We were way too soft in coverage especially on 3rd downs.

The pattern of 3rd downs yesterday said a lot. It seemed Bradford knew where to find the slant open on a no. of occassions. I think Spag's knowledge of Haslett shouldn't be underestimated, but at the same time it doesn't seem that Haslett really mixes it up that much. At least not in a way to confuse the O.

I wonder if Shanny will have him scale back blitzes next week. Sure they got some sacks but overall our blitzing has gotten us burned & the secondary has communication/assignment issues IMO, not talent issues.

Still seems to me that the secondary is more the issue and not the front seven. We were way too soft in coverage especially on 3rd downs.

Hall blows. He has made our Safties look bad for two seasons.

Hall's best move:

Blows coverage/assignment, turns around and looks at Doughty/Landry/Moore and blames them for not covering the guy he just released way too early.

Jim Haslett doesn't need to be fired. This team is causing turnovers every game unlike last year. The aggressive blitzes have to be called at the right time and not the majority on 3rd downs. With the Eagles on deck, Laron Landry will have to keep Vick in the pocket and cause him to pass when he doesn't want to. Most people said that this team with so many new faces would struggle in the beginning so I'm not surprised. Just be patient and watch how we play against the Eagles. They will be ready.

Hall blows. He has made our Safties look bad for two seasons.

Hall's best move:

Blows coverage/assignment, turns around and looks at Doughty/Landry/Moore and blames them for not covering the guy he just released way too early.

D Hall's position on the team comprises a combination of both supporters & detractors. Before his tenure is through, he will continue to gradually reveal himself for what he really is. An empty wagon!!

I think the most frustrating thing right now is that the defense really did not need to be changed. Sure they could've tweaked it but over hauling to a 3-4 was stupid. You can cause turnovers and sacks from a 4-3. What seems to be most annoying is Haslett simply has no idea how to adjust. At least Blache knew how to do that.