Jim Haslett

Well, why did we sign guys who were chronic bad tacklers before they got here like Brandon Merriweather and EJ Biggers? Or draft players who didnt tackle well in college like Rambo?

That's on Bruce and the coaching staff

Rambo has got's to go.

My main beef with Haslett is his lack of halftime adjustments. Jimmy is no Richie Petitbone.

This thread, and most of the opinions in it, don't make much sense to me.

First, let's acknowledge the obvious, we gave up a shit-ton of points last year, giving up 478 points good for 30th in the league. But remember special teams contributed to that fiasco, giving up multiple returns for TD in addition to bad field position thanks to having the lowest number of kickoffs go for touchbacks. So I think you have to judge the defense last year on yards.

The team of course was horrible last year to start when Chip Kelly's Eagles came out and destroyed us to start the season, then Green Bay and Detroit went ape on us too. And then in weeks 7 we gave up a ton to Denver (who didn't?). But Haslett definitely got things fixed. In our first 8 games, we gave up 399 yards per game. In the last 8, 309 yards per game. If you want to break the season into 4-game chunks:

First 4: 441 yds per game
Second 4: 357 yds per game
Third 4: 325 yds per game
Last 4: 294 yds per game

That is significant improvement. It led to some improvement in points allowed, we averaged 32 allowed in the first 8, and averaged 28 allowed in the last 8 - and that was despite averaging an incredible 4 turnovers a game on offense in the last four games to end the season (Cousins + fumbles).

Haslett was able to get that improvement despite a very thin secondary. I think we still have questions about our secondary - is Clark really an improvement and is Amerson really ready to start full time, etc. But I think we're in better shape than last season. Our pass rush is certainly better with Hatcher and Murphy there for depth/rotations.

Haslett is definitely still a strong defensive coach, that's why he was kept. You can't lay the 30th ranking in points allowed entirely at his feet. Shanahan ignored special teams when building the roster, when he put Cousins in the team turned the ball over more, and yes he overruled Haslett at times.

For Haslett's D to work best he needs a playmaking safety and the reins taken off when it comes to rushing the passer. I like our passrushers. Not sure about safety. But that's not on the coach. Getting rid of Has would have been throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

This thread, and most of the opinions in it, don't make much sense to me.

First, let's acknowledge the obvious, we gave up a shit-ton of points last year, giving up 478 points good for 30th in the league. But remember special teams contributed to that fiasco, giving up multiple returns for TD in addition to bad field position thanks to having the lowest number of kickoffs go for touchbacks. So I think you have to judge the defense last year on yards.

The team of course was horrible last year to start when Chip Kelly's Eagles came out and destroyed us to start the season, then Green Bay and Detroit went ape on us too. And then in weeks 7 we gave up a ton to Denver (who didn't?). But Haslett definitely got things fixed. In our first 8 games, we gave up 399 yards per game. In the last 8, 309 yards per game. If you want to break the season into 4-game chunks:

First 4: 441 yds per game
Second 4: 357 yds per game
Third 4: 325 yds per game
Last 4: 294 yds per game

That is significant improvement. It led to some improvement in points allowed, we averaged 32 allowed in the first 8, and averaged 28 allowed in the last 8 - and that was despite averaging an incredible 4 turnovers a game on offense in the last four games to end the season (Cousins + fumbles).

Haslett was able to get that improvement despite a very thin secondary. I think we still have questions about our secondary - is Clark really an improvement and is Amerson really ready to start full time, etc. But I think we're in better shape than last season. Our pass rush is certainly better with Hatcher and Murphy there for depth/rotations.

Haslett is definitely still a strong defensive coach, that's why he was kept. You can't lay the 30th ranking in points allowed entirely at his feet. Shanahan ignored special teams when building the roster, when he put Cousins in the team turned the ball over more, and yes he overruled Haslett at times.

For Haslett's D to work best he needs a playmaking safety and the reins taken off when it comes to rushing the passer. I like our passrushers. Not sure about safety. But that's not on the coach. Getting rid of Has would have been throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Good post. I certainly think Has is certainly culpable for that start out the gate though, even he got the team to improve quartally that is really the only positive. He doesnt deserve an extension for that performance last year.

This is a prove it year, no more excuses. I hope he can get the team to play better on 3rd downs and red zone D. I say go agressive

Good teams don't need head coaches. Any coach that takes over a team needs to come in and fix the issues. That's their job. It is not easy, but good coaches find a way. I still don't like that Haslett is in DC. We should have gone out and gotten Jim Schwartz to run the defense.

Perhaps Shanahan overruled Haslett from time to time. That's his perogative as a head coach. Unless Shanahan was doing it constantly, I don't think Haslett is off the hook. I just don't find his defenses very effective, regardless of where he's coaching. They seem to lack aggressiveness and leads to the slow, painful losses we're all so accustomed to here in DC.

Please explain the 2012 season for the N.O. aints.

Please explain the 2012 season for the N.O. aints.

Their head coach got suspended and they were relatively bad? Not sure what you want me to explain.

I think there's legitimate reason to question Haslett's performance as DC- mainly based on the bad 2013 season that the Redskins had on defense.

The main reasons that Haslett is still with the Redskins are familiarity, respect, and a sense of mentorship with Jay Gruden. This only goes so far and ultimately the only thing that matters in the end is the performance of the defensive unit - especially after Gruden's first season as head coach. Whether it's fair or not, Haslett will be judged solely on this (defensive performance/production). Personally, I think it should be this way.

Their head coach got suspended and they were relatively bad? Not sure what you want me to explain.

Are you saying that all a team needs is talented players?

I think there are a lot of coordinators capable of coaching a Superbowl team, but they can't do it without talented players. Haslett is one such coach.

Please explain the 2012 season for the N.O. aints.

Yeah, I have to agree with that. I think the head coach can make or break a team no matter the talent level. You can't just plug any ol' coach in as a head coach even if he's got a team full of Hall of Famers. There's so much that goes into head coaching. People think he just stands on the side lines and calls time outs while letting his coordinators do all the work - can't be any further from the truth.

At the same time, I DO think there are some coordinators in this league that can manage a good team well enough to keep them winning - maybe because they're head coaching material to begin with?