Sunday, October 16, 2011

Jim Haslett is being out-coached

Jim Haslett seems like a nice guy, but I'm tired of watching him be out-coached by the other team's Offensive Coordinator and Head Coach. The looks he gives the other team are repetitive -- e.g., the 0-blitz either with everyone coming or with some dropping back into coverage -- and other teams have smart players and coaches that figure out what to do.

It started with Tony Romo, who got the look several times in a row before solving it and leading a Cowboys comeback. It continues today with Andy Reid defeating the defense with screens and creative draw-plays like the sprint drawn. Haslett just doesn't have the same thoughtfulness and creativity in coming up with novel formations specifically designed to attack the other team's tendencies.

Truth be told, I was always a bit skeptical at Haslett's hiring because he does not have an impressive track record as a defensive coordinator. Shanahan hired Haslett to install a 3-4. But Haslett hadn't run the 3-4 for many years, and if you look at the defenses he has coached over the years they more often rank in the bottom half of the NFL in total defense.

The Redskins have a ton of stellar defensive players -- Fletcher, Kerrigan, Orakpo, Landry, Atogwe -- and should be better than this.

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