The Hazlett Conundrum

[tshile]

I agree with the gist of your post, but your last word throws me. Even during our nice little 12 run, I wouldn't say our defense dominated. I'd say it was solid, perhaps even good, but not great, and not, in my mind, dominant. I'm not sure I believe in Haz enough to think we will ever be dominant under him, regardless of personnel.

Sorry - you're right, the defense was not dominate in 2012, that wasn't what i was trying to say. Just that I think this defense, as currently constructed, could be dominate if the offense is like it was in 2012.

I honestly think the reason our defense was so bad last year was because our offense just couldn't stay on the field... i don't think our defense needs to be retooled, i think we need a few pieces and we need quality depth, and an offense that doesn't suck.

But, then, what we have is a defense that relies on our offense to do anything. That may not be a good thing, it certainly isn't the best idea.

 

[Bulldog]

This is definitely Haslett's make or break season as a DC in the NFL.

Many decisions, including picking up the $11M option on Orakpo and resigning DeAngelo Hall in large part were the product of his championing these players and promising the entire unit would look better without the interference of Mike.

I don't know what's going to happen. Yes, the defense here has been downright awful at times.

Counterbalancing Haslett's shortcomings though is the recognition that Shanahan's personnel moves on defense were consistently poor for years when he was in Denver.

What we might discover is that BOTH of them were at fault and share the responsibility for failure.

 

[servumtuum]

I agree with the gist of your post, but your last word throws me. Even during our nice little 12 run, I wouldn't say our defense dominated. I'd say it was solid, perhaps even good, but not great, and not, in my mind, dominant. I'm not sure I believe in Haz enough to think we will ever be dominant under him, regardless of personnel.

I'm not so sure I'd even go so far as to say our 2012 defense was solid. The Redskins ranked 22nd in points allowed during the 2012 season with 24.3 points per game average by our opponents. Our offense was fairly dominating being ranked 4th at 27.3 points per game but even during that run of seven wins the last part of the season our opponents were scoring 20 points per game average which, while solid enough for the run to get into the post-season, is still not what I would call anywhere near dominating.

 

[CounterTrey]

Sorry - you're right, the defense was not dominate in 2012, that wasn't what i was trying to say. Just that I think this defense, as currently constructed, could be dominate if the offense is like it was in 2012.

I honestly think the reason our defense was so bad last year was because our offense just couldn't stay on the field... i don't think our defense needs to be retooled, i think we need a few pieces and we need quality depth, and an offense that doesn't suck.

But, then, what we have is a defense that relies on our offense to do anything. That may not be a good thing, it certainly isn't the best idea.

Oh boy do I disagree there. You could have replaced the entire Secondary (sans Hall) and half the front seven with walk ons and not seen much difference, chances are you might have seen some actual improvement. That D was doomed because not only were they talent deficient but they were HORRIBLY coached and schemed for.

 

[CarolinaSkin43]

Oh boy do I disagree there. You could have replaced the entire Secondary (sans Hall) and half the front seven with walk ons and not seen much difference, chances are you might have seen some actual improvement. That D was doomed because not only were they talent deficient but they were HORRIBLY coached and schemed for.

SO SO right you are, I Agree 100000%...we were tied for second, for most points given up by a DEFENSE....with the bears...only team worse was vikings

 

[Om]

Well, at least we brought back the brains of the outfit.

So we have that going for us.

 

[TomE]

Counterbalancing Haslett's shortcomings though is the recognition that Shanahan's personnel moves on defense were consistently poor for years when he was in Denver.

What we might discover is that BOTH of them were at fault and share the responsibility for failure.

Yeah, Shanny's defenses in Denver dropped off quite a bit toward the end of his tenure, wonder if he 'influenced' that defense beyond personnel moves as he reportedly did here.

Looks like the defense in Denver went from ugly to better than average (stats wise) the year following his departure, maybe there is some meat on that interference bone everyone is chewing on.

Unfortunately, Denver's defense went belly up after that uptick in performance two years after Shanny moved on.

 

[FuriousD]

This is definitely Haslett's make or break season as a DC in the NFL.QUOTE]

Not sure how you come to that conclusion. Haslett was just handed a mulligan and a clean bill of health by Gruden. At bare minimum, I would say these mens fortunes are tied together for at least 2 years and probably more.

Let's hope Allen & Gruden are serious about getting Haslett more toys to play with.

 

[Boone]

Sorry Furious D, but I have to agree with Bulldog. Most expected the Haslett era to be over with Shanahan's departure. In fact, at the time, it was fairly shocking that he'd remain. The whole claim justifying Haslett's retention was that he was hamstrung and undermined by Shanahan. I only buy that partially. So now that he's free to be the 'real Jim Haslett' we ought to see major improvements in the performance of the defense, right? He also got some needed talent this offseason and will perhaps get more in the draft. Not enough, but some.

Gruden has 3-4 years to prove he's a successful NFL coach. Period. He's not going to hang onto a DC who's been a DC for a decade and who can't figure out a way to field a top 10 defense across the board consistently. It's coaching suicide. Haslett produces, or Haslett won't be here much longer. And that's beyond fair. My opiniion.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Not sure how you come to that conclusion. Haslett was just handed a mulligan and a clean bill of health by Gruden. At bare minimum, I would say these mens fortunes are tied together for at least 2 years and probably more.

Let's hope Allen & Gruden are serious about getting Haslett more toys to play with.

I think if Haz truly had a clean bill of health and another 2-3 years, he'd have gotten a contract extension. Instead, he's almost lame duck status, coaching on the final year of his deal.



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[FuriousD]

Sorry Furious D, but I have to agree with Bulldog. Most expected the Haslett era to be over with Shanahan's departure. In fact, at the time, it was fairly shocking that he'd remain. The whole claim justifying Haslett's retention was that he was hamstrung and undermined by Shanahan. I only buy that partially. So now that he's free to be the 'real Jim Haslett' we ought to see major improvements in the performance of the defense, right? He also got some needed talent this offseason and will perhaps get more in the draft. Not enough, but some.

Gruden has 3-4 years to prove he's a successful NFL coach. Period. He's not going to hang onto a DC who's been a DC for a decade and who can't figure out a way to field a top 10 defense across the board consistently. It's coaching suicide. Haslett produces, or Haslett won't be here much longer. And that's beyond fair. My opiniion.

Don't get me wrong. I wanted Haslett gone as much as the next man but I have a hard time buying that he's on a short leash. The problem (Haslett) for me, is that these 2 men have history together. They have worked together and Gruden (I think) is comfortable with Haslett.

If Haslett truely was a dead man walking, Gruden would have put him out of his misery but that didn't happen. Instead, he said omething to the effect that he needed a man like Haslett. Someone who had been a head coach before. Someone to bounce head-coach problems off, etc.

But you know what they say, "the new broom sweeps clean"..... but that didn't happen. And all the while 3-4 devotee, Wade Phillips was out there for the grabbing and it didn't happen.

In this case, I think it didn't happen for a reason and the reason is Gruden likes Haslett.

blech, I think I threw up in my mouth a little....

 

[Lanky Livingston]

So true.

This is why signing Orakpo for another year is so puzzling. I don't think he can stay healthy, either.

Why not? Other than 2012, he's played in 97% of potential games.

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[Boone]

Don't get me wrong. I wanted Haslett gone as much as the next man but I have a hard time buying that he's on a short leash. The problem (Haslett) for me, is that these 2 men have history together. They have worked together and Gruden (I think) is comfortable with Haslett.

If Haslett truely was a dead man walking, Gruden would have put him out of his misery but that didn't happen. Instead, he said omething to the effect that he needed a man like Haslett. Someone who had been a head coach before. Someone to bounce head-coach problems off, etc.

But you know what they say, "the new broom sweeps clean"..... but that didn't happen. And all the while 3-4 devotee, Wade Phillips was out there for the grabbing and it didn't happen.

In this case, I think it didn't happen for a reason and the reason is Gruden likes Haslett.

blech, I think I threw up in my mouth a little....

Who knows, maybe we threw the bank at Wade and he said 'no thanks' - no way of knowing. I've said and continue to believe that we kept Haslett on because of his previous head coaching experience as a pseudo-mentor for Gruden.

I think your thoughts are totally reasonable, and Haslett is probably if not dead man walking on a relatively short leash to be closely assessed for the next couple seasons.

 

[NavyDave]

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS......its just that simple....one of the highest scoring offenses of all time shut down by the SEAHAWKS "D"..not a little shutdown..they could not do nothing...... i just seen it to much over my 53 years the best offense is a GREAT DEFENSE . #HTTR

True and among the best last year were Carolina and Seattle who both ran a 4-3

 

[NavyDave]

So true.

This is why signing Orakpo for another year is so puzzling. I don't think he can stay healthy, either.

The New Linebacking coach may teach Orakpo some new pass rushing moves that he will embrace.

 

[Henry]

Haslett is the Norv Turner of defenses. He's mediocre enough to stick around for decades but not really good enough to actually win anything. He'll stick around the league like a bad penny for another 20 years after he's gone here, probably because he's a nice person.

Our hope for this year is that the offense returns to 2012 form and the defense's level of suck goes down just enough for us to win some games.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Our hope for this year is that the offense returns to 2012 form and the defense's level of suck goes down just enough for us to win some games.

I think mid-range is good enough to do some things. Anywhere from 13-18th or so (points).

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[Henry]

I think mid-range is good enough to do some things. Anywhere from 13-18th or so (points).

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I agree. I don't think we can expect better than that, though.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I agree. I don't think we can expect better than that, though.

Probably not...

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[stevenaa]

I just want him gone. This is a wasted year IMO, as we will have a new DC next year. There's nothing in his past that suggests he's gonna "get it" all of the sudden. We should be taking our defensive lumps in a new system along with the Offense. This just extends the time of the retooling iMO.