Some Love For Haslett

[garyclarkforhall]

I know there's a lot of emphasis -- rightfully so -- on the offense and getting it right, but...

 

Haslett has done a wonderful job of turning things around with this defense.  They still make mistakes, but had the fumble with 4 minutes left been called correctly, they probably leave the field giving up just ten defensive points for the game.

 

Combine that with three excellent quarters against Denver, plus four turnovers that had the offense had a pulse would have been enough to win... the Bears win... the Dallas performance... even a big chunk of the Lions game... it's a complete turnaround.

 

Terrific job piecing together a secondary that has made dramatic improvement since the first four weeks.  They aren't the 85 Bears, but if the offense and special teams can stop giving up 7 points every week, we can win with this effort.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Still don't want him back next year (along with most all I the staff bar a dramatic , consistent turnaround the second half of the year), but credit where credits due; the difference in the first few weeks D to the D right now is night and day. Far from perfect. But 100% better than we started out.

Pretty much back to the unit from last seasons run in that isn't by any means stellar, but makes enough plays in getting the ball back to give the O a chance.

Hail.

[Tyron Biggums]

I saw a big improvement in the secondary. Shouldn't we be giving credit to R. Morris instead?

[Skinzfever2010]

Been showing him love all year. If you don't want Haslett back you really don't want Kyle or Mike back either.

[RemoveSnyder]

Well the biggest difference I can see is that we finally, for better or worse, have embraced playing Press Man. We've also lightened our base package and have been rolling with a 4-2-5, nickel, basically. In recent weeks we've taken Riley and Fletch off the field in certain pass situations.

 

You don't need a seven figure contract guy to make that kind-of call/switch. You just need a guy with a pair of eyes. You didn't need Haz or any super guru to figure out that's how the Colts stymied and frustrated Manning.

 

Though we're not exactly built to do it stellarly, we've had some success with it. It's also leaves guys on islands and has gotten Amerson biting on his double moves, but that was all seen before he came here and nonetheless, it's all a learning process.

 

You know, every one gets high-fives and butt-slaps when you win or when you improve - I kind-of instinctively credit the players first. They are the ones who have stepped up.

 

I guess the fact that the schemes have embraced the four man front and rolled with the Press Man and has tried to limit the coverage mistakes from our LBs (by getting their asses outta there), I guess I have to credit Haz for at least seeing those problems and reacting.

[Voice_of_Reason]

Haz is bringing a knife to a gun fight every week.  He can't get pressure when he brings 4 guys. Orakpo has regressed.  When they do get the pocket to collapse, they can't get the QB on the ground.  

 

London is no longer London. And he's sadly kindof a liability in there.  And they lost their best sub, Keenan Robinson, to an injury.

 

The secondary is getting better.  Hall is playing as well as he has ever as a 'Skin.  But otherwise, the DB play has been spotty, though improving.

 

But through 2.5 quarters last week, they held Peyton Freaking Manning to 7 points.  And, they scored 7 to make up for it, and turned the Broncos over 3 times.

 

This week, they held Rivers to 17 points. (7 came off of the INT in the end zone.) And they turned them over a couple times also.

 

I don't know who the Vikings are going to start on Thursday night, but it's not Peyton Manning or Philip Rivers.  

 

They have faced: Vick, Rodgers, Stafford, (Oakland backup loser), Romo sits to pee, Cutler, Peyton and Rivers.  That's a group of pretty distinguished QBs.  And after pooping the bed early, they've come around. 

 

Next up they have: Ponder?, Foles, Kap, Eli, Alex Smith, Matt Ryan, Romo sits to pee and Eli again.

 

Look at that group, you have to say it's probably not as daunting as the first set.  

 

i give a lot of credit to Haz for duct-taping this thing together.  But they've got to get some better players, and they've got to get them pretty soon. 

[Tyron Biggums]

Nick Foles 400+ yards 7 TD passes in 3 quarters. That scares me big time. The Philthy Iggles game is a must win. I hope Haz brings the pressure against the remaining QBs.

[WilberMarshall]

I will still fire him today!

[RandyHolt]

Has has upgraded his arsenal. Make no mistake. Its at least a switchblade now.

 

Haslet did the same thing last year. Only this year, he did it sooner. He started being more aggressive. He had to be, otherwise the season would have been over by week 9 last year.

 

He was forced to "risk" moving up his corners, and get after QBs. I have never seen our corners lined up so close to the LOS over the past 15 games in.... maybe forever as a skins fan. Anyone else notice a major change in approach to defending WR's?

 

We heard that Hall does better playing off.  I call bunk; he is having a great year in tight man. Off is where he prefers to be presumed so he doesn't have to fight on every down.

 

Long gone is the Carlos Cushion folks, but it didn't leave when he left. It left when Haslet figured pressure from 4 or not, corners have to play tighter to the line. It's that simple.

 

Not all game mind you, but long gone are the days where you see cover 2 getting gashed. Our stud corners passing off stud WR's onto our overwhelmed FS, while our cover corner has dropped to cover a vacant zone.

 

The last time we called that, Hall said FU to my responsibilities and saved a TD. I am not sure we have seen cover 2 since.

[TheGoodBits]

I will still fire him today!

Calm down Bruce, at least keep him until the end of the season.

[RemoveSnyder]

I will still fire him today!

Calm down Bruce, at least keep him until the end of the season.

 

LOL

 

[DaGoonie55]

Been showing him love all year. If you don't want Haslett back you really don't want Kyle or Mike back either.

 

I dislike Haz.  I think we could get someone in here to turn our patchwork defense into something more serviceable.  I have issues with Kyle sometimes, but that's my old "3 yds and a cloud of dust"mentality.  Mike can stay if he puts the best product on the field.  His continued support (Haz being on the payroll is support) tells me "Its ok for our defense to be mediocre and abyssmal at times".  Mike is accountable for Haz's failures.

 

That being said.  Haz didn't fail this game, or the last game.  The difference is that our O dressed for this game and did a better job of closing out the W.

 

I still do not want Haz on the payroll next year.

 

Hail

[@DCGoldPants]

"Hey, you blew the lead....but we won in OT and you weren't needed at all"

 

Sorry, its been years for Haz now. He's not the right guy for this system. Relieved the D didn't have to start OT.

[redskindan07]

The goal line stand saved the season most likely. I'll give him props for that!

[skins island connection]

 Well, I relate it to a little analogy;

 

 Last week my girlfriend slept with the mailman.

 Yesterday she slept with the auto mechanic.

 Tonight she's going to sleep with me.

 Should I forgive her?  Only until I get what I want?

 

 Or, do I see the trash for what it is?  Weeks of screwing the team over, like last year, barely getting his

head outta his ass in time to go on a wild winning streak, then this year its the same thing all over.

 

 No, if he cannot get a defense to respond in a positive way until the halfway point of a season, either he's not reaching the players or his scheme is trash; personally I think its a combo of both...

[Burgold]

The words historically bad have been too often been associated with Haslett. I agree that the d has made big strides, but still don't get why it regressed so badly at the beginning of the year nor do I understand why when we generate a lead the d all but completely disappears.

[Mania]

I saw a big improvement in the secondary. Shouldn't we be giving credit to R. Morris instead?

 

My thoughts exactly.  I'd be ok with him as the D coordinator, but feel Hazlett could save his job....again.

[emor09]

I'll give Haslett some love. 

 

Since week 2, the defense has played well enough for us to win each game.

 

And even the first two weeks, offense and special teams put the D in awful position over and over again. (Eagles game: Morris fumble, safety, Griffin INTs, Roca 30 yard punt. Packers game: offense did absolutely nothing to keep the D off the field and I'm sure the special teams made mistakes.) 

[Bang]

Secondary is certainly playing better.

Libnebackers are often overmatched in passing game

Defensive line creates NO pressure.

 

Haslett has taken his patches and shifted them around and he's getting better production in some areas, but to the detriment of others.

we're covering better, but without a blitz we're not getting pressure.

We seem to drop our linebackers too deep, and short middle routes create 2nd and 3rd and short situations way too often.

 

But it IS looking up, so some love for Haslett. He's working with what he has.

 

~Bang

[Tyron Biggums]

My thoughts exactly.  I'd be ok with him as the D coordinator, but feel Hazlett could save his job....again.

I am not happy with Haz. I do understand that he doesn't have a great deal of talent to work with(**** you Mara). I wish it didn't take rumors of Haz getting fired to get a decent/aggressive game plan out of him either. 

[Commander PK]

You know, all jokes aside though, name me the "elite" defenses of the NFL.

 

Not average.  Not good.  Not pretty good. Elite

 

San Francisco?  Seattle?  ...that's about it.  And where would these NFL defenses rank when compared to defenses like the '85 Bears, and the '00 Ravens. 

 

The way that the modern NFL works, you don't even need a "good" defense.

 

Win games 50 to 42.  That is the recipe for success in the modern NFL.  Out offense the other team.

What is my point?

 

Well, maybe Haslett with another year of acquring some good personnel isn't so bad after all.  I know this is a complete 180 from where I was at this time last year, or even earlier this season.

[DaGoonie55]

Well, maybe Haslett with another year of acquring some good personnel isn't so bad after all.  I know this is a complete 180 from where I was at this time last year, or even earlier this season.

 

I hear you - but I'm not doing this to myself again.  I'm not going to let off the hook, in my mind, only for him to come out next season and suck for the first 6-8 games again.  We don't need an elite defense, we need a fundamentally sound one - which we don't have.  Fundamentals are coached - you aren't born with proper leverage or tackling techniques.

 

I can't take it anymore - Haz is dead to me.

[PortisBetts]

Defense has been playing well. They have kept us in the game as of late, have been creating turnovers, and that goal line stand...that was impressive. That was our season right there and they stepped up big time after some bad calls by the refs basically escorting SD to the end zone.

 

Do i think we can do better at DC? Yes. Would i look into replacements in the offseason? Possibly. But remember, there were 2 rookies starting in the secondary at the beginning of the year, and both have started to put it together. WIth that, our defense has tightened up. If we could get Orakpo and Kerrigan back on track, we can have a pretty good defense. Not sure where those 2 have disappeared to. Meriweather has also been playing terrifically. For all the talk this week about him, I am glad he is back there for us. Amerson is stepping up.

[Commander PK]

I hear you - but I'm not doing this to myself again.  I'm not going to let off the hook, in my mind, only for him to come out next season and suck for the first 6-8 games again.  We don't need an elite defense, we need a fundamentally sound one - which we don't have.  Fundamentals are coached - you aren't born with proper leverage or tackling techniques.

 

I can't take it anymore - Haz is dead to me.

 

I also hear you, and for the most part I have agreed with you.  I just wonder if the cost of starting over again with a new philosophy next season is a better option at this point then getting a few more pieces in the draft and free agency and letting Haslet have another shot.  Withotu a cap penalty.  Without starting players getting suspended. (Assuming we have no more of that) 

 

Look at what has happened with special teams.  I agree Danny Smith had to go, but results are results.  This year special teams has taken a step back. 

[RVAbrendan]

Gotta tip my hat to Haz, Rah, and the defensive squad in general. A goal line stand is the last thing I'd expect out of this defense.

 

I'm curious if Haz left if we'd have the personell to go back to a 4-3. We had a top 10 defense for close to a decade running that 4-3.