The Official Defense Has Major Issues/Fire Jim Haslett Thread

[skinsguy]

Folks, this is a LONG season. We have just gotten started. A lot can happen within this year. Shanahan will get this team playing like it should. It's just going to take a couple of seasons to get to where this team needs to be.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

Well Landry never truly learned to play FS, and is doing much better as a SS. And one of the reasons Carter came to Washington was because he wasn't successful as a 3-4 LB when SF changed to that scheme. I think versatility is great, but at the same time you need players that are good at their positions in certain schemes. And save for maybe Orakpo, the rest of our front seven are learning their positions.

I think it's safe to say this defensive coaching staff has for whatever reason, chose to ignore the obvious. The entire front seven of this defense is playing out of position. It has caused many to wonder why the mad-rush to switch to a 3-4 defense in the first place. Save for turnovers, defense was not this teams biggest problem.

It was suggested the move was made with the idea in mind of getting more turnovers...being more aggressive.....despite the aggressivness, good teams do not turn the ball over, that's why they're good, They don't beat themselves.

[SmootSmack]

In the words of Queen Henrietta "Sometimes to settle things, you must unsettle them first"

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Sure why not, cut everybody

Reed first, he worked too hard to be the first scapegoat of the season

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by artmonkforhallofamein07

Really is a shame we never got to see a grouping like that ever! It was all in place, but failed to come through.

Why was Rak ever moved to OLB in the frist place, I seem to have forgotten. Other than a lack of a Strong OLB in 4-3 last year was there a real reason that Blache thought he could do it? He struggles in coverage and it seems like somewhat of a waste of talent to see him not rushing the passer.

At least 1 3-4 OLB is rushing the passer every play.

[MTK]

Rak has been rushing the passer like crazy all season.

[Longtimefan]

How much of the origional faith and hope expressed for the new coaching staff was real and how much of it was imagined? Maybe some better/different decisions need to be made, but much to early to give up completely.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Reed first, he worked too hard to be the first scapegoat of the season

Yeah screw him for that forced fumble last week too. The nerve of him I swear.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Yeah screw him for that forced fumble last week too. The nerve of him I swear.

Because of the enormity of the cutting and firing session that needs to be done, could we ever get to the point where Danny Boy would actually have to get on the field? If so, Kick and Punt returner looks to be his natural position. I would love to see that.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I'm not sure how you're quantifying "worse" but I'd be interested in knowing. Of course we don't know how good the defense is going to be this year and I don't think people here are really trying to make that point. Adjustments and scheme changes are fine and expected, but no was expecting the defense to fall off the cliff to 32nd in the league, GTripp.

We don't need sixteen games to see that this ain't working and Haslett appears to be in over his head big time. It's not just a personnel issue, it's a coaching issue from what I can see. Can I prove that it's a coaching issue with stats? Hell no. Seventeen of the thirty two teams run a 3-4 scheme, yet we're making it look like algebra.

I didn't clearly lay out my argument in any one post, but I made it pretty clearly over the rest of the thread. One thing I didn't do was quantify worse, although "yards per play" is probably the stat I was using the most.

It's just a nonsensical conclusion is all I'm dealing with. A lot of us actually were frustrated with Blache at this time last year, if I recall correctly. Not ONE of us suggested that the problem was that we didn't have the personnel to play the 4-3 even though the results were frustratingly similar to what we've seen in the last three weeks.

When the evidence is the same (the defense is underachiving/was overrated), but the conclusion is instantly regarding our scheme/personnel fit, it's hard to defend that perspective, IMO. I hit the film every week, and didn't realize last year until after the seventh or eighth game that last year's team simply couldn't cover anyone in zone. I'd really like to know what people are seeing while following the ball in real time that has made them determine that the defense is schematically "out of its element."

There isn't a lot of evidence to support conclusions at this point, because mostly, there isn't a lot of evidence. Comparisons between last year and this year are completely valid for me. It's all we have at this point.

[artmonkforhallofamein07]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Rak has been rushing the passer like crazy all season.

I have never said that he hasn't. He is playing out of his normal position though.

Like Ruhskins had stated in his post. It would be nice to see a base DLINE of Andre C at Le, Golston DT, AH DT, and Rak at RE. I am not saying that these guys are never on the field at the same time or that we havent seen this this season. BUT I would like to see what it would produce if it were our base Dline package. AH hardly makes it on the field, Golston is always out there, and I know Rak rushes all the time, but without the big guy in the center the pass rush has taken a major hit when it only rushes 4. Now we are sending 4,5, and 6 guys at a time and not really getting much in the way of sacks but giving up big pass plays. AND getting gashed in the running game. It just isn't working yet.

I guess it is frustrating when our Defense has "worked" the last few years and we had to go and change it to something that we just arent suited for as of yet.

[MTK]

Was anyone really happy with the D under Blache?

I mean it's not like we had the '85 Bears D or something.

It's so funny, seems like every offseason for years we would have at least one thread suggesting we should switch to the 3-4. We finally change and people are all up in arms. Give it time.

[30gut]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

We don't need sixteen games to see that this ain't working and Haslett appears to be in over his head big time. It's not just a personnel issue, it's a coaching issue from what I can see. Can I prove that it's a coaching issue with stats? Hell no. Seventeen of the thirty two teams run a 3-4 scheme, yet we're making it look like algebra.

Do you remember when Spags 1st took over the Giants D?
They were horrid to start off the season but finished as one of the best defenses in the league.

NFL teams change every week as coaches and players make adjustements.
Should every team that struggles early in the season scarp everything?
Should the Texans scrap their defenses? Should the Viking scrap their offense?
Should the Pats scrap their defense?

Its too early.

Also, looking at the defense as the whole if you had to pick one major area of fault that's causing them to struggle what would you pick?
-Me i would pick the secondary. And guess what? They're the unit least effected by the change to a 3-4.
But, you're right in that the coaches need to look at what they're doing especially Bob Slowick.

[Lotus]

Cut McNabb, bring back the great Rich Bartel, the only QB to lead us to a 4th quarter comeback win this year!

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Was anyone really happy with the D under Blache?

I mean it's not like we had the '85 Bears D or something.

It's so funny, seems like every offseason for years we would have at least one thread suggesting we should switch to the 3-4. We finally change and people are all up in arms. Give it time.

I don't think anyone is (or at least I'm not) saying that we need to bring back Blache or that the defense from last year was the greatest (esp since they had Rak and Landry playing out of position). I just think that the 4-3 scheme is something this defense knew how to play, and there wouldn't have been as steep of a learning curve or personnel deficiency as there is now with the 3-4.

Honestly, at this point there isn't anyone can do, other than to hope that this team gets the 3-4 and is able to play at a good level to help us win games. I just still don't get why the team needed to complicate itself with this side of the ball, given the issues that offense has (and probably still has).