Red_One43 wrote:Haslett and the 2-4-5 package defenseThe Steelers went to town on our defense this past Sunday. They appeared to deliberately spread out the Redskins defense with multiple wide receiver sets to bring out Jim Haslett's 2-4-5 sub-package. That would be two defensive lineman, four linebackers and five defensive backs. Every time this group is sent on the field, the Redskins almost always send a four man rush (two linebackers and two defensive linemen) while dropping the rest into a zone coverage. The Steelers knew this and took full advantage. On their second quarter touchdown drive, they ran a no-huddle offense to keep this 2-4-5 package on the field for as long as possible.
The 3-4 defense that the Steelers themselves use is designed to bring plenty of pressure and force quick (often bad) decisions by opposing quarterbacks. But instead of using the Steelers 3-4 defense, Haslett changes to this 2-4-5 package and goes extremely conservative.
You can point to the injuries of guys like Orakpo, and sure, he would definitely perform better than anyone else we have in this package. But as I said earlier, everyone gets injuries. In my opinion, it's down to the coordinator to be able to get creative with ways to generate pressure within his scheme to help cover up the loss of injured players. Instead we rely on a standard four-man rush without a single stunt. Not to mention that against the no-huddle, we can't even sub out the defenders to freshen up those four rushers.
In today's NFL, you cannot be predictable or you'll be run over. Right now, that's exactly what's happening to Jim Haslett's defense. Unfortunately, until the Redskins are either able to come up with a perfect coverage scheme (never going to happen) or some inventive blitz packages, then we're going to continue bending and breaking.
Sounds like this article is saying Haslett shares a lot of the blame. If it is talent why the Redskins defense is so bad, then how is the Colts defense performing better in a year that they switched to the 3-4?
I good share of what is going wrong with this D is Haslett. This article mentions predictability. Didn't Jay Gruden say something about predictability concerning Haslett?
Honestly, lets get real --- Hazs' D is predictable because it is extremely one dimensional . It doesn't have the talent to create unpredicatability. You need talent or at least
some talent at all of the 3 D areas (DL, LB, DB) to prevent potential defensive exposures. In the beginning of the year, Haz was critized for bringing too much pressure and how it hurt our secondarys ability to provide adequate coverage. After the STL game, teams realized how bad our 2ndary was and started throwing like crazy. Over our 8 games this season, opponent QBs average 42 pass attempts a game!!!!!!! That is CRAZY

high.
This team has literally no secondary. When you have no secondary, you have to either go extremely aggressive and bring the house (like
everyone going to the QB with DBs in one-on-one coverage) on every play or go conservative with a 2-4-5 D. He tried bringing the house, couldn't get pressure and a mediocre Bradford had his best game of the year. Now he has decided to go conservative since even if he brings the house, we're still not getting pressure on the QB. Only Kerrigan has been able to do anything. He really has no choice but to stuff the 2ndary with bodies and hope that someone happens to be in the correct area.
It is no secret where the weak spots of this D are. Teams know it. That is why -- even when they are up by 2 scores -- opponents still throw. Expect to see at least 40-50 attempts by opposing QBs for the rest of the year.
I am in no way saying that Haz is a good DC or that we shouldn't replace him --- however, he is in a no win situation due to the personnel on the field. When you have:
1) a 2ndary comprised of: 1 horrible CB, 2 horrible DBs, and 1 avg at best CB
2) a DL that can't provide any pressure whatsoever
3) a 4 person LB core with 1 above avg LB, 1 aging vet, 1 replacement player, and 1 avg LB
There is very little (really nothing) you can do as a DC to create unpredictability. Haz knows opponents are going to throw 75-80% of the time since it has been highly successful against this D and when you have a DL that can't apply pressure, being aggressive doesn't make sense.
I'm not sure there is anything anyone could do to make this D unpredictable outside of getting new players. He can simplify the D, but we are 8 games into the season --- the transition alone would take a couple games; it wouldn't help.
RIP Sean Taylor. You will be missed.