Update: Confirmed by Grant Paulsen, Raheem Morris was interviewed to coach DBs. (I called it!)
WTOP Redskins beat reporter, George Wallace, tweeted late last night:
Source: #Redskins brass dining with former Bucs coach Raheem Morris...He and Kyle were on assistants in Tampa together
There's a lot of scenarios here that instantly jump to mind, but let me quickly recap Raheem Morris' professional coaching career. In 2002, he was Bucs' defensive quality control, 2003 defensive assistant, 2004-5 assistant defensive backs, 2006 Kansas State University defensive coordinator (70th ranked D that year), 2007-2008 Bucs defensive backs coach, and 2009-2011 the Bucs' head coach.
So, obviously Morris has quite the defensive track record. With a ton of coaching jobs available across the NFL and college, it's very believable the Redskins could lose someone. Here are some candidates:
Update: Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris have more than a coaching record. There's also this gem that Kyle Shanahan was arrested for public intoxication at the 2005 combine in Indy. Specifically, "Shanahan was being 'loud, belligerent and causing a scene' after being escorted from the Have a Nice Day Cafe at 2:07 a.m." To Kyle's defense, coaches and media drink all weekend in Indy. It's a laid back attitude and very much a work hard/play hard atmosphere. One of the Rams' scouts got arrested for urinating in public last year...and the arresting cop was female. So great. It was the talk of the day on media row all morning. Heavy drinking and covering football make for my favorite weekend.
Have at it.
0 recs | 204 comments
That description of Kyle sounds like JimmyK at the combine.
I was actually thinking of Morris yesterday and how much I like his youthful demeanor. My guess would be that Slowik takes another spot in the organization and Morris would focus on the secondary. I’d be more than happy to have him here, I think it would be a positive pickup.
He also has a good relationship with Haynesworth, so we can bring him back!
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Bingo!
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
my best friend lives up in tampa
and he occasioned upon morris a few times in a local high-end bar…had a few conversations with him (had to use a pseudonym when talking to him directly so as to keep it low key ha), but he said he seemed liked a first class dude
atark001 - January 5, 2012
So one Redskins follower I interact a lot with on Twitter said Raheem is probably not a fit for our secondary given he’s been trained in Tampa-2 coverage and always runs that….wouldn’t work with 3-4.
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
He ran the 3-4 defense under Ron Prince at Kansas State though, if I remember correctly.
I don’t think the fact that he has experience in the Tampa-2 totally nullifies being a DB coach elsewhere.
In other news, why hasn’t Philly signed Spags yet? Morris would make sense there also.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I can only think of Juan reason
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
haha +1
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
+1000
internetz to you good sir
ncskinsfanatic - January 5, 2012
sounds good to me
let morris be the defense cord at philly…. right the game each year have kyle take morris out for a drink or 2 and have him spill the beans on the defensive game plan!
munson21502 - January 5, 2012
I heard he wants to implement the 5-2.
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
I think we should run the TCU defense
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I think they should hire me.
Like Morris always preaches, I’m ‘youngry’!
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
No one would ever be able to understand you. We don't need a Defencive Coordinator
“Jolly good play DeAngelo!”
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
"Oh bloody hell Laron...that wanker Desean burns you everytime!"
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
haha +1
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Brilliant,
+2.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
You need to translate that into the metric system
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I don't think I've ever used the term
‘Jolly good’ or just ‘jolly’, except when I’ve talked to an American who’s interested in my English accent (which isn’t that thick of an English accent, actually had a stronger American accent after we came home from living out there for 5 years)
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
you should write one of your posts in Queens English
that would confuse the hell out of everyone.
PJ_21 - January 5, 2012
Do you mean
Cockney rhyming slang? Something along the lines of “John Beck didn’t have a Scooby Doo (clue) what he was doing there”
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
I think Tiller's new nickname should be Scooby Doo
Steve, you can be Scrappy
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
sweet!
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
That would be even better..
I just meant posh, though that’s not exactly easy to convey through text.
PJ_21 - January 5, 2012
Yeah.
I’d have to do a video with me talking over it in a posh accent (which I can’t do very well). I might try the cockney rhyming slang for our round table this week.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
Great idea
probably going to waste the rest of my day now trying to come up with some new ones to fit the current players.
PJ_21 - January 5, 2012
Bollocks!
…whatever that means.
irishgoon - January 5, 2012
sod it
the coaching couldnt get any worse
munson21502 - January 5, 2012
3-3-5 could be a viable option in the next decade
More and more talented DBs are coming out of college with the proliferation of spread passing offenses. I could see a 3-3-5 with an extra safety/LB hybrid swing-type player making a lot of sense as more NFL teams incorporate spread concepts.
tuckwell - January 5, 2012 via iPhone app
Just because he was trained or ran Tampa-2
doesn’t mean he doesn’t know other schemes. As a relative novice, I can see the differences between say a zone blocking scheme and a power run scheme. Just because he’s used to 4-3 and tampa-2 doesn’t meant he knows nothing about the 3-4. And frankly, with anyone who could teach our secondary how to tackle would be useful.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
I endorse this message
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
On the subject of Jim Haslett ...
Read something on NFL.com yesterday that was interesting:
“So, in essence, the Dolphins are leading two different but parallel searches. If one of Ireland’s candidates is hired, then several sources said there’s little chance Peterson has a role with the team. If Peterson were to grab Fisher (and sources mentioned Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett as another candidate Peterson supports), then not only could Peterson take a team president position, but Ireland’s status might end up in doubt, with Peterson considering bringing several of his former personnel people with him to Miami from Kansas City.”
BrianMurphy - January 5, 2012
Can you imagine the fan speculation if Hazz went to Miami and Morris became the DC here.
There would be 9 million tweet/posts/comments/etc about how we’re going back to the 4-3! hahaha
My guess would be if things played out with Hazz in Miami then maybe Slowik becomes the DC and Morris goes to the secondary.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I'm getting a headache just thinking about all those posts.
Almost as much as seeing 30 sign Flynn/Trade up for Luck/RGIII posts a day
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
lou spanos
if haslett is replaced, i think he’d make a suitable defensive coordinator….he has history in this specific scheme, more so than any other coach on the team, he’s done a hell of a job coaching up our linebackers, and he seems to be very involved on game day (always see him by haslett calling in plays and being really animated)
atark001 - January 5, 2012
I disagree, I think Spanos is where he needs to be and wants to be. Guy zeros in on the LB and is high energy.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
i think a relatively young coach like him would jump at the chance at a promotion
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Yea, I just like him better where he is.
Did you know Spanos was Frerotte’s center in college? Fun fact for the day.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
fair enough
hahaha wow for real?!? interesting tid bit there, did not know that….i like learning how coaches made there way into the profession, from center to damn fine LB coach, interesting
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Please no
I don’t think Slowik is any good. The only time he had a good defense was in Chicago under Wannstedt, who himself was a defensive “genius”. And I don’t believe any of his defenses were of the 3-4 variety.
Frankly, I would rather see us pillage someone from the staff of Pittsburgh or Baltimore. Let’s get someone in here who can make our 3-4 defense create the havoc it’s supposed to.
CJHutch - January 5, 2012
Like...Spanos?
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Then there's that
CJHutch - January 5, 2012
I hope they hire haslett
I am not at all impressed with what haslett has done. I’d rather have Morris as the DC.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Haslett gets so much unwarranted criticism, it's ridiculous
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
unwarranted?
because he took a good defense and made it bad and then moved it up to mediocre after adding multiple high draft picks to bolster the defense?
If anything Haslett gets too much slack because as poorly as he’s done with the defense our offense is 5 times as atrocious.
At best haslett is an average DC.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Yep that's exactly what happened.
He came in and was asked to change the scheme, it wasn’t his idea to bring in the 3-4. So how can you credit him with what happened in 2010? It was Shanny who gave him a round peg to put in a square hole.
Lets review this comment and those “multiple” high draft picks:
Kerrigan: Monster year, one of the best a rookie (if not the best) a Redskins rookie has ever had
Jenkins: Out for the year
Where were the rest of his multiple high draft picks? A 5th round safety? A 7th round corner and linebacker?
Also add in the fact that BOTH of his safeties were plagued with injury all year.
Our defense isn’t great, but it did improve from 31st to 13th in the NFL this year, and that’s with an inept offense that made the defense stay on the field for the majority of the game. This years defense also had 12 more sacks, forced 7 more fumbles, and gave up less points then last year’s defense. That’s not progress? The fact this defense only gives up 18 points per game given the situation here is phenomenal.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
did Haslett fight to keep running a 4-3 defense?
I haven’t heard anything to indicate that and that was the right decision. The entire idea that 1 scheme is inherently better than the other is nonsense. Both schemes can work very well as evidenced by how the Ravens have been running more 4-3 fronts this year because it fits their personnel better. A good DC would look at the players and find a way to use them.
High draft picks – yes, maybe you’re heard of Orakpo – turns out he was a 1st round draft pick and he’s a pretty good player, not that you’d know it from our defensive ranking. We’ve had a whopping four 1st and 2nd round draft picks in the last 3 years and 3 of them went for defensive players. Considering the only other pick went to a LT after our stud LT suffered a career ending injury I think it’s accurate to say we;ve spent all the draft picks we could afford to spend on defense – and at a time when our offense totally sucked.
And another fact is that our team has a higher time of possession than out oppoents so all the wheining about the defense being on the field too long is without a shred of truth. Pure BS.
I’ll concede the injuries but every coach has to deal with that, it’s just part of the game.
We have more sacks which should happen after investing 2 first round picks (Orakpo and Kerrigan) to improve the pass rush. That’s the players, not Haslett.
For the record we have the 21st ranked defense (in points allowed which matters a lot more than yards allowed), not the 13th. So no, that’s not progress considering the year before Haslett took over we were 18th in points allowed and 10 in yards allowed. I call that a wash because moving 3 positions is insignificant and could easily be caused by strength of schedule.
No, I’m not thrilled or impressed with what Haslett has done.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
I didn't realize Shanahan drafted Orakpo, that's interesting.
Cool, I guess you can say that about every, single player in the NFL. Who needs coaches?
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I didn't say he did
I was pointing out that it’s not like there weren’t good players to work with.
Even without including Orakpo we’ve drafted 10 defensive players which is a lot especially when the offense was in much worse shape than the defense when Shanahan took over.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
They actually drafted 12 if you're including the last 3 years and lets take a look.
Orakpo (1st): Good Cerrato pick, no brainer
Barnes (3rd): Cerrato BUST
Jarmon (3rd): Not a fit for 3-4
Glenn (5th): Cerrato BUST
Henson (6th): Cerrato BUST
Riley (4th): Shanny, good pick 2012 likely starter
Kerrigan (1st): Shanny, great pick
Jenkins (2nd): Injured
Gomes (5th): Good depth players, still young
Thompson (7th): Good depth players, still young
White (7th): Good depth players, still young
Neild (7th): Good depth players, still young
So some how you’re saying he got “tremendous” draft resources when four of those eleven were Cerrato busts, one high pick was injured, and SEVEN of those picks were in the 4th round or later.
Do you know how many offensive players were drafted in the same period? TWELVE.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
so with a total crap offense and a mediocre defense
half of the picks went to defense? And the offense had been awful for years but the defense just 2 years prior was a top 10 unit. So the smart way to go is to invest as much on defense as they did on offense?
No, I’m nver going to think that was the right decision.
We would have had a good 4-3 defense with minor upgrades and getting away from the Blache scheme where the CBs were playing 10 yards off of the line of scrimmage.
Do you remember how every but on this site saw how awful Blache’s scheme was?
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
So if we stuck with the 4-3 then how many more wins does that translate in.
Man it was dumb to tailor our defense to the one bright spot we had on defense, a youthful bright spot at that.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
no, none of those positions are automatic
But then I was opposed to fatass from the beginning, initially just because of the cost but after seeing his attitude I would have packed him away immediately.
I’ll admit the secondary would be the same and that is still an issue. I think we need at least 1 CB out of this draft but that is true regardless of what scheme you run.
Would Kerrigan be here or would Orakpo be effective? There’s no real way to tell. Maybe we would draft Kerrigan anyway or if not then someobody who would be effective. Given the draft pick we used to get him I’m sure we could have found somebody good to fill the void. It’s not like we have Cerrato picking for us now.
I think Orakpo is talented enough to success in either scheme.
The point though is that our offense was, and still is awful and partly because we’ve spent 1/2 of our draft picks on defense. While the defense has improved in sacks and turnovers (which I’ll grant you is important), overall it is still mediocre.
Let’s flip this around, what has Haslett done that has impressed you? Just the increase in turnovers and the added pass rush? Doesn’t being mediocre in points allowed reek of mediocrity?
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
What has impressed me:
The coaching staff has built a defense that keeps our team in games.
Moreover, if our offense had been at all competent this season, the defense would have spent far less time on the field, and would have delivered much better performances
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
the defense was at that level before
Haslett didn’t improve anything.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
they never would have been at that level with all the talent Shanny chased away
they had to rebuild into a 3-4 team and he’s done the job.
Steve Shoup - January 6, 2012
We'll just have to agree to disagree
I think they had enough pieces to add a couple more and have a good defense although probably not ta op 10 unit again.
But note that Orakpo had more sacks per season playing in the 4-3 than he’s had in the 3-4 so the assumption that he’d be playing out of position is nonsense.
And other than Haynesworth, who we all know was a huge mistake due to his attitude, who did Shanahan chase off? Carter left because he is a 4-3 guy and doesn’t fir into the 3-4 scheme so he was chased off by the scheme change.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
He's building a defense that will be solid over a long period of time, rather than a flash in the pan
The switch to the 3-4 and the continued maturation of our defense is going to pay off. I would argue the only players not executing fully on this defense right now are pre-Shanny era (DHall, Landry, Barnes, etc.).
When our offense finally clicks (if ever), then the defense is going to be set and it’s going to be the rock of this team. I really think we have one the young/best front sevens in the league and it will only get better.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
in terms of what he's done?
I think he’s gotten the most out of the talent that he has on this team. The Redskins have a number of good (Orakpo, Kerrigan, Wilson, Cofield, Bowen) players on this team, but only one real great player (Fletcher). Landry has that potential, but he’s injured and he will make some big time errors as well.
While thats good, the lack of elite or even great players (Orakpo and Kerrigan probably will be that) is troubling. Look at the best defenses around the league and you’ll see 3-4 great to elite players on their roster (plus 4-5 good players).
I think Haslett has gotten the most out of his guys, and found the right additions this offseason (with the possible exception of Atogwe) to build for the future. If Orakpo and Kerrigan can take their game to the next level, and Riley becomes another good player, with one or two additions this defense could be special. Obviously the DB’s need help and I’d add another D-lineman to the mix, but there is at least great potential in this unit.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
and all of that was true pre-Haslett
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
and don't forget the two picks that went to the McNabbster
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
umm shanny made it bad by ignoring the defense in year one
and trying to put 4-3 players (Carter, McIntosh, Haynesworth etc.) into a 3-4 look. Look at other teams who change their defensive philosophy like the Packers. They went to the 3-4 and spent two first rounders (Raji and Matthews) on 3-4 personnel. The Texans spent 6 of their 8 draft picks on defensive players this year, so Phillips could mold his defense (and added talent in free agency). The Redskins instead only brought in one defensive player, and he (Riley) was an OLB in college who would move inside, meaning he wouldn’t have early impact.
This year the Redskins did what they should have done the year before and bring in players they needed to run their defense.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
incorrect
the year before Shanahan took over we used 4 of our draft picks on defense including Orakpo and Barnes who have made significant impact despite Haslett, then the next year we picked up Riley who has also helped and then last year we spent 6 draft picks on defense despite the fact our offense was in shambles.
So in 3 years we used 11 picks on defense and yet somehow Haslett has nothing to work with? Well he should learn to develop players.
But what you’re really pointing out is how stupid it was for us to switch to the 3-4 in the first place given that we had a good 4-3 defense and the offense was in complete shambles.
The only reason I don’t want to go back to the 4-3 is because we’ve invested so much to switch to this mediocre 3-4 scheme and spending a lot more picks to go back would be insane.
And yet we still don’t have the right player in the key position for the defense – the NT. LBs get all the glory but the NT is the player who makes the biggest difference in the 3-4 by tieing up blockers and our current NT’s just aren’t getting it done. So before we do become a better than mediocre defense we’ll still need to spend more picks. In the meantime our offense still sucks.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
By significant impact, do you mean:
Barnes missing tons of tackles, blowing coverages, and generally being a disappointment as a 3rd round pick?
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
1 guy is the intirety of your argument? Wow you really failed!
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
You're arguing that we've only drafted impact players on defense to assist with our unnecessary switch to the 3-4
As Parks pointed out above, we’ve also spent plenty of resources on the offensive side of the ball during that time.
And when you use Kevin Barnes as an example of an impact player on defense, I can refute your claim
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
It's basically critcizing someone that was told to paint a picture and given no paint
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Ha, "Hey Artist: Paint me a picture of an Orange using all of this Blue, Red, Yellow, and Green Paint"
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
funny as any artist could do that
if you had a clue like an artist would, you’d know to mix red and yellow to get orange,
Doh!
Just like a DC who inherits a unit that was a top 10 defense 2 years prior should be able to find a way to use his guys effectively.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Right, but it would take some work, wouldnt it?
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
PLEASE stop referencing the 2008 defense! There were 5 different starters from the 08 to 09 defense
It’s apples and oranges. It’s like me trying to say the 2011 Colts should be good b/c they had a Super Bowl team in 2009.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
and I counter with Kerrigan so your point is nullified
and yeah, haslett has nobody to work with – just that Orakpo guy who is a pro bowler.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Getting Kerrigan vastly improved the Defense....
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
So is Lou Spanos a bad linebackers coach b/c he was brought here to run a 3-4 like he did in Pittsburgh?
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
as a LB coach he'd be graded on the LBs performance
So you tell me.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
The personnel was so awful for the 3-4 in 2010…hard to blame him. We might as well as had Justin Bieber playing Nose Tackle. Parks would have bought his jersey.
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
I have the same birthday as the Beebs
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
You're 17?
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
I was waiting for that...March 1
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Why exactly are you looking up
Justin Bieber’s birthday?
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
haha
Probably the same reason I know I share a birthday with Angelina Jolie, they put celebrity birthdays in the newspaper. Or he’s a Bieber stalker.
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
guilty on both accounts
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
The more important question is:
Why in the hell do you know when Beiber’s birthday is?
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
Because when it's Justin Bieber's birthday the Yahoo newsfeed blows up
And I just so happened to realize last year “HEY! it’s my birthday too”
Also you’ve never seen in the paper or the internet what celebrities have your birthday? I also share a birthday with Ke$ha (dollar sign included), Chris Webber, Zach Morris (aka MPG), Ron Howard, Alan Thicke, and Booker T (one half of the wrestling’s greatest tag team “Harlem Heat”)
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
As a former HUUUUGGGGEEEE pro wrestling fan (as a kid) I must disagree.
The Road Warriors Animal & Hawk are the greatest tag team ever.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
+1
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Yea right, Harlem Heat was the perfect blend of speed and power w/ Booker T and Stevie Ray
Road Warriors were all show
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Really? How can you top the clothesline off the top rope, while one of the Warriors has you on their shoulders?
Booker T had that dumb kick.
No comparison.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
There's no way we can settle this iH8 we'll be here all day
Harlem Heat vs. Chris “the Canadian Crippler” Benoit and the “Iceman” Dean Malenko will always have a soft spot in my heart
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
It beats Flynn/Griffin/Luck/Grossman/trade up/trade down/o-line/WR talk.
I almost don’t even want to discuss that until FA starts.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
+1
mkjo - January 5, 2012
Ahh the Crippler
One of my favorites. The definition of roid rage though.
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
Greatest match ever : Mankind vs. Undertaker Hell in a Cell.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
I was a big wrestling fan in like 7th grade.
But I wasn’t allowed to watch WWF, it was too “racy”. So I was a WCW guy through and through. I hated the NWO and was a big Sting and Goldberg fan. One time Diamond Dallas Page gave me a high-five (I haven’t washed my hand since).
When I was in college, TNA wrestling came to Longwood. It was one of the most fun nights of my life. It was pretty hilarious to see how much people were getting into it in our small gym. We got “backstage” passes and all the wrestler’s came to drink with us after. We also got the table that the Dudley boys smashed a guy through and we got all the wrestlers to sign it. It was on our college house wall for years.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I got to shake Arn Anderson's hand and talk to him.
But he’s a dick. it killed the legendary Four Horsemen for me.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
Which hand the one that works
or the one that he can barely move?
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
It was the limp one.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
You sick bastard.
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
Remember when Hogan went bad?
It was like time stopped.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
That's the one.
I won’t lie, out of all the athletes or celebrities in the world, I most want to meet Mick Foley.
He is a wrestling god.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
He threw out the first pitch at a Richmond Flying Squirrels game this year
You missed out.
Hacksaw Jim Duggan came too
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I'd pass out if I met him.
He’s the greatest of all time.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
I am a good age for this game......
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka was def. one of my favorites. The Bushwhackers, Dusty Rhodes, the Polish guy who come out and bend rebar with his teeth, Hulk vs Andre….etc…
I met Rey Mysterio at some event a few years ago and got an autographed photo for my step son.
MagicHat - January 5, 2012
He lives near me
Met him while we were both buying motorcycles a year ago. Soft spoken nice guy.
tuckwell - January 5, 2012 via iPhone app
No- Team USA
Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas!!!
mkjo - January 5, 2012
"Crickets"
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
legion of DOOOOOOOOOm
WizKid27 - January 5, 2012
yeah Parks he wasn't in Twilight
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
That was so last month Steve.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
haha
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
which is why so many were opposed to switching to the 3-4 in the first place
that’s part of his decision making and it falls on him.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
IT WASN'T HIS DECISION!
His boss hired him to run a 3-4, he had no choice in the matter.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
then he should have turned down the job
you’ve never turned down a job when the boss says “I want to do X” and you can’t change his mind? I have. When the boss insists on a stupid course of action there’s no preventing him from hurting himself.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Who said Haslett prefers the 4-3 over the 3-4
Maybe he was excited by the opportunity to install a new defense on a team
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
didn't Has use the 3-4 in Pittsburgh?
mkjo - January 5, 2012
Yes....so i dont buy the argument that Haslett accepted the job here expecting to use a 4-3 and then reluctantly went to a 3-4
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
in fact he probably took the job b/c he was given the green light to use the 3-4
the problem is Shanny didn’t give him the green light for 3-4 personnel.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
how could he given the sad state of the offense?
lame excuse. The offense was downright terrible and the defense was mediocre so why would you prioritize switching defensive players?
Just another reason why the 3-4 switch was stupid.
So how many more (than the 11 already drafted) defensive players does Haslett need? Another 11?
How many more years do you accept the mediocrity?
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
its not like Shanny's offensive players have worked out
He brought in McNabb, TW, Artis Hicks (2nd biggest signing that year) and Larry Johnson (biggest signing that year) in year one, and Chester and Gaffney last year.
How is any of this Haslett’s fault is the point? Shanny made the call, first to change defense, then to not have the talent to do so.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
none of that changes the fact that
2 years prior we had a top 10 defense and what hindered it the previous year was Blache’s awful scheme, not a total lack of talent.
A good DC could have done something with those guys.
But I’ll grant you that Shanahan has made a lot of mistakes, not just what you listed but also Grossman & Beck.
Do you think Snyder has realized this? I do. The clock is ticking.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Once again 45% change in personnel from 08 to 09, awful argument
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
haha we got better
LDE Demetric Evans & Jason Taylor > Phillip Daniels (a minor loss)
LDT SAME
RDT Anthony Montgomery > Haynesworth (an upgrade)
LLB marcus Washington > Orakpo (another upgrade)
MLB SAME
RLB SAME
LCB Springs > Rogers (a minor downgrade)
RCB Rogers > Hall (a wash)
SS SAME
FS SAME
So you really think losing Jason Taylor and going from Springs to Rogers but gaining Haynesworth and Orakpo (who combined with Carter had 22 sacks) was the sole reason we went from 6th to 18th? Wake up!
Losing Springs was the only real downgrade and quite frankly is wasn’t that much of a downgrade.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Was does going with 6th to 18th have to do with anything...
You keep saying Haslett inherited a top notch defense from 2008, when in reality he inherited an average defense from 2009.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Haslett had nearly all of the same players to work with
except for Springs. All of the other changes were at least aa wash if not an improvement.
And you keep ignoring that we’ve spent 1/2 of our draft picks on defense at a time when the offense was in much worse shape.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
How am I ignoring that?
The offense wasn’t in worst shape dude, it is now b/c we’ve given more resources to the defensive side of the ball and our defense is a lot better than our offense.
You can’t look at ’08 or how it was, Shanny gave Haslett a skeleton and you have to look at it that way, despite how big and tough you may be if you had a position of power.
Parks Smith - January 6, 2012
so commitiing so much effort to the defense
is the cause of our poor offense? I’d agree and it’s why I wouldn’t have switched to the 3-4.
If you want to say Haslett was screwed because Shanahan insisted on switching to the 3-4 then I can agree with that IF haslett really had no choice.
Regardless of the fault of the bad decision to go to the 3-4, I’m not impressed with the performance of the defense. Our team had a better time of possession than our opponents so trying to blame the defenses problems on being on the field too long isn’t valid. At the end of the day we allowed more points per game than 1/2 of the league. This is not good, it’s not even average.
Did Haslett have nothing to work with? He had 2 LBs that racked up 22 sacks the previous year and the total number of sacks in 2009 was the same as what Haslett has “achieved” this year. So that’s a wash.
So turnovers are you big goal, well interceptions, forced fumbles, fumbles and recoveries are almost identical:
Year FF F F Rec Int
2009 17 30 18 11
2011 17 25 21 13
The stats across the board are pretty much a wash. So what has Haslett done that is so wonderful?
I’m not saying he’s the worst DC ever, I’m saying he’s average and if we can get an upgrade then we should go for it.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
yes but Haslett has atoned for those mistakes (if they were his which I don't really buy)
with adding a lot of talent. It takes time to make a switch, and unfortunately we would have taken a hit anyways as we lost guys like Springs/Smoot/Rogers/Griffin etc.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
be honest, were those really losses?
Not really. maybe Springs but he was well past his prime too. Smoot and Griffin were done and he haslett had Rogers until this year.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
my point was they had to be replaced
I’m not saying we should have retained them (rogers yes, but not the overall point), but that they needed to be replaced.
Steve Shoup - January 6, 2012
I can agree with that
Springs was getting too old, Smoot had slowed down, Rogers had an attitude (but I wish they would have worked with him more on that) and Griffin was old.
But our defense isn’t good, it’s not even average despite adding people and having some already here who are well above average (Fletcher and Orakpo) . There are teams with defenses that performed better than our defense did with the same (or worse) talent level: Browns, Titans, Seahawks, Bengals.
I think you guys have blinders on for Haslett. Was our defense loaded with talent when he got here? No, but it wasn’t totally devioid of talent either. And he’s getting out performed by other DCs who have less talent.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
who's to say Haslett wasn't saying i want to do this, or I want to draft this player, but Shanny ignored him
Shanny is both the head coach and defacto general manager, so he gets to make the decisions. If Haslett says I need D-linemen to run the 3-4 and shanny brings in Carriker, Kemo and Holliday, that isn’t exactly the A team.
The Redskins should have gone full blown rebuild in year one and we wouldn’t be having this debate, that is on Shanny not Haslett. I have no problem with them switching to a 3-4, just wasting their 4-3 talent. They should have traded Haynesworth, Carter, McIntosh and Rogers day one since they weren’t obvious longterm fits.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
I agree with what you're saying. Isn't it entirely possible that Haslett, like Shanny, underestimated how bad the team was in his first year?
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
I'd like to think so
but it seemed like every newspaper and major sports outlet spent that offseason talking about how bad of a fit everyone (but Orakpo) would be in the 3-4. And then the guys they brought in were all backup or worse caliber.
So i don’t know maybe it was Haslett, but I get the impression Hasslett got his voice heard at the table this offseason given the draft and the signings of Atogwe, Wilson, Cofield and Bowen. So either he learned a lot quicker, or he just didn’t get shot down this year.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
why accept going to the 3-4?
when 2 years prior the 4-3 defense we had was a top 10 unit?
Now we’re in the sorse half of the league.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Yea Blache's bend, but don't break/10 yard cushion defense was awesome
Our 4-3 personnel was also aging, rapidly.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Yea that usually goes over well in a job interview...
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
guys at that level aren't all yes men
haven’t you ever dealt with higher ups?
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
When you're coaching for a defunct UFL team then you kind of have to be.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
I bet he had more than 1 nibble at job offers
it’s not like he was a nobody trying to bust into the league.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Yea I don't think so, I could imagine working for the Florida Tuskers makes you pretty antsy
Have you noticed that none of the other UFL coaches have accepted jobs back in the NFL? Hasslett was hand-picked by Shanny and I bet he received a call in the Fall even before Shanny was hired.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Agreed, getting a D-Coordinator job and a chance to rebuild an NFL team along side Shanahan was a great offer for Haslett
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
it all boils down to being a man
you can man up and tell the truth or suffer the consequences of being the yes man – either way it’s your choice.
But then I’ve had a boss give me a spoon with the words “keep stirring the pot” written on it as his going away gift to me. Maybe other people are afraid of telling it like it is but I find that hard to believe of somebody at that level. Most of the higher ranking folks I’ve dealt with speak their mind and live with the consequences.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
BECAUSE THEY CAN!
He was coaching in the freaking UFL! It’s rock bottom. That like SEC football coach getting fired, going to a D3 school, and then making outrageous demands and challenging their interviewee the second they get a shot at coaching at a Conference USA school
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
and yet you think this guy is good?
has it occurred to you that there is a reason he was coaching at the UFL?
It makes perfect sense to me!
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
B/c he got screwed late in the game by the Rams, as the interim, and his contract was voided
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
AND nobody else wanted him
makes ya wonder why…
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
just b/c someone is wanted doesn't make them great or vice versa
Norv Turner keeps getting head coaching work, doesn’t mean it is deserved.
Plenty of NFL insiders, fans and other teams scoffed at the Steelers hiring Mike Tomlin and that seems to have worked out.
Steve Shoup - January 6, 2012
You've officially gone both ways on this argument
First he had multiple job offers and should have leveraged the Skins to keep the 4-3.
Now, no one else wanted him.
Thanks for playing.
Parks Smith - January 6, 2012
nope
they can both be true. First they shouldn’t have wanted him but after Shanahan failed that Haslett should have seen he had guys for a 4-3 defense and should have ran that scheme until he had guys for a 3-4 defense.
It’s a good thing you don’t have to rely on logic for your work or you’d be poor.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
I hope they hire Haslett too.
Signed,
December 2009.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
Haslett is fine as DC
We have had a lot worse. I think the players respect him(minus DHall) and one more offseason will give him the tools he needs.
HogHunter - January 5, 2012
def. disagree Has is a good coordinator and has gotten the most out of this team
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
Drunk and belligerent.
I liked Kyle Shanahan before, but now he gets a seat at the head table.
iH8dallas - January 5, 2012
Back to the kiddy table he goes...
http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-redskins/2012/1/2/2676568/kyle-shanahan-washington-redskins-philadelphia-eagles
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
Another malfunctioning video
CSN Washington strikes again!
willster - January 5, 2012
You Tube link in case anyone tried to watch the clip on CSN
Kyle Dropping the F bomb
willster - January 5, 2012
I like the fact that they're exploring options.
Morris was a hot coaching property a year ago (before his team quit on him), to get him as a positional coach would be worth considering.
Good to know they’re preparing in case they lose Haslett.
Also, it takes people’s minds off the ‘Skins drafting strategy for a few hours. Nice o see them running interference. Hell, maybe Morris is familiar with a college player they’re looking at drafting, or a Bucs player they’re looking at signing.
Stephen Beagrie - January 5, 2012
i wonder who the "brass" included
last offseason, shanahan was pretty direct when asked if all of his staff would return; however, this year when asked at his end of the year presser he seemed more cautious in answering that question and said he had to take some time to review….complete speculation on my part, but slowik was a shanahan guy not a haslett or 3-4 guy, and based upon the play of the secondary and lack of development of our reserves/younger CBs, along with slowik’s age, maybe slowik’s being replaced? (this same argument can be made for stephen jackson as well i think too)….is it normal to have a CB and a safety coach?
atark001 - January 5, 2012
It was mentioned on the radio Bruce Allen was there.
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
ahhhh thanks
makes sense as allen was GM there as well
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Completely talking out of my butt here... but what about Raheem Morris = Special Teams Coach
With an assistant HC title also?
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
This qualifier
is not needed. We’re all well aware what you are always doing that.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
ZING!
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
Good point +1
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
But in answer to the point
I think Chris Russell said on twitter that he talked to a redskins source about Danny Smith leaving and they said “no chance”
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
Chris Russell also said the Redskins where nowhere near signing McNabb and literally 30 mins later the signing was announced on espn radio.
Kevin Ewoldt - January 5, 2012
Well in that case,
I take back my point. But I still don’t like Morris as a special teams coach. DB coach or assistant defensive coach is fine, maybe even DC if Haslett were to leave, but not special teams.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
You really think Shanny would have a member of his staff named Asst HC? Not likely
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
Yea I really think he would considering Bobby Turner already has the title currently.
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
Well.....you learn something new everyday I guess haha
Would be a big fan of having Raheem as a coach, would create a pretty nice staff
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
assistant to the head coach?
skinsfan28 - January 5, 2012
Haha was that a Dwight?
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
I want him coaching the secondary
The D-Line is pretty solid and don’t make a bunch of mistakes. The Linebackers are our best defensive unit and other than teaching Rak a new move they are pretty solid. Our secondary on the other hand has no identity apart from D’Hall and routinely miss assignments and tackles. Overpay to have Raheem coach em up and bring some energy to the secondary and we got a top 7 defense next year. Oh, and of course cut Reed Doughty immediately.
Jeff Bernard - January 5, 2012
I'd rather have Darrell Green
prc805 - January 5, 2012
You would rather have a guy with no coaching experience vs. a guy with 13 years of experience, was a head coach, and is still only 35?
If Green wants to be a coach, then he can be an intern just like Samuels, Terrell Davis, etc
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
+1 Bring on Raheem as the DB coach and have D. Green as his asst
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
works for me
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
Would honestly be very exciting
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
as a side note
Green’s son Jared (former UVA and Southern University WR) Jared Green could be a 7th round or UDFA this year. He never did much at college, but he impressed at the HBCU Bowl and combine, and apparently could get a look. If the Skins trade back and get some extra picks, I’d love to bring in Jared Green for a look (or as a UDFA).
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
meh, I'd look but not give him any breaks
while Green is my all time favorite Redskin that doesn’t mean his son is any good. We can’t afford to make heart draft picks.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
sure but he's probably better than Austin so if we are willing to waste a draft pick there why not on someone like Green's son
I’d prefer UDFA as well, but Shanny doesn’t seem to believe in that too much.
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
I'm not opposed to using it as a tie breaker
I just don’t want to hire somebody just because of family connections.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
I say let slowik go wherever he wants. His unit was awful this past year. Bring in morris, give him a fresh start with much less responsibility and see if he can fix one of the worst units on the team.
AplastarCraneos - January 5, 2012 via mobile
I just read this entire post in an English accent thanks to the above conversation
travisjh86 - January 5, 2012
Jolly good!
You’ll just love my part of the round Cain and Able (table) post when it goes up later then. Lots of cockney rhyming slang, as requested.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
But I'm not putting the actual words in there.
I’m gonna let everyone try to guess what the word was meant to be.
UkRedskin - January 5, 2012
According to Khan...
"I think he [Gabbert] is going to be a great quarterback, I think he is our franchise quarterback. I think he needs development. We want to develop him. We want to give him tools. A dedicated coach. And I think he’s going to be great."
mkjo - January 5, 2012
!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwKryuazNMk&feature=related!
mkjo - January 5, 2012
whoops, that was a fail.
mkjo - January 5, 2012
and here is the obligatory....
KHAAAAAANN!
PAinfUL - January 5, 2012
so its official now he's interviewing for DB coach
makes me wonder why they haven’t let slowik go already now…doesn’t seem professional that they interview someone for a job that isn’t technically open yet….or maybe slowik is retiring or they already fired him but it just hasn’t been made official yet?
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Bad Form: if they are openly interviewing for his job without letting him go
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
i know right
if that’s the way its played out, it would definitely make me loose some respect for shanahan et. al….not to mention i think it would undermine his message about being professional to his team and doing things the right way…but then again we don’t really know what’s happening behind the scenes
atark001 - January 5, 2012
Exactly, we'll have to see how it plays out
StephanHart - January 5, 2012
Slowik is Shanny's boy, I doubt he would be fired, just another assistant role or something
Parks Smith - January 5, 2012
my guess would be Slowik takes an advisory role where he isn't as involved in the game planning as much but yeah this is strange
Steve Shoup - January 5, 2012
hah
At my company they regularly interview and throw job postings up on craigslist while people are still working for us. The guy that used to sit next to me saw his own job on craigslist before he was canned. Hilarious.
Al_CaPWNED - January 5, 2012
Would have been hilarious if he applied for it under a different name and got an interview
skinsfan28 - January 5, 2012
So I guess they're not interested in Darrell Green?
Andrew DeFrank - January 5, 2012
Next regime?
I know it has been speculated that Mike will hand the team off to Kyle when he is ready to hang it up. Of course, that hinges on the success of the team.
if this is the plan, could this possibly be a move to lock down the future DC for Kyle Shanahan’s coaching staff?
Romans12 - January 5, 2012
only if Shanahan produces a winning team soon
if shanahan doesn’t have a winning team in 2 years he’ll be gone and so will the idea of handing the reins over to Kyle.
aFan4Life - January 5, 2012
Um, 1year?
Who was the last coach to have 3 losing seasons and not get canned ?
hempstead - January 5, 2012 via mobile
yeah, I was being generous
I think Shanahan’s on a much tighter schedule than a lot of people think. They want to go BPA in the draft for years assuming Shanahan won’t be fired no matter how much he loses and that’s just not going to be the case.
And the enxt regime will need all new players just like this one did so we’ll start the whole bloody mess all over again.
aFan4Life - January 6, 2012
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