Washington Redskins part ways with coordinator Jim Haslett, what’s next?
Oct 12, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Redskins 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Redskins have announced that the team and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett have parted ways. The team states that he and head coach Jay Gruden have had talks over the last few days and that a mutually letting him go would be the best option for both the teams and Haslett.
Haslett’s tenure in D.C. was much maligned. His defense, over five years, ranked 4th to last in total yards and 3rd to last in points given up, according to Washington’s radio station 106.7 The Fan. Now that Haslett is gone, the important question becomes this: who replaces the former defensive coordinator in Washington?
The Redskins would be making a big mistake by promoting someone from within the organization (that means secondary coach Raheem Morris should not be named defensive coordinator). Instead, the team should bring in someone from outside to bring a different defensive mindset to Washington.
The problem will be finding someone who’d be willing and able to coach on a team that has been so dysfunctional, especially on defense, over the last five seasons. There are really only four starters on the defense who aren’t expandable: Ryan Kerrigan, Keenan Robinson, Bashaud Breeland, and Chris Baker. The lack of personnel may make it tough to lure someone to become the next defensive coordinator.
The best candidate, maybe not the top candidate, to assume the position is former Jets coach Rex Ryan. He has a clear defensive mindset and should bring energy and a somewhat different scheme to the Redskins’ unit – but the issue is that Ryan most likely won’t want to go anywhere as a coordinator because it would be considered a step backwards. He’ll likely go to Atlanta as the next head coach of the Falcons, but if there are no NFL head coaching opportunities for him, I’m sure most Redskins fans would welcome him with open arms as the defensive coordinator.
Another issue with Ryan coming to D.C. is that Jay Gruden, a much younger coach, is the head coach here. Knowing the type of attitude Ryan has, he may disagree with Gruden on certain calls and other football-related things, and most in the organization would think that Ryan, someone who is more successful as an NFL head coach (two AFC Championship game appearances) than Gruden, would be better as a head coach.
Bringing in Ryan as the defensive coordinator may create unnecessary drama that the Redskins don’t need. There’s all sorts of chaos in the nation’s capital already, and I’m not talking about politics – the name controversy is a huge issue, and there are some within the Redskins’ organization (the “unnamed source”) who have problems with Robert Griffin III. Adding Ryan to the mix may cause a rift with Gruden, and that’s not what people in D.C. want.
Former Dallas head coach and former Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is a more realistic candidate. There’s not exactly much of a demand for him since he left Houston, and if he’s up to returning to coaching, he should be a good fit with the Redskins.
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Last year I wrote up a list of Redskins’ candidates for head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator before the 2013 season was over. Haslett, of course, wasn’t fired after 2013, but Mike and Kyle Shanahan were. Some of those defensive coordinator candidates can apply to 2014, especially Dennis Allen, who was fired by the Raiders four weeks into the season.
"“He’s a defensive-minded head coach who could have particular appeal as a defensive coordinator if he’s let go by the Raiders.”"
That’s what I said last year about Allen. Of course, he wasn’t fired after 2013, but now is the chance to grab him.
My favorite personal candidate for defensive coordinator is Miami Dolphins’ defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers. He’s seen essentially everything in his coaching career and is considered one of the best defensive line coaches in all of football. Here’s what I wrote about him last year:
"“Rodgers is a well-respected defensive line coach. He’s helped several key Dolphins develop; Cameron Wake and 2013 first round pick Dion Jordan are among them. He may seek defensive coordinating opportunities after the 2013 season concludes. Washington should be on the lookout.”"
This still holds true, and Miami’s defensive line, especially Cameron Wake, was a wrecking crew in 2014. Bringing in someone who would be getting a promotion from outside of the team – someone unheralded and not exactly well-known – would be the best bet for Washington to succeed on defense.
Washington may not make a move soon when it comes to defense, but I (and I would think most Redskins fans) hope that whoever comes in as the new defensive coordinator is from outside of the team. Parting ways with Haslett was a step in the right direction, but there is still a ton of work to be done – the cornerstones of Keenan Robinson, Ryan Kerrigan, and Bashaud Breeland, as well as the fifth pick in the draft, may be enough to lure someone like Rodgers or Phillips to D.C.