Even after just two games, the change is obvious. The people who know him best know. Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has regained his groove.
He’s no longer putting out fires. His days as an amateur psychologist are over. Focusing exclusively on the group instead of worrying about individuals, Haslett is in top form again. The guy leading the defense is showing he was the right one all along.
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“Oh, man, Haz, he’s doing a phenomenal job, man,” outside linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “He’s just pushing those right buttons.”
A better mix of players has helped. Barry Cofield. Stephen Bowen. Ryan Kerrigan. Those newcomers have made Haslett’s job easier and more enjoyable. They’ve improved his situation. And with Haslett in a good place, the Redskins are better off, too.
Washington’s continued development on defense is essential to Coach Mike Shanahan’s overall plan. Haslett has a big job. Finally, his attention is all on it.
With the Redskins preparing to face the rival Dallas Cowboys on Monday night, Haslett is confident all the team’s defensive players want to play. He has no concerns about the effort they’ll give. On the NFL’s 11th-ranked defense, everyone is together.
That wasn’t always the case during Haslett’s first season at Redskins Park. During the offseason, Albert Haynesworth moved on to the New England Patriots and management invested heavily on defense.
It was a win-win combination for the entire organization, but Haslett benefited most because “we weeded out guys who didn’t want to be here and brought in guys who did,” strong safety LaRon Landry said. “If you’re [Haslett], how could you not” be happy?
Haslett is quick to downplay the “Haynesworth factor.” He says nothing last season diverted his attention from the bigger picture. Haslett has been doing this far too long to let one problem distract him, he emphasized shortly before practice Thursday.
No doubt, Haslett knows how to compartmentalize. He has overcome obstacles as a player, assistant coach and head coach throughout a successful career. Haynesworth’s season-long squabble with Shanahan, however, was an uncommon hurdle. Even for someone with Haslett’s seen-it-all experience, that was a new one.
Haslett was stuck in the middle from the start. Shanahan wanted him to get something from Haynesworth, who made it known he disliked his working conditions and wasn’t particularly interested in giving a lot under the circumstances.
Beginning in training camp, the Redskins gave Haynesworth extra attention, and Haslett had hands-on involvement. Obviously, Haslett still performed his other duties. Each game, the Redskins had defensive game plans regardless of what was happening with Haynesworth.
Every second Haslett spent trying to get Haynesworth up to speed, though, was time he could have directed elsewhere. Each message he relayed from Shanahan to Haynesworth was a wasted motion.
There were better ways in which Haslett could have applied himself, and he acknowledged the Redskins “spent more time trying to get [Haynesworth] ready. That’s true. That’s obvious. But I would do that for anybody.”
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