Ex-Washington Redskins star London Fletcher doesn't understand why defensive coordinator Jim Haslett still has a job in the NFL. The future Hall of Fame linebacker called Haslett "clueless" and a backstabber, and he suggested first-year head coach Jay Gruden fire Haslett before the coordinator throws him under the bus too.
Fletcher spent four years with Haslett in Washington and came away with one thing: Haslett shouldn't have a job in the NFL.
Per Fletcher (via the Washington Post):
"Why does Jim Haslett still have his job as a defensive coordinator after five years now of just ineptitude at the defensive coordinator position?" Fletcher asked on CBS Sports Network's That Other Pregame Show. "He's clueless as a defensive coordinator. He lacks attention to detail. He lacks feel on how to call a game. Some of the calls he used to call when I was playing were head-scratching. They were so bad, I used to change them, like, 'We're not running that.' And we'd get off the field and he would ask, 'Why did you change the call.' (I would say), 'Because that's just a dumb call. That's why I changed it.'
"For years he has always made excuses. One minute it was 'We're changing from the 3-4 and we don't have the right personnel.' Next minute it is salary cap. Next minute it is Mike Shanahan. Next minute it is injuries. Mike Shanahan recognized early that this guy does not know what he is doing. And he tried to help him out....And what does Jim Haslett do? He threw [Shanahan] under the bus just like he throws everybody under the bus, players and coaches included.
"He is a guy that does not know what he is doing. And the Washington Redskins - and Jay Gruden in particular - better watch his back and get Jim Haslett out of the door....Jay Gruden better get him out the door because he's probably back stabbing Jay Gruden like he did everybody else -- like he did to Scott Linehan in St. Louis and like he did to Mike Shanahan in Washington....
"This is a guy that would take the '85 Bears and turn them into a mediocre defense. He is clueless. He has no idea what he is doing. Believe me, I had a front row seat for four years."
Washington's defense has struggled to stop even some of the worst teams in the NFL (SEE: 27-7 loss to Tampa Bay, 24-0 loss to St. Louis). Gruden inherited Haslett from the Shanahan regime but chose to keep him. A change at defensive coordinator seems inevitable, assuming Gruden isn't fired after the season.
Gruden reportedly wants to trade quarterback Robert Griffin III, who has yet to impress him. The problem, though, is it could come down to Gruden or Griffin, and owner Dan Snyder may choose to jettison Gruden instead.
Per Jason Reid of The Post:
"Although it's unknown whether Snyder and Allen eventually will agree to trade Griffin, what has become clear from recent conversations with Redskins officials is that Gruden believes he needs a clean break from Griffin to focus on fixing Washington's 3-9 mess. And if Snyder and Allen commit to Griffin as the starter in 2015, Gruden could be 'one and done,' a team official said, alluding to Gruden possibly being fired despite four years remaining on his guaranteed five-year contract."
Gruden's style of offense doesn't cater to Griffin's style of play, which is mostly running read-option. The signal caller has regressed in his mechanics, he's struggled making reads, he's looked uncomfortable in the pocket - a poor offensive line doesn't help, but he holds onto the ball way too long and can't complete easy passes - and he's shown throughout the season he can't read defenses.
