Washington Redskins: The 5 Best Replacements for Jim Haslett

Much of the blame for the Washington Redskins struggles this season has been placed on the under-performing offense.

While they have certainly found points hard to come by, the Redskins have also been let down by their defense.

The unit has frequently failed to make a stand in clutch situations and still shows signs of struggling to adapt to the 3-4.

The schematic switch was justified by the dubious belief that the 3-4 has an inherent greater capability for producing big plays and turnovers.

But Jim Haslett's group still rank amongst the league's worst in generating takeaways. Haslett's play-calling has been highly questionable at times this season.

His decision to dial up an all out zero coverage blitz on 3rd-and-long cost the Redskins a victory against the Dallas Cowboys.

Haslett persisted with similar pressure packages against the New England Patriots. This only created further space for the Patriots talented playmakers to exploit.

It's hard to fathom the wisdom of having one of the defense's best pass rushers in Ryan Kerrigan drop and cover a receiver as dangerous as Rob Gronkowski.

Players like Brian Orakpo, who should be the focal point of this defense, are floundering under Haslett's stewardship.

Haslett's first season saw the defense fall from 10th to 31st in the league's rankings, an alarming slide into futility.

2011 has seen some improvements, but not in the areas where it counts the most. The Redskins have some defensive talent, but are failing to maximise it.

A change in coordinator could re-energise the group and get more from its core players. Here are the five best replacements for Haslett.

The Best of the Rest: Qualified Assistants Who Didn't Make the List

Most of the candidates on this list have been put forward on the basis that the Redskins will opt to continue with their 3-4 experiment.

The Redskins have attempted to create a Pittsburgh Steelers style 3-4, based on a traditional 2-gap front and multiple blitz packages.

Given that this plan has not always suited the personnel at the Redskins disposal, two assistants with prominent connections to the Steelers just missed the list.

Current Washington linebackers coach Lou Spanos held the same position for years with the Steelers. Even though a linebacking expert may seem like the ideal fit to call plays for a 3-4 front, Spanos has not quite lived up to his pedigree.

Spanos has struggled to mould Orakpo into a true 3-4 star and couldn't coax a seamless transition from former longtime starter Rocky McIntosh.

The only linebacker who has consistently performed at a high level is London Fletcher. The accomplished veteran was already a star performer long before Spanos arrived in D.C.

A prime alternative could be current Pittsburgh linebackers coach Keith Butler. But it's hard to imagine the Redskins being able to convince Butler to part ways with the Steelers.

Butler seems to be one of the leading candidates to eventually replace legendary, aging defensive guru Dick LeBeau.

5. Todd Bowles, Current Assistant Head Coach and Secondary Coach, Miami Dolphins

Todd Bowles is an intelligent and capable young assistant with strong ties to the Washington Redskins. Bowles started at safety in the Redskins' 42-10 Super Bowl victory over the Denver Broncos.

He has ascended the coaching ranks quickly and currently serves as both the assistant head coach and secondary coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Bowles has had plenty of experience coaching under several 3-4 gurus including Romeo Crennel and Eric Mangini.

Having played for one for the greatest defensive coordinators of all time in Richie Petitbon, Bowles would bring an extensive knowledge of multiple and flexible schemes to the Redskins defense.

Bowles has recently been elevated to interim head coach of the Dolphins after the dismissal of Tony Sparano. The Dolphins will likely seek an outside candidate once the season ends, and Bowles could become available.

The fact that he has never served as a coordinator before makes Bowles a risk. But he has been linked to coordinators jobs in the past, and it seems only a matter of time before he gets his shot to direct a defense.

4. Pepper Johnson, Current Defensive Line Coach, New England Patriots

A stalwart of Bill Belichick's defenses during his playing days, Pepper Johnson has done a creditable job with the Patriots defensive line this season.

Tutoring the group that has had to spearhead the Patriots change from a 3-4 to a 4-3, Johnson has moulded an aggressive unit that has risen to the occasion when it has counted.

The Patriots defensive line was the driving force behind their pivotal road victory against the New York Jets.

Although the defense as a whole has struggled mightily, Johnson's line has generated consistent pressure throughout the campaign.

Johnson has helped return Andre Carter to his finest form and has turned Kyle Love into a promising young starter.

Johnson may be difficult to tempt away from New England, but the offer of a full coordinator's title could encourage the former New York Giants great.

The play-calling on the Patriots defense still belongs to safeties coach Matt Patricia. Johnson could welcome the chance to design his own unit.

His inexperience makes him a huge gamble, but Johnson has learned from the best and his fiery demeanour could help produce a more physically intimidating Redskins defense.

3. Paul Pasqualoni, Current Head Coach, University of Connecticut

Paul Pasqualoni has a respectable record when it comes to coordinating 3-4 defenses. In 2008 he called the plays for a Miami Dolphins defense which was the main reason for the team's NFL record transformation from 1-15 to 11-5.

Pasqualoni took the reins of the Dallas Cowboys defense for the final six games of 2010 and helped steady the ship.

In Miami, Pasqualoni quickly and effectively engineered the switch to 3-4 and coaxed fine individual seasons from veterans Joey Porter and Jason Ferguson.

The former Syracuse University head coach tends to emphasise lots of zone coverage in his defensive schemes and could help the Redskins become less susceptible to surrendering big plays.

Pasqualoni's defenses have been very good at pressuring the quarterback from base packages, and he would have some fine pass rushers to work with in D.C.

More pressure from base looks would mean the Redskins no longer need to rely on reckless seven- and eight-man blitzes to get to the quarterback.

Encouraging the Connecticut native to leave his current post coaching his hometown's university would be difficult for the Redskins.

But Pasqualoni has struggled in his return to the coaching ranks. Connecticut currently stands at 5-7 and a return to the pros could still be appealing.

Pasqualoni's hard-nosed, demanding style and 3-4 expertise could help provide the Redskins with a more aggressive and efficient defense.

2. Emmit Thomas, Current Secondary Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

Legendary veteran assistant Emmitt Thomas is arguably the strongest candidate on this list. A Hall of Fame defensive back, Thomas owns Super Bowl rings as both a player and a coach.

Thomas has links to the Redskins, having coached nine seasons in Washington and won two Super Bowl rings as a member of Richie Petitbon's defensive team.

A shrewd coach, Thomas has spent his career producing skilled and savvy secondary units. During his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Thomas has turned youngsters such as Eric Berry and Brandon Flowers into leading players at their respective positions.

Thomas also has plenty of experience as a coordinator. He directed resourceful and ferocious defenses for the Philadelphia Eagles in the mid-90's.

The only question would be whether Thomas would welcome the workload of a coordinator's position at this stage of his career. He will be 69 by the time the 2012 season begins.

Given that the Chiefs have just fired Todd Haley, now may be the ideal time to pounce for Thomas. Although a new coach is unlikely to want to part with such an experienced and effective assistant.

1. Eric Mangini

Former Cleveland Browns and New York Jets head coach Eric Mangini has regularly been linked with a return to the league's sidelines this season.

Back-to-back 5-11 seasons with the Browns certainly dulled Mangini's one-time shining reputation. But the 40-year-old ex-New England Patriots defensive coordinator could be a perfect fit for the Redskins.

Mangini built his standing in the game on adapting to injuries and still fielding a competitive defense with the Patriots.

A prodigy of Bill Belichick, Mangini struggled to match some early promise as a head coach, and a return to a coordinator's role could be the ideal way to get his coaching career back on track.

Mangini has always favoured a 3-4 front, but is slightly more aggressive with his play-calling than Belichick would probably normally prefer.

Mangini is fond of using defensive backs as blitzers, something that certainly suits current Redskins safeties LaRon Landry and O.J. Atogwe.

Mangini wasted no time in converting the Jets to a 3-4 front and assembled a talented defensive roster during his time in the Big Apple.

Having started as a secondary coach, Mangini can be credited with fostering the emergence of two outstanding cornerbacks.

Both Darelle Revis and Joe Haden were thrust into starting roles by Mangini, and both quickly became elite performers.

His expertise could revive a Redskins secondary that has struggled in crucial moments during this season.

A strict disciplinarian, Mangini could mould a more professional unit that no longer makes allowances for the antics of players such as DeAngelo Hall.

The burning question with Mangini is how well his sullen demeanour would co-exist with the temperament of Mike Shanahan. Mangini is noted for having an ego, something that is unlikely to impress the autocratic Shanahan.

But Mangini is a bright and youthful coach who would bring fresh ideas and a greater sense of order and accountability to the Redskins defense. This could make him well worth what would surely be a significant investment to secure his services. 

Haslett Has Faced Problems but Others Have Done Better in Similar Circumstances

There is no denying that Jim Haslett has faced some difficult challenges during his time in Washington. The Albert Haynesworth situation was immediately thrust upon him.

Haslett also came to a team deeply rooted in the 4-3 defense. Haslett was tasked with teaching new principles to several career long 4-3 practitioners.

But the fact remains that the Redskins have struggled mightily with the schematic switch. 2010's defense was perhaps the worst in franchise history.

The numbers may have improved this season, but the Redskins continue to fail to make plays in clutch situations or produce the turnovers that the new system was supposed to deliver.

A few more stands in critical moments this season would have turned some of the Redskins nine defeats into wins.

The transition between systems is a difficult one, but others have managed a faster and more seamless switch.

Wade Phillips has wasted no time at all in creating an effective 3-4 defense with the Houston Texans. In Denver, Dennis Allen and John Fox shifted the Broncos from a 3-4 and have quickly constructed a dangerous 4-3 unit.

The Redskins still give the impression that several defenders are either wasted or lost in the new system and the responsibility lies with Haslett.

A change in coordinator and play-calling could ensure that Washington's defense goes from being simply promising and instead becomes formidable.