The Washington Redskins' defense has struggled this season, and long-time linebacker London Fletcher knows exactly where to point the finger of blame: defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.
"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 Sunday on CBS Sports Network, via The Washington Post. "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.'"
Fletcher spent the past four years with Haslett, who was -- to the surprise of some -- a holdover from the previous staff.
The now-retired 16-year pro linebacker said excuses were always made for why Haslett's defenses didn't perform.
"He is a guy that does not know what he is doing," Fletcher said. "And the Washington Redskins -- and (coach) 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," Fletcher said. "He is clueless. He has no idea what he is doing. Believe me, I had a front row seat for four years."
The coordinator was asked about his former linebacker's comments after the Redskins' 24-0 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Rams.
"I just heard what London said and all I'll say is I'm disappointed in his reaction," Haslett said, stating he never had any issues with Fletcher. "Obviously, he has an opinion, but I'm disappointed that he would come out and say something like. But, every man has an opinion, and he obviously stated his."
Emphatically stated.
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