In defense of his defense, Haslett as passionate as ever
What made those problems at the tackle spot even more difficult to handle was that the Rams had used three first-round picks on the position in the past 10 years. Jimmy Kennedy was the only one of those players on the roster last season, and he has since been traded to the Denver Broncos. Damione Lewis now with Carolina and Ryan Pickett is with the Green Bay Packers.
"We're better up front now," Haslett said. "I really like this group."
It will take improvement by some young players to really improve the defense. That includes corner Tye Hill, last year's first-round pick who has some nice cover skills, and safety O.J. Atogwe, a third-year player who started for the first time in 2006. It was also the first year for Will Witherspoon, last year's marquee free-agent signing, to play in the middle. Haslett said it took time for him to adjust.
"The guys are more comfortable," Haslett said. "You can see it."
Haslett is also comfortable in his role as the coordinator, which is a step back after being head coach of the New Orleans Saints for six years. In January 2006, he wasn't sure he'd be coaching last year. He was fired as coach of the Saints, a move made after one of the most-trying seasons in any coach's career.
He was responsible for leading the nomadic Saints after Hurricane Katrina forced them out of New Orleans. They moved operations to San Antonio, practiced on makeshift fields, lived out of hotels and inside the Alamodome and played games in San Antonio and in Baton Rouge.
Haslett lost 25 pounds that year, and while he earned endless praise from his players, he was let go after the season. Fair? No, but is the NFL ever fair?
Ready to sit out the season -- he was still owed a year by the Saints -- Haslett got a call from Rams coach Scott Linehan inquiring if he'd be interested in being his defensive coordinator. Even though the two really didn't know each other, Haslett decided to take the job. Linehan is an offensive mind, and he pretty much leaves Haslett to run the defensive side, which is Haslett's calling card.
"I really enjoyed it after that crazy year with the Saints," Haslett said. "The players on this team are good guys. They're fun to coach. It made for an easy transition."
Haslett watched last season as his former team went to the NFC Championship Game. Many said the biggest difference on that team was that the coaching staff had changed, a direct shot at Haslett and his staff. But the team also had a new quarterback in Drew Brees, not Aaron Brooks. Quarterbacks run this league, not coaches.
While the Saints made the run, Haslett said there was no bitterness. That's because a lot of the key players, including running back Deuce McAllister, tackle Jammal Brown, receiver Devery Henderson, fullback Mike Karney and others were brought to the team on his watch.
"I was happy for the players after what a lot of them went through the year before," Haslett said. "Nobody could possibly understand what those guys went through unless they were a part of it."
As he readies for 2007, Haslett does so with an eye on becoming a head coach again. He was 45-51 in his six seasons as the Saints head coach, but 13 of those losses came in the nomadic season of 2005. His worst season before that was 7-9 in 2001, his only losing season in his first five years.
In a league where Norv Turner gets a third chance, shouldn't Haslett get a second? In my mind, he's a much better coach than what the perception might be, plus dealing with that 2005 season should earn him some résumé points on somebody's list.
"Everybody is looking for the hot guy each year," Haslett said. "I would love the opportunity to be a head coach again, but I'm enjoying what I'm doing here. We have a lot of work to do. If we improve, we'll see how it goes."
If the defense improves, and the Rams make the playoffs, the rip jobs will stop and Haslett will be back off the head-coaching backburner.
Who knows? If the defense makes a major improvement, he just might find himself the 2008 hot guy.
