ASHBURN, Va., -- If the Washington Redskins want to snap a four-game losing streak, the defense can't repeat what happened last week. And that means fixing areas that perhaps shouldn't need work at this point in the season: basic coverages.
Those were the culprits in a number of the long touchdowns allowed last week at Indianapolis. Corner David Amerson played a role in two long touchdowns and his botched assignment nearly led to a third.
“Obviously we didn't do anything that extreme,” Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said. “We were doing basic stuff to let them play and perform ... That's poor. That's not doing a good job and obviously I didn't get through to them and we didn't do a good job of getting it executed. That falls on us.”
What that means for Haslett and his future is uncertain, though coach Jay Gruden said earlier this week he'd review every coach after the season. Thursday, Haslett declined comment on his situation.
Regardless, he and his players know this week must go better. Haslett said they started by correcting the technical errors in the secondary. Most of that involved where the defensive backs had their eyes.
Amerson needs to play better. At the end of last season he was a young player growing into a bigger role. On Sunday, he allowed a 48-yard touchdown pass when he misplayed his assignment -- jumping a hitch route instead of staying deep. He also played a part in tight end Coby Fleener's wide open 30-yard touchdown catch. It was a play the Colts had not previously shown, but linebacker Trent Murphy was supposed to carry Fleener upfield and instead dropped to the flat. Amerson needed to recognize the route better and instead jumped inside to cover a curl route. That left the outside open.
Also, on the play in which Fleener dropped a wide open pass, Amerson again needed to be deep and wasn't. Haslett remains high on Amerson and blamed the mistakes on his youth.
But, Haslett added, “that stuff is correctable, but should never happen in the first place. ... We played three deep; you learn that stuff in high school. Their eyes were wrong. They were trying to make plays. That was disappointing. We obviously didn't do a very good job last week and gave up too many big plays. We have to eliminate that."
The Redskins had new players in certain spots and that could be true again Sunday. Two corners, E.J. Biggers and Chase Minnifield, did not practice Thursday because of concussion issues. Safety Brandon Meriweather also could miss with a sprained toe. It'll be a third straight game of moving parts in the secondary. Phillip Thomas, who has played 38 career snaps, likely will replace Meriweather.
