The Washington Redskins are coming off of a season in 2015 where the defense didn’t live up to expectations. After firing Jim Haslett, head coach Jay Gruden needed to hire a defensive coordinator that could turn the defense into a unit that was a clear step above where it was the previous five seasons.
However, instead of hiring a coordinator with experience like Wade Phillips, Gruden chose a younger and supposedly more energetic coordinator in Joe Barry. Insinuating that Phillips was too old. Barry promised an attacking defensive front and a defense that would be spurred on by a coach who would show more intensity than Haslett did.