Greg Manusky will remain the Washington Redskins defensive coordinator, according to Les Carpenter of the Washington Post. This is after the team pursued three high-profiled defensive coordinator candidates while Manusky was officially on the staff.
A person with knowledge of Washington’s offseason plans said Coach Jay Gruden was looking for “different perspectives” in the conversations with outside coaches. The team is keeping Manusky, in part, because Gruden wants to keep continuity with a young defense that showed promise of being one of the league’s better units last year.
Washington Post
Washington had reported meetings with Todd Bowles, Gregg Williams, and Steve Wilks. All three chose other options — Bowles went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Williams to the New York Jets, and Wilks to the Cleveland Browns. The Redskins also met with former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods, but he chose to be the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive passing game coordinator.
It appeared the Redskins weighed their options while keeping Manusky as an insurance policy despite Carpenter’s sources referring to the reported meetings as “different perspectives.”
Manusky has been under fire after two subpar seasons as the Redskins’ defensive coordinator. Former Redskins safety DJ Swearinger often criticized the defense’s scheme and approach, culminating with his post-game tirade following a Week 16 loss to the Tennessee Titans that all but eliminated the Redskins from postseason contention.
Swearinger’s repeated criticism ultimately led to his release, however, it seems that his words did not go unnoticed within the Redskins’ decision-makers. The pursuit of three different defensive coordinator candidates displays they kicked around thoughts of change one way or another.
Change will have to come in approach now it seems, as all signs point to Manusky returning.
