

Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland, left, breaks up a pass intended for Odell Beckham Jr. during Sunday’s third quarter. (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)

Rookie cornerback Bashaud Breeland this season has served as one of the bright spots on a beleaguered Washington Redskins defense. But on Sunday, the Clemson product found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as he drew five flags – four of which were enforced – for a total of 70 yards.

Officials flagged Breeland for unnecessary roughness, two pass interference calls, taunting and defensive holding (the Giants declined that penalty).

Breeland didn’t make apologies for his transgressions following the game, insisting that he had given good effort while playing with aggression. And he disagreed with the taunting call because, in his opinion, Odell Beckham Jr. had done worse on the play.

It turns out, Breeland had a point on two of those plays. The Redskins submitted the plays in question to the NFL and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said on Wednesday that the league office responded after reviewing the plays, saying that Breeland should not have received punishments for taunting, or for the second pass interference call.

Haslett said that he preaches to his players the importance of keeping their wits about them, and playing with strong technique so they don’t put themselves in bad positions. But he praised Breeland for his style of play, and added that he doesn’t want the cornerback to tone down his style of play.

“I’d rather have them be more aggressive than non-aggressive. … Obviously, we’ve got to get the calls correct, but I like the way the kid competes, like I’ve said before,” Haslett said. “And I would take that over the other way. But there’s a fine line because you don’t want to hurt the team. Penalties hurt us last week, obviously, and you would like to eliminate them from the game, but we also want to be aggressive at the same time.”

The pass interference call that should have never taken place came with 9 minutes 37 seconds left in the third quarter as Breeland covered Beckham along the sideline on an overthrown pass. The enforcement was for 17 yards, which moved the ball up to the Washington 17-yard line.



Bashaud Breeland, left, is called for unsportsmanlike conduct as he goes after Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Sunday. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Haslett said that he can live with penalties that take place as a result of effort. But he never wants to see personal fouls and penalties after the play. Breeland wasn’t guilty of taunting this time around, and Beckham tried to egg several other Redskins players on. But in those situations, Haslett said he preaches, “You shouldn’t engage in that.”

The aggressive style of play is a strength, however, according to Haslett. A defensive back must have a short memory and can’t let passes surrendered or penalties called dampen his spirit and cause him to become timid, the coach preaches.

“There’s a guy in Seattle who’s made a lot of money because he’s aggressive and he plays with that style,” Haslett said referring to Seattle’s Richard Sherman. “I’m not saying he’s that guy, but he has that same competitiveness that Bashaud has.”

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