The Commanders finally committed to making a change that should’ve happened a long time ago, but they had no choice
Changes are finally coming to the Commanders’ defense that people have been asking for.
The Washington Commanders’ struggles this season have been highlighted by injuries and poor play by the back seven players on defense.
We’ve seen the same results each week, as opponents continue to target certain parts of the defense, leading to explosive plays. After every game, we get the same answers about how the coaching staff will take a look at everything and make changes, but nothing happens. Head coach Dan Quinn was as frustrated as ever after the loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and said he would take away certain plays after breaking down issues.
That was followed up by defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. saying that personnel changes would finally be made this week, and he’s making a change that should’ve happened a long time ago, but also because he had no other choice.
Commanders’ defense will be making changes
The losses of both defensive ends, Deatrich Wise and Dorance Armstrong, have been huge, and the team has to adjust its scheme, which will create more opportunities for the younger players we’ve been waiting to see. After Armstrong left the game early against the Cowboys, we saw the defense play more of a 3-4 look with Jacob Martin and Frankie Luvu on the edge as outside linebackers and three defensive tackles on the inside.
Whitt Jr. spoke to the media on Friday and said personnel changes will finally be made, and that more younger players will get playing time. The change of defense will finally force linebacker Jordan Magee to get more opportunities, and Whitt Jr. even mentioned fifth-round pick Kain Medrano, too.
Unfortunately, it took multiple injuries to force this move, with Luvu playing more on the edge and Magee getting the inside linebacker looks in his place. The Commanders have been getting burned all season in obvious passing situations, with teams targeting Bobby Wagner in coverage. Magee has shown flashes in his limited time, and they need to actually see what he brings to the defense.
Medrano has yet to register a snap on defense in his rookie season, and they drafted him as a coverage linebacker but refused to let him come in on passing downs.
The Commanders need a youth movement
It’s no secret that the Commanders are the oldest team in the league, and it shows on film with their lack of speed on plays. There’s no reason to hold out the guys you just drafted while you continue to see your older players burned in coverage.
The team obviously has a lot of changes that need to be made this offseason, but taking a look at what you have on your roster is the move to make with the season already slipping away at the halfway mark.
Suppose the defense continues to look the same way in the upcoming games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions. In that case, you can expect even more changes, and the Commanders possibly turning into sellers at the trade deadline.
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