Commanders’ latest defensive coordinator interview could be the sneaky hire that improves their biggest weakness
The Commanders are interviewing Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, and he could be an underrated hire that improves Dan Quinn’s defense.
The Washington Commanders wasted no time making a quick decision to move on from defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr, and now head coach Dan Quinn needs to make the right hire to save his job.
Quinn will have his top candidates as a defensive-minded head coach, and former coaches that he’s spent time with will likely be near the top. Raheem Morris could be the candidate to watch, but it could also take some time with his interviews at other teams. In the meantime, the Commanders requested one interview that would improve the defensive line significantly.
Commanders request to interview Chiefs’ defensive line coach Joe Cullen
The Commanders began requesting interviews with defensive coordinator candidates just as quickly as they made changes after the season ended.
The first interviews requested were with Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Then the Commanders interviewed an underrated candidate in Joe Cullen, who has been the Kansas City Chiefs’ defensive line coach since 2022.
Cullen has been a defensive coach since 1991 and has extensive experience calling plays as a defensive coordinator, most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021. Quinn will likely want an experienced defensive coach as the next defensive coordinator, rather than a young coach like David Blough on offense.
The players like Cullen, and he brings an intensity on defense that Quinn would love to have around his scheme. Cullen is another old-school coach who would mesh well with what Quinn wants to do.
Joe Cullen could bring out the best in the defensive line
Cullen has done a great job with the Chiefs’ defensive line over the last few seasons, and even in a down year this season with a top-10 defense under Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs allowed the ninth-lowest rushing yards per game, and that starts up front with Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, and others in the trenches. The Commanders had the third-worst rushing defense in the league, even with the majority of the team’s salary cap invested in Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw.
The Chiefs haven’t invested a lot of draft capital or salary cap on the defensive line, and Cullen still got a lot out of others outside of Jones. The Commanders need to invest and revamp the defensive line this offseason, and not just at the edge position. The defensive tackles have been very disappointing, and hopefully, Cullen could get the most out of Javon Kinlaw and Johnny Newton, while Adam Peters decides on Payne.
The Commanders will have many defensive coordinator candidates, but an outside-the-box hire could be a possibility. Expect them to exhaust all options, and the process could take a while unless Morris makes a quick decision.
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