2025 Washington Commanders- All Things Defense

[Conn]

I mean, shouldn’t the players already be doing things the way Quinn wants? Whitt is running his version of Quinn’s scheme. If the players are being taught a less effective way to do things from the defensive assistants, and Quinn has to correct that, then doesn’t that call into question what the hell our CEO HC has been doing this whole time? What is his job exactly if it’s not making sure his assistants coach the players up the way he wants

 

[Boone]

Jesus Christ guys… you beat on Quinn for doing nothing and now you’re going to beat on him for doing something.

What is it you want?

 

[skinsinparadise]

There’s years worth of tape of whatever Quinn is going to cook up. I’m sure he can do better than Whitt but I still expect McDaniel to wreck us and Tua to look like a pro bowl QB

Maybe so will see. But I am not fearful of Miami the way I was the last few opponents. I think the biggest challange Quinn has of course is who the heck is left. They are down so many guys and adding Payne and Amos to the pile feels comically bad.

But my point is they don't have the excuse of going up against some big time offense. The Dolphins offense is ranked 25th this year. They were 22nd the previous year. Tua is just OK.

I talk to a hardcore Dolphin fan almost every day, lol also my dentist who did a crown for me today, also hardcore fan among others. They are stunned at the turn of events as to Washington's collapse. They still think the Dolphins suck -- their explanation for the win against the Bills is they do that almost every year -- upset some team in the division. Back in the day it used to be Brady and the Patriots. I'd say at a minimum they aren't high on their team. they've already dumped their GM.

When Washington faced the Lions, I expected them to be destroyed. they can lose to Miami don't get me wrong. But if they get boatraced by Miami, that would be embarassing. being destroyed by KC, Seattle, Detriot isn't hot -- but those are three really good teams. Miami isn't good IMO.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Jesus Christ guys… you beat on Quinn for doing nothing and now you’re going to beat on him for doing something.

What is it you want?

Not me. I love it. I think its a bold move to demote his pal.

While I get the skepticism that they won't improve in a big way -- the current roster is lacking in a big way and in that regard Quinn is inheriting a worst roster than what Whitt had.

I am just not a this is the same scheme kind of guy where I find it that meaningful. Bieniemy ran Andy Reid's scheme. Scott Turner learned from his father, etc. While that gives you a window into the overall philosophy of the scheme that's just a part of the equation and arguably a small part of the equation.

Bruce Arians' book about Qbs is the best one I've ever read about the game and a big part of what he talked about is the chess game. Every week is a chess game where the offensive coordinator is trying to outwit the defensive coordinator and vice versa. Much of it is understanding the Qb's tendencies and for the D coordinator how to bring out their worst.

What are the opponent's tendencies. What are their favorite man beater plays. How does the QB react with simulated pressure? 15 zllion things like that. So much of it is about understanding what the other coordinator wants to do.

I know Quinn has gotten roasted for struggiling versus some coordinators especially from the Kyle tree. But he's had somewhat consistent top 10 defenses because he wins these chess matches more than he loses them.

I agree with the point made by people about good luck doing it with this roster. They are probably right on that. But the idea that Whitt runs the same scheme and Quinn listened to the calls doesn't move me one whit. By Quinn's own admission when being a head coach he doesn't want to be involved in X's and Os game planning. So the odds to me are pretty low when Whitt calls name that play against name that formation -- Quinn has the reference point of hey I was pulling an all nighter studying the Seahwaks offense so I have a strong idea whether Whitt is making the right chess match move.

 

[clskinsfan]

Fuck

Season is over anyways. I wouldnt put JD back on the field the rest of the year either. Amos could use the reps. But I think he has shown enough to know he is a keeper. Time to play all of the young guys on the team going forward. Ertz needs to sit. And I know Wagner is a hall of famer and it's tough to bench him, but he needs to sit as well.

 

[Conn]

Jesus Christ guys… you beat on Quinn for doing nothing and now you’re going to beat on him for doing something.

What is it you want?

No, I think it’s the right move. I’ve said he has no other choice, he has to do something to shake things up and keep the faith of the locker room. It’s clear the players have been going into games expecting to give up points and be confused. Keeping Whitt in charge would mean losing the locker room imo. He can learn some things about his young personnel that helps with decision-making this offseason, as well.

I just don’t expect the results to change that much for the reasons I’ve stated. And if they do, it raises the question of what he was doing before.

It’s all just patching gaping wounds until the offseason and a new DC hire regardless, but I’m sure we’ll learn a bit about Quinn over the rest of the season.

Something being necessary and rational doesn’t mean it’s going to go well, though. Doesn’t mean people wanted to keep seeing Whitt’s defense every week.

 

[clskinsfan]

Feels like DQ taking over playcalling is just to try and quiet the boiling frustration more than anything else.

Which is what he has to do in all honesty. Especially for his players. Cant lose the locker room.

 

[Discobob]

re: Whitt

This may seem tiny or petty, but I absolutely hated this response from Whitt during his introductory press conference to a rather innocuous question from John Kein (who comes across as very gracious and non-confrontational).

John (paraphrase): Why do you feel ready to be a defensive coordinator?

Whitt: Uh I've been coaching in league for 18 years okay? I see a lot of these young guys get opportunities years, years, years prior and nobody really questioned them. You know what I'm saying? I've been ready.

< Begin Rant >

Well guess what Joe? You weren't ready and it turns out you suck as a DC!

< End Rant >

 

[Conn]

Maybe so will see. But I am not fearful of Miami the way I was the last few opponents. I think the biggest challange Quinn has of course is who the heck is left. They are down so many guys and adding Payne and Amos to the pile feels comically bad.

But my point is they don't have the excuse of going up against some big time offense. The Dolphins offense is ranked 25th this year. They were 22nd the previous year. Tua is just OK.

I talk to a hardcore Dolphin fan almost every day, lol also my dentist who did a crown for me today, also hardcore fan among others. They are stunned at the turn of events as to Washington's collapse. They still think the Dolphins suck -- their explanation for the win against the Bills is they do that almost every year -- upset some team in the division. Back in the day it used to be Brady and the Patriots. I'd say at a minimum they aren't high on their team. they've already dumped their GM.

When Washington faced the Lions, I expected them to be destroyed. they can lose to Miami don't get me wrong. But if they get boatraced by Miami, that would be embarassing. being destroyed by KC, Seattle, Detriot isn't hot -- but those are three really good teams. Miami isn't good IMO.

I agree across the board about the quality of the Dolphins vs other recent actual good opponents. I still do think they stack another 21+ point loss onto the record, though.

That’s how bad I think things are for us right now, and the Dolphins have a bit of a bounce to their step all of a sudden. Maybe Quinn calling plays provides that for us as well, will be interesting to see. Our players have been taking the field like they have machine guns pointed at their backs lately, it seems from the outside.

 

[Conn]

Not me. I love it. I think its a bold move to demote his pal.

While I get the skepticism that they won't improve in a big way -- the current roster is lacking in a big way and in that regard Quinn is inheriting a worst roster than what Whitt had.

I am just not a this is the same scheme kind of guy where I find it that meaningful. Bieniemy ran Andy Reid's scheme. Scott Turner learned from his father, etc. While that gives you a window into the overall philosophy of the scheme that's just a part of the equation and arguably a small part of the equation.

Bruce Arians' book about Qbs is the best one I've ever read about the game and a big part of what he talked about is the chess game. Every week is a chess game where the offensive coordinator is trying to outwit the defensive coordinator and vice versa. Much of it is understanding the Qb's tendencies and for the D coordinator how to bring out their worst.

What are the opponent's tendencies. What are their favorite man beater plays. How does the QB react with simulated pressure? 15 zllion things like that. So much of it is about understanding what the other coordinator wants to do.

I know Quinn has gotten roasted for struggiling versus some coordinators especially from the Kyle tree. But he's had somewhat consistent top 10 defenses because he wins these chess matches more than he loses them.

I agree with the point made by people about good luck doing it with this roster. They are probably right on that. But the idea that Whitt runs the same scheme and Quinn listened to the calls doesn't move me one whit. By Quinn's own admission when being a head coach he doesn't want to be involved in X's and Os game planning. So the odds to me are pretty low when Whitt calls name that play against name that formation -- Quinn has the reference point of hey I was pulling an all nighter studying the Seahwaks offense so I have a strong idea whether Whitt is making the right chess match move.

What do you think Quinn does all week, then? My understanding was that he still sits in on these meetings and has his input on the defensive gameplan—and also as much as he can with Kliff and the offensive game plan. I agree that he’s not running these meetings, his pitch to AP was that he would succeed as a CEO HC who has his hands on every part of the operation in a managerial role. To me that would include offering his knowledge and expertise on both sides of the ball as often as possible, without having to actually grind tape into the early hours of the morning and mastermind either side of the ball himself, or call the plays himself on gameday. But having input on the macro direction of the game plan and observing what the assistant coaches are showing the players in practice and preaching in positional meeting rooms?? That’s gotta be the majority of his job, right?

The idea that he’s not involved in the X’s and O’s at all until he demoted Whitt and took over this week? That seems crazy, what the hell does Quinn do when everyone spends all week in meetings then? I’m seriously asking

 

[HailYeah]

Not defending Whitt as I'd rather we had someone else at DC, but two big differences I see from last year are injuries and offensive control/TOP. Last year we were 7th in time of possession at about 30:51 average. This year we are 28th at 28:17. Now i know that's not a huge difference, but that is just the average and down 21 spots. I think we can mostly agree that Injuries have affected our willingness to get into a 4th and manageable, let alone go for it. Last year we were ranked 6th in scoring and this year 22nd. I never thought our defense was very scary last year - just average against the pass and below average against the run which the stats also show. This really is a tough year to evaluate the team with the circumstances they've found themselves in.

 

[Conn]

The failure of the offense to consistently sustain drives has definitely hurt the defense.

But that’s just one factor. Even with plenty of rest or early in games we get these sorts of outcomes:

 

[Conn]

A lot of trickle down effects like this hitting our young defensive players, though. Lack of confidence, lack of understanding of what the coaches seem to want (I can only assume, given the coaches repeating that the players are overwhelmed and pressing and confused), offense not playing complementary football.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

Just to be clear, this may be a wish for a new HC and structure next year. I am not sharing an opinion on that here, but if they lose by 1, 7 more times, that is what it "may" mean. It also may mean they roll with this structure given the injuries. Do you have a position on maintaining the HC?

If AP makes the decision to move on from Quinn, I wouldn’t be upset about it. I don’t think there’s any way that’s happening though, even if they lose out.

 

[BayouBrave86]

Quinn helped get our franchise QB injured again and he has employed a terrible defense and he's supposed to be known as a defense guy. I won't be sad to see him leave either. 28-3..never forget.

 

[Commander Wraith]

Jesus Christ guys… you beat on Quinn for doing nothing and now you’re going to beat on him for doing something.

What is it you want?

I had the thought earlier that this could be viewed as a no-win situation. If the defense doesn’t improve, Whitt wasn’t the problem, Quinn looks like he was scape-goating Whitt, and Whitt maybe sticks around next season. If the defense does improve, why didn’t Quinn address this earlier and do we really need that much help on the defense personnel-wise?

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

If AP makes the decision to move on from Quinn, I wouldn’t be upset about it. I don’t think there’s any way that’s happening though, even if they lose out.

I'm not so sure about that.

Hiccups in progress are definitely acceptable, but guys like Harris I think tend to look at things with a quantitative approach. So you think about it like a vector. It doesn't have to be smooth, you can even have a dip, but a substantial dip? I think we are there.

That's a red flag somewhere. It's true the Commanders were decimated by injuries and in y1 maybe you were on the other side of that curve; you do have a built-in excuse there. However, if they start setting negative records? If it starts looking like maybe the coaches have lost the locker room?

There are certain characteristics that if they come through - I can see DQ getting fired. I don't know how likely it is at all. I think most good sports owners really hate the idea of doing that with a short window; the most important reason not to do that is your next hire(s) don't want to feel like they have to look over your shoulder, and now you are "that org." So there is some calculated risk; that risk depends partly on how the story is framed, though.

The Snyder years were filled with the worst "framing" imaginable. So the epitome of the "meddlesome" owner became Snyder, #1 in the negative PR department.

If they can manage that aspect, and they see the trajectory as being too negative, I could see a move being made.

 

[NoCalSkins]

Two things:

1. I don't expect the defense to morph into anything much different with Quinn taking over play calling. Maybe in some specific situations it could help, but I have a feeling that two weeks in a row where you are messing with Whitt's routine & role, you are basically saying Whitt should probably put his home up for sale this offseason.

2. I am interested in whether Ownership/Front office feel the defense is cooked no matter what or if they are actually leaning on Quinn to find a way to get improvement out of them before the end of the season, because if so, then I wonder if Quinn taking a more hands-on role from here on out means it could also end up dooming his job too if things stay this bad or even get worse?

 

[AngryChuckT]

Basically same scheme or not, I am really interested in the attitude of the Defense. Will they be popping and aggressive but with composure - i.e., they want to play and with pride. If they do it is an indictment of Whitt and confirmation of the rumors about the locker room

 

[RedWolf]

I actually liked that Payne popped somebody in the face. Shows heart