2025 Washington Commanders- All Things Defense

[Conn]

I don’t think Von is going into coaching. He has a podcast. I can see him going into the media route.

Similarly, I am curious about what Bobby does. One of the reasons he came here was to get his MBA from Howard. Guessing he goes into business.

I would certainly be open to bringing Von back next year as the pass rush specialist. He is top 40 in the league in sacks off a limited snap count.

Yeah Wagner for sure won’t be going into the grind of coaching, he’s already buying up minority share interests in cheaper pro sports leagues. He wants to build businesses and wealth. He’s friendly with Suh who did the same and used his NFL money to seed a much larger fortune as a VC and angel investor.

Agreed on your Miller take, seems like a guy destined for the media.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Rewatched the Dolphins game on All 22 just now. Just some thoughts.

A. Kinlaw is disruptive and is doubled teamed a lot (again), makes big plays in big moments

B. D. Savage seems to be the most sound tackler in the secondary even though that's not always his rep

C. Reaves plays with a lot of fire. He's like Kinlaw by that he makes some clutch plays but needs more consistency

D. Luvu looks like just a guy at best when he's a stand up pass rusher. If they want to bring in Magee, I get it. But why be shy about benching either LB for a play or two. I get the thought by some is sit down Wagner. But I think it makes more sense to sit down Luvu when you bring in Magee and want to stick to just a 2 LB set.

E. Magee played well, not killer, but good and like Savage he tackles in a sound-consistent way. He wraps the tackle up.

F. Newton has some moments. Looks like he's like D. Payne where his motor runs hot and cold.

G. Love the combination of Goldman-Kinlaw with Wagner behind them as to goal line stands.

Just one comment on the offense, wow are they going heavy personnel a ton, they look like the Ravens stylistically with 12-13 personnel and going with that extra O lineman. Imagine if they had better tight ends? Ertz is meh as a blocker. And Bates is meh as a receiver. Yankoff though undersized looked decent as a blocker -- wonder if they push that more. If they lean in hard to 12-13 personnel, I'd like to see Sinnott, assuming he's back and Yankoff more.

And heck right now it looks like a rare good FA and draft for the TE spot. I get part of the method to the madness is they lack of Wrs right now. But I like leaning into this some for the rest of the season -- its a good counter to teams crowding the box -- and helps both establish the run and protect the QB. I get it limits the passing game at the same time but Denver, Minny, NY have great D lines. Heck Dallas' D line is now playing well. Eagles have Jalen. Be interesting to see how hard they continue to lean into heavy personnel.

 

[Chris]

C’mon SIP. You know Kinlaw is a bust signing and is never double-teamed. 😉

 

[DWinzit]

Rewatched the Dolphins game on All 22 just now. Just some thoughts.

A. Kinlaw is disruptive and is doubled teamed a lot (again), makes big plays in big moments

B. D. Savage seems to be the most sound tackler in the secondary even though that's not always his rep

C. Reaves plays with a lot of fire. He's like Kinlaw by that he makes some clutch plays but needs more consistency

D. Luvu looks like just a guy at best when he's a stand up pass rusher. If they want to bring in Magee, I get it. But why be shy about benching either LB for a play or two. I get the thought by some is sit down Wagner. But I think it makes more sense to sit down Luvu when you bring in Magee and want to stick to just a 2 LB set.

E. Magee played well, not killer, but good and like Savage he tackles in a sound-consistent way. He wraps the tackle up.

F. Newton has some moments. Looks like he's like D. Payne where his motor runs hot and cold.

G. Love the combination of Goldman-Kinlaw with Wagner behind them as to goal line stands.

Just one comment on the offense, wow are they going heavy personnel a ton, they look like the Ravens stylistically with 12-13 personnel and going with that extra O lineman. Imagine if they had better tight ends? Ertz is meh as a blocker. And Bates is meh as a receiver. Yankoff though undersized looked decent as a blocker -- wonder if they push that more. If they lean in hard to 12-13 personnel, I'd like to see Sinnott, assuming he's back and Yankoff more.

And heck right now it looks like a rare good FA and draft for the TE spot. I get part of the method to the madness is they lack of Wrs right now. But I like leaning into this some for the rest of the season -- its a good counter to teams crowding the box -- and helps both establish the run and protect the QB. I get it limits the passing game at the same time but Denver, Minny, NY have great D lines. Heck Dallas' D line is now playing well. Eagles have Jalen. Be interesting to see how hard they continue to lean into heavy personnel.

AP deserves a lot of credit with making sure to get Kinlaw signed. He has really proved his worth.

I have been a fan of Savage since the 2019 draft. I wouldn't mind them bringing him back and my goodness how freaking good has Reaves looked a times. He outplayed my expectations

I agree he Magee should be sprinkled in more in place of Luvu but I think he should be splitting with Wagner as well. Sill would like to see Medrano at some point too

I didn't realize the amount of heavy personnel they were in and would love to see more of it even when Daniels returns. We have a really good line and yes, we drastically need a good all around TE. I would not be shocked if they go at FA TE hard. I actually thought we'd see more of Yankoff last week

 

[skinsinparadise]

AP deserves a lot of credit with making sure to get Kinlaw signed. He has really proved his worth.

I have been a fan of Savage since the 2019 draft. I wouldn't mind them bringing him back and my goodness how freaking good has Reaves looked a times. He outplayed my expectations

I agree he Magee should be sprinkled in more in place of Luvu but I think he should be splitting with Wagner as well. Sill would like to see Medrano at some point too

I didn't realize the amount of heavy personnel they were in and would love to see more of it even when Daniels returns. We have a really good line and yes, we drastically need a good all around TE. I would not be shocked if they go at FA TE hard. I actually thought we'd see more of Yankoff last week

Yeah 15 million is a nice signing. Logan Paulsen and Suter (who does the Sheehan film reviews) love him. i am not sure i love him but I do like him a lot. I think he'd benefit from having another dude on DT who plays with similar energy-fire. For example look at Dallas where Osa now works with Q. Williams. It pains me to see J. Clowney a dude I wanted play well for Dallas. Dallas by signing Clowney and trading for Q. Williams transformed that D line.

This team needs to pair Kinlaw with another DT. Payne is mostly good but not dominant. I know easier said than done. But I'd like to see some real aggression from Peters this off season as to the D line. I am less worried about the secondary -- IMO the issues there are likely a combination of bad coaching and lack of pressure coming from the D line.

With Kinlaw, Armstrong that's a good start. J. Martin is good depth. But IMO they need two really big time impact D lineman. Too bad they didn't sign Josh Sweat last off season, he's having a big season. Kinlaw was a good signing but IMO Peters needed to do a lot more.

 

[DWinzit]

Couldn't agree more on Kinlaw Armstrong and Martin being a good start for next year. Very happy with all of their play when in the lineup. They are going to need to go hard after some quality defensive talent which AP did pull up on when looking at Sweat (who should have been our #1 target this year).

I am having a hard time understanding Luvu who was a powerhouse player last year. He was my favorite acquisition. They absolutely should see him as a rusher isn't working. He seems to be running in quicksand and lacks some of the passion from last year. I guess losing doesn't help....

I hope they don't feel they need to resign Payne. He has had a decent year but nothing great and has benefited from having Kinlaw (I think?)

 

[method man]

Couldn't agree more on Kinlaw Armstrong and Martin being a good start for next year. Very happy with all of their play when in the lineup. They are going to need to go hard after some quality defensive talent which AP did pull up on when looking at Sweat (who should have been our #1 target this year).

I am having a hard time understanding Luvu who was a powerhouse player last year. He was my favorite acquisition. They absolutely should see him as a rusher isn't working. He seems to be running in quicksand and lacks some of the passion from last year. I guess losing doesn't help....

I hope they don't feel they need to resign Payne. He has had a decent year but nothing great and has benefited from having Kinlaw (I think?)

With Luvu, they are basically using him as a 3-4 OLB with the injuries which he is not good at. He is at his best as an off ball LB who crushes running backs as a blitzer

 

[Riggo44]

Forbes just got roasted for a TD...

 

[skinsinparadise]

With Luvu, they are basically using him as a 3-4 OLB with the injuries which he is not good at. He is at his best as an off ball LB who crushes running backs as a blitzer

Yeah Luvu is a good blitzing LB, but he's clearly no edge or stand up 3-4 LB.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Couldn't agree more on Kinlaw Armstrong and Martin being a good start for next year. Very happy with all of their play when in the lineup. They are going to need to go hard after some quality defensive talent which AP did pull up on when looking at Sweat (who should have been our #1 target this year).

I am having a hard time understanding Luvu who was a powerhouse player last year. He was my favorite acquisition. They absolutely should see him as a rusher isn't working. He seems to be running in quicksand and lacks some of the passion from last year. I guess losing doesn't help....

I hope they don't feel they need to resign Payne. He has had a decent year but nothing great and has benefited from having Kinlaw (I think?)

As critical as I am as to Peters off season, i also think he's a smart dude. So I don't think there is any chance that it will be lost on him to go to town on DE and WR this off season.

Yeah at that high cap number, I'd move on from Payne.

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah at that high cap number, I'd move on from Payne.

We only save $16m or so by cutting him, per OTC. Do we sign another starting DT for that? Post June 1 is 22.8, with 5.6 dead money in 2027.

I also want to see him playing for another contract.

 

[skinsinparadise]

We only save $16m or so by cutting him, per OTC. Do we sign another starting DT for that? Post June 1 is 22.8, with 5.6 dead money in 2027.

I also want to see him playing for another contract.

Depends on what else they do. I'd rather pay more money for example to Franklin-Myers or Travis Jones but lets say they go big on edge and don't want to do so at DT and it would save them money to stick with Payne, I'd be fine with that.

 

[method man]

Yeah Wagner for sure won’t be going into the grind of coaching, he’s already buying up minority share interests in cheaper pro sports leagues. He wants to build businesses and wealth. He’s friendly with Suh who did the same and used his NFL money to seed a much larger fortune as a VC and angel investor.

Agreed on your Miller take, seems like a guy destined for the media.

A bunch of the Seattle guys have focused on investing after or during their playing days - Sherman (partnered w Sheldon Day actually), Lockett (realtor), Lynch (investor), KJ Wright (an acquaintance had partnered with him on a business project). Russ has had a bunch of business ventures

 

[SkinsFTW]

We only save $16m or so by cutting him, per OTC. Do we sign another starting DT for that? Post June 1 is 22.8, with 5.6 dead money in 2027.

I also want to see him playing for another contract.

But then he could try to pull a McLaurin and hold out for another contract in August.

I would have traded him last month.

 

[method man]

But then he could try to pull a McLaurin and hold out for another contract in August.

I would have traded him last month.

Dude has no leverage to do that. Terry did it coming off an All Pro year.

Also remember that before he signed his second contract, Payne was in the last year of his rookie deal, did a hold in and did eventually play the full season without a new contract

 

[Riggo44]

Games like last night give me hope for next year. The defense is down to its studs due to injury and it battled so hard, Davey Martinez would be proud!

I thought they played really well. There were still coverage break downs--Wagner in OT was the most glaring. You could tell there was something different going on--and Mikey looked like he enjoyed football again.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Games like last night give me hope for next year. The defense is down to its studs due to injury and it battled so hard, Davey Martinez would be proud!

I thought they played really well. There were still coverage break downs--Wagner in OT was the most glaring. You could tell there was something different going on--and Mikey looked like he enjoyed football again.

Regular schedule. Regular injuries. Beef up on WR and Edge.

As Logan Paulsen said their is an advantage playuing this season basically left handed -- you learn a lot and evelopm more than usual. Although more painful to go 5-12 than 9-8 or so this season, it actually helps more IMO to have this happen

 

[Riggo44]

As Logan Paulsen said their is an advantage

There* 😁

I'd rather go 5-12, 4-13 than win 7, 8, 9 games like the Steelers just to get bounced in the first round again. They're actually my trade down target if a QB falls to us.

 

[DWinzit]

Regular schedule. Regular injuries. Beef up on WR and Edge.

As Logan Paulsen said their is an advantage playuing this season basically left handed -- you learn a lot and evelopm more than usual. Although more painful to go 5-12 than 9-8 or so this season, it actually helps more IMO to have this happen

It is a great point that this season could be a great long term benefit for the staff, FO and players in learning how to handle different obstacles.

I do wish we would have seen more of some of the younger players (like Medrano) so they gain more game experience. There is still time for this and defensively it did seem like Magee may have played more

 

[skinsinparadise]

There* 😁

I'd rather go 5-12, 4-13 than win 7, 8, 9 games like the Steelers just to get bounced in the first round again. They're actually my trade down target if a QB falls to us.

Yeam among other things they played maybe the best defense in the NFL, which is by far the best pressure bringing defense in the NFL which are on pace to maybe break the NFL record in sacks and their protection help up even though Mariota went back to throw 50 times.

You got the two hardest things to get thew Qb and the defense. IMO with normal injuries and a good off season they can challenge for it all next season.