The Commanders have just two practices left in this offseason program. There’s a minicamp practice on Wednesday afternoon and another on Thursday before players leave for a long break heading into training camp.
It offered a perfect time for a progress report on how Washington’s defenders are learning coordinator Daronte Jones’ new scheme.
“I feel pretty good about it,” rookie linebacker Sonny Styles told on-site reporters after Tuesday’s minicamp practice. “Coach Jones does a great job of teaching
the defense. It’s super easy to understand, so guys are really far along right now.”
That’s a positive evaluation, one that was key because of who said it. Styles will likely be an every-down linebacker and the odds-on favorite to wear the green dot this season. Styles schematic mastery must be high if he’s to assume such a large responsibility relaying play calls and making pre-snap checks.
The No. 7 overall NFL draft pick seemed supremely confident in his ability to get the scheme down and credited Jones for making the process easy.
“If you like to run, hit and play fast, this is the perfect defense for you,” Styles said. “You don’t have to a whole lot of crazy thinking. We’re a multiple defense but it doesn’t feel crazy for us. The way he teaches it and uses formations, he makes it easy to digest.
“… Being able to learn all these different concepts and mix and match them, it feels like a totally different, new call, but for us it’s simplified because it’s so easy to understand.”
Styles isn’t the only one who feels that way. Every defender interviewed at the podium Tuesday felt confident in the progress being made and ease of understanding the scheme.
“He leaves no stone unturned,” safety Quan Martin said in his press conference. “He’s going over all the details and allows us to see it how he sees it.”
Head coach Dan Quinn has been impresse by the level of communication between different levels of the defense, especially the rapport between linebackers and safeties.
Jones remains in an experimental phase, as he sees what plays and concepts work best with the talent he has available. One thing is clear, however, that Jones is giving all his guys a chance to shine.
“Everybody has a role within the defense to make a play,” edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson said in a press conference. “Whenever your name is called, you make that play. That’s the case with everybody. As long as you have an opportunity, it’s a good place to be.”
