Washington Head Coach Dan Quinn has taken over the role of defensive coordinator moving forward. Quinn’s decision to demote Joe Whitt Jr. and take control of the defense comes at an interesting time. Some believe that Quinn took too long to address the defensive issues; however, this could be a defining period of time for several aspects of that unit. Odds are, a change earlier in the season wouldn’t have amounted to a drastic turnaround; the players still had their individual struggles despite the coaching
flaws. Where Quinn can make a difference comes in player development. How Quinn communicates with players and his assistant coaches during practices and meetings could spark the difference in how the information is received and applied on game days. Adam Peters’ draft classes have not yielded the best results to date, so the rookies and second-year defensive players can use a reset for the final six games. Defensive lineman Johnny Newton will see a lot of snaps against the Miami Dolphins following Daron Payne’s one-game suspension, and you wonder if Jordan Magee will continue seeing more snaps as the weeks go along. With Trey Amos being lost for the rest of the season, the retooling of the secondary becomes an area of focus as well, so what does that mean for Noah Igbinoghene or the young defensive backs on the practice squad? Player development is essential for the team’s future, but with 23 free agents set to hit the market at the start of the new league year, Quinn must identify the players he can build around who are under contract beyond 2025.
Does that mean they’ll become one of the league’s best defenses if Washington does uncover any gems? No, but maybe they can start getting off the field on third downs again.
You can listen to the latest Trap or Dive podcast below. We discussed:
- Why Adam Peters should be allowed more time
- Should Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels return to the field in 2025
- How Dan Quinn should address staff changes this offseason
- Injuries continue to mount up
Podcast:
YouTube:
Subscribe to the Trap or Dive Podcast! Available on all podcast platforms
