The Washington Commanders' defense is coming in for severe criticism right now. Things are just not clicking, and their lack of explosiveness is becoming increasingly apparent. That's a dangerous combination, and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is feeling the wrath of fans' frustrations.
Whitt is a good coach. He's a no-nonsense character who is a straight-shooter both with the players and the media. However, his scheme is facing criticism for its inability to adapt, particularly with the coverage deployment that isn't yielding the expected results.
In fairness to Whitt, he is trying to find the correct formula. But his unwillingness to get younger players involved, despite the aging veterans clearly struggling, remains an ongoing frustration. And based on head coach Dan Quinn's comments after Washington's dismal loss to the Dallas Cowboys, alterations are on the immediate horizon.
Commanders insider doesn't expect Joe Whitt Jr. to be fired during the season
Speculation immediately ramped up about just what that would entail. Some changes to the personnel look likely. The scheme needs adjusting to suit the players' strengths. The Commanders must also find a way to cope without the services of defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr., who's been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
However, one team insider believes that those fans who are calling for Whitt to be removed from the franchise will be out of luck.
John Keim from ESPN stated on his recent podcast that he doesn't expect Quinn to fire Whitt during the season, even in the midst of such an alarming defensive slump. The pair are closely linked from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. Washington's head coach is also immensely loyal, but he cannot let that get in the way of progress.
The time for talk and half-measures is over. Whitt has been saying the same thing repeatedly in front of the media for weeks. His players are not backing him up, so he must either find the necessary fixes to weak links or risk his job status being unclear when the campaign concludes.
If that means upsetting some previous Pro Bowlers or future Pro Football Hall of Famers, so be it. The team's growth is all that matters, and if these issues aren't rectified, an offensive genius like Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will have no trouble picking it apart on Monday Night Football.
Some harsh truths must come to light, and time is of the essence. Whitt is under a glaring microscope from here on, so any further failures will have severe consequences.