Joe Whitt Jr. has come under fire in recent weeks. His defense is not performing to the required standards once again. Although the Washington Commanders masked many of these problems last season, the offense is not performing well enough to do so this time around.
Head coach Dan Quinn hinted that changes were coming after Washington's embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Fans speculated whether that would involve some schematic alterations. Others thought this might be personnel-related. But either way, everyone agreed that something had to be done in pursuit of turning around their alarming slump against the formidable Kansas City Chiefs' offense on Monday Night Football.
Whitt provided some hints to the media before the clash. And there was one notable development that went down exceptionally well among the team's passionate supporters.
Commanders plan to get Jordan Magee more involved on the defensive rotation
The defensive coordinator revealed that the Commanders are planning to get linebacker Jordan Magee more involved in the rotation. It's something Whitt has been reluctant to do so far, despite the struggles of Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. But the second level is crying out for explosiveness and dynamism, which has forced the no-nonsense coach into a change of heart.
Magee is fast, athletic, and instinctive. He doesn't have anything like the same experience as others in the linebacker room, which can lead to some naivety. At the same time, it's not like things can get much worse, so perhaps a bit of recklessness and physicality is precisely what the defense needs to reignite its spark.
The Commanders saw something in the 2024 fourth-round pick, and he looked set to become an integral part of the rotation as a rookie before a frustrating knee injury brought his momentum to an abrupt halt. Magee also sustained health issues this summer, and he's only logged 10 percent of defensive snaps to date. Expect that to change dramatically with the prime time spotlight glaring.
Whether it comes off or not is anyone's guess. Magee is still a little raw technically, but he's got a full grasp of the schematic concepts. He also has more coverage capabilities than Wagner at this late stage of his playing career, which is something the Commanders could put to good use versus quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City's high-octane offense.
What comes next is down to Magee. If he cannot meet expectations, Whitt will claim this is why he hasn't gotten him involved much previously. But if the former Temple standout excels when called upon, it could be the first step to becoming a long-term part of the team's plans.