Dan Quinn has finally taken drastic action. With the Washington Commanders' defense floundering, the head coach is taking over play-calling duties from coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who is moving back to the booth. This was met with widespread approval from the fan base, which has been clamoring for change in recent weeks.
And there is one painfully obvious move Quinn must make to give his defense the spark it's sorely missed this season.
There have been several massive underachievers on defense. One of the most glaring is Frankie Luvu. He was the embodiment of everything good about Washington's culture shift last season, becoming the beating heart of the Commanders' defense alongside future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner. Both earned second-team All-Pro honors and had the chance to continue this partnership in 2025.
Commanders must return Frankie Luvu to his traditional role as Dan Quinn takes defensive reins
Wagner looks slow. Luvu seems lost, and there is hesitancy where once there was nothing but conviction.
This was highlighted in glaring detail by Benjamin Solak from ESPN. He spotted Luvu unusually backing down when Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell came roaring towards him on a running play. While this is a formidable obstacle to overcome, the second-level enforcer would not have turned down such a challenge last year.
Making business decisions and waving the white flag have become synonymous with the Commanders' season. Things are not the same, and the effort being portrayed by some influential figures is deeply concerning. That is entirely unacceptable, so getting Luvu back to what he does best is paramount.
Luvu is a larger-than-life personality that others look to for inspiration. He was a tone-setter last season, but spending more time as a legitimate edge player is not having the same impact. Moving him back to the interior second level, allowing him to be instinctive and explosive, is the best possible way to ensure this change in strategy bears fruit.
Washington isn't exactly blessed with strong edge-rushing options after some torrid injury luck. At the same time, the second-level is suffering without Luvu. Getting back down to basics is key, and that all starts by rediscovering what made him such an exceptional performer in 2024.
It's not like Luvu is generating much pressure from the edge. And it's abundantly clear that his skills are far better suited to a linebacking role.
Washington needs a complete revamp defensively this offseason. Luvu should be around, given that his contract doesn't run out until 2027. But any hopes he had of getting a new deal in advance are fading quickly.
However, if Quinn's presence can get Luvu back to his old self, all hope is not lost.