The Washington Commanders are rolling the dice on defense with a seismic shift. Head coach Dan Quinn is taking over play-calling duties from Joe Whitt Jr., who remains on the staff in a coaching/advisory role before further decisions are made during the offseason.
Things aren't looking great for Whitt. Loyalty means a lot to Quinn, but he had to do something. What alterations he can make in a short timeframe is anyone's guess, but he's one of the most respected defensive minds anywhere in the league, which is only going to help.
The Miami Dolphins have an explosive offense if they can generate early momentum. Starting well in Madrid is crucial, especially since any further regression won't look favorably on Quinn, either.
Bobby Wagner lays out the cold truth before massive Commanders defensive change
Bobby Wagner laid things out pretty simply. It doesn't really matter who is calling the plays if those on the field don't execute effectively. He also believes that Quinn is more than capable of providing a spark if the players meet their end of the bargain.
"I think whenever you have a move like that, that means the players are not executing at a level that they need to be. So, we just gotta do better, and we've gotta perform better. Winning solves a lot of this stuff, and we haven't done that in a minute. Regardless of what you wanna call it…we gotta win. I think he's gonna bring his fire, his passion, his energy. I think as a head coach, whether you're an offensive mind or defensive mind, you still have that in you. You can always activate that at any time."
Bobby Wagner via Commanders.com
That's the sobering truth in all this. It could be Quinn, Buddy Ryan, Dick LeBeau, Bill Belichick, or Vic Fangio strategizing the scheme and calling the plays. Unless the players respond positively, are fully aware of their responsibilities, and produce the goods in a high-pressure setting, it won't make much of a difference.
Wagner's been around long enough to know that. Like he said, Whitt wouldn't be taking a step back if the Commanders were performing well or winning games. Neither has happened with enough frequency this season, and desperate times typically call for desperate measures.
A massive effort is needed. The Commanders have their backs against the wall at 3-7, with ambitions of a deep playoff run evaporated. All the resolve and collective purpose that carried this franchise to the NFC Championship game are needed — and more — to turn the tide. It won't be easy, especially with so many injuries decimating the squad, but they must show some fight.
Quinn will be demanding nothing less. Whether it has the desired effect or not remains to be seen.