Dan Quinn taking over defensive play-calling should give everyone a massive boost. Things had become stale under Joe Whitt Jr. Although the players should be executing better, the Washington Commanders needed to make a change after being blown out almost every week recently.
And one NFL analyst believes this change will spark a second-half breakout that fans have been waiting for.
There will be no Daron Payne in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. The formidable defensive tackle is suspended after getting ejected for punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown last time out. He may not have started it, but the Pro Bowler took the bait when emotions were running high.
Commanders' defensive change tipped to spearhead Johnny Newton breakout
The Commanders will be starting Johnny Newton alongside Javon Kinlaw against the Miami Dolphins. Kristopher Knox from The Bleacher Report thought Quinn taking over the defense could finally see the 2024 second-round pick shine with more involvement, even when Payne gets back into the fold.
"Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton showed flashes as a rookie last season, finishing with 44 tackles and two sacks. He's already up to 22 tackles and two sacks this year, and he could be even more productive over the second half of 2025. The 23-year-old played a season-high 40 percent of the defensive snaps in Week 10, and now head coach Dan Quinn has decided to take over the defensive play-calling. If Quinn can boost the defense, Newton's profile will rise considerably."
Kristopher Knox
Newton was seen as a massive steal at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He hasn't quite met this billing so far, but Quinn remains encouraged by his development. Now, it's time to take off the training wheels, and the Illinois product has already outlined his determination to seize the moment.
The athletic gifts are there. Newton has flashed as a pass-rusher from the interior. He's struggling to be as impactful against the run, so Quinn must find the right balance to maximize his strengths while avoiding his frailties that could hurt the coach's chances of turning Washington's defense around. If he can do that, it's all systems go for the second-year pro.
This is Newton's time to shine. The Commanders need him to step up and become the player they envisaged when they ended his alarming draft slide, which came due to medical red flags. And make no mistake, this is the litmus test to see how far he's come and how much more progress is needed before he becomes a core part of the team's defensive plans.
And a strong effort against the Dolphins will be a good place to start.