The 2024 Washington Commanders were not good at stopping the run. First year defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. had his work cut out for him with a makeshift group of aging veterans and unproven young players.
The Results:
- 30th in rush yards allowed – 2,337
- 4.8 yards per carry allowed (third worst in NFL)
- 18 rushing touchdowns (tied for seventh worst in NFL)
To say things could not get much worse would be a fairly accurate statement.
Adam Peters set out to fix the run defense this offseason.
New Additions:
- Deatrich Wise
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
- Javon Kinlaw
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
- Eddie Goldman
Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
- Jacob Martin
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
- Ricky Barber (UDFA)
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
- T.J. Maguranyanga (NFL Pathway program)
On paper, this may not look like a lot, but let’s take a look at the variations of defensive fronts that may be used.
JUMBO:
1-tech – Goldman/Payne
3-tech – Payne/Newton
5/6-tech – Kinlaw
DE – Wise/Ferrell
OLB (overhang) – Luvu/Martin (this could depend on the team we are playing that week)
MIKE – Wagner
WILL – Magee
*There are a few things to look at here. First, the three defensive tackles will provide a sturdier inside. Having Kinlaw play as a 5/6 technique will make getting an edge a lot tougher. The overhang will be a key run defender and situational pass rusher. Wagner is not the athlete he once was, but he can still be effective from B-to-B. Magee will bring speed and that sideline-to-sideline ability. With all the chess pieces at hand, Whitt can mix and match based on the team and players on the opposing offense.
Base (4-2-5) with Big Nickel (Viper):
1-tech – Payne/Goldman
3-tech – Kinlaw/Newton
EDGE – Armstrong/Jean-Baptiste
EDGE – Wise/Ferrell
MIKE – Wagner
WILL – Luvu
VIPER – Hampton/Owens
*Like most of the NFL, the 4-2-5 has become “a form” of base defense. Washington is no different in that respect. Our base may aesthetically look the same as last season, but the personnel has changed – and that matters! We have the flexibility to go heavy up front, or turn to a quicker, penetrating front-four based upon what the offense is showing. Wise will be a big key here as he has the size and athleticism to set a good edge against the run but also get after the quarterback. When we go into this “Big Nickel” look, I expect Hampton or Owens to take over that role in an effort to provide more run support – but not sacrifice any athleticism in the passing game.
Base (4-2-5) with traditional slot CB:
1-tech – Payne/Goldman
3-tech – Kinlaw/Newton
EDGE – Armstrong/John-Baptise
EDGE – Wise/Ferrell
MIKE – Wagner
WILL – Luvu
Slot – Sainristil/Noah I
*Much like the look above, this one will see more of the traditional slot corner from our base look. Sainristil will be HUGE in this role as he plays both the pass and run well. There will certainly be mix-and-match looks here too, especially if there is a premium placed on getting quick pressure on obvious passing downs.
Dime:
DT – Payne/Newton
DT – Kinlaw/Wise
EDGE – Armstrong/Jean-Baptiste
EDGE (wide 9) – Luvu/Martin
LB – Magee
Slot – Sainristil
CB – Lattimore
CB – Amos
S – Martin
DB – Jones
DB – Noah I/Harris/Owens/Butler
*This will be a pass prevention defense designed to get smaller and quicker. I can see a player like Wise, with his versatility, kicking inside on some of these packages to help bolster the pass rush, and a specialist like Martin coming off the edge. I think we will see certain packages with Magee as the MIKE, helping to provide more range in coverage.
Tyler’s Take
Although not as much emphasis was put on the defensive trenches as Peters showed towards other positional groups, we still shouldn’t underestimate the improvements that were made here to change a porous run defense to a more respectable one. I highlighted some of the new additions above, but the maturation of the younger players may have just as much of an impact. Second year guys like Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Jer’Zhan Newton are both expected to take big steps in year two.
I am one of the believers in Kinlaw’s raw talent, and I feel he is in for a big season as Whitt will move him all over the defensive front in order to create mismatches. Although he’s known as more of a gap-slasher, I think he’ll play more disciplined and use his incredible length and raw power to be a force against the run.
Moving away from Jonathan Allen will be a blessing for Daron Payne. He no longer has to play in the shadows of his “big brother”. I think he’ll really shine as the leader of this unit and that will result in improved play and production.
Adding a savvy veteran like Deatrich Wise went relatively unnoticed, however, I think he’ll have a great presence along this defensive front and help improve the run defense with his ability to set the edge. I’m not expecting a double-digit sack season, but more fundamentally sound play may be just what this defense needs.
I like that we brought back Wagner for another season, but I do feel his playing time will be cut into a bit by a young player like Magee. I saw Wagner a step slow on some big runs that broke last year, and having the more athletic Magee on the field a bit more could help to eliminate some of these chunk plays.
My one gripe is that we didn’t add a playmaking EDGE in either free agency or the draft. I know we are kind of playing an EDGE-by-committee approach, and that may work out fine, however I wish we would have done a bit more to land a complete defensive end.
Overall, I think we will see a much better run defense in 2025, and given our struggles last season, it will be a welcome sight in Washington.