It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…
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ESPN’s Bill Barnwell published this comment on the Washington Commanders this week:
Trying to hit singles isn’t a guaranteed path to success, and some of Washington’s other moves raised more questions.
Quinn’s defenses have been great only when he has had stars such as Earl Thomas and Micah Parsons, and he doesn’t have that sort of player in this lineup.
The first statement reflects my own view of Adam Peters’ offseason strategy in 2024. Faced with a swiss-cheese roster, the phrase that kept running through my head as I watched Washington’s free agency unfold was “hitting singles”. Peters was putting down a foundation and a floor for a roster construction project that was going to take more than a single offseason to complete. He wasn’t swinging for the fences in free agency this year.
What I saw was an effort to have one clear leader in every position group, surrounded by good players who could compete in 17 games in 2024. My feeling was that this will be the year for establishing the ‘baseline’. Nearly everyone in on a short- to very short-term contract. Those who excel and exceed expectations will be rewarded with extensions and leadership roles in 2025 and beyond. Those who fall short will be replaced. This is a roster full of guys who are auditioning for jobs, with a role model in every room. By not taking any big swings in free agency, Peters guaranteed that there wouldn’t be any big misses, and he left himself with a big bag of money that will allow him to take a different approach in 2025 if he chooses.
The second statement is one that I understand, but don’t wholeheartedly agree with. Earl Thomas and Micah Parsons both entered the league with high expectations, but the careers of both players were undoubtedly enhanced by great coaching. When I look at the linebackers and safeties, I see very athletic and highly adaptable players in guys like Frankie Luvu, Jamin Davis, Jeremy Chinn and Derrick Forrest. They all seem like the type of players who can be used with great effectiveness in a Dan Quinn-style defense.
Here’s one podcaster who wonders whether Jamin Davis will be utilized as an edge rusher this year:
It may be a stretch to compare any of these guys to an all-time great like Thomas or a current game-wrecker like Parsons, but it does seem possible that this new defensive coaching staff can unlock the potential of their athletic young players.