Commanders' defensive struggles are dangerously spiraling toward disaster

They have a defensive-minded head coach who once called plays for one of the most outstanding units in NFL history, but the Washington Commanders are still falling by the wayside.

The franchise has invested top dollar in big names, both through free agency and trade. However, things have already reached breaking point midway through the 2025 season.

This breaking point has been reached for one depressing truth. There are weaknesses at every level of the unit overseen by Quinn and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.

Many of the issues stem from personnel. Especially up front, where the lack of marquee edge-rushers continues to hurt the Burgundy and Gold.

That's on general manager Adam Peters, who could make another splash move ahead of the trade deadline to solve a significant problem. Yet, the tables are turned further back on defense, where coaching is under an unforgiving spotlight.

Commanders' second and third levels on defense are ongoing problems

It's impossible to say Peters hasn't given Quinn and Whitt what they need to improve the secondary. The Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore during last season, acquiring a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback with the pedigree to suggest he can shut down one side of the field.

Peters also used second-round picks in back-to-back drafts on exciting young corners. Mike Sainristil arrived in 2024, before Trey Amos fell to the Commanders this year.

Quinn and Whitt have what they need to field at least a competent secondary, so what's the problem? Well, there is one personnel choice Peters might regret, involving a versatile heavy hitter who proved invaluable last season, but the scheme is more to blame for Washington's problems on the back end.

Too often, corners have been asked to hold up in man coverage. The idea has been to give a pass-rush lacking star quality enough time to get home.

Finding the flaw in this approach isn't difficult. Without truly elite cover men, you can't play man for too long. Quinn and Whitt can point to Lattimore not living up to his reputation, but exactly how does a proven commodity like the 29-year-old fall so far, so fast?

It usually comes down to being put into bad situations, something Sainristil knows all about. He's been moved from the slot to the outside and back again as part of an ever-expanding role that looks to be too much to handle for a second-year player who's talented but remains raw.

There's a similar issue with Amos, who has flashed promise, but is still a rookie likely to incur the setbacks usual during a debut campaign. It would help this duo immensely if they had more reliable safety help.

That's still a long way off when a hyped player is failing to deliver. At least Peters added a former first-round pick, Darnell Savage Jr., to the roster, but the issue isn't going away.

What's missing is a coherent coverage plan. Something simple and player-friendly that acknowledges the Commanders' talent deficiencies at the second and third levels. Hiding weaknesses with some vanilla zone looks would undoubtedly help the Commanders at linebacker, where their lack of dynamic athleticism is being exploited week after week.

Whitt can spout all the tough talk he wants, but there's no substitute for elite athleticism, like there's no way to beat Father Time. Those are the problems facing the leader of this defense, Bobby Wagner.

He's still a force in the guard-center-guard box, as a 10-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker who can diagnose, get downhill in a hurry, and stuff the run. Provided he's kept clean by a defensive front still inconsistent in winning the line of scrimmage, despite a $45 million investment in defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw this offseason.

Wagner's problems show up when he's isolated in coverage, the way he's been too often this season in a scheme tethered to man and press.

Those things worked for Wagner and Quinn when the latter directed the legendary 'Legion of Boom' for the 2013 Seattle Seahawks, but there's no Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, nor Michael Bennett on this Commanders roster.

The Commanders are also missing an inside linebacker who can run with eligible receivers in space. Wagner has shown several times this season that he's not running with anybody anymore, but he can still be effective if he's allowed to drop to a spot, sit in zone, and keep the game in front of him.

Those things led to Wagner snatching an interception off Patrick Mahomes against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.