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After seeing his defense worked over one too many times, Dan Quinn finally took the decision to take over play-calling for the Washington Commanders’ defense from beleaguered defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., but not everybody is impressed by the change, with one observer branding Quinn’s move as “underwhelming,” while another described the head coach’s decision involving Whitt’s future as “laughable.” Quinn announced he’s assuming the DC role when speaking to reporters on Monday, November 10. A day after the Commanders gave up 44 points, 546 yards and five touchdowns against the Detroit Lions in Week 10. Whitt and Quinn were defended by decorated veteran pass-rusher Von Miller after the game, but changes looked inevitable. Changes Quinn confirmed without making everybody happy. The 55-year-old explained that “when something’s not working, we shift from the question of why isn’t it working to what do we need to do to get it right? Right now, that’ll call for some change. I’ll take over the role as the defensive coordinator and all that entails. Joe (Whitt)’s been my right hand man for years and took the news like a pro he is,” per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Quinn’s reference to Whitt was telling. The now former play-caller had been the focus for much of the frustration about the Commanders’ shoddy defense this season, but Quinn stressed Whitt still has a role to play. Whitt’s new role will see him “involved in weekly planning and be in the press box,” according to David Aldridge of The Athletic. Unfortunately, the decision to keep Whitt a part of the game-planning process has heightened criticism of Quinn’s plan, just as the timing of this decision has also been met with a lukewarm response. Dan Quinn Slammed for Delaying Change The overall assessment of Quinn taking the headset and call sheet from Whitt Jr. has been that the move has come too late to positively impact a lost season. It’s the view of The Team 980’s Denton Day, who said Quinn taking over “feels underwhelming. Am I supposed to expect that the architect of the ‘Legion of Boom’ is now going to take the ‘Bad News Bears‘ that is the Commanders’s defense and automatically make them this great defense? No.” Day concluded he doesn’t “really know what this does. It feels a little too late.” That’s a reasonable take when the Commanders are languishing at 3-7 and have given up 27 or more points six times, including surrendering “154 points over their last 4 games. That is the most points Washington has allowed in a 4-game span since 1954, per ESPN Research,” cited by WFAA’s Ed Werder. Those numbers suggest change was overdue, but the Lions pushed things to their tipping point when ESPN’s John Keim noted “The Commanders allowed 6.8 yards per carry yesterday. That’s tied for the fifth most allowed in a game since 2016. It was the most they’ve allowed since Detroit gained 8.0 yards a pop vs. them in 2022.” Whitt’s unit was trampled all over because of misguided schemes and a lack of bluechip talent. It’s going to be difficult for Quinn to overcome those same problems, especially when his recent track record suggests the Commanders haven’t seen the last of feeble defending. That will be the case if Quinn’s changes to the staff aren’t far reaching enough. Commanders Defensive Changes Don’t Go Far Enough Retaining Whitt “is laughable,” according to Eric Nathan of Barstool Sports. He is incredulous Whitt’s “going to game plan during the week???? Buddy….we’ve seen how he game plans and it ain’t good. Dan Quinn’s loyalty to the worst defensive coordinator in the league knows no bounds. I keep saying “it’s something” because the defense cannot get worse, but I don’t know why DQ would keep Joe Whitt on staff at all. The players obviously are not reacting to his coaching, so it’s probably best to move on from him. When it comes down to it, Quinn has been involved in the defensive game planning all season, JWJ is staying on the staff, so all that’s changing is who is calling in the play. I don’t see this as a huge change that we need.” Nathan’s belief this change isn’t enough is a familiar theme. A similar attempt to shake things up didn’t work when Whitt moved closer to the players, so why should Quinn sending in plays be any different? Quinn has a greater pedigree as the man who called the defense for the 2013 Seattle Seahawks. That team won a Super Bowl thanks to the legendary ‘Legion of Boom’ unit, but Quinn benefited from exceptional personnel, as well as the defensive expertise of then-head coach Pete Carroll. The record of Quinn’s defenses without Carroll’s influence has been far from good. Particularly recently, when Marcus Mosher of Locked on Cowboys noted “Dan Quinn’s defense has now allowed 30+ points in 12 of his last 31 games (39%).” Statistics as mediocre as these raise questions about what the Commanders can realistically expect from Quinn calling the plays. Fortunately, the bar has been set pretty low this season, so even a modest improvement could get Washington’s season back on track.
