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They have lost five games in a row, seven on the season, and Von Miller knows who’s to blame for the Washington Commanders’ losing run. Miller spoke out about coaches, specifically defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. and head coach Dan Quinn, after the Commanders were beaten 44-22 by the Detroit Lions in Week 10. Miller was part of a defense that surrendered 546 yards and five touchdowns in front of President Donald Trump. Eight-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Miller was asked about the impact, if any, of coordinator Whitt moving from the booth to the sideline. The question drew an interesting response from Miller. He told reporters, including JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports, “I thought he always did a good job, whether it was upstairs or downstairs. What’s going on is definitely not on the coaches. They have us super prepared. Like I said before, we were physically prepared, mentally prepared, emotionally prepared. DQ does a great job of keeping the morale going, you know, holding onto the standard that we set. I’m not sure where the disconnect is, but we gotta keep working to figure out a solution, for sure.” This was a mature response from a seasoned veteran who’s seen it all during 14 seasons in the NFL. Unfortunately, other members of the Commanders’ defense weren’t quite so level-headed, with key defensive tackle Daron Payne getting ejected from the game after a scuffle with Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Payne wasn’t the only defensive player who lost his cool. Fellow lineman Javon Kinlaw got involved in more than a few fiery and vocal exchanges between plays, while safety Quan Martin was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Commanders didn’t play controlled football on defense and also lost the physical battles. Those issues, along with Miller’s comments, highlight the lack of answers for the problems facing Washington defensively. Commanders Short of Solutions for Problematic Defense Miller is being a good professional and defending his coaches in public, but it’s impossible to hide Whitt and Quinn’s culpability in the dreadful defense the Commanders are putting onto the field. They can’t stop the run, nor generate consistent heat on the pocket. The Lions gleefully feasted on both weaknesses, with Jahmyr Gibbs leading a running game that amassed 226 yards. Gibbs scored two touchdowns as a speedster who attacked the edges at will, en route to 142 yards. Meanwhile, fellow back David Montgomery worked the Commanders over between the tackles for 71 yards. As if those numbers weren’t bad enough, Jared Goff was barely touched, threw for three touchdowns and posted a 94.2 QB rating, per ESPN. Goff dominated because Miller and Co. never got close, an ongoing problem for a pass rush that’s generated 22 sacks this season, but none in the last two games. Injuries have been an issue, particularly along the defensive line, but Whitt’s unit has now shipped 34 or more points four times this season. That’s nowhere close to good enough when the Commanders are led by Quinn, a defensive-minded head coach who must come up with something different for the playbook before facing the Miami Dolphins in Madrid on November 16. Dan Quinn, Joe Whitt Jr. Must Make Scheme Changes Too much man coverage and too many players isolated in unfavorable matchups are wrecking the Commanders against the pass. Meanwhile, poor technique and a lack of gap discipline remain issues against the run. Quinn and Whitt can’t do much about the mediocre personnel at their disposal, but they can help players by making some scheme changes. Something based on keeping the game simple. Ditching the hybrid fronts that have mixed 3-4 looks with 4-3 personnel, would be a start. So would having the secondary and linebackers sit back in softer zones to at least keep the ball in front and eliminate chunk plays. What players like Miller need is streamlined responsibilities. It won’t make the Commanders elite defensively, but the shift might stop the bleeding.
