Reasons to be excited and concerned about the 2022 Commanders

Pass Rush – Concerned

Chase Young is out at least four weeks. There’s a good chance he is out longer. Some pundits and fans alike have already begun to turn on him, calling him overrated. Not me. I think when healthy, he will be an elite pass rusher.

But he is not healthy. And no matter the pedigree of the rest of the defensive line, they simply have not generated enough consistent pressure to control games from the defensive side of the ball.

Montez Sweat should continue to be a strong pass rusher and swatter of low throws. The four primary interior linemen should continue to generate decent push in the middle. But without Young, who is going to make opposing QBs run for their lives? Maybe one of the young guys, like Shaka Toney, will emerge. Maybe Jack Del Rio can scheme some creative stunts and blitzes, although his designs last year instill little confidence in that.

Washington’s wretched 3rd down defense merits its own “Concerned” section here, and that’s not simply a reflection of inconsistent pass rush. Linebackers failing to stop ball carriers on 3rd and 4 – secondary confusion allowing open receivers on 3rd and 8 – we’ve seen too much of all that. But it all begins with pass pressure. It is supposed to be a strength of this team. But on the field, it has not been.