3 changes Commanders' coaching staff must consider in Week 7 vs. the Panthers

Commanders must compensate for Jonathan Allen loss

Everyone can say what they want about Jonathan Allen's season thus far in 2024. But when it comes to his career, he has been one of the lone bright spots for a franchise that has been in dire need for a long time.

Allen hasn't been as bad as everyone is making it seem. He hasn't played up to the ability that he's capable of. But without any serious edge rushers, he has been double-teamed more often than not.

Washington Commanders' fans who have been calling for his snap count to diminish will have their wish. Rookie second-rounder Johnny Newton and former Alabama standout Phidarian Mathis will be tasked with filling the void.

Both are young and seriously talented. Despite the obvious loss of Allen, this is the position group that Washington is in a good spot with. The Commanders got lucky in that sense.

What Allen brings in run support he matches with locker room presence. He is a born leader, and despite some saying that he has become all bark and no bite, one needs to only see what his teammates say and think about him. Their opinions go further than any of ours, as they should.

The fact also remains that the Arizona Cardinals had a 100-yard rusher against the Commanders, as did the Baltimore Ravens. With the lowly Cleveland Browns sandwiched in between those two games, it seems that if the other team has a good running back, then the Commanders are in trouble. It's only going to get more difficult with Allen gone.

This is where Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. can prove themselves as coaches able to adapt on the fly and with success. That's what good teams do year in and year out. They find solutions to problems effectively.

The Commanders must do that right now and learn how to stop the run even without Allen in the middle. They will have a chance to get on track this weekend at home against the Carolina Panthers and their impressive backfield threat Chuba Hubbard.

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