3 changes Commanders' coaching staff must consider in Week 8 vs. Bears
Commanders coverages must confise Caleb Williams
The Washington Commanders likely don't have the personnel to stay with the Chicago Bears' talented group of wide receivers. Caleb Williams has weapons, even extending to running back D'Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet. Joe Whitt Jr. must find ways to counteract this supreme threat.
The Commanders have shown the ability to play some decent zone coverage on occasion. When they play man-to-man, one instantly has nightmares of Zay Flowers streaking across the center of the field. Though it was against Andy Dalton, a simpler scheme paid dividends against the Carolina Panthers.
Williams is on the upward swing after experiencing some growing pains over the opening two games of his NFL career. But there is still a lot, like the Commanders' own rookie quarterback, that he has yet to see.
With all of the experience that Dan Quinn and Whitt possess, they should be able to draw up several things that are going to give the Bears' signal-caller trouble and make him uncomfortable on his homecoming to the DMV. Zone blitzes, linemen dropping into coverage, safety blitzes, bringing versatile safety Jeremy Chinn into new roles; the options are endless.
By stopping the run and mixing up the defenses' formations and coverages, the Commanders have the unit that should be able to give Williams tons of trouble. His escapability and ability to improvise are a concern, so it'll be interesting to see how this chess match unfolds.
It should also be mentioned that these are both teams that have won their respective turnover battles throughout the season. This could be the quintessential game that proves that the squad that protects the football and creates a takeaway or two is going to emerge with bragging rights.
The defense has to get the ball from the Bears. If the Commanders manage to accomplish this feat, they'll be 6-2 with a game against the lowly New York Giants in Week 9.
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