3 complex conundrums Commanders must solve to reach the Super Bowl

The Commanders have problems to solve at the Eagles.

Kliff Kingsbury
Kliff Kingsbury | Perry Knotts/GettyImages
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Commanders need a better plan to contain Jalen Carter

The defenses that have given the Washington Commanders the most trouble this season have all looked the same. That is a problem that must be rectified as a matter of urgency.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (in Week 1), Baltimore Ravens, and Pittsburgh Steelers all have powerful interior defensive linemen and fast, active linebackers. The defensive tackles clog running lanes for the backs, forcing rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to make more plays. Something he always does well, but it's less than ideal.

They collapse the pocket with inside pressure, forcing Daniels to run outside. This is where those speedy linebackers can limit his chunk gains. That’s exactly what the Philadelphia Eagles did in their first game against Washington at Lincoln Financial Field.

Jalen Carter and his fellow interior linemen were dominant. The former first-round pick out of Georgia had seven tackles on his own. Combined with Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, and Moro Ojomo, the Eagles recorded 12 total tackles in just 63 plays. That’s insane production from the defensive tackle spot.

Their dominance allowed dynamic linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean to clean up with 25 combined tackles. The Eagles held Daniels to just 18 yards on the ground and held the entire team to 3.3 yards per carry on the primetime Thursday Night Football stage.

But in the second game, the Commanders turned the tables. Those tackles were not nearly as effective. Just six total tackles in 64 plays. Washington was able to move the ball with more frequency. There was more balance on offense as a result.

It would be hard enough to control Carter even with Sam Cosmi on the field. However, Washington will not have its best lineman available for the NFC Championship game and a lot longer than that after he tore his ACL against the Detroit Lions.

Whether it’s Trent Scott again, or some other plan involving an untested youngster like Chris Paul or Julian Good-Jones, or even Andrew Wylie shifting inside to guard with Cornelius Lucas playing right tackle, the Commanders must make sure Philadelphia's defensive tackles don’t control the game.

The Eagles have some injury issues to deal with. Dean’s knee will him out and we've already spoken about Quinyon Mitchell's shoulder complication. But if Carter wreaks havoc up front, it may not matter who is lining up behind him.

Containing him is the biggest conundrum facing Kliff Kingsbury and the Commanders' offense. Nothing else will do.

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