The Washington Commanders finally made their long-awaited defensive coordinator selection, snagging former Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Daronte Jones.
Jones has never been an NFL defensive coordinator, but he has at the college level with LSU in 2021. For the past four years, including 2020, he's been one of the Vikings' top positional assistants, working under Brian Flores for the past three.
In Minnesota, Jones has been credited with developing players such as Isaiah Rodgers and Byron Murphy through the post-rookie deal process. He leads with passion and enthusiasm, and it translates on the field.
In Washington, this will be his number one task.
Daronte Jones must get the Commanders' defense to play with some fire
Jones is taking over a Commanders defense that's one of the oldest in the league. Obviously, Washington's roster will look much different by the time training camp rolls around, but eight of the team's 11 original starters were 28 or older this season.
It showed. The unit was slow and lethargic, losing matchups in coverage and repeatedly missing tackles.
Getting younger and faster will be one of general manager Adam Peters' top missions this offseason, but the youth movement can't happen overnight. Washington is probably stuck with Javon Kinlaw. Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Frankie Luvu are likely going to be back. Daron Payne might still be here, too.
For Jones, no matter what cards he is dealt, he must find a way to get his defensive group locked in. Joe Whitt Jr. was unable to accomplish this, and the improvement was only marginal when head coach Dan Quinn took over his duties himself. Far too often, Washington was undisciplined and unmotivated. That's never a recipe for success.
Jones is the type of coach whose players respond to him. That will be the critical dynamic above everything else.
He has a strong reputation as a leader and mentor. Jones has driven strong production from undervalued pieces through individual development. He's been able to work his tricks in some less-than-ideal situations, which should inspire confidence in every Commanders fan.
Of course, conducting an entire defense will be much more difficult than working with only one position group.
The development of Trey Amos and Mike Sainristil will be essential under Jones, but so will that of Johnny Newton, Jordan Magee, and perhaps more young draft picks on the defensive front to join them. Only time will tell if he's up to the task.
Still, there's no shortage of reasons for optimism. And the biggest hope of all is that under Jones' direction, the Commanders can have a defense that plays inspired football.