It was the same old story for the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. A brighter-than-expected start couldn't be sustained, and the ongoing frustrations in the secondary reared their ugly head once again.
Nothing is clicking. Nothing is working schematically. Whether it's the personnel not living up to expectations or the coaches not developing the players at their disposal is debatable. But things cannot continue like this for much longer.
Head coach Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. are closely linked from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys. Reports suggest the Commanders won't make a coordinator change in-season. However, no such assurances were made to the assistants working under him.
Washington could be looking for a scapegoat amid the team's concerning slump. Considering how the secondary has massively underachieved, that puts defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons firmly under the microscope.
Commanders could make staffing changes amid ongoing (and concerning) slump
Simmons came over with Quinn in 2024. He spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers before that, where he worked with Whitt. He's a respected figure who pulls no punches, but it's clear he is not bringing out the best in his defensive backs right now.
The Commanders' secondary was expected to be a strength this season. Their cornerback unit looked strong after some notable additions to the ranks, and the safety group featured a nice blend of youth and experience. Expectations were through the roof, and they have not come anywhere close to being met.
Missed tackles, poor coverage, too many explosive plays being conceded, and a lack of effective communication. Simmons can do nothing about the glaring individual mistakes that continue to hinder Washington week in and week out. But the other problems center straight on preparation and coaching.
Quinn preaches the importance of brotherhood. Loyalty is part of that, both with his players and the coaches he hand-picked to bring on board. At the same time, perhaps a shake-up is precisely what's needed to generate the sense of urgency that is sorely lacking right now.
If the Commanders thought they were going to waltz into the 2025 campaign and reach the exceptional heights of 2024, they were sorely mistaken. Things are already hanging by a thread, and we are only at midseason. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Simmons could be the one to pay with his job if drastic improvements aren't made.
There's also a chance that this ship has already sailed. And Quinn should not let personal feelings get in the way of business.