There wasn't much notable energy from the Washington Commanders' defense last season. Everyone seemed to accept their fate, going through the motions before the expected offseason changes arrived.
That will not be the case moving forward. New signing Charles Omenihu will make sure of it.
The Commanders made several impressive additions to their defense this offseason. Omenihu's arrival on a one-year, $4 million deal went completely under the radar compared to others, but it's clear the Super Bowl winner is not here just to make up the numbers.
Charles Omenihu plans to bring the spark Commanders' defense was lacking
He wants to make a difference. He wants to compete, make everyone better, and do his part to make the Commanders' defense a force.
During an interview on the On the Fence podcast, Omenihu outlined precisely what he plans to bring to the Commanders. This centers on enthusiasm, engagement, relentless pursuit of the quarterback, and being the spark that others in the locker room can feed off.
If he can achieve this objective, the Commanders will be in a good spot.
"A guy that's going to bring a lot of energy, who's going to interact with the fans. I'm going to be smelling for blood to get to the quarterback, and my whole objective is to take the ball off the quarterback. I want to bring big, impactful plays. I just want to be a spark plug."
Omenihu is likely to play a rotational role rather than an every-down starter. It's a role he occupied well with the Kansas City Chiefs, and he also boasts the versatility to be a 3-4 outside linebacker or defensive end depending on the alignment from down to down.
The 2019 fifth-round pick out of Texas thrives under the spotlight. The bigger the occasion, the better Omenihu seems to perform. He can create turnover opportunities in the blink of an eye, but staying healthy is crucial.
An ACL tear and a nagging ankle issue meant his time in Kansas City fizzled out. However, it's not costing the Commanders much to find out if he can regain his form in Washington.
Everything is proceeding as planned so far. Omenihu will play a secondary role behind Odafe Oweh, K'Lavon Chaisson, and maybe even Dorance Armstrong Jr., but these responsibilities are not new to him. He knows how to step in at a moment's notice and make an impact. And given the need for versatility and dependability within Daronte Jones' defensive system, this looks like a tremendous fit.
Having someone like Omenihu might not move the needle all that much, but players like this are integral for any winning franchise. Just ask the Chiefs, who saw the edge force make countless game-changing plays during various playoff runs, one of which ended in a Super Bowl triumph.
The Commanders might be a long way off from that right now, but additions like Omenihu might just get them a little closer.
Add us as a preferred source on Google