Daronte Jones becoming the Washington Commanders' defensive coordinator could change everything.
Head coach Dan Quinn is giving his new defensive play-caller the freedom to implement his preferred scheme and assemble the staff to ensure he can hit the ground running. He'll also likely be heavily involved in the acquisition side of things during the recruitment period, alongside general manager Adam Peters.
That's for the future. For now, his tweaks to the coaches working under him are saying a lot about how Jones plans to go about his business in Washington.
Commanders subtle coaching shift hints at massive schematic change under Daronte Jones
There was dismay among the fan base when the Commanders parted ways with Ryan Kerrigan. He was a sensational player for the club before moving to assistant linebackers coach and pass-rush specialist. His legacy with the franchise is secure, but Jones felt it was necessary to go in a different direction.
And now, we know why.
Amid the wholesale staffing alterations confirmed by the Commanders, John Pagano was given the new title of outside linebackers coach. He has spent the last two seasons as a senior defensive assistant in Washington and has also served as a coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers throughout his accomplished coaching career. Perhaps more telling is what this new role potentially represents.
Much of the speculation following Jones' arrival centered on what sort of scheme he plans to run. It will be interchangeable, depending on the in-game situation. However, it appears the Commanders will move to a 3-4 base defense, consistent with how Brian Flores operates with the Minnesota Vikings.
This shouldn't come as a surprise, considering Jones spent the last two seasons as Flores' right-hand man in Minnesota. Pagano has proven credentials coaching 3-4 outside linebackers, so it's a logical fit if this is the Commanders' new schematic direction.
Obviously, the personnel need to be significantly enhanced for this gamble to pay off. Peters will do his part, but Pagano's role shift is a stronger signal that the Commanders will implement an initial base 3-4 scheme.
That will switch to a 4-3-4, 3-3-5, or even a 3-2-6 when required. Jones wasn't interested in how the lineup begins. He's placing greater emphasis on where his players finish, but this shift needs to be addressed quickly in the coming months before the 2026 campaign begins.
There is nobody better to help put Jones' plans into action than Pagano. There isn't much he hasn't seen or done in the sport, so having this additional knowledge will be highly advantageous as he moves into a coaching-specific role once again.