Daronte Jones has big plans for the Washington Commanders' defense in his first season in charge of the unit. The pieces are slowly coming together, and although he is dealing with some injury concerns, everything is proceeding as planned.
Clues have also emerged during training camp. And there is one quiet plan being devised by Jones that is becoming increasingly difficult to hide.
The Commanders' new defensive play-caller is trying to find ways to get versatile defensive back Tyler Owens onto the field. Jones is clearly enamored with the player's elite-level athleticism, deploying him all over his unit to see if his supreme physical gifts can be transformed into something more.
Commanders training camp has subtly exposed Daronte Jones' plan for Tyler Owens
And it's having the desired effect.
Owens is entering his third season with the Commanders, which is also a contract year. He's been used primarily as a special-teams asset over his opening two campaigns, and even though previous defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. often praised his physical gifts, he didn't know how to use them effectively as pressure built.
It's early days, and Owens' place on the squad still seems precarious, but Jones is doing everything in his power to finally maximize the Texas Tech product's skill set.
The 2024 undrafted free agent has been used in the free and strong safety spots, which is no surprise. Washington has also experimented with Owens as the big nickel, and even on the defensive edge in specific packages.
He's got the size and speed typically associated with productive NFL linebackers, so it's not hard to see why Jones would want to see if Owens has a future there.
Owens is responding positively to these changes. In fact, he is thriving.
Tyler Owens is reponding positively to Commanders' increased demands
Those in attendance at training camp have been particularly blown away by Owens' ferocious intent when coming off the edge on blitz packages. The player is consistently getting into the backfield, which won't go unnoticed by Jones as he continues to mold his defensive master plan.
It's a journey into the unknown. Owens only has 66 snaps on the defensive rotation, and they all came last year. If Jones is planning to increase this exponentially, which looks entirely possible based on the evidence at camp, he'll also need a contingency plan if it all goes wrong.
But it just might work.
The third-year pro shouldn't be lacking in motivation if more opportunities come his way. Owens was among the most athletic players in the entire 2024 draft but didn't hear his name called. The production just wasn't there in college, and putting it all together remains the missing piece of his puzzle.
Sometimes, players just need a fresh set of ideas.
Now, Owens has it. And the strides being made are there for all to see.
Jones' work with defensive backs is renowned. It's the primary reason he's propelled through the coaching ranks to get this opportunity in Washington. And if the coach can finally provide the spark that unleashes Owens' true potential, the sky is the limit.
Tempering expectations would be wise initially. But if Owens can take his camp form into Washington's final two preseason games, don't be surprised if he becomes a much bigger part of the defensive strategy.
And he will have Jones to thank.
Add us as a preferred source on Google