Nobody needs to tell Washington Commanders fans that their defense has not played well this season. Injuries haven't helped their cause, but all three levels have rarely been in sync, and this experienced unit has started to look old.
They were slow, and everyone around the league knew it. Opposing offenses exploited them at will, and coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. lacked the necessary adjustments to turn the tide. But even though the Commanders ended up getting blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs, the defensive performance in the first half was encouraging.
There was more explosiveness. There was more vibrance. There was more dynamism. And it's no coincidence that this came after head coach Dan Quinn and Whitt decided to get two promising young players more involved in the rotation.
Commanders could have something in Jordan Magee and Tyler Owens, just as fans thought
After some reluctance earlier in the campaign, Quinn and Whitt finally relented. Linebacker Jordan Magee and safety Tyler Owens were given the green light to be more impactful, and they made the most of it.
The second-year duo increased the urgency almost immediately. It wasn't perfect; not by any stretch of the imagination. But with the Commanders going nowhere fast, this has to become the approach moving forward.
Whitt acknowledged to the media that it will be tough to keep Magee off the field now. This will allow Frankie Luvu to spend more time as an edge rusher. It should also protect Bobby Wagner's deficiencies from becoming too glaring — a strange thing to say about a future first ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, but it's a fact.
Owens has always had elite-level athleticism. He's still rough around the edges technically and positionally. Still, after getting no defensive involvement in the four weeks prior, the Texas Tech product saw his usage surge to 36.2 percent versus an AFC powerhouse on prime time. And more importantly, he didn't look out of place whatsoever.
There is a long way to go for Magee and Owens. One positive performance is a solid building block, but it counts for nothing if they cannot stack good displays to cement their respective statuses as long-term pieces in Washington.
They have the physical tools. With a little extra polish and some additional experience in the regular-season pressure cooker, Magee and Owens could be in line for full-time starting roles sooner rather than later.
The Commanders have to get younger. Magee and Owens are two athletic, instinctive players who can provide the spark needed. It's early days, but things are looking extremely promising.