The Washington Commanders are giving new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones free rein to mold the staff as he sees fit. Several assistants have already departed the organization, leaving fans excited about who might join the franchise to help drive this revolution.
Jones has gained vast experience and connections in league circles, despite this being his first job as an NFL play-caller. He's eager to make the most out of the opportunity, and hopes are high after spending the last two years as Brian Flores' right-hand man with the Minnesota Vikings.
Now, his first power move has been confirmed. And it centers around a hire that no fan saw coming.
Daronte Jones makes massive statement as Commanders hire Eric Henderson
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Commanders have appointed Eric Henderson as their defensive line coach and defensive run game coordinator. He spent last season with USC, but his work with the Los Angeles Rams before that received significant praise.
"The Commanders are hiring Eric Henderson as defensive run game coordinator and DL coach, per source. Henderson, who was most recently USC’s co-defensive coordinator and run game coordinator, won a Super Bowl with the Rams and Aaron Donald. Now, he heads to Washington."Tom Pelissero
Henderson is a no-nonsense coach with the techniques to bring out the best in his players. He is a meticulous planner and cares about his players. Anyone not pulling their weight will quickly know about it, so this appointment is a massive statement of intent from Jones.
As Pelissero mentioned, Aaron Donald credits Henderson greatly for helping him during the tail-end of his career. His personable approach, attention to detail, and focus on the individual are renowned and revered in equal measure. This could be precisely what the Commanders need to squeeze more life out of their underperforming defensive front.
This turns up the heat on those around. The demands will be high, and anyone expecting to waltz through the summer onto the 53-man roster will be out of luck. Things have already shifted by a seismic margin, and the tough love coming their way from Jones and Henderson should be enough to raise urgency for everyone.
Henderson will be aided by Darryl Tapp. He's sticking around, albeit in a demoted role as assistant defensive line coach. He's also a strong motivator who resonates with the modern-day player. Hopefully, this fresh injection of energy and ideas will be enough to progress a weak roster link.
The stakes have been raised. Nobody should be complaining about that.