Much has been made about the defensive frailties over the second half of games in recent weeks. The Washington Commanders look like they're sending out a completely different unit. But it's the same scheme, the same personnel, and the same strategy.
That's a problem. And it's happening too often not to be an ongoing concern.
Fortunately, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones believes he knows how to fix it. And it's hard to argue with his reasoning.
Daronte Jones has a plan to rectify Commanders' second-half woes
The Commanders have too much talent to struggle this much after the break. They often dominate in the first half, so just why things are dropping off so drastically is a mystery to those on the outside looking in.
After some tough conversations and self-evaluation, Jones centered the problem on being more fundamentally sound. And when things aren't going your way, just relax a little bit more and trust the process.
Sounds simple, in theory. But the Commanders are showing in the first half just how strong a defense they can be.
That's what makes it even more frustrating for Jones and every fan watching.
"We're okay with a three- or four-yard catch; just gotta rally make the tackle. And just changing the mindset that way. And then as the ball is starting to move, let's just relax, calm down, and I can help them with the calls that way.
"It'd be one thing if we haven't seen what it should look like at this point. And I think that's where the frustrating part can be if you allow it to creep in that way, whereas we've shown it and we've shown that we can do it."
The Commanders invested heavily in their defense this offseason. General manager Adam Peters spent lavish sums in free agency and spent the No. 7 pick on linebacker Sonny Styles, who has been a revelation so far. It was always going to be a gradual process, but this Jekyll-and-Hyde act needs to stop.
Commanders have too much talent to be struggling in the second half
And quickly.
These problems can be fixed easily. Why the Commanders aren't carrying their first-half momentum into the second half is anyone's guess, but it's keeping this unit from reaching its true potential. Players must share the blame, and Jones must do a better job adjusting while staying aggressive.
Washington can play more conservatively in the second half. This allowed New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston to launch a fightback in Week 5, and the same problems surfaced against the Indianapolis Colts. There seems to be hesitancy after starting games with such conviction, and it'll take a collective effort to turn the tide.
Jones has seen what his vision can look like. Now it's about sustaining it for four quarters, especially when things get tight down the stretch.
That's the minimum requirement.
The Commanders have talent. They have an innovative young coordinator who's made a solid enough impression early. Fixing their second-half woes is the next challenge, but if they can, this group will be incredibly difficult to stop.
Nobody is sounding the alarm bells just yet. But Jones just wants his players to relax.
After that, he believes that everything should take care of itself.
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