The Washington Commanders had to get better defensively this offseason. General manager Adam Peters believes that he achieved this objective, and he is not alone in his opinion.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu already loves where Washington's defense is headed. And even though his future beyond the current campaign is murky, the former Washington State standout is clearly excited about how things looked over the offseason program.
Peters flipped his strategy, and rightfully so.
Frankie Luvu loves what he sees from Commanders' defensive revolution
He moved away from aging veterans, acquiring younger players with the athleticism, dynamism, and aggression that had been sorely lacking. Add to this the innovative scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, and it's not hard to see why things are looking up.
Luvu is suitably impressed so far.
While he didn't discuss the intricacies of the scheme, it's going to attack. The second-team All-Pro believes the Commanders will be disruptive and explosive, which is precisely what's needed after falling completely flat during the previous campaign.
"Younger, faster, more explosive. We're just hunting man. ... Very aggressive, very downhill. We're disruptive."
Obviously, talk is cheap. The Commanders have been among the league's worst defenses for years. They were arguably the worst last season. Peters worked hard to find the right recruits, and the vibes are positive for a reason.
But getting it done in the regular-season pressure cooker is all that counts.
Optimism is high. Luvu's been around the game a long time. He knows a good scheme and good players when he sees them. He also knows how stagnant things became last season and how desperate the Commanders were for fresh ideas and some youthful exuberance. They now have both, which is music to his ears.
Luvu is also under pressure to improve.
He took a major step back last season, albeit in less-than-ideal circumstances. Washington's injury crisis forced him to spend more time on the edge. Luvu did what was required for the team, but he never looked comfortable.
Now, Jones is bringing him back to what he does best: flying around the action in an off-ball role, with a tone-setting presence that inspires those around him.
The Commanders also have Jordan Magee, free-agent signing Leo Chenal, and No. 7 pick Sonny Styles at linebacker. A vulnerable position group is now a real strength. Luvu will be at the heart of everything good, but he needs a bounce-back year to justify another financial commitment.
Jones' defense will put Luvu and everyone else in the best possible positions in which to thrive. There are questions, most notably in the secondary, but it would be a big disappointment if improvements aren't made.
The bar isn't exactly high for that, in all honesty. But it must be accomplished.
Luvu is seeing the positive alterations, and he approves. If the same trend continues over the summer, and everyone manages to stay healthy, this defense might be a surprise some on Washington's schedule won't see coming.
And it could give the second-level enforcer even more financial security along the way.
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