The Washington Commanders are waiting before confirming their next defensive coordinator. Some in-house promotions on the offensive side of the football resolved most matters pretty quickly. Head coach Dan Quinn is taking a different approach to find the right solutions on defense.
Most fans have reached a conclusion as to why.
They believe, with some merit, that Quinn wants to hire someone who is currently involved in the head-coaching cycle. All the hype has centered on Brian Flores, who came in for an interview before turning his attention to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, another prominent name is doing the rounds on the rumor mill.
And one respected insider believes the Commanders and others may be lurking.
Commanders could have serious competition for Raheem Morris if Dan Quinn declares his interest
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN acknowledged that Raheem Morris is still in contention for the Arizona Cardinals' head-coaching vacancy. If that doesn't work out, he's expected to be a hot commodity for defensive coordinator opportunities, and he named three clubs with strong ties that could throw their hat into the ring.
"Raheem Morris is waiting out head coaching chances - he’s involved in Arizona search - but is expected to have multiple defensive coordinator looks should he not get a head job, per sources. Morris has close ties to Kyle Shanahan (SF), Matt LaFleur (GB) and Dan Quinn (WSH)."Jeremy Fowler
It was no surprise to see the Commanders mentioned. Morris and Quinn worked closely together on the Atlanta Falcons. There is a close relationship and deep mutual respect between the two. Being interested wouldn't be a shock to fans, but neither is the fact that Washington may have a fight on its hands to get him into the building.
Matt LaFleur and Kyle Shanahan both worked on the same Washington coaching staff under Mike Shanahan. The San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers are both looking for new appointments after their defensive coordinators got head-coaching gigs. That succession plan may improve Morris's hopes of getting a third shot, however unlikely that might be.
This is a waiting game for everyone. Morris may be holding out for the Arizona job, but he is unlikely to be short of offers if they go with another option. Quinn will be banking on his strong bond to seal the deal, especially considering the superior defensive talent in both San Francisco and Green Bay.
Whether it's Morris, Flores, or someone else, the Commanders cannot be left on the back foot without one of their primary targets. Everything is out of Quinn's hands if he plans to wait. At the same time, he must be ready to strike with conviction and adapt to the ever-changing hiring climate.
Nothing else will suffice.