The Washington Commanders have brought in Steve Wilks to help defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. It's a contentious decision, and the timing seemed off, but head coach Dan Quinn believes it can help make the unit more efficient.
And based on the recent comments from edge rusher Odafe Oweh, it's not hard to see why.
Jones is a new coach with a new scheme. He didn't make too many changes to the coaching staff under him, which was surprising. But despite showing some impressive flashes so far, the consistency to keep this up for four quarters is lacking.
Odafe Oweh's comments speak to Commanders' lack of defensive alingment
During a conversation with independent Commanders reporter Ben Standig, Oweh was asked about the new system and how the coaches are teaching it. And the big-money signing in free agency didn't give off the impression that everyone was on the same page.
“A lot of times, the coaches are saying they probably didn’t understand the way that Daronte saw it, so there’s a miscommunication with that. That’s what I’m saying. It takes way longer than what [those outside the building] think it is. It’s not just, ‘Oh, X is going here. The players should get it.’ Sometimes there’s a disconnect in communication and stuff like that.”
This was damning.
And it explains a lot.
If the coaches don't understand what Jones' system entails, how are the players meant to? It's a communication issue, and for Oweh to make this comment almost halfway through the campaign is nothing short of embarrassing.
To admit it is even worse.
If the coaches are discussing it, Quinn probably didn't miss it. And it's also probably why Wilks was brought into the fold.
Commanders must become more cohesive defensively to stand any chance of improving
He is experienced. He's a sound teacher and a respected leader. Wilks has seen a lot, and if his presence helps the coaching staff and the players get up to speed with the schematic demands, it'll be a solid hire.
But just why this hasn't happened yet remains a mystery.
Jones has been around for 10 months now. The coaches need to hold themselves accountable for not passing on the desired information and techniques to the players, which is completely unacceptable. That's a big reason Washington's defense is so up and down right now.
This speaks to the lack of alignment in the building. Jones' aggressive scheme is similar to what Brian Flores deploys so successfully with the Minnesota Vikings. It's complex, and it's taking time for the players to learn it.
And time is what the Commanders don't have.
They are under pressure to make the desired improvements. Quinn is fighting to save his job, and they will now be without their top defensive lineman after Daron Payne suffered a serious foot injury.
The big players have to step up. That includes Oweh, who has underwhelmed so far.
And the coaches have to start pulling together and make sure Jones' desires are relayed to the players.
Nothing else will suffice in Washington's state.
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