It took one joint practice for Daronte Jones' Commanders vision to come alive

Joint practice with the Miami Dolphins provided the Washington Commanders with the opportunity to test their mettle against NFL opposition in a controlled setting for the first time this summer.

And even though it was only one practice, it was all new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needed to bring his vision to life.

The Commanders placed a significant wager on Jones this offseason, plucking him off Brian Flores' staff on the Minnesota Vikings after being blown away by his plans during the interview process. While we haven't seen the full arsenal as yet, the joint session with Miami provided a window on how improved this group could be under his leadership.

Commanders' defense displayed their dominance in joint practice with the Dolphins

According to those in attendance, the Commanders' defense was flying all over the field, causing untold problems for Miami's offense to generate any sort of rhythm.

Washington's new and imposing 3-4 defensive front set the tone. The edge rushers were generating pressure consistently, and those in the second and third levels of the field were breaking up plays almost at will.

While this is only the Dolphins, who are expected to be among the league's worst teams this season, this dominant showing cannot be seen as anything other than optimistic.

The entire mood around Washington's defense has changed. Jones wants more aggression and dynamism. He's got a versatile scheme that uses a lot of creative ways to get quarterbacks off their spots. The secondary is opportunistic and physical. As for the linebackers? They were as advertised.

There is a long way to go, and the Philadelphia Eagles will no doubt give Washington's defense much more to think about when Week 1 rolls around. But given how moribund and uninspired this defense was when previous defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. called the shots, Jones' innovation represents a breath of fresh air at the perfect time.

Bigger tests are coming. But it's so far, so good.

A real emphasis was placed on the defense this offseason. Jones had the master plan, and general manager Adam Peters found the personnel to put it into action. And even though it's still early days, the encouraging signs continue to build.

Jones has lofty ambitions. He firmly believes in his system, and the players are fully bought in. A unit that looked old and predictable last season is anything but now. The speed is nothing short of phenomenal, and it's at all three levels of the field.

Excitement is clearly growing. This was the first real chance for Jones and his players to make a statement, and they did so emphatically.

Fans and the media were almost taken aback by the level of conviction and ruthlessness on display. And the best part? Jones is only going to make this defense better in the weeks ahead before the litmus tests arrive.

And that is an exciting thought.

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