3 changes the Commanders' coaching staff must consider in Week 4 at Cardinals

Commanders' secondary formula

Throughout the first three weeks of the NFL season, the Washington Commanders are giving up 29.3 points per game once again. That's good for the third-worst in the league.

Despite having two defensive-minded coaches in Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. running things, it doesn't seem like much has changed in terms of stopping opposing offenses. With the additions of Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, Jeremy Chinn, Dorance Armstrong Jr., and others, fans were expecting more from this side of the ball.

The offense and defense have swapped spots in terms of what was projected before the campaign. It's not just that the Commanders are giving up a lot of points, they are giving up the yards to match. Opponents are gaining almost 380 yards per contest, which stations the Commanders at fourth worst in the NFL thus far.

A big reason for that is the defensive backfield. Is anybody missing Kamren Curl right now?

New free agent Michael Davis is not the answer. Noah Igbinoghene also struggled mightily last week and seemed like he was getting picked on. This is a grave concern for the Commanders, especially considering former third-round pick Benjamin St-Juste seems to be the best of the bunch despite the staff's insistence to play the physical presence off-coverage so much.

This team needs serious help throughout the secondary. They need to find a better formula with the options available. Especially if they don't start applying more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Commanders have tried to figure out answers in the secondary by shifting things around. A visit to the dynamic Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. will give them problems once more. This is why the new coaches are here - so expect an attempt at more solutions until they find something that resembles competence.

Whether that comes this weekend of further into the future is another matter.