3 defensive scheme alterations the Commanders should employ immediately

Commanders need more creative blitzes

Let’s be honest about this one. The Washington Commanders do not have a single good pass rusher on their roster.

The four players tasked with that role, all new to the team this year, have combined for 5.5 sacks through four games. That isn’t dreadful, but it’s not good either. Washington currently ranks in the low-middle of the league in pressuring opposing quarterbacks. If they had an elite secondary, that might be good enough. That's not the case.

Dorance Armstrong Jr., who on paper should be the Commanders' best edge presence, showed some life against the Arizona Cardinals. However, the pressures and sacks that he, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr., and Javontae Jean-Baptiste have generated this year often come from interior players collapsing the pocket.

That’s okay. Plenty of edges get sacks by cleaning up after a pocket has disappeared. But none of the Commanders' edges have shown the ability to consistently beat their blockers and get to the quarterback. The new players are not doing anything better than last year’s young no-names like James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, and K.J. Henry managed.

Washington has had some success with blitzes from Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu. Both are outstanding attacking players. However, that can’t be a permanent solution. Opposing offenses with eat the Commanders alive with screens and crosses once the linebackers begin blitzing too often.

Joe Whitt Jr. needs to find creative ways of getting his defensive backs in the quarterback's face. He has several players who are well-suited to the task. Jeremy Chinn is an effective blitzer. Percy Butler and Tyler Owens could be equally good. Noah Igbinoghene and Mike Sainristil should be effective occasionally blitzing from the slot.

As with run stunts, there are dangers in blitzing defensive backs - especially for a secondary that has been struggling to find cohesiveness. This needs to be a surprise tactic. It needs to be well-disguised. Most of all, if Whitt sends a player like Sainristil from the slot, he needs to get home.

Washington must do something to improve its pass rush. Montez Sweat is not walking back through the door anytime soon. It’s time to take some calculated risks and get creative.