4 Commanders players who could be benched with poor Week 11 performance
By Dean Jones
Commanders could bench David Mayo
David Mayo is a starter almost by default. Cody Barton is currently on injured/reserve and the Washington Commanders don't have enough confidence in other options, which is another damning indictment of the lack of attention given to the linebacking corps this offseason.
Mayo is a solid special teamer, but asking him to fill starting duties just reeks of desperation. His run-gap fits are slow, he's got less athleticism than most middle linebackers around the league, and the less said about his coverage ability, the better.
Khaleke Hudson isn't exactly setting the world alight and Jabril Cox has barely featured this season. But at some stage, the coaching staff must give these younger, more athletic individuals a chance to shine rather than someone who has nothing more than a strong connection to Ron Rivera from their time together on the Carolina Panthers.
This is a prime example of Rivera's loyalty getting the better of him from a decision-making standpoint. Perhaps the Commanders feel like they need experience with the fortunes hanging in the balance, but it's not bringing the necessary progress and in Mayo's case, he's another weak link that opposing offenses feel like they can exploit.
The time for change has already arrived. But it doesn't look like Rivera or defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio can see it.