4 exciting traits head coach Dan Quinn brings to the Commanders

What exciting traits does Dan Quinn bring to the organization after becoming Washington Commanders head coach?

Perhaps Dan Quinn doesn't rev the engines for most observers because his profile is eerily similar to his predecessor, Ron Rivera. Both arrived at the Washington Commanders with strong track records as defensive coordinators. They also brought experience as a head coach. They've both been on the losing end in a Super Bowl.

So what makes things different with Quinn? Why is he more than a mere consolation prize? Why should Commanders' fans be excited about the former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator taking the reins?

It starts with these four exciting traits Quinn brings to the franchise.

Dan Quinn brings enthusiasm

Yes, it's time for some ra-ra and copious amounts of high fives. Dan Quinn is no wallflower. He's a coach who wears his heart on his sleeve, for better or worse.

Fist-pumping and intensity don't always equate to wins. They can even be the cover for a lack of schematic nuance and natural composure.

Yet, the Washington Commanders could do with a bit of oomph after the decidedly tepid Ron Rivera era. The latter rarely got to show his enthusiasm because of several damaging factors, all beyond his control. They included dealing with serious health issues early in his tenure, as well as being in charge during the bitter end of Dan Snyder's ownership when so many ugly details came to light.

Rivera also admitted to ESPN's John Keim he routinely faced issues a head coach normally wouldn't deal with:

"It was just stuff that shouldn't have been put on the head coach's plate. But at the time when I was dealing with it, I wasn't necessarily the head coach as much as I was the manager."

Ron Rivera via ESPN

A more stable ownership group fronted by Josh Harris and Magic Johnson will let Quinn focus on coaching. So will the presence of new general manager Adam Peters in the front office.

Quinn's going to have the freedom to infuse his enthusiasm into a rebuilding team desperate for change. The increased positivity should be felt most keenly on one particular side of the ball.

Defensive scheme built for turnovers

Some defenses are bend-don't-break, but Dan Quinn's units can better be described as boom or bust. When everything's clicking, his unit is arguably the most exciting in the NFL because of a knack for generating splash plays and binging on turnovers.

The Dallas Cowboys topped the league with 93 takeaways on Quinn's watch, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Contrast that eye-catching number with the Washington Commanders snatching just eight interceptions this season, tied for third-fewest in football. They also forced 10 fumbles, 12 fewer than the league-high.

Those numbers will jump now Quinn and ex-Cowboys assistant Joe Whitt Jr. run the defense in Washington. They'll bring some of the X's and O's magic Darius Butler highlighted for NFL Matchup on ESPN back in October.

The single-high man coverage, three-deep zone shells, and rotating personnel Butler highlighted lead nicely to the next reason why the Commanders should be excited about Quinn's arrival.

Creative use of defensive personnel

Darrick Forrest, Kamren Curl, Khaleke Hudson, and Casey Toohill. Four players whose versatility was underused or often ignored altogether by Ron Rivera and former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

You can bet on Dan Quinn making more creative use of such flexible personnel. The promise of broader remits might be enough to convince Curl, Hudson, and Toohill to return in free agency.

Curl is an interesting case because he's the kind of safety/linebacker 'tweener Quinn has usually included in his defenses. Kam Chancellor, Keanu Neal, and Jayron Kearse have all played the role.

Linebacker-style safeties and safety-like linebackers aren't the only personnel tweaks you can expect from Quinn. He also favors a roving pass-rusher who can wreck protection from anywhere along the front.

Defensive tackle Michael Bennett did the damage for Quinn's 'Legion of Boom' defense that helped the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII. For the Dallas Cowboys, it's been outside linebacker Micah Parsons rushing the passer from all angles.

Parsons was often most devastating when lined up over center, like for this pressure against the Carolina Panthers.

Quinn used Parsons as a standup linebacker, traditional defensive end, and undersized defensive tackle. Good news for Toohill provided the former Stanford man sticks around.

The Quinn playbook is good news for every member of the Washington Commanders' defense. Things were predictable under Rivera when a four-man rush and soft zones were the default setting.

Quinn will change the picture more often. That should lead to a defense easier on the eye and more effective on the field. It's in contrast to the offense, where a clearer blueprint is cause for excitement.

Dan Quinn brings clarity of vision

A clear purpose has been lacking on offense for too long. Dan Quinn appears to know exactly what he wants.

He was forthright about his reasons for hiring Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator, referencing his decision to give Kyle Shanahan play-calling duties for the Atlanta Falcons back in the day.

Kingsbury's a divisive hire because of his middling tenure as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2019-2022. He's also a quarterback whisperer who's worked with Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, and Kyler Murray.

The 'Air Raid' offense Kingsbury's preferred is recognizable to many. That's a far cry from the hotchpotch of ideas the Washington Commanders have muddled together on offense in recent years.

They never truly committed to a definite style under Scott Turner. Eric Bieniemy's attempts to go pass-heavy did Sam Howell no favors whatsoever. More than the over-arching scheme, the Commanders struggled with the basic concept of getting their best players the ball in key moments.

Quinn has a strong belief Kingsbury knows how to do that. Like most things about the decision to hire the head coach, this belief requires a leap of faith from fans, writers, and pundits.

What isn't a matter of blind faith is how Quinn will set a clear path for winning on both sides of the ball. It may not work, but there'll be none of the confused lethargy that ultimately undid Rivera's tenure.