5 concerning narratives the Commanders must change in 2024

Getting burned in the secondary

One thing that was consistent throughout Jack Del Rio's time as Washington Commanders defensive coordinator was the team's inability to limit big plays in the passing game. Fans were waiting for the opponent to break off a 20-plus-yard pass. It happened just like clockwork and became an ongoing frustration.

Below are just some of the examples.

With head coach Dan Quinn's defensive background, together with the additions made to fortify the linebacking core, Washington's secondary should have less pressure on them. This should result in improvements.

A sense of complacency

Losing sucks. For a lot of Washington's players, that is all they know. However, that doesn't mean players are allowed to moan and complain when someone tries to make changes to the routines they have become accustomed to.

One of the insights that came out of Eric Bieniemy's time with the organization is that some players have gotten used to lax practices and coddling from the coaching staff. When the offensive coordinator instituted his hard-nosed approach, it rubbed some the wrong way. They complained to then-head coach Ron Rivera and asked him to seize back control.

If that is not the epitome of complacency, I don't know what is. One of those voices was Logan Thomas. The tight end is no longer part of the franchise, but he wasn't the only one.

The new coaching staff needs to ensure that everyone is on the same page and has the singular goal of moving this franchise forward. Those content with losing and just cashing a check won't be around much longer under the Commanders' new regime.

Overall, 2024 is a season of transition for the franchise. The team needs to correct some of these areas to ensure an upward trajectory in the years to come.