5 realistic objectives the Washington Commanders must achieve in 2024
By Dean Jones
Commanders must decrease passing yards per game allowed
Once touted as a defense that could potentially become one of the league's best in 2023, the Washington Commanders unit led by Jack Del Rio didn't come close to reaching these expectations. Even when the coordinator was rightfully fired and head coach Ron Rivera assumed responsibility for the defense, the same complications emerged.
One of the primary catalysts behind their demise centered on giving up too many big plays through the air. Not having any reliable pass-rush over the second half of 2023 didn't help, but the secondary was a major frustration nonetheless.
The Commanders gave up an NFL-worst 262.2 passing yards per game in 2023. That's nowhere near good enough - something Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. must decrease significantly sooner rather than later.
Second-round pick Mike Sainristil's arrival should help greatly. That said, concerns remain about Washington's other cornerback options despite the improved schematic concepts implemented by Quinn and Whitt.
This could go either way, in all honesty. But the Commanders must get this lofty number down this season by any means necessary.
Commanders must restore competitive pride
The Commanders have been seen as a dysfunctional laughingstock for years. There were brief glimpses of promise under Ron Rivera, but this was fleeting and the previous head coach paid with his job.
Fans are starting to believe again while also harboring apprehensive optimism. The scar tissue from Dan Snyder's cataclysmic ownership is still fresh, so they're right to err on the side of caution until the new regime fully earns their trust.
Dan Quinn and Adam Peters are on the right path in that regard. However, the only thing that's about to matter is the football product and how much it's improved in a relatively short space of time.
Nobody is expecting the Commanders to win every contest in Year 1 of their rebuild. What fans do want is for the team to stay engaged and fight with everything they have whether things are going well or not.
The competitive fire and inner pride must return in 2024. That's the least Washington's long-suffering fanbase deserves after being dragged through the mud for two decades.
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