As much as I would love to discuss Jayden Daniels' spectacular play on Monday night, that’s Eric's job. I know my responsibility is to track the defense this season. Even with the W, it’s clear the defense is not performing well and may not improve at all this season.
That said, it’s not all gloom and doom.
The Good: It appears the defense is settling into the unfortunate reality of being a "bend but don’t break" unit. While I'm sure they aspire to be tougher opponents, that hasn't materialized this season. Coaching alone will help, but that’s the best news I can offer because—
The Bad: This is not a talented defense! There’s only so much coaching can do. The team has shown less-than-stellar play in most defensive positions. Although Wagner, Luvu, BSJ, Quan Martin, and Jeremy Chinn have performed adequately for most of the season, the rest of the defense has struggled, at times making these players look worse than they are. I don’t anticipate improvement this season, as the lack of talent keeps the ceiling low.
Two Up ✌️
Frankie Luvu (PFF Grade - 52.7)
The only constants on the defense have been Wagner and Luvu, though Wagner’s age is noticeable—he contributes at least one or two subpar plays per game. Luvu consistently brings the heat, which the defense will need to survive the 2024 season until reinforcements arrive in 2025. PFF may not grade him well, but he is making a noticeable impact.
Jer'Zhan “Johnny” Newton (PFF Grade - 49.5)
One of the reinforcements is already on the team. He didn’t play much but made some impressive flashes during his limited time. I believe Newton will continue to grow throughout his rookie campaign.
Honorable Mention: Jeremy Chinn. He was beaten a few times, but it was easily his best game of the year.
Two Down 👎
Joe Witt Jr (WSH PFF DEF Grade - 50.0, 32nd out of 32)
I understand Coach Witt Jr. is still finding his footing and that the team is lacking talent, but I can’t excuse leaving Ja'Marr Chase one-on-one with minimal safety help. He did this at least twice, resulting in two touchdowns for Chase.
Jon Allen (PFF Grade - 54.1)
Until he plays like the highest-paid player on the team or shows a noticeable impact on the game, I will critique him more harshly. Is that fair? Probably not. However, given his salary and the amount he talks, in my non-professional opinion, he isn’t providing value for what he’s being paid.
Season Progressive Grade
Week 3 Grade: D+
Season Grade: D+
Defensive Rankings:
Total YPG: 377.3 (29th, Last Week: 21st)
Pass YPG: 255.7 (31st, Last Week: 22nd)
Run YPG: 121.7 (18th, Last Week: 16th)
3rd Down Conversion Rate: 61.29% (Last, Last Week: Last)
As impressive as Jayden Daniels may be, it does not excuse the defensive performance and play-calling. The team has been in Arizona since Tuesday morning; hopefully, they left the poor defense in Cincinnati. While Arizona may not be as explosive as the Bengals, they are still a formidable opponent.
Photo credits: Commanders.com
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