Washington Commanders Bolster Defense to Halt the Run
In the first game of the NFC Championship, the Washington Commanders faced a tough blow. A mistake in the defense allowed Eagles running back Saquon Barkley to run 60 yards unopposed to the end zone. This incident highlighted a recurring problem during the season: the inability to stop the run. The 2024 season witnessed limitations and failures that resulted in a defense ranked 30th in terms of rushing yards allowed per game and 28th in yards per carry.“If you can’t stop the run, you can’t win games,” stated Dorance Armstrong, Washington defensive end.
Dorance Armstrong, Washington defensive end
Of the 10 teams that defended best against the run last season, nine made the postseason. Conversely, of the 10 worst, only Washington managed to qualify for the playoffs.
One of the biggest challenges was stopping Barkley, who in three games against Washington accumulated 414 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. The Eagles surpassed 200 rushing yards in each of those encounters. Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. acknowledged the need for adjustments: “We didn’t play well enough against the run, and I thought we would. We’ve changed and adjusted some things we’re doing with the front line for the running game.” To address this issue, the Commanders have chosen to add size and strength to their defensive line. Daron Payne, defensive tackle, weighs 320 pounds, while Jonathan Allen and Jer’Zhan Newton, also starters, are around 295 pounds. Allen, however, mentioned that he played around 285 pounds to maintain agility. Additionally, due to injuries, Dante Fowler Jr. played seven games as a starter, accumulating more than double the snaps he had in the previous season with Dallas. This led the Commanders to take measures to strengthen their defensive line. The team signed Javon Kinlaw (6-5, 319 pounds), Eddie Goldman (6-3, 320 pounds), and Deatrich Wise Jr. (6-5, 280 pounds).
The health of Jordan Magee, a linebacker, will be vital. After a good start in training camp, injuries limited him to eight games. The team planned to use Magee in various formations with three linebackers, especially against teams that used two or three tight ends. Washington allowed 5.4 yards per carry in those situations. Improving in this area, and against the run in general, is crucial to compete with the Eagles. Whitt mentioned that they could use Magee or another linebacker in different formations, being bigger than in 2024, when they often had to use safety Jeremy Chinn in that role. “We can be a little bigger against the 12 personnel and not play as much nickel to shore up the run,” Whitt said. Finally, the Commanders are working to get the seven front lines to collaborate even more on the field and in meetings. “I’m not going to say we didn’t trust each other (last year), but we have a little more time to be on the same page than last year,” Armstrong said. “That was the key, the more time to learn the system we’re playing, the better we can be.”“I am a very powerful and strong person,” Wise said. “What makes me a good edge setter is my ability to use my hands, my strength, the length of my arms to keep the rivals away from me… My main job is to set the edge. If I can push the ball carrier towards those guys, who are fast, physical and strong, we will have many plays that will be stopped.”
Deatrich Wise Jr.
