Issues mount for Commanders’ protection, significantly towards movement

ATLANTA — It is nonetheless early. They’ve simply obtained to execute higher. They simply should get off the sphere.

That is what the Washington Commanders‘ defensive gamers say must occur. It is why they are saying they are not panicking. Nevertheless it’s additionally what’s not occurring sufficient — definitely not within the 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

They did not get off the sphere. They did not execute. And if they are not cautious, it will get too late.

The issue wasn’t a lot that the Commanders misplaced to Atlanta. They have been lacking 5 offensive starters, together with quarterback Jayden Daniels and prime wideout Terry McLaurin. Moderately, it was how the protection performed — and what number of huge performs it allowed — that was regarding.

“We have got to determine what we’re doing improper and get it proper,” defensive finish Dorance Armstrong mentioned. “ASAP.”

The Commanders (2-2) enter a vital stretch the place the protection might be examined, beginning Sunday on the Los Angeles Chargers (3-1) and quarterback Justin Herbert. A number of sources have mentioned there’s optimism that Daniels will return this week; he missed the final two video games with a sprained left knee. Nevertheless it stays unsure if McLaurin (quad) or fellow receiver Noah Brown (groin/knee) will return.

However what they want is extra constant play by the protection within the go sport. Not that they’ve stopped believing in themselves.

“It is Week 4. S—, we misplaced three in a row final yr,” security Quan Martin mentioned. “We’re not anxious.”

Nonetheless, they should repair the problems. In every of the subsequent six weeks Washington’s opposing quarterback ranks within the prime 15 for Whole QBR — and 4 within the prime 9. 5 of them rank within the prime 12 for go performs that acquire 15 yards or extra; Washington ranks final in variety of such performs allowed.

“All of us have to grasp that regardless of who’s on the market the issues we battle with are the issues we’ll proceed to see till we be taught from them,” mentioned security Jeremy Reaves, who changed injured starter Will Harris. “Now we have to harp on these issues, harp on the small issues — the attention management, the hole self-discipline, how we talk on the again finish. All of them add up.”

They entered Sunday’s sport ranked first in completion proportion; they dropped to seventh following the sport.

Washington’s protection had points permitting huge performs within the go sport over the primary three weeks as nicely. The Commanders had allowed 20 go performs of 15 yards or longer, tied for third most. They allowed eight such performs Sunday. That is why, final week, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt mentioned of main the league in completion proportion that “those that now we have given up have been simply too lengthy. And as soon as we shore that up, and begin getting the dang ball, now the protection takes up, as a result of the run sport has been beneath management.”

Whitt additionally pointed to the protection as being key to the go rush; they ranked fourth in stress proportion coming into Sunday and now are sixth.

However one situation continues to hang-out Washington’s protection: movement. No group has allowed extra go performs of 15 yards or extra whereas dealing with movement than the Commanders with 11 — and 6 of these occurred Sunday. Atlanta gained 328 yards Sunday whereas utilizing movement. That tactic additionally damage them in Week 2 vs. Inexperienced Bay, which gained 187 yards when utilizing movement vs. Washington, together with 126 via the air.

Which means, of their two losses, they’ve allowed 515 yards vs. movement — and solely 105 of their wins.

Quinn mentioned they “should” repair this situation — and do it as shortly as they’ll. Generally, he mentioned, it may be so simple as speaking when there’s movement and the protection adjustments. Generally the communication works nicely — solely to have one participant hear it incorrectly.

However, he mentioned, simplifying what they’re asking the gamers to do in protection is not the reply as a result of he would not see it as repeated communication points.

One of the simplest ways, Quinn mentioned, is to speak it out much more in conferences or walkthroughs or on the observe discipline.

“Be sure that there are not any grey areas,” he mentioned.

On a number of performs Sunday, late movement by the Falcons impacted the play. For instance, Atlanta confronted third-and-5 on its first possession. Receiver Drake London motioned from left to proper and turned inside tight finish Kyle Pitts Sr., aligned on the quantity. Reaves sprinted down from security and gestured to the movement as nook Trey Amos checked out his teammate. However, on the snap, each gamers coated London — and Pitts was extensive open for a 26-yard catch and run.

Each London and working again Bijan Robinson topped 100 yards receiving as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for a career-high 313 yards — one week after the Falcons have been shut out 30-0 by Carolina.

“We will not enable the free runners,” Whitt mentioned final week.

The Pitts play was not the one incidence.

“We simply should have good eyes,” Martin mentioned. “It is so much to see however now we have to have good eyes, look forward of the ball and anticipate these motions to occur.

“We will preserve seeing it till we cease it. It is a type of issues now we have to appropriate and get mounted.”

Washington traded for nook Marshon Lattimore final season and drafted Amos within the second spherical. Second-year slot nook Mike Sainristil has grow to be a key fixture on the protection since his arrival.

However that hasn’t been sufficient to unravel all their protection points. Washington desires to play a whole lot of press man protection; within the first two video games in line with ESPN Analysis they have been in man protection 42 occasions in comparison with 24 the previous two video games.

These detrimental performs have occurred in each man and zone; it is occurred vs. linebackers. Some weeks they’ve defended a specific route solely to be damage the subsequent week by the identical one.

“We simply should discover a technique to cease the explosives,” Lattimore mentioned. “A variety of that’s being overaggressive at sure occasions or messing up protection. Stuff now we have to scrub up on our personal.”

The over-aggressiveness damage Sunday when Lattimore bit on a third-and-7 route by London, who bought an out route then turned upfield and ended up catching a 43-yard go. Lattimore was flagged for his league-high third holding penalty on the play. However of London’s 27 targets coming into the sport, 19 have been on throws of 10 air yards or much less.

“They run the identical play three weeks in a row and so they have a counter off it within the fourth week,” Lattimore mentioned of being overaggressive at occasions.

However when requested about his optimism for the group transferring ahead, Lattimore did not hesitate.

“Have a look at the gamers within the room,” Lattimore mentioned. “We all know we’re good, we simply should execute the calls and execute our methods. We’re not down as a result of we all know what kind of gamers now we have within the room. We simply have to repair what we have to repair.”