A 3-6 start to the season has become a huge concern for the Washington Commanders. After finishing the 2024-25 NFL season with a 12-5 record, they entered the new season with high hopes. However, numerous inconsistencies have given head coach Dan Quinn an uphill battle to climb. In the light of these troubles, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. recently addressed where they’re going wrong.

“The aggravating thing is we’re not winning. We’re not playing a good brand of ball. … We’re looking at everything. And it starts with me.” Whitt Jr. admitted. “It’s my job to get the defense to play at a better level and I haven’t done that.”

The team’s defense has been under criticism this season. Coverage lapses and missed tackles put them at the 27th spot for total yards allowed, with an average of around 377.8 yards per game. Their turnover margin has also raised alarm, though exact numbers remain unclear.

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Dan Quinn’s side has lost their last three matches by at least 21 points. Despite this form, cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been optimistic. Before the Commanders’ 38-14 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, Lattimore spoke to ESPN:

“Look at the players in the room,” Lattimore said. “We know we’re good, we just have to execute the calls and execute our techniques. We’re not down because we know what type of players we have in the room. We just have to fix what we’ve got to fix.”

Dan Quinn on why he moved Joe Whitt Jr. to the sidelines

The decision to move Whitt Jr. to the sidelines was taken after the Commanders’ fourth straight loss. The idea was seemingly to make faster in-game decisions. When asked, Dan Quinn provided an in-depth evaluation of his decision.

“The advantages, Joe’s obviously an excellent communicator and teacher, and so when a play comes in and you need to go get it corrected right away,” the head coach noted. “The advantage of seeing the game from the highest point, especially on the defensive side, it gives you a specific vision of a route and things to do, and you can be ahead of it.”

For the Commanders, the route forward is certainly not easy. While they are in a rut, the staff’s willingness to take accountability can be taken as a positive sign for what could be coming. With a thin margin for error, the Commanders will now face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, with Whitt Jr. on the sidelines.