"As bad as things have been, the Washington Commanders know there is a framework for fixing their leaky defense. A formula for a much-needed revival, based on densely populated zone shells and a steady stream of pressure without blitzing. It's a formula as old as the game itself, but one thing's missing for the Commanders - the lack of a blue-chip edge-rusher or two to make it work."
"There are some capable bodies in the rotation, but they are either journeyman players with interesting versatility who are proving doubters wrong. Or an aging big name from the past, like Von Miller. Things got worse when Dorance Armstrong Jr., who was on the cusp of a banner campaign, fell to a season-ending knee problem. He's joined the already-sidelined duo of Deatrich Wise Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste on the shelf."
"They are edge-setters against the run, but what the Commanders need above all else is a legitimate, every-down game-wrecker on the outside of their front seven. The absence of one of those is a pretty big problem for a team staring at a 3-5 record at the midway point of the 2025 season. Perhaps general manager Adam Peters can address the need with a big swing ahead of the NFL trade deadline on November 4."
Washington's defense can be revived by deploying densely populated zone shells and generating consistent pressure without heavy blitzing. The scheme, however, requires one or two blue-chip edge rushers to be fully effective. The current rotation includes capable journeymen with versatility and an aging veteran such as Von Miller, but lacks a true every-down game-wrecker on the outside. Dorance Armstrong Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury and joins Deatrich Wise Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste on the sidelines. The absence of a dominant edge rusher is a major problem for a 3-5 team at midseason. General manager Adam Peters could pursue a significant trade before the November 4 deadline, with Trey Hendrickson as a prominent candidate.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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