It's not the defensive play calling or the play caller that is killing the Washington Commanders. It's a lot of both and more that leaves the Commanders heading for a 4-13 season.
The Miami Dolphins pulverized the Commanders 45-15 on Sunday at FedEx Field. It was the sixth straight sellout this season, but also the fifth with more visiting fans, as Dolphins backers surpassed three-quarters of the crowd. Nobody in Washington sends more visitors home happier than the Commanders.
And, they saw a thumping. Washington's defense has a couple big problems. First, the expensive line now sans ends has been a bust. Second, no pass rush, no pass defense, as a lackluster secondary can't man cover and is suddenly taking bad angles on runaway receivers when forced to maybe tackle. And third, well, if we can add one more to the list of sins, they have no linebacking, either.
Maybe a good play caller could mask some of these shortcomings. Coach Ron Rivera promised to simplify the defense after firing coordinator Jack Del Rio. Instead, simple meant zippo.
It took Miami three plays to lead 7-0 on a 78-yard reception by Tyreek Hill, who got behind two defenders - the opposite of Rivera's plan to have deep coverage. The Dolphins only managed a field goal on their second possession before scoring on a pick-six for a 17-0 lead in the first quarter.
Hill scored on a 60-yard bomb for 24-7 lead and made it 31-7 shortly before halftime on a good old-fashioned Riggo Drill that nearly ate the last six minutes before intermission.
Now, Rivera might say players did some good things out there in the second half in limiting Miami to just 14 points, but the truth is the Dolphins just eased up. It's called a mercy rule, though there should be none between two franchises that have beaten the other in Super Bowls. There was a lot of old-school teal in the stands to remind long-time Commanders fans of the glory days when both ruled the NFL. It has been a long time since those times, but Miami is once more a Super Bowl contender while Washington is haplessly competing for the No. 1 overall pick next spring.
Del Rio wasn't the villain nor was he the savior. Just another broken piece in a trail of spare parts. Washington doesn't have playmakers and the offense has too few to bail out their brethren. The Commanders lack speed in the secondary to handle man coverage. They lack quickness on the line to penetrate backfields. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went nearly untouched with no sacks and only two pressures while picking apart Washington with 78- and 60-yard scoring passes.
Rivera said the time for learning and improving is over and it's now or never for this group. He expects a full effort over the final month when the team returns from its bye on Sunday.
And yet, no one expects most of this crew to be here come January. Certainly not the coaching staff. Even defensive leader Jon Allen intimated not wanting to endure another rebuilding effort after seven fruitless years in his hometown.
There is no saving this defense – just another rebuilding ahead. The process is certainly three years, maybe more.
If they're lucky.
