Facing the Philadelphia Eagles usually means a busy day for your run defense, but the Washington Commanders can't ignore the considerable threat posed by A.J. Brown.
He's a Pro Bowl wide receiver who plays the position with a linebacker's mentality. Brown will run riot if the Commanders don't have special plans for him at Northwest Stadium in Week 16.
Those plans should include doubling No. 11 all over the field. It's something Washington's secondary can easily manage thanks to the growing shutdown capabilities of the cornerback rotation.
The position group has been buoyed by the arrival of four-time Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. He can play on an island against an opponent's best receiver, but the Commanders shouldn't take the risk of single coverage against Brown.
Instead, Lattimore's presence will allow head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. to add some subtlety to their coverage schemes.
Commanders should switch cornerbacks against A.J. Brown
A common consensus would be to put Lattimore over Brown. It makes sense on the surface, especially since the former Ohio State standout showed off his shutdown skills during a stellar debut against his former team the New Orleans Saints in Week 15.
While the Saints were reluctant to test Lattimore, other teams, including the Eagles, won't be so hesitant. Whitt explained as much, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.
Whitt's right. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't be deterred from looking Brown's way just because Lattimore is in coverage. It means there's value in moving the 28-year-old over his running mate DeVonta Smith.
The latter isn't as physical as Brown, but Smith is still an explosive playmaker in his own right. One who's burned the Commanders for 508 yards and three touchdowns in seven games, according to StatMuse.
Using Lattimore to take Smith away is not only an obvious matchup win for the Commanders, who would have their best cornerback agains the Eagles' No. 2 receiver. That matchup will also force Hurts to throw into the double coverage around Brown.
Double coverage that can be led by rookie second-rounder Mike Sainristil and a specific play call.
Commanders need specific coverage call versus A.J. Brown
Trusting Sainristil to shadow Brown is not a terrible risk. Not when the No. 50 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft has been thriving on the outside.
Sainristil proved his mettle by going toe to toe with Eagles receivers during this season's first meeting between the NFC East rivals, a 26-18 defeat for the Commanders.
Giving Sainristil an extended assignment over Brown means the first-year cover man will need help. He'll get it if Quinn and Whitt rely on a coverage scheme known as quarter, quarter, half, or Cover 6.
It simply means playing quarters, essentially off-man coverage, on one side of the field. Meanwhile, the defense plays half-field coverage, a cornerback rolled up on a receiver with a safety over the top, on the other side.
The benefit of this scheme is its flexibility. Double coverage on the half side of the field can be shifted to bracket a team's most dangerous receiver. That's undoubtedly Brown in this case.
Moving that bracket all over the field to follow Brown means ensuring Sainristil always has safety help to contain the featured player of Philadelphia's passing game.
