Survey results: Commanders fans still have concerns about one position group in particular

In this week’s Reacts survey, we focused on three position groups on the roster. The three were chosen because each had caused some criticism to be aimed at Adam Peters for not doing enough to improve the unit compared to the ‘24 season.

In the case of two offensive groups — tight end and running back — the Commanders chose to basically ‘run it back’ with the same personnel as a year ago, with the sole addition of a 7th round running back in Bill Croskey-Merritt. Given that the offense was ranked fifth in total yards and points scored last season, it’s hard to fault those decisions too much.

The story was a bit different with the defensive line, where a number of changes were made to last season’s 30th-ranked run defense. There were at least two notable departures with former pro bowl DT Jonathan Allen being released and 2024 team sack leader Dante Fowler allowed to return to the Dallas Cowboys on a fairly thrifty contract. The additions to the group all came in free agency, and did not feature any players with big reputations. Javon Kinlaw, who has, to date, not had a very impressive career, was given a 3-year, $45m contract, which raised some eyebrows. Other additions included Deatrich Wise and Eddie Goldman, a pair of 31-year-olds who are likely to be role-players in the Commanders defense this season along with 30-year-old Jacob Martin, who is expected to play as a situational pass rusher.

What the Commanders didn’t do was sign or draft a ‘heavy hitter’ with a reputation for terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. It could be that Adam Peters will pull a rabbit out of his hat before the Week 1 opener against the Giants, but with each passing day it seems more likely that Peters, Quinn and Whitt have actually gotten the personnel they want to work to a specific defensive plan.

Lack of confidence

Whatever that plan may be for the defensive line and generating pressure on opposing passers, readers here at Hogs Haven don’t seem to be buying it.

Join our partner FanDuel for all your betting needs

Roughly two thirds of respondents who voted on the three choices in our poll identified the defensive line as the unit they were most concerned about. After months of speculation about trading for high profile players like Myles Garrett or Trey Hedrickson, and more recent discussion of late-offseason options like Matthew Judon, Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith, there seems to be a sense among fans that Washington’s front office missed the boat and somehow doesn’t seem to have a plan to address a glaring need.

The coaches, meanwhile, seem entirely confident. Consider defensive coordinator Joe Whitt’s recent comments:

l don’t think, going into the year, anybody thought Dante [Fowler] was going to have ten and a half sacks last year. I don’t think anybody in here would’ve said that. And so, we’ll have somebody produce a higher sack total than what’s thought to be. Who that person is, I don’t know. Will it be a collective of guys? I don’t know. But I do feel that our pass rush will be better. I do feel, definitely, that our run defense will be better. Where it will come from — which individual — is too early to say, but it will come.

At least some fans are buying what Joe Whitt is selling.

Most confident

There’s more confidence, however, in the Commanders tight end group, which is made up of the same players that comprised the group in the ‘24 season.

Zach Ertz got a lot of praise for his contributions, both on and off the field, to the team’s success last season. The veteran tight end had his highest totals in receptions and targets since 2021, and his highest TD total (and 2nd highest of his career) since 2018.

This offseason, John Bates was rewarded with a 3-year, $21m extension that demonstrates how much the team values his contributions, which come primarily in the offensive blocking schemes.

Ben Sinnott was a rookie last season and kept somewhat in the background by Ertz’s surprising resurgence. Many observers are expecting or hoping for Sinnott to step up into a bigger role this season.

In any event, roughly six out of every ten respondents expressed the most confidence in Washington’s tight ends in this survey.

The transition from the smouldering wreck of a roster left behind by Ron Rivera will take some time, and this is only Year 2 of the Adams/Quinn era. The roster has some thin spots, but it’s clear that the leaders of the organization are working together to execute a methodical plan of constant improvement.

A lot of resources have been expended in the past several months to upgrade the offensive line and cornerback positions in particular with the trade for Laremy Tunsil, the signing of Jonathan Jones, and the drafting of Josh Conerly and Trey Amos.

Moreover, Joe Whitt’s defense will feature a refreshed roster that will include all the defensive line additions discussed in the article above as well as the return of a hopefully healthy Jordan Magee at linebacker, and a new safety in Will Harris, not to mention the addition of rookie draft picks and free agents.

Clearly, it’s an exciting time to be a Washington football fan as the Commanders re-tool and prepare for the 2025 season in which they expect to build on the foundation of success that was put down a season ago.