ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — After ranking last in the NFL on defense last season, the Washington Commanders revamped that side of the ball with drastic changes to the roster and the coaching staff.Two weeks into training camp, the unit looks completely different from a year ago. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones is a big reason why.Jones has spent his first six months on the job not only installing a new system but also overhauling the team’s entire defensive identity.“I can’t tell you too much of the secret sauce,” pass rusher Odafe Oweh said. “Daronte has a great defense, but it’s a complicated defense.”Jones, 47, was hired from Minnesota after excelling under Brian Flores, who oversaw a defense known for its complex disguises and loaded fronts. Plenty of that has carried over to Washington, where Jones has deployed fronts with three, four and five linemen and mixed and matched along the way.
Strong communication between Jones and his players is vital to make this work, and he has constantly preached that to them since arriving.“Elite communication is one of our standards,” Jones said after practice Tuesday. “Everyone being on the same page, trusting in their brother next to them — that’s what we’re working towards.”Since hiring Jones, the Commanders have added multiple players with versatile skill sets to fit his scheme. It’s no coincidence that free agent signings like Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, along with No. 7-pick linebacker Sonny Styles, have stood out. They are all super athletic and can play multiple spots.
