In the aftermath of the Commanders’ second embarrassing loss in a row on Thanksgiving Day, we are told that Ron Rivera decided the team needed to do things differently on defense. The coach in chief parted ways with long time defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, and took charge of the defense himself.
The critical weakness that has bedevilled the defense all season has been vulnerability to explosive plays, and explosive passing plays in particular. Against the most explosive passing offense in the NFL, Rivera’s new plan appears to have involved isolating an overdrafted rookie nickelback against the league’s primiere deep threat without any safety help.