Tag: S Jeremy Chinn

Quinn names Commanders’ Week 8 game captains

Dan Quinn with the ultimate praise for Jeremy Reaves.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn actually had some news Friday, other than Jayden Daniels.

As usual, on Friday, Quinn announced the captains for the upcoming weekend’s game. Friday, with the press, Quinn announced his captains for Sunday’s home 4:25 kickoff against the Bears would be G Nick Allegretti, S Jeremy Chinn, and S Jeremy Reaves.

Quinn then elaborated on what each of this week’s captains have done for this team in 2024.

“So much of Nick’s leadership shows up with the offensive line, the toughness, the line of scrimmage, and he is an absolute warrior.” Allegretti came to Washington this offseason, following his first five seasons in Kansas City.

“Defensively, it’d be [S] Jeremy Chinn. And I just see this growing taking place with Jeremy. He’s selfless, confident, and communicates well on the sideline. Chinn, still only 26, was selected No. 64 by the Panthers in the 2020 NFL draft. After his four seasons with the Panthers, he signed with Washington as a free agent last March.

Regarding a fan favorite in Jeremy Reaves, “This dude is revered here, both on the grass and off and on it. He’s an absolute slayer, so we love the energy that he brings and all this stuff. So, that is good.” Reaves is in his seventh NFL season, all with Washington. He was voted to the Pro Bowl as the Special Teams player for his play during the 2022 season.

Prior to the start of the regular season, Quinn announced he would not have team captains for the season. Instead, he would name captains on a week-to-week basis. He feels this can be an ongoing motivation throughout the season.

 

Commanders’ DC Joe Whitt waiting for a couple of cornerbacks to stand up

Whitt seems happy with safety play, but not cornerback.

“Once we get everybody healthy, then we can see where we are going to put Mikey (Sainristil).”

That was Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., talking with the media on Thursday.

The Commanders’ corners have struggled in coverage in their three games. They have the worst third-down defense (61.4%) and are tied for second worst in red zone defense when it comes to giving up touchdowns.

Whitt referred to Emmanuel Forbes’ thumb injury and their moving Sainristil outside for Forbes. With Forbes possibly playing Sunday, might Whitt move Sainristil back inside of corners Benjamin St-Juste and Forbes?

Then, he dropped this revelation. “It’s fluid. Nobody’s really said, ‘Hey, this is where I am going to be’. We’re waiting for a couple of guys to do that. Once that happens, it will solidify what we are going to do.”

Whitt was saying, he has played five corners and he hasn’t been satisfied with any of them. He is tired of this and he wants a couple of guys to step up, be agents of change and set the pace by being reliable and dependable.

When asked if he expects Forbes to play a significant role, Whitt did not respond in the affirmative. He expressed, “I expect each week it is going to be different people…I do expect whoever goes out there to play winning football. I do expect that.”

A second time, Whitt was asked about Forbes in particular. A second time, he replied about every corner. Whitt didn’t want to talk about Forbes. It’s his prerogative, and even more, no one knows that defense and their personnel better than Joe Whitt Jr.

Whitt then made a very important distinction. “I’ve been pleased with the safety group, their range and the way they have been playing.” He then complimented Quan Martin, Jeremy Chinn and Percy Butler. He made clear he also likes Darrick Forrest

Once again, the question was raised about the corners, and Whitt offered how they had disappointed.

“We haven’t found the group that is going to go out there. I’m still waiting on a couple of guys to say, ‘Hey, I am the guy that is going to do this each weekend.”

Whitt then emphatically added, “And I don’t care who it is.”

It sounds like Adam Peters will be looking for a couple of new corners in the next offseason.

 

The Commanders defense will look drastically different in Week 1

Washington’s defense will look drastically different on Sunday.

The Commanders wanted and needed a much different defense in 2024.

GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. are only starting three players at the same position this season. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are again at defensive tackle, while Benjamin St-Juste is again starting at corner.

If the Commanders start three corners against the Bucs, it will be St-Juste, Mike Sainristill, and Emmanuel Forbes. Forbes started six games in 2023, but Kendall Fuller started 15 and is now a Miami Dolphin.

https://Twitter.com/JayDanielsMVP/status/1827711554747523274

At safety, Kam Curl and Percy Butler have been replaced with Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin. Martin has been moved from a nickel back to safety, and Butler is now a backup.

Last year’s linebackers, Cody Barton and Jamin Davis (13 starts each), have been replaced with new starters Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. Dante Fowler has been listed as a 12th starter at outside linebacker/edge rusher.

Montez Sweat and Chase Young were traded for draft choices, and this year’s starters at defensive end are Clelin Ferrell and Dorance Armstrong.

Peters in that introductory press conference said when asked about the roster (after a pause) “…We have a lot of work to do.” Peters only had so many draft choices, so he made a couple of trades, signed many free agents, and most to one-year deals. The man has been industrious because he realized he needed to be.

The defense is thus undergoing a major remodel, mostly a remake, a revamp. But more importantly, it had to be upgraded. Considering they gave up the most passing touchdowns and the most points in the league last year, this defense needed to be overhauled and rehabilitated.

Peters has done the work on paper. What Quinn and Whitt have accomplished on the practice field and in the meeting rooms remains to be seen.

Here’s hoping that on Sunday, the restored and reassembled defense gets off to a good start.