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Washington Commanders' new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones coached under Vikings DC Brian Flores, considered one of the NFL's top defensive minds. Is that the scheme he will bring to the Commanders in 2026?
Jones was basically asked that very question on Tuesday. Yet, he was careful not to simply say he would or wouldn't want that scheme to define what he will try to produce in the Commanders' defense.
"Well, it's about what we do well if we have the players and their skill sets, some of the skill sets are to be aggressive," Jones said. "By nature, I'm an aggressive person, just in the background. And not only with Brian Flores. His aggressiveness looks a little bit different than what it may have been in the past. But really, if you think about it, there aren't many differences between him and Mike Zimmer in terms of the aggression."
So, right away, Jones is letting everyone know he has learned, but not only from Flores. Perhaps Jones (47) doesn't want to be defined as a disciple of only Flores? He also mentioned Marvin Lewis, Vance Joseph, and Lou Anarumo.
"It was just, you know, Zim was more third-down aggression with Flo; it’s more first, second, and third-down aggression, right? And it just looks differently. You know, Zim was more mug looks, whereas Flo is more all offsets. But there will be some incorporation of all that. I don't want to get too much in the Xs and Os, but we will try to dictate the terms and change the math. There's a buzzword for you [laugh], but we will use that just with our adaptability and versatile approach."
Jones is not a young coach. He is not naive enough to think that because he was with Brian Flores the last few years, whatever he wants to implement that worked in Minnesota will work here in Washington. He knows the Commanders' defense gave up more yards than all other 31 NFL teams last season. He realizes guys passed on this job to take other jobs that, on paper, appeared easier. Jones knows this will be difficult and will need to know his players' strengths and weaknesses right away.
"I think the way the players help shape that," he said. "So, it's all about players first and scheme second. And so based off what our players can do, we will do. If players can't do that, then we will do and put them in situations where they can be at their best. And so, yes, I'm an aggressive person by nature. By nature, we want to become more aggressive in some way, shape, or form. Is that pressures, or is that just being more of attacking? Is that being more technique and fundamentals, attacking blocks, defeating blocks, tackling, and just doing the routine things routinely? That could also be seen as being aggressive as well, when you're just playing technique. And so, it's based on what we have player-wise."
Jones has his work cut out for him. GM Adam Peters needs to get Jones three or four new starters in free agency next month. Then Jones will need a draft that can bring him another contributor or two this season. That is not an easy task. Tough times call for tough people. It was no accident the first word Jones used to describe the type of players he wants to bring to Washington was 'tough.'
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: What type of scheme will Daronte Jones employ?
Continue reading...
Jones was basically asked that very question on Tuesday. Yet, he was careful not to simply say he would or wouldn't want that scheme to define what he will try to produce in the Commanders' defense.
"Well, it's about what we do well if we have the players and their skill sets, some of the skill sets are to be aggressive," Jones said. "By nature, I'm an aggressive person, just in the background. And not only with Brian Flores. His aggressiveness looks a little bit different than what it may have been in the past. But really, if you think about it, there aren't many differences between him and Mike Zimmer in terms of the aggression."
So, right away, Jones is letting everyone know he has learned, but not only from Flores. Perhaps Jones (47) doesn't want to be defined as a disciple of only Flores? He also mentioned Marvin Lewis, Vance Joseph, and Lou Anarumo.
"It was just, you know, Zim was more third-down aggression with Flo; it’s more first, second, and third-down aggression, right? And it just looks differently. You know, Zim was more mug looks, whereas Flo is more all offsets. But there will be some incorporation of all that. I don't want to get too much in the Xs and Os, but we will try to dictate the terms and change the math. There's a buzzword for you [laugh], but we will use that just with our adaptability and versatile approach."
Jones is not a young coach. He is not naive enough to think that because he was with Brian Flores the last few years, whatever he wants to implement that worked in Minnesota will work here in Washington. He knows the Commanders' defense gave up more yards than all other 31 NFL teams last season. He realizes guys passed on this job to take other jobs that, on paper, appeared easier. Jones knows this will be difficult and will need to know his players' strengths and weaknesses right away.
"I think the way the players help shape that," he said. "So, it's all about players first and scheme second. And so based off what our players can do, we will do. If players can't do that, then we will do and put them in situations where they can be at their best. And so, yes, I'm an aggressive person by nature. By nature, we want to become more aggressive in some way, shape, or form. Is that pressures, or is that just being more of attacking? Is that being more technique and fundamentals, attacking blocks, defeating blocks, tackling, and just doing the routine things routinely? That could also be seen as being aggressive as well, when you're just playing technique. And so, it's based on what we have player-wise."
Jones has his work cut out for him. GM Adam Peters needs to get Jones three or four new starters in free agency next month. Then Jones will need a draft that can bring him another contributor or two this season. That is not an easy task. Tough times call for tough people. It was no accident the first word Jones used to describe the type of players he wants to bring to Washington was 'tough.'
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: What type of scheme will Daronte Jones employ?
Continue reading...
