Dan Quinn, Commanders focused on defensive identity early in training camp (2024)

ASHBURN, Va. — Jimmy Johnson’s quote — “speed kills” — defined the 1990s-era Dallas Cowboys squad that won three Super Bowls in four seasons. The 2024 Washington Commanders lack that bumper sticker slogan, but the general principle is the same.

“The speed, the physicality, the winning football in the most critical moments. Those are all the things that are going to make up our identity,” coach Dan Quinn said at the start of training camp, “and we’ve got to use this time to start establishing that in the very best of ways.”

On the defensive side, new personnel across the lineup, from safety Jeremy Chinn to rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton, have the tools to help deliver on the coach’s mandate. Yet, based on two new players — free-agent signee Frankie Luvu and rookie Jordan Magee — and athletic freak holdover Jamin Davis, the linebacker room may become the avatar for that desired mindset.

“(Defensive coordinator) Joe Whitt Jr. wants guys to make plays. I feel like that’s what we’ve been doing the past few days,” Magee said. “Running around, flying around, making plays.”

That would be quite the turnaround for a unit that rarely clicked over four seasons under former coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, both former NFL linebackers. At least the linemen and the secondary popped at times. The linebackers could have been more impressive in talent, production and impact.

Signing free agent and future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner changed that impression from a tackling and mental edge perspective, while the versatile Luvu provides the explosive element.

Luvu, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound ball of energy, will line up at numerous spots along the defense. That’s what he did with the Carolina Panthers. Cowboys star Micah Parsons, whose role Luvu fills, did that under Quinn, Dallas’ former defensive coordinator. That’s what occurred on the second practice of camp.

“Frankie, that guy’s a stud,” starting right guard Sam Cosmi said following Thursday’s practice. “He’s not just a linebacker. He can rush. Not a lot of linebackers can put on a (pass-rush) move and give you a bull (rush). Something like that is different. I’m happy he’s on our team.”

Not every move worked for Luvu on Thursday. Cosmi stoned the rushing linebacker in one direct matchup. He’ll win plenty of battles over time. Compiling 12 1/2 sacks and 236 tackles combined over the previous two seasons is the type of statistics Washington sought when signing Luvu, 28 in September, to a three-year, $36 million contract in March.

The expected impact goes beyond numbers. The hopeful changes extend beyond Luvu.

“These guys are finishing (plays),” Cosmi said. “They don’t only have one guy, one hat on the ball. They have five, six, everybody’s running to the ball.”

Speaking with reporters before Cosmi on Thursday, Luvu passed on accepting the mantle of player that defines Quinn and Whitt’s play style. Instead, he highlighted his fellow go-getters, including Chinn, his former Carolina teammate, defensive linemen Daron Payne and Clelin Ferrell, and Wagner, who gets to the right spots more with smarts than speed.

“I think there’s a lot of guys on this defense,” Luvu said following the second training camp practice. “That’s the type of caliber team that we want. Guys running, playing at the end of the whistle and finishing downfield is what we always talked about.”

Third in line

Knowing their main advantage is the unknown, Washington’s coaches have revealed little about their game plan or lineups ahead of the regular season. There is ample mixing and matching, but first-team reps have primarily involved expected names. That made Magee’s presence on the field with Wagner and Luvu for the first 11-on-11 play stand out.

The offense deployed a big personnel package, and the defensive coaches countered with a third linebacker instead of the usual fifth defensive back. Magee, the fifth-round selection from Temple, got the call over Davis, a 2021 first-round pick.

“He’s come a long way,” Luvu said. “Real quick for a rookie taking everything as early as it is in camp. He’s just been a sponge and trying to pick our minds.”

Scouts from other teams loved the overall package offered by the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder with 4.5 40-yard speed. Magee, a natural outside linebacker capable of handling inside duties, sees the fit with Quinn and Whitt’s approach.

“I fly around. I feel like I’m a run-and-hit type of linebacker,” Magee said. “Good things happen when we run to the ball.”

That’s a mentality Magee developed at Temple. “It’s instilled in me. Just run and give 100 percent effort.”

Washington will use a 4-2-5 primarily, but three-linebacker sets will sometimes show up. Having another player capable of attacking the ball makes such usage easier.

On the move

Quinn shared that one thing in personnel he’s desired since his first head-coaching stint with the Atlanta Falcons is more multi-dimensional players. Or, as another Washington head coach would say, position flex. That wasn’t a variable for Davis over his first three years. If he wants a role in his fourth, it will be this season.

Whether Magee is ahead of him on the depth chart or not, Davis has already faced the challenge of carving out playing time with Luvu and Wagner around. The new staff began the evaluation process in the spring by seeing Davis in coverage. With physical play more the norm in training camp — padded practices start on Monday — Quinn wants to see him rush the passer. That’s largely how Davis was used in the first two practices. It’s good that Ryan Kerrigan is on staff to help with the transition.

Kerrigan, Washington’s all-time sacks leader, “can work very specifically on the skills that we’re going to ask Jamin to do,” Quinn said. Based on previous struggles, that won’t involve much pass coverage. Considering Davis’ immense athletic attributes, chasing quarterbacks might be where he thrives.

The tutoring will occur throughout the day, whether after practices or 5-to-10-minute “micro-teaching sessions … that over time can add up,” Quinn continued. “When you keep doing that over and over, your skills will continue to increase.”

Flashes in Thursday’s practice were limited but occurred. The Commanders lack explosive edge rushers, though newcomers Dorance Armstrong, Ferrell and Dante Fowler Jr. help fill out the rotation. Perhaps Davis, second-year player KJ Henry or seventh-round pick Javontae Jean-Baptiste will join them.

Quarterback update

Marcus Mariota worked with the first team on Thursday, followed by first-round pick Jayden Daniels. Don’t expect that order to continue much longer. Neither quarterback starred in practice, but Daniels had the day’s most impressive throw, a perfect high toss to wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley in the back of the end zone.

The No. 2 overall selection also capped a bumpy two-minute drive by finding running back Jeremy McNichols alone in the right flat for a touchdown. Mariota fed Terry McLaurin for a deep completion on one possession but also held the ball at some length in the pocket, unable to find openings in the defense.

(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)

Ben Standig is a senior NFL writer focused on the Washington Commanders for The Athletic. The native Washingtonian also hosts the "Standig Room Only" podcast. Ben has covered D.C. area sports since 2005 and is a three-time winner of The Huddle Report's annual NFL mock draft contest. Follow Ben on Twitter @benstandig