Has the NFL passed by Commanders DC Jack Del Rio?
I’m sure you’ve noticed many on Twitter and D.C. radio shows this week wanting Jack Del Rio fired.
In the Commanders’ last game, the Bears (0-4) put up 40 points on the Commanders.
The Commanders allowed five passing plays of 20 or more yards. On the game’s first offensive possession, Justin Fields found D.J. Moore for 58 yards.
Commanders’ corner Benjamin St-Juste confessed, “I’m [mad] about that. That’s on me. … Should’ve just did my job instead of looking for a play when it wasn’t there.”
Fans and even some radio hosts in unison claim the game has passed by Del Rio. It’s as if he only understands the defenses of his playing days (1985-95). Do they know he’s been coaching in the NFL since 1997?
Many portray Del Rio as a blockhead, numbskull, and imbecile.
How quickly critics forget that just last season (2022) the Commanders defense played the key down in the NFL not only quite well, but actually the very best, getting off of the field on third down.
Following Thursday’s game, one Bears player actually called out the Commanders defensive backfield, saying, “They either weren’t aware or they were just being lazy about making the shift, and that led to some really open plays for us.”
Commanders rookie corner Emmanuel Forbes jumped two routes, and whiffed on the tackles, giving the Bears big plays. Forbes thinks he is going to simply make big interceptions. He must show more respect for those who have earned their dues in this league.
This week, the cries have been abundant, “Fire, Jack Del Rio.” Why do fans do this? You’re not going to like the answer, but the truth is, it is simpler. Fans love the players, so the simplistic, knee-jerk response is to fire the defensive coordinator.
Chase Young, on the Bears game, volunteered, “It’s nothing on Del Rio. He made good calls today. It’s on us as players. [We’ve] just got to start faster and hold each other accountable.”
Yet the fans get on Twitter and radio talk shows expressing that JDR doesn’t blitz enough, doesn’t know defense, and doesn’t know how to put the players in the best position to win.
Oh, stop! We all love the team. But to suggest publicly you know more than Jack Del Rio is actually embarrassing for you, revealing just how arrogant, misguided, and full of yourselves you are.
Not one single time do you have to make a decision about these defensive players where you will have to give an account. Not one time. Yet, every single defensive play call by Del Rio is dependent on his players executing it. Every single one.
Sure, the coaching staff might be fired at the conclusion of the season. But Jim Mora was also absolutely correct, we don’t know, and we never will.
