Rasul Douglas can already see the shape of Washington’s new defense, and he likes what it could do for him.
The veteran cornerback said Wednesday that if the Commanders’ front can force quarterbacks off their spots, the job in the secondary gets a lot easier. Douglas broke it down with a simple analogy: “If somebody gave you the answers to a test, would you not put the answers down?” For him, the “answers” come from reading the quarterback, tracking the ball and reacting before the route fully unfolds.
That’s where new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones comes in. Jones wants the front to speed up the quarterback’s clock, not just chase sacks.
The idea is to make throws come out early, before the play develops the way it was drawn up. Douglas said Jones “likes getting them rattled," and added, "They like messing them up, getting them off their spot to where they’re throwing places that they normally don’t throw to.”
Douglas believes Washington has the pieces to make that approach work. He pointed to the team’s size and pass-rush depth as tools that can force hurried decisions and ugly throws.
“You want the ball coming out fast, fast, fast. I think that’s what we’re trying to do here,” Douglas said.
The veteran corner’s background fits the assignment. He’s spent years studying three-, five- and seven-step drops, which gives him a feel for where a quarterback wants to go without having to depend solely on speed or recovery burst. He still has to learn Washington’s new terminology and communication, but if Jones’ front can consistently make quarterbacks uncomfortable, Douglas could be in prime position to turn that pressure into turnovers and mistakes.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, head coach Dan Quinn said Dorance Armstrong and Deatrich Wise Jr. have reached key points in their rehab. Neither player is ready to practice yet, and both are still working on the side. Quinn called Armstrong “super close,” though Washington has not given a return timetable.
Quinn also said running back Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt added about seven or eight pounds of muscle this offseason. That added bulk is only part of the plan for Bill in his second year.
Quinn challenged Croskey-Merritt a few weeks ago to get more involved as a receiver and keep developing into a three-down back. Washington may want that from him, but Rachaad White’s ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield means that role won’t be handed over without a fight.
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