Is Dan Quinn ready to take command of DC? | The list of exemptions

Yahoo Sports NFL Writer Charles McDonald is joined by The Athletic’s Diante Lee to discuss Washington’s prospects under its new head coach and whether the defense is poised for success. Listen to the full conversation on “The Exempt List with Charles McDonald” – part of the “Zero Blitz” podcast – and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Video transcription

Obviously the hire was interesting because Dan Quinn wasn’t their first choice if he was considered for this, because that’s where I start to wonder with Dan Quinn.

When you look at the depth chart, you don’t really see anything that exemplifies Dan Quinn’s defense and that’s the first concern for me is that all of Washington’s strength is on the spine of this defensive line and he’s not, he’s not a defensive tackle. first guy knowing they’re probably going to give up big plays in a running game because that’s always been a problem with Dan Quinn.

You know, they’re going to play lighter bodies because that’s always been a thing with Dan Quinn and they’re going to play a lot of men.

And then when you look at the fact that they don’t have a good pass rush, at least in terms of the depth chart.

And you look at all the young guys they have around and the guys that haven’t proven themselves yet, that’s why I’m really concerned.

It’s like, I don’t, I, I understand that he wasn’t their first choice.

I know he’s kind of being brought in right now to maybe Power Wash, do a little more power washing of Washington’s reputation and be an adult in the room to guide them through this.

I don’t see how this defense is productive in year one and I don’t know if there’s an easy 2-3 year track where you can compare to how he did in Dallas.

But it will be interesting for me, I think, to see how the secondary shapes up as well.

Um, the Emmanuel Forbes man, the photo that went viral, I think it was a few weeks ago where he was standing next to a high school student and people thought he was a high school student because he is so small.

Um, I’m not really sure how this is supposed to fit into Dan Quinn’s defense.

Like, if you want to play like a press gang, man, you’re 100 and 60 years old.

Just, I don’t know if I trust Dan Quinn as a schemer or, you know, as a playmaker to actually give his team the edge.

Many, many teams have figured out how to defend some of these things and you’re still beaten by, you know, some basic concepts.

The point you just made is the one that strikes me the most with Dan Quinn, which is that he loses the same way all the time and that’s the most concerning thing.

And then you look at the personnel of this defense and it’s like it’s tailor-made to continue to lose in the same way that Dan Quinn’s defenses have been exploited for the last decade now.