Commanders coaches, defensive backs see optimism forming with revamped secondary

Commanders defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons began homework on Emmanuel Forbes Jr. before joining Washington’s staff.

As the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator, Simmons studied incoming prospects ahead of the 2023 draft. Forbes set an NCAA record with six of his 14 career interceptions returned for touchdowns while at Mississippi State.

“Everybody loved the playmaking ability,” Simmons recalled.

The Commanders’ previous regime thought highly enough of Forbes to select him 16th overall last year. Following a competitive training camp, Forbes started Washington’s first two games. The rookie was later benched by halftime of a Week 5 blowout loss in Chicago and didn’t play the following week against Atlanta. Upon re-entering the lineup, Forbes rarely found his previous form.

Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., Simmons and defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell joined Dan Quinn’s new staff to help teach the secondary. Turning on Forbes’ game tape showed a cornerback getting manhandled by physical receivers like Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown. The slender defender also shied away from contact in the run game.

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Grasping a player’s strengths and weaknesses matters. For Simmons to gauge how best he could help, the longtime defensive backs coach began by learning about the person.

“I want to get to know what makes (Forbes) tick. I want to learn how his mind works,” Simmons said. “I want to know his triggers. I want to know the competitive nature of the guy. That’s how you get to a point where you know how to coach guys.”

Coaching the youthful talent at cornerback and safety this season garners more attention than usual. Washington’s defense cratered in 2023 after ranking in the top 10 in points, passing yards allowed and defensive expected points added in 2022. Several factors contributed. Defensive backs coach Chris Harris departed the previous offseason for an elevated role as pass-game coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. Coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio replaced Harris with assistant defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer, initially hired in 2020 despite minimal NFL or college experience.

The players are the ones on the field, but questionable coaching contributed heavily to the decline.

The Commanders’ defense ranked last in points (30.5), touchdown passes (39), passing yards allowed (262.2) and opponent quarterback rating (105.7), according to TruMedia. Del Rio and Vieselmeyer were fired after Thanksgiving amid a losing streak that reached eight games by the season’s end. The group’s top cornerback and safety, Kendall Fuller and Kamren Curl, departed in free agency.

Hiring Quinn, the Dallas Cowboys’ coordinator for three seasons, meant another defensive-minded head coach. Quinn’s coaching resume includes the heralded “Legion of Boom” secondary that keyed the 2013 Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. He brought over his defensive backs coach, Whitt, for the coordinator job in Washington after Dallas had the NFL interceptions leader in 2021 (Trevon Diggs) and 2023 (DaRon Bland).

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Simmons, a 10-year NFL safety, began his coaching career with Green Bay in 2011 and served as a Raiders defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach from 2022 to 2023. Donatell held those dual roles for the 2023 Los Angeles Chargers. They will tutor Forbes and safety Quan Martin, Washington’s first two selections in the 2023 draft.

The significant roster turnover included signing safety and 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Jeremy Chinn and drafting second-round nickel cornerback Mike Sainristil. Free-agent cornerback signee Michael Davis is the lone expected starter or high-rotation player with more than four years of pro experience.

As last season showed, player potential requires proper molding, a point Whitt emphasized during his introductory news conference in February.

“(We) have a number of guys on that back end that are intriguing,” Whitt said. “That’s why we brought Jason Simmons in and Tommy Donatell, to get those guys … to believe in the techniques that we’re going to teach ’em and the scheme that we’re gonna put them in.”

The entire roster appeared highly engaged with the new staff throughout organized team activities.

“I was very excited that we hired Dan Quinn, and I like my defensive coordinator, corner coaches and all that,” Forbes said.

There’s no forgetting the secondary’s implosion last year, but “the one thing that we can do first is put last year behind them,” Simmons said. “Everybody has a clean slate. Everything (now) is about competition.”

The initial teaching focused on developing consistency in performance and improving discipline with their eyes and feet. “That’s what makes a good defensive back line,” Simmons continued. “It’s not the hero plays. It’s about guys that can go out and be consistent.”

Forbes rarely sniffed steadiness in Year 1. He allowed an average of 20.1 yards per catch — with 20 receptions on 27 targets — through Week 6 and, per Pro Football Focus, finished fifth worst overall at 16.3. Seeing the 6-foot-1 corner, listed at 180 pounds, avoid engaging ball carriers contributed to the coaches not playing him in Week 6 at Atlanta. Despite those lows, Forbes maintained confidence, a must-have trait for any cornerback. He stood tall and answered questions after poor outings or when reporters checked in post-practice. That belief remained for the new coaches to witness.

“He’s a man’s man. He is definitely confident,” Simmons said. “It’s a real confidence. I’ve been impressed with his level of maturity. He understands and wants to get better.”

Whitt warned reporters he would disclose little about the defensive plan or rotations because “the advantage that we have right now is people don’t know, and we’re gonna keep that advantage until they figure it out.” The buttoned-up angle included specifics about Forbes’ development.

“But I can tell you that the kid is working his butt off,” Whitt said, “and I’m pleased with where he is. I can tell you that 100 percent because if he wasn’t, I’ll tell you. I’m not gonna come up here and BS anybody.”

Quinn and Whitt’s aggressive, blitzing scheme should offer Forbes more takeaway possibilities — he had 11 pass breakups but only one interception in 2023.

“The first part is really the ball skills and, at that spot, being able to turn the ball over,” Quinn said of Forbes. “And that’s, I would say, his superpower.”

Quinn said the cornerback with the desired length and speed is now “bigger than he was for sure,” which should help defend Brown and other receivers. Forbes displayed more assertiveness at times this summer, taking on receivers off the line. He also worked with the punt returners in camp.

“(Forbes) has worked hard on that this offseason to see that weight going up,” Quinn said. “That position alone, man, it really calls for athleticism, ball skills and having that length to defend some of the bigger players.”

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Forbes isn’t the only secondary member aiming for a return to their previous form. After a year of primarily working from the slot, the staff moved 6-foot-3 cornerback Benjamin St-Juste back to his natural outside position. That shift and the presence of new tutors talking takeaways is why the fourth-year pro has breakout potential despite, per PFF, allowing the second-most receiving yards (871) among cornerbacks last season. St-Juste inexplicably has only one career interception despite being credited for 27 passes defended.

Davis, who spent his first seven seasons with the Chargers, will challenge Forbes as the other outside starter. Sainristil, the likely slot starter, could help on the perimeter if needed. Otherwise, the corner depth comes from coach ‘em up candidates like intriguing undrafted free agent Chigozie Anusiem and holdover Christian Holmes.

Safety may become the secondary’s strength. Simmons coached Chinn’s first two seasons with Carolina when the hulking 6-foot-3 safety recorded two interceptions, two touchdowns and three forced fumbles. There was nothing but goose eggs in those categories the next two seasons. Staff changes led to Chinn’s playing time decreasing from over 90 percent of snaps in his first three seasons to 39 percent in 2023.

With Washington, Chinn projects as a significant contributor and the expected starter next to Martin, a versatile free safety. Martin was the rare defensive back to improve over the second half of last season after receiving zero defensive snaps through the first five games. The growth continued this spring.

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“Quan’s got experience playing nickel and down by the line of scrimmage. Jeremy can come from the top down and play over the tight end,” Quinn said. “I’ve been impressed by … their communication together.”

Forbes called this season a “fresh start.” Other defensive backs can make the same claim. There’s little in the way of proven pieces, and history is littered with potential turning into false hope. Training camp gives Quinn, Whitt and Simmons time to mold these corners and safeties before Week 1.

Based on the players’ initial work with the new staff, this group might become the team’s biggest surprise.

“I’ve been impressed by where I saw us at the early part of the offseason program to where we’re at now,” Quinn said. “I feel some identity coming along with the group.”

(Photo of Emmanuel Forbes: Greg M. Cooper / Associated Press)