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The Washington Commanders have made a big move on defense, firing defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer following their 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day. Head coach Ron Rivera announced the decision on Friday morning, and according to NFL Media, he will take over defensive play-calling duties.
The Commanders have struggled on defense this season, ranking 29th in yards allowed and dead last in passing touchdowns allowed. This was highlighted in their loss to the Cowboys, where Dak Prescott completed 22 of 32 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns without taking a sack.
The team's performance has been inconsistent since Del Rio's first season in Washington, where they ranked in the top five in most defensive categories. However, they have since regressed and have routinely been in the bottom-five to bottom-third in the league.
In the wake of the team having traded both Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the deadline, Washington was unable to generate much pressure over these past few weeks, putting even more of a burden on a clearly-overmatched defensive backfield. They did not appear up to the task, and the team apparently feels that the coordinator and position coach were to blame.
Commanders want to move forward
Rivera expressed his gratitude towards Del Rio and Vieselmeyer for their contributions to the team but acknowledged that changes needed to be made. "We appreciate Jack and Brent for all they've done for our organization, but we have to make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our football team moving forward," he said.
The decision to fire Del Rio and Vieselmeyer is a clear indication that the Commanders are not satisfied with their current performance and are willing to make changes to improve. It also raises questions about the future of the coaching staff and front office, with new owner Josh Harris and his partners potentially looking for an entirely new team come January.
Overall, it's clear that the Commanders have a lot of work to do if they want to improve their defensive performance. The decision to fire Del Rio and Vieselmeyer may be just the beginning of a larger shakeup within the organization.