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Jeremy Chinn is all in on Washington’s new defensive philosophy

The Washington Commanders were not the only team interested in Jeremy Chinn’s services. He had other offers on the table, and according to him, they were at least a little more lucrative from a financial standpoint.

Chinn turned them down in favor of joining the Commanders, though, because of the opportunities he could have in the DMV.

“Just the situation here with Dan Quinn (defensive coordinator), Joe Whitt (Jr.), and (defensive pass game coordinator (Jason Simmons) and TD (secondary coach Tom Donatell), this is where I’m supposed to be, man,” Chinn said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I know this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Chinn, the 2020 runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year, has made it clear that he wants to be in Washington and part of the franchise’s new era. While he has never played for Quinn or Whitt in his NFL career, observations from afar convinced him that they were the ones who could get the most out of his skill set. The past two months have lived up to all of Chinn’s expectations.

“It’s been more than I could imagine or ask for,” Chinn said. “Just the places that he [Quinn] has been, from Seattle to Dallas and Atlanta, just seeing his defenses thrive and how people have played in those defenses.”

We don’t know much about the system offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is bringing to Washington. He said in February that he wouldn’t call it an “Air Raid” scheme, although it’s logical to assume there will be some similarities. One thing we do know is that players are going to be moved around…a lot.

“You’re going to see me all over the field,” said running back Austin Ekeler.

It’s clear why the Commanders were so interested in Ekeler, who has 69 total touchdowns as a runner and receiver. He offers an excess of versatility, and the Commanders are eager to use it. He told reporters June 12 that he’s been used all over the field, from the backfield to the slot, out wide and on the edge. Ekeler views himself as a “Swiss Army knife,” and he knows he’s going to get the job done, regardless of how he is used.

Terry McLaurin has also noticed some “positionless” aspects of Kingsbury’s offense. He could technically have several assignments depending on the hash and formation.

“You’ve got to really learn the entire concept and know where you’re at on the field, which I think makes everybody smarter players,” McLaurin said. “You don’t pigeonhole yourself … You get in two-minutes [drills], you’re the ‘Z,’ now you’ve got to know what to do. You may have the clearout route, or you may have the backside dig. You’ve got to know what you’re doing.”

Kingsbury is trying to make an offense that best fits the personnel he has on the roster. That means players are going to be put in new situations to see if the role maximizes their skill set. If it helps them win more games, the players are all for it.