Commanders Hire Dan Quinn: Washington Receives Bad Grade?
Dan Quinn stays in the NFC East as the head coach of the Washington Commanders having spent the last couple of seasons as defensive coordinator in Dallas.
Quinn, who turned around one of the worst defenses in history under Mike Nolan to be a turnover machine, now takes his talents to the nation's capital.
But not everyone is excited by the hire as CBS Sports has given a grading to Quinn landing in Washington ... and it's not good.
"Washington was right to part ways with Ron Rivera after four tough but ultimately middling seasons, but to go from one aging defensively minded retread to another is curious considering how forward-thinking the organization appeared to be, welcoming both new ownership and front-office leadership," CBS Sports writes. "Quinn oversaw an opportunistic "D" with the Cowboys, no doubt, and he's approached the mountaintop before, taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2016. He also went just 18-23 with zero playoff bids after that. Perhaps his experience will help ground a rebuilding team, but this hardly registers as an inspiring, innovative move."
Grade: D+
That is a whack between the eyes if we have ever seen one.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
While other teams over the last 12 months have hired what is considered the "new wave" of coaches as DeMeco Ryans, Mike Macdonald, Antonio Pierce, Jerod Mayo, Brian Callahan, Raheem Morris, and Dave Canales, there is a thought that Washington has hired an "old school" coach, not that there's anything wrong with that.
Quinn took Atlanta to the Super Bowl, a game they should have won, and turned around a horror Cowboys defense in quick time. So Quinn isn't one of the young, flashy head coaching signings, but that doesn't mean he is the wrong choice.
Perhaps one of the key factors in the Commanders selecting Quinn is his ability to build a good, strong culture as Washington enters into a season of transition.
The Quinn signing might not be everyone's cup of tea and while there are many detractors to the move, we will find out in due time if it was the right decision.
As of now, it is too early to make a sound and solid judgment on Quinn's hiring, and yet here we are, not even a week removed from his announcement, and it appears many have already made up their minds.
Let the cake bake.
