Commanders add Steve Wilks to defensive game-planning staff
Washington has brought in Steve Wilks to work with its defensive coaches during the week, though he will not be on the sideline on game days
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The Washington Commanders have hired Steve Wilks to assist their defensive staff with game planning, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported. Wilks began working with the team last week, although the arrangement has only now become public.
Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo): The #Commanders have hired Steve Wilks to work with the defensive coaches under Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones, per me and @RapSheet. The decision to hire Wilks was made last month. He started last week. Wilks will help with game planning. He won't be with the team on game days.
Wilks is working under Dan Quinn and Daronte Jones. His assignment is centered on the preparation that takes place before games; Garafolo reported that he will not be with the team on game days. That distinction matters: this is an addition to the weekly planning process, not an announcement that Washington has replaced the coaches who direct its defense during games.
The timing also predates the current week's discussion of the Commanders' defense. The decision to hire Wilks was made last month, according to Garafolo. Washington therefore gains another experienced voice in its defensive meetings without changing who is responsible on the sideline.
Wilks' exact impact on the game plan will be difficult to isolate from the work of the rest of the staff. What is clear is the shape of the job: help build the defensive approach during the week, then leave game-day responsibilities to the existing coaches. The Commanders chose to put that support in place before the latest results could be cast as its sole explanation.