The Washington Commanders officially introduced Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator earlier this week. Here are five takeaways from his press conference.

1. He's going to take influences from different philosophies.

Jones' most recent experience is with Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, and expectations are that he will bring some wrinkles from that pressure-heavy system to Washington with him.

However, Jones has also learned from several other defensive minds, from Vance Joseph to Lou Anarumo and Mike Zimmer. And when it comes to rebuilding Washington's defense, everything is on the table.

"There aren't too many schemes that I have not been a part of," Jones said. "Everyone comes from some type of tree. And so, because of that, I've been able to...implement various things from each scheme that I like, and I want to pull from."

A key example of this is how Jones has been influenced on bringing pressure. Last year, the Vikings were at the top of the league in blitz rate at 44.3% -- nearly 11 percentage points higher than the next team on the list. Jones said Flores' aggression comes on every down, while other coaches, like Zimmer, saved bringing pressure to third down. Zimmer liked "mug" looks (a linebacker lined up over the center or in the "A" gap), while Flores prefers offset looks.

Jones didn't reveal much about his plans but did confirm that they will take on a versatile and adaptable approach.

"We will try to dictate the terms and change the math."

2. He'll be using multiple fronts.

Jones was asked a common question during his press conference: will he be using a 4-3 or a 3-4 front? Jones' answer: yes.

"Multiple," he said. "I think...they're just numbers. [It's] still seven-man spacing."

While NFL defenses technically fall into one of the two categories, most defensive callers prefer to avoid being limited by one scheme. Both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes are often used interchangeably to match the defense's needs on a given play. Because of how much the passing game has evolved in the NFL, most defenses aren't even in their base formations. They use more nickel and dime formations to get more defensive backs on the field to counter all the offensive weapons on the field.

Jones said "it's not how they line up; it's how they wind up" when discussing his plans for using different fronts, which falls in line with his desire to be versatile and adaptable. Rather than force his new players into a set structure, he wants the players and their skill sets to dictate the unit's identity.

"It's all about players first and scheme second," Jones said. "And so, based off what our players can do, we will do. If players can't do that, then we will do and put them in situations where they can be at their best."

3. He thinks the defense is "young and athletic."

The Commanders were one of the worst defensive units in the league last year, but Jones sees potential in what the players can accomplish. In fact, he was complimentary of the personnel that he inherited.

"Young and athletic," Jones said. "The first thing that jumps off the tape is that these guys can run and hit. And so, you definitely want to use that to where guys are going forward versus going backwards."

The Commanders had the oldest roster in the league last season, but Jones highlighted several of the young pieces that will contribute in 2026, particularly in the secondary. He likes the athleticism he has seen from Trey Amos, Quan Martin and Will Harris. Players like Jeremy Reaves can provide versatility at safety. At linebacker, he's impressed with Kain Medrano and Jordan Magee, who started becoming a bigger piece of the Commanders' defense later in the season.

Jones wants players who are tough, physical and versatile in his defense. The Commanders certainly need to keep adding talent to the unit, but it sounds like Jones believes there are some foundational pieces to fulfill his vision.

4. He wants to collaborate with his coaching staff.

While Jones does have an idea about how he wants the Commanders' defense to function, he's not going to build the unit solely on what he wants. He would rather it be a group effort and will encourage his staff to contribute.

"We don't care where good ideas come from," Jones said. "Meeting the staff, you can feel it already -- the juice, the building, the strong dynamics to be able to have some creativity in the room."

This falls in line with how the Commanders want to run both sides of the ball. Offensive coordinator David Blough also discussed the importance of being collaborative with his staff to find the best path that works for every member of the offense, from the players to the coaches themselves.

Jones is already a fan of his staff, which is largely unchanged from a year ago. He said he sees teachers and communicators -- two traits that he values in himself -- in the room, and that gives him confidence that it will be a "great environment where things can grow."

"We can make it all come to life in terms of our vision that we have amongst the defense and for the organization as a whole under Coach Quinn."

5. Washington was the right fit for him.

Prior to joining the Commanders, Jones was starting to become a hot commodity in the coaching cycle. He had interviewed with multiple teams, all of whom were interested to see if he could help elevate their defense.

Jones chose to join the Commanders for several reasons, but one of the biggest was an opportunity to come home.

"I grew up in the area. I grew up wearing the burgundy and supporting the Washington organization. I went to elementary school, middle school, literally right across the street from where the stadium is in Palmer Park, Maryland. I went to Kenmore Middle School, and I went to Matthew Henson Elementary. So, growing up a diehard fan, the family's backing it. When the opportunity came, I thought it was a win-win situation."