LOVERRO: If losing fosters learning, Commanders working on an advanced degree

OPINION:

When Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris introduced new general manager Adam Peters to the public nearly two years ago, Peters was asked what he learned from the unsuccessful moments in his career — from his start as a New England Patriots scout to assistant general manager with the San Francisco 49ers.

Despite being part of three Super Bowl-winning teams, Peters told the assembled media that the best lessons came from losing moments.

“I’ve had a lot, and I think you learn so much in losing, and they say you win and you learn, and that’s a good saying that you always hear,” Peters said. “But it’s a lot easier to learn in a loss than in a win.”

Well, Peters must be earning a PhD. this season.

His 3-7 Commanders are about to face a Miami Dolphins team with an identical record but favored by 2.5 points Sunday in Madrid, where the home team favorite may wind up being the most fun to watch.

Fun is not a word associated this season with the Commanders.

Peters and his team aren’t just getting lessons in losing. These lessons have been painful lessons. The losses have been historic — the kind of blowouts that have almost turned last year’s thrilling 14-6 season and an appearance in the NFC championship game into a cruel moment of pleasure sandwiched between nearly three decades of pain.

The joyful rookie campaign of quarterback Jayden Daniels, sidelined for the third time this season, this one with a dislocated left elbow is disappearing into the past. Some wonder if they saw the future or just a moment in time.

It may get more painful.

Coach Dan Quinn has now officially put his name on this woeful Commanders defense, ranked 27th in the league and on a roll — 179 points surrendered over a five-game losing streak.

Quinn banished the defensive coordinator he brought with him from Dallas, Joe Whitt Jr., to support work.

“Joe will be involved all week, obviously with the rest of the staff in planning and getting ready for the game and then on game day he’ll be in the press box with the vision on the coverage and the things that we need to do,” Quinn told reporters Monday. “And so, like I said, I’m fortunate that we’ve been in that battle rhythm together during our time together in Dallas.”

Slices of the fault pie just got bigger. Whitt had earned a big piece of that pie for their defensive problems, but now Quinn’s piece as head coach got bigger with a direct line between him and how this defense plays.

If there is no improvement, will that responsibility fall totally on Quinn’s shoulders?

You can’t discuss the defensive problems without the injuries, having lost key players like defensive linemen Deatrich Wise and Javontae Jean-Baptiste early in the season along with safety Will Harris and later defensive end Dorance Armstrong. Now add rookie cornerback Trey Amos to the list.

Those are legitimate reasons for losing. But they don’t explain the lack of urgency and football acumen deeper into the roster that has been consistent during the string of 20-plus point losses.

No opponents are likely going home after games feeling like they got a hard-fought victory.

That speaks in part to the culture that Quinn has preached about. But it also speaks to the roster that Peters put together for his second season in Washington, a roster besieged by injuries on both sides of the ball.

Three top weapons of Daniels — and now backup quarterback Marcus Mariota — are hurt. Terry McLaurin has only played four games, currently sidelined with a quad injury, while fellow receiver Noah Brown and running back Austin Ekeler are out for the year.

There were questions before the season about the lack of depth Peters had put together at receiver. Now they are using receivers signed off the street last week.

His draft choices have come into question. Save for Daniels, none have truly popped and their names are not leading the limited list of post-game successes — even running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, the seven-round draft choice that was the talk of the league early in his career but has not rushed for more than 38 yards in their last four losses.

The trade for cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the Saints last season — dealing away a third, a fourth and a sixth round pick in this past NFL draft — has become a pass interference call for Peters.

Lattimore, the limited time he has been healthy, has been a disappointment on the field and is now out for the rest of the year with torn knee ligaments. He is likely done as a Washington Commander.

That’s a lot of lessons for Peters to learn.

• Catch Thom Loverro on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.