Category: Coaching Hires

Bill Belichick praises Commanders’ Daniels and Kingsbury

The legendary coach has high praise for Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury.

Bill Belichick knows something about NFL quarterbacks and offenses.

He made a career of being a defensive coordinator, and it provided him the opportunity to be a head coach in Cleveland and New England.

During a broadcast of his television show, “Coach,” with guest Michael Lombardi (ML), Belichick gave glowing praise for the Commanders 2024 season, particularly Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury.

Here is a portion of the dialog.

ML: “It just shows you the magic of a young quarterback who’s willing to do the time and work hard.”

BB: “Which we all know he is a hard-working kid.”

BB: “You have to give a lot of credit to Kliff Kingsbury. He’s done a good job with that offense, run the ball, a bit more patient with the running game, maybe than what he was in Arizona.”

BB: “And Daniels has made some plays on his own. He still throws the ball outside the numbers a lot, he still scrambles and can make plays with his legs. I think the teams that are playing him, have to figure out, ‘This isn’t just another quarterback, we gotta play him the right way’. ”

BB: “But so far, he has done a lot of damage in the National Football League.”

Here is a video clip of the segment.

Belichick began coaching in the NFL at the age of 23, was a member of the NY Giants defensive coaching staff from 1979-90, the Cleveland Browns head coach 1991-95, the New York Jets defensive coordinator 1997-99, and the New England Patriots head coach 2000-23.

Commanders’ Dan Quinn: ‘I’ve had a blast coaching this team’

Dan Quinn reflects on this special season.

Dan Quinn interviewed for a job where the team lost their last nine games of 2023, and several were truly an embarrassing butt-whooping.’

He was named the head coach of the Washington Commanders, and one thing that jumped out to me was Quinn’s gratitude for getting another opportunity to be an NFL head coach.

Monday, he was asked by the local media if he’d reflected on this past year and how far he’s come.

“If I would reflect on that, man, I’d say I’ve honestly had a blast coaching this team because we’ve been working hard on our identity,” Quinn said Monday. “And to have a group that connected like they are, that’s a big deal because not every team has that.”

The fan base in the DMV certainly wanted better than 4-13 and better than the several blowouts Ron Rivera had last season, not being competitive. But no one expected this journey all the way to the NFC playoffs in the very first year for Quinn and first-year GM Adam Peters.

“For me to get to see a front row seat at that journey and be along on that ride with them, I’ve got a lot of gratitude for it. So, I would say probably the two things that come up for me are joy, because I’ve wanted to make sure the circumstances don’t determine that. I’m absolutely pumped to be here on the best of days and the hardest of days.”

Quinn doesn’t just say these things; he has displayed this occasionally this season. He is so positive, seeing the opportunities before him and the team. He exudes a confidence stemming from that joy that they can find a way to succeed.

On more than one occasion, the former Falcons head coach has gone out of his way to thank by name various coaches on his staff and various employees, such as the medical staff.

“I also have a lot of gratitude for what this team is and what they stand for. So, to me, those would be the two things looking back on it.”

As prolific author Tim Keller said in his last years, “It’s one thing to be grateful. It’s another to give thanks. Gratitude is what you feel. Thanksgiving is what you do.”

Quinn has exhibited the security to name names of others in the organization when giving thanks this year. He gives thanks publicly because inwardly, he is truly grateful.

 

 

How is Commanders’ Jayden Daniels ahead of schedule?

Comparing Jayden Daniels to other recent highly-drafted quarterbacks.

Jayden Daniels is ahead of schedule in more ways than one.

Daniels led an overtime drive in which he told the Commanders offensive unit to jump on his back, leading Washington to a 30-24 win Sunday night at Northwest Stadium.

The walk-off win occurred when Daniels found tight end Zach Ertz in the end zone. This clinched the game and the Commanders’ playoff birth, improving their 2024 record to 11-5 going into the season finale at Dallas.

The Commanders’ rookie quarterback is also ahead of Bears’ rookie and 2024 first-overall selection Caleb Williams. You recall Williams went to the Bears, who actually won seven games in 2023, but had the first overall draft pick because the Carolina Panthers had given up the farm to the Bears in a 2022 trade.

The Commanders (4-13) chose Daniels second overall, and not a single NFL analyst declared Daniels had a better supporting talent on the offense than the Bears did for Williams. Yet, the Commanders are 11-5, and the Bears have lost ten straight, never recovering from their ‘Hail Mary’ loss to the Commanders.

Even more, did you know that looking at each of the other quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall since 2016, Daniels has earned a playoff birth faster than every single one of them? Yes, not a single one of the seven rookie quarterbacks drafted first overall made the playoffs in their rookie season.

Now, of course, it might be argued that the first overall pick went to the worst team. It is true in cases, but it is also not true in cases where there was a trade (Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, Jared Goff).

Keep in mind Daniels was chosen by a Washington team that had not had a winning record since the 2016 season, and finished 2023 4-13, losing their last nine games, several in embarrassing blowouts.

  • 2016  Jared Goff: (Playoffs year 2)
  • 2018  Baker Mayfield: (Playoffs year 3)
  • 2019 Kyler Murray: (Playoffs year 3)
  • 2020 Joe Burrow: (Playoffs year 2)
  • 2021 Trevor Lawrence: Playoffs year 2)
  • 2023 Bryce Young: (Playoffs year ??)
  • 2024 Caleb Williams: (Playoffs year ??)

Commanders releasing Mathis further highlights Ron Rivera’s ineptitude

On Saturday, the Commanders released another high Ron Rivera draft pick.

Saturday brought another reminder of just how ineffective Ron Rivera was as an NFL general manager.

Commanders Wire wanted sincerely to give Rivera the benefit of the doubt often when it came to personnel moves while Dan Snyder was still the team’s owner. However, after some time, evidence showed Snyder was less active than he had been in previous seasons.

The Commanders’ release of DT Phidarian Mathis on Saturday was predictable. It was predictable not in isolation but because it marked yet another example of Ron Rivera’s utter futility as a general manager.

In his four seasons, Rivera not only failed to produce a winning record, but his free agent acquisitions and draft selections are glaring examples of his deficiencies as a talent evaluator and a team roster constructor.

Anyone following the Commanders knows that Mathis has been released. We all noticed that despite being healthy, Mathis has been declared “inactive” for the last three games.

Ask yourself, “How many Commanders fans even remember the name of the defensive tackle elevated from the practice squad in substitution for Mathis in the last three weeks?” I guarantee you 50 percent wouldn’t come up with the name Carl Davis.

Davis is a journeyman at age 32, and the Commanders still have not signed him to the active roster. Yet, GM Adam Peters and HC Dan Quinn chose him for three consecutive weeks over Mathis.

Mathis being released raises the question if a contender needing some defensive tackle depth will now sign Mathis to their active roster. If not, will the Commanders sign Mathis to their practice squad?

As the 2024 regular season winds down, Rivera made 33 draft selections in his four seasons (2020-23). Only G Sam Cosmi, RB Brian Robinson, and S Quan Martin are starters, and only ten are still on the active roster.

You think about that.

Joe Whitt is excited to possibly be getting back this Commander

Washington defensive coordinator can’t wait to get Jonathan Allen back.

With Jonathan Allen looking like he is getting closer to returning, one coaching staff member is very excited.

At Thursday’s weekly press conference, both coordinators met with the media. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. didn’t shy away from the prospect of Allen returning soon to the inside rotation of the Commanders defensive line.

“Oh, I’m excited. With the opportunity of getting him back, hopefully that happens.”

Some have insisted Allen was not having a good year before he was injured. In fact, they have said it was a bad year.

But how so? Allen was injured and lost during the sixth game, a loss to the Ravens. In those five full games and some of the Ravens game, Allen actually had produced 13 solo tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, and six additional QB hits. Keep in mind that is from the inside. So, for five and one-half games, Allen was not having “a bad year.”

Whitt understands that if he does get back Allen at defensive tackle, he comprehends Allen will not be playing the majority of snaps. They need to see him in a more limited role his first time back in games.

“When he gets back in, I’m sure he’ll be on the pitch count, but I don’t know what that number will be. I’ll let the medical staff and AP [General Manager Adam Peters] and DQ [Head Coach Dan Quinn] lead that way.”

So, at this point, Whitt comprehends that a Jonathan Allen who only plays 25 (1/4) to 33 (1/3) percent of the defensive snaps is better than no Jonathan Allen at all. So, Whitt will be happy and thankful to get Allen back in the lineup for however much he can get him.

“He gives us just another veteran player, high pedigree player that can go in and give those quality snaps inside, that can get after the quarterback, push the pocket, be disruptive. So, we’re excited to get him back.”

If Allen does return soon, it will also mean him returning to the 53-man roster and someone else being released. Might that someone be Phidarian Mathis?

Commanders Dan Quinn joined some elite company with Week 15 win

Dan Quinn did something only one other coach in Washington franchise history has done.

Dan Quinn is already in rare company.

With the 20-19 Commanders’ win over the Saints in Week 14, Dan Quinn reached his ninth win of the season.

The franchise has been led so poorly from the top that this 2024 season is the first nine-win season since Jay Gruden was the head coach, Kirk Cousins was the starting quarterback, and Sean McVay was the offensive coordinator in 2015. The only current player from that 2015 season was punter Tress Way.

Also, with that ninth win of the season, Quinn becomes only the second Washington head coach to have won nine games in his first NFL season with the franchise.

George Allen came to Washington in 1971, taking over a team that had finished 6-8 in 1970. Allen made numerous trades in the offseason but lost his starting quarterback, Sonny Jurgensen, to a broken shoulder in the preseason and Charley Taylor in the fifth game to a broken ankle. Yet the Redskins finished 9-4-1 and were the fourth and final team to make the NFC playoffs before losing in the first round to the NFC West champ 49ers in San Francisco 24-20.

The great Joe Gibbs came to Washington in 1981, taking over a team that was 6-10 in 1980. Gibbs lost his first five games and has often told of how then-owner Jack Kent Cooke asked to meet with Gibbs. Gibbs has commented that he thought he might get fired before winning even a single game.

Gibbs wasn’t fired, but he did manage to get the team to play his brand of football. They won eight of their final 11 games, finishing the season at 8-8.

Marty Schottenheimer came to Washington to succeed Norv Turner, whom owner Daniel Snyder had fired during the 2000 season in which the Redskins finished 8-8.

Schottenheimer inherited Jeff George as his starting quarterback, whom Snyder had brought to the team. Marty’s 2001 team started miserably, so miserably George was not only benched, he was released. The Redskins started 0-5, finished strongly at 8-8. But Snyder fired Schottenheimer.

How many games did Boston / Washington first-year head coaches win in their inaugural seasons?

  • 2020 Ron Rivera 7-9
  • 2014 Jay Gruden 4-12
  • 2010 Mike Shanahan 6-10
  • 2008 Jim Zorn 8-8
  • 2004 Joe Gibbs (2.0) 6-10
  • 2002 Steve Spurrier 7-9
  • 2001 Marty Schottenheimer 8-8
  • 1994 Norv Turner 3-13
  • 1993 Richie Petitbon 4-12
  • 1981 Joe Gibbs (1.0) 8-8
  • 1978 Jack Pardee 8-8
  • 1971 George Allen 9-4-1
  • 1970 Bill Austin 6-8
  • 1969 Vince Lombardi 7-5-2
  • 1966 Otto Graham 7-7
  • 1961 Bill McPeak 1-12-1
  • 1959 Mike Nixon 3-9
  • 1954 Joe Kuharich 3-9
  • 1952 Curly Lambeau 4-8
  • 1950 Herman Ball 3-9
  • 1946 Turk Edwards 5-5-1
  • 1944 Dudley DeGroot 6-3-1
  • 1943 Dutch Bergman  6-3-1
  • 1936 Ray Flaherty 7-5
  • 1935 Eddie Casey 2-8-1
  • 1933 Lone Star Dietz 5-5-2
  • 1932 Lud Wray 4-4-2

Commanders’ Kingsbury: ‘McCaffrey has done everything we’ve asked’

Someone needs to step up. Does Kliff Kingsbury think it will be Luke McCaffrey?

Do you remember the show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

The show was a smash television hit, and Thursday, Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury referred to the million-dollar question.

He talked of the Commanders’ offense now needing to find extra offense, and it was the million-dollar question of from where it was going to be produced.

Listening to Kingsbury, he suddenly presented some of the options that have been running through his head, but he certainly was broad enough, he didn’t actually give away anything to the Saints or Eagles.

“Do we need to have different sets and run the ball more, or can we take more shots now? Is that something that’s going to help us get those yards back and maximize the guys who will be playing. And that’s what we gotta figure out over this next couple game stretch is where does that come from?”

Kingsbury was also correct, noting that Noah Brown and Austin Ekeler both have very physical, aggressive styles in their play.

“It’s hard to replace two guys like that, the production they had and just the type of teammates and the effort they played with. But young guys get the opportunity, and we kind of see where it fits.”

Kingsbury was asked about the Commanders’ third-round selection (100 overall) in the 2024 draft, Luke McCaffrey. “Yeah, I mean he’s a talented young man, we’ve asked him to play inside and outside because he can handle it. And that’s a lot on a young player.”

Kingsbury praised the other receivers, Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown, saying, “It’s a loaded receiver room that there’s a bunch of guys that can do a bunch. I know they don’t get the notoriety that some people talk about, but the way they play, the way they perform, it’s been a good group for us.”

Remember, GM Adam Peters drafted McCaffrey based on his athleticism and intelligence, believing that McCaffrey, who only played the position his last two years in college, was going to grow and develop.

Kingsbury declared he is pleased with McCaffrey thus far, saying, “…he’s done everything we could have asked from him, but other guys have made plays and it’s just a crowded room right now.”

McCaffrey will certainly be getting more snaps this week, so perhaps he will see more targets and receptions against the Saints in New Orleans.

Jay Gruden examines what’s happened to the Commanders’ offense

The former Washington coach with some excellent analysis on the Commanders’ recent offensive woes.

Jay Gruden said the Commanders didn’t take advantage of their opportunities and, as a result, lost to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday at Northwest Stadium.

The former Redskins head coach went back and watched the game a second time in preparation for his Monday appearance on the Grant & Danny Show (106.7 the Fan). Gruden said he is convinced that in the first three quarters, the Commanders had their chances to take control of the game and simply didn’t do it.

“The last few minutes was pretty chaotic on both sides of the ball, but the first three quarters, I think was just a matter of taking advantage of great opportunities, and Washington didn’t do it,” Gruden said via Lou DiPietro of Audacy. 

“They had great field position, opportunities to really jump out on them early and put your foot down and show who’s a better team, and they didn’t do it. They just let Dallas hang around and hang around.”

Gruden was the head coach in Washington for the 2014-2019 regular seasons, and the offensive coordinator for the Benglas (2011-2013) and Jaguars (2020).

“Third downs are bad; they’re 12-for-38 in their last three games, 10 sacks, and time of possession. They’re averaging 24 minutes per game in the last- three games,” Gruden said. “A lot of that has to do with the ability to keep the ball, and they’re not staying on the field on third down. There’s a lot of reasons for it – sometimes it’s pressure related, sometimes Jayden misses a throw or there’s no throw to be had – so there’s a lot of things they can clean up, but the most important thing is they got to do a better job on third down.”

Having been a Division 1 starting quarterback at Louisville and working with NFL quarterbacks for a decade, Gruden is not simplistic. He knows there are various reasons why the Commanders’ offense is struggling.

“A lot of times it’s hard to get off your No. 1 target when feel pressure inside, and you gotta get rid of the ball,” Gruden said. “It’s just hard to point your finger at one thing. Sometimes it’s pressure, sometimes he feels like the guy is open and the defensive back makes a good play, but it’s easy to hold the film on pause, and then when the ball’s gone, let it play again and see somebody come wide open, and say you should have held the ball and thrown it to this guy. That’s not always the case when you have the ball in your hand,d and you’re playing quarterback.”

Jay, unlike his brother Jon, is not overly critical. He exhibits much more empathy and is much more understanding of the pressures of a rookie quarterback.

“There are times I agree he could have maybe held the ball a little bit longer, but that’s easier said than done for a young quarterback.”

Commanders Quinn not buying the narrative about Kingsbury offenses

What Dan Quinn said about the narrative regarding Kliff Kingsbury.

Three weeks ago, the Commanders were 7-2 and were considered one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Three consecutive losses later, the offense is not the only thing struggling; however, fans and local media often want to discuss the offense in general and, in this case, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in particular.

So it wasn’t all that surprising when Dan Quinn was asked Monday about Kingsbury and his offenses regressing in the second half of the year. What was surprising was that Quinn was even asked if he had given it thought to before hiring Kingsbury.

“Sure, I probably don’t give it as much, and here’s why,” Quinn said. “You’re talking about a different program with different people and different players. And so, I think going into it, and you’re putting in a system together, you want to make sure that you’re featuring the players and the things that they do best and all of that. And so I think Kliff’s done a good job of that, although they’re peaks and valleys and any season that’s going to go. I don’t have a sense of what somebody did you know well before, because the system that was in place there is not the same exact carbon copy as the one here.”

I don’t have much doubt that there will be those who interpret Quinn’s reply as a knee-jerk cop-out, avoiding the subject.

However, there is truth in what Quinn is saying: There is turnover most years on most rosters in the NFL.

Consider Kingsbury, who was the Arizona Cardinals head coach during the 2019-2022 seasons. His first season saw Larry Fitzgerald as his leading receiver, but Fitzgerald retired following the 2020 season. DeAndre Hopkins became the Cardinals’ leading receiver in 2021, but Christian Kirk took over that role in Kingsbury’s last season in Arizona.

Kenyan Drake led the Cardinals in rushing in 2019 and 2020, and James Conner has taken over that rule in recent seasons.

Kyler Murray replaced Josh Rosen from 2018, who had replaced Carson Palmer as the Cardinals’ signal caller.

Whether Kingsbury’s offenses have taken this huge dive downward regressing in the second half would require a deeper dive in research.

The Commanders’ offense first slowed down during the Bears game. Washington could only generate 12 points throughout the game until the ‘Hail Mary’ provided six points on the game’s final play.

But the defense may be just as big a story as the offense. In the last four games, the defense has given up 22 points (Giants), 28 (Steelers), 26 (Eagles), and 34 (Cowboys).

But are we even sure about those numbers? On Sunday, Dallas returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. How is that the defense’s fault?

Of course, many years ago, it was proven that the best defense is a good offense, and the best offense is a good defense.

So, it will take a deeper dive to uncover some real data on the Kingsbury offenses’ continually declining and regressing performance in the second half of seasons.

 

Commanders’ captains this week is no coincidence

Dan Quinn’s choice for captains were very deliberate.

Well, it was certainly no coincidence when Dan Quinn announced the Commanders’ captains for their game Sunday.

Quinn’s Commanders are playing host to the Cowboys on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Northwest Stadium. Consequently, Quinn named not one, not two, but all three captains to be former Dallas Cowboys, adding, “And all three of these guys have really had different ways they’ve made their impact with their teammates and on the team.”

Center Tyler Biadasz, DE Dante Fowler and CB Noah Igbinoghene were named the Commanders captains for the Week 12 contest against the Cowboys.

Biadasz spent his first four NFL seasons (2020-23) in Dallas, three of which were when Quinn served as defensive coordinator. Quinn brought Biadasz to Washington to add a veteran to the inside of the line and give rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels NFL experience. Biadasz has started all 11 games for the Commanders this season.

Fowler has been with Quinn while playing for the Florida Gators, Atlanta Falcons (2020), and the Cowboys (2022-23) and is now in Washington in 2024. Previously, Fowler was with the Rams (2018-2019) and played for the Jaguars (2016-18) after they drafted him third overall in the 2015 NFL draft.

This week’s captain representing the special team units is cornerback Noah Igbinoghene. Drated 30th overall in the 2020 NFL draft by the Dolphins, he played three seasons in Miami (2020-2022) before moving on to Dallas for the 2023 season. He followed Quinn to Washington, signing a one-year contract with the Commanders. Prior to coming to the Commanders, he had started only five games in his four seasons. But with Emmanuel Forbes struggling, Mike Sainristil often has to play outside corner, leaving the slot corner spot to Igbinoghene.