Category: NFL PRESEASON

5 Commanders to watch in preseason Week 2 vs. Ravens

Here are five Commanders who need a strong performance on Monday night.

The Washington Commanders wrap up Week 2 of the preseason with a Monday night clash against the Baltimore Ravens. The game will be the first home game for the Commanders under new owner Josh Harris.

While the game represents just another preseason game on the calendar, it means a little more for the Ravens, who enter Monday night winners of 24 straight preseason games. Baltimore hasn’t lost a preseason game since 2015. Washington right guard Sam Cosmi let his feelings be known on the Ravens’ preseason winning streak.

The game may not mean anything in the standings for Washington, but for several players for the Commanders — and every NFL team — these games do matter. Players are fighting for their NFL futures, and strong performances in the preseason are the difference between landing on a roster or practice squad or having their NFL dreams end.

We pick five Commanders you should pay special attention to on Monday night.

5 players on the roster bubble who helped themselves vs. Browns

Which players helped themselves the most in the preseason opener?

As every team enters training camp, they have a good idea of who will make the roster. While it varies from team to team, most teams know of at least 50 roster positions for the 53-man roster ahead of camp.

The Washington Commanders entered training camp with one of their strongest rosters in years. Washington’s biggest question is if Sam Howell is a legitimate NFL starting quarterback. If he is, the Commanders are a playoff team, and the rest of the roster will benefit from Howell being the guy.

When the Commanders started camp, some positions were still up for grabs, such as the last cornerback, the final two receivers, and which players will round out the reserve offensive line.

Washington defeated the Browns in the preseason opener last Friday. It was a good night for several young players on the roster. Which players helped themselves for one of those final roster spots?

We look at five bubble players who helped themselves in the preseason opener.

Doc Walker: Some Commanders are ‘whiners, sissies’

Doc Walker pulls no punches, gives some outstanding analysis on what he’s seen this summer.

Rick “Doc” Walker was doing what he does so well Monday.

A guest on “The Al Galdi Podcast,” Walker, a former Redskins tight end (1980-85), was entertaining, daring and humorous. In other words, it was Doc Walker, as I’ve known him for 40 years.

Walker, as usual, did not hold back sharing his opinion of what he has observed thus far in the 2023 Commanders preseason. “Everyone could see Wylie (Andrew) was struggling at right tackle.”

Walker liked something he saw in returner Kazmeir Allen, “I saw potential promise in our return game if that young man will listen to Brian Mitchell…All that wide running ain’t gonna work in the NFL. But, if you got the guts to jam that thing up the pipe, you coming out of their brother. Because this dude can fly.”

“Doc” voiced his concern over the slow Washington starts during the Ron Rivera three seasons (2020-22). “This (preseason) is like a training session. I got to get you through this, to get you ready for Arizona. Because my target is Arizona in the regular season. Because we have been awful in September.”

Walker then naturally transitioned into Washington’s new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy. “But now we have a new attitude, though some seem to have gotten their feathers ruffled over Bieniemy. I just hope he keeps doing what he is doing.”

Walker continued, “Anybody that has ever gone from bad teams to good teams understands why bad teams are stuck on stupid. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going to keep getting the same results.”

The former tight end really appreciates the route running of receiver Jahan Dotson. “If they had a pay-per-view package just for me to watch/stay on him, I’d buy the package just to watch him. He is a superior route runner. I am telling you it is an art.”

How does Doc feel about the offensive line? “Here’s my deal, if you can’t run block or pass block, why are you on the team? Because you played for the head coach? We saw that crap last year with the two guards that were shot (Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner). So, it depends. Do you guys want to win, or are running a boy’s club or a professional football team?”

Walker again turned to Wylie in particular, “I expect him to play better next week because it is the test of a lifetime because he has the Ravens all week. So, if he has any fight in him, any dog in him, it better come out this week.”

“Doc” loves Sam Cosmi being moved from tackle to guard and looks forward to what he thinks Cosmi can accomplish inside.

Then “Doc” again turned his focus to the regular season.

“All I care about is if we are better in September than we have been since Ron Rivera has run the team. We have got to be better in September. In order to do that, it gets ugly in the process. It’s not going to be perfect. You have to go through some tough times.”

“I just want all the whiners that think EB’s practice…………EB is training you to be a champion. I know it is foreign to a lot of these sissies, but the bottom line is that was pathetic what went down.”

“It altered my demeanor all week. I could not believe it. I was shocked by that. But, you gotta move on.”

Commanders have several receivers fighting for a roster spot

Rivera singled out a pair of young undrafted players.

Each preseason, NFL teams are looking to add new, younger players to their roster.

The Commanders are, of course, no exception, looking to replace a couple of veterans with younger players. It is cheaper, providing you with salary cap space you are going to need once injuries begin to occur. Secondly, the NFL is a brutal game, and players’ bodies, over time, wear down.

When it comes to receivers, the Commanders are looking for that player or two that can make their roster or can be developed during the season on the practice squad. It’s no secret. Every team is trying to be developing some guys that can help you later.

Not only are the wide receivers having to adjust to the talent in the defensive backfield being much better than they faced in college, but they are also having to learn Eric Bieniemy’s offense he has brought from Kansas City.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera was asked Sunday about his receivers competing for the final spots. Here are the highlights from Friday.

“I think it’s a very competitive young group of guys. We feel that we’ve got a good young core of guys that are competing for a position. Mitch (Tinsley) has done a really nice job. There’s a number of them that have really come out and done some good things. I think when you look at them as a whole and for what they’ve had to learn this year compared to some of the other things, that group of guys has really done a nice job.”

Another undrafted free agent attempting to make an impression is former UCLA Bruin, 5-8 176-pound Kazmier Allen. When Rivera was asked about Allen’s play Friday, Allen looked interesting. So Rivera responded:

“Interesting. I think that’s a good word; I really do. He’s a young dynamic guy that’s got some explosion to him. He’s got a lot to learn; he really does, because he kind of bounced around positions at UCLA, but the one thing that did stand out, obviously, is he is explosive. But as I said, he’s got a long way to go. He really does. He’s a guy that’s going to take some time, but we do like him and we do find him interesting and intriguing.”

The Commanders are returning Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, Dyami Brown and Dax Milne. Kyric McGowen was in camp last season, is again competing for a spot.

Newcomers at receiver fighting for spots are Tinsley, Allen, Zion Bowens, Marcus Kemp, Byron Pringle, Jalen Sample, and Brycen Tremayne.

Commanders’ Jacoby Brissett pleased with Friday night’s preseason debut

Jacoby Brissett pleased with Washington’s preseason opener, but realizes there is plenty of work to be done.

Jacoby Brissett was surprised Friday night in Cleveland.

He was not only observing quarterback Sam Howell but also his teammate from last season, Deshaun Watson. Following the game, Brissett was asked about what he noticed about Watson from last season.

“We obviously talk football a lot,” Brissett said. “I obviously talk to a lot of guys on the team as well, and they’re excited about how he looks compared to last year.”

“Coming out here watching him, I thought he looked really good compared to last preseason. … He looked very smooth, no hiccups and stuff like that, so I thought he did a good job.”

Washington led Cleveland 7-2 with 10:02 remaining in the first half when Brissett relieved the starter, Howell. The Browns fans cheered loudly for Brissett, welcoming him back to Cleveland where last season he started the 11 games when Watson was suspended. There was even a “welcome back” message displayed on the scoreboards.

“That was awesome,” he said. “Did not expect that. I really enjoyed my time here. A lot of the people, the players, the coaches, and the staff there, I have a lot of respect and love for that organization.”

For his time in Friday’s contest, Brissett completed 6 of his 10 passing attempts for 75 yards (7.5 yards per attempt). He did throw one interception and was sacked once, which brought his passer rating down to 43.8.

Brissett led a nice 8-play 89-yard drive in the second quarter, which concluded on a 2&10 when Brissett dropped back to pass, looked to his right and saw no defenders, so he easily jogged untouched for the 12-yard touchdown run, extending Washington’s lead to 14-2.

“I felt like we did a lot of good things, but obviously, there are a lot of things to clean up. I am sure we are going to do that when we get back.”

Last year Brissett was to fill in until Watson’s return. This season he is expected to prepare and be ready if and when called upon to spell Sam Howell. What will Brissett be doing in approach to this season?

“Just being the person that I am, day in and day out. No matter the circumstances, doing the things that got me to where I am today. Holding true to what I believe is the right thing to do. Going out there and putting my best foot forward.”

How was Sam Howell’s night for Commanders?

Overall, it was a good night for the young Washington quarterback.

Sam Howell had some really good moments Friday night in the preseason opener.

Howell started against the Browns in Cleveland and proceeded to complete 9 of his 12 passing attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown for a 119.1 passer rating.

Howell also carried once, gaining eight yards, on a play in which he displayed good feet. He was also sacked once for a loss of -8 yards and a holding call resulted in a safety for Cleveland’s two first-half points.

On Washington’s first possession, facing a 3rd and 6 at the 25 yard line, Howell was forced left but was swift enough, gaining 8 yards for the first down to the 33.

A sack losing eight yards and a holding call and Howell faced a 3rd & 30, resulting in a punt.

The second Commanders possession began deep in the hole at their own 5. Right tackle Andrew Wylie was guilty of holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Howell’s third drive was a beauty, with 10 plays and 80 yards for a touchdown. Howell found Cole Turner for 7 yards, Terry McLaurin for 7 yards, and Turner again for 4 yards.

Perhaps his most significant play of the night was a 4th & 3 at the Browns 39. Why punt when it is preseason? Give your quarterback and offensive unit the opportunity to convert, meaning more offensive plays. Howell rolled right and found Turner for 13 yards to the Browns’ 26.

On the next play, Howell dropped back, looked left and connected with Dotson on the 26-yard touchdown.

 

 

5 takeaways from Commanders’ preseason win over Browns

What stood out in Washington’s preseason opener?

The Washington Commanders opened the 2023 preseason with a 17-15 win over the Cleveland Browns. While you always want to win, it’s not the most important thing in the preseason.

No. 1, every team wants to come away healthy. For the most part, the Commanders did that. Secondly, you want to see something positive from your first-team units, specifically on offense. After a slow start, Washington’s offense went 80 yards behind quarterback Sam Howell to take the lead before departing.

The defense, after allowing the Browns to drive the length of the field, finished with an impressive goal-line stand.

There was a lot of good from Washington’s preseason opener and some bad, too. Here are five takeaways from the Commanders’ win over the Browns.

9 performances we liked from Commanders’ preseason win over the Browns

There were some positive performances from Washington’s Week 1 preseason win over Cleveland.

The first week of the preseason is in the books for the Washington Commanders. Washington held on for a 17-15 win over the Cleveland Browns Friday in a game that was delayed for over an hour due to storms.

The game’s result didn’t matter as much as what we would see from some of Washington’s young players. How would young quarterback Sam Howell perform? What about the offensive line?

We liked several things about the Commanders’ win over the Browns. Here are nine performances that stood out the most from Friday’s preseason opener.

Twitter reacts to Commanders’ 17-15 preseason win over Browns

It was mostly a positive place.

Josh Harris was present for his first game as the Washington Commanders new owner in Friday’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns. His minority partners, Mitchell Rales and Mark Ein, were also on hand to support the team all three loved as kids.

While preseason results don’t matter, the new ownership group did get to see the Commanders come away with a 17-15 win over Cleveland. There were encouraging performances from multiple young players, including quarterback Sam Howell.

For years, monitoring social media during and after a Washington game could be interesting — and usually not in a positive way. However, there’s a new vibe around the Commanders.

How did Twitter react to the first game without Daniel Snyder since the 1998 season?

Commanders hold on to beat the Browns 17-15 in preseason opener

The Commanders open the preseason with a win over the Cleveland Browns.

The Washington Commanders held on for a 17-15 win over the Cleveland Browns in the preseason opener Friday. The game was delayed for over an hour due to severe storms in the Cleveland area, and Washington’s first-team offense looked late to the party.

Washington started the game on offense with Sam Howell at quarterback. It was a nice start for Howell, who, on a third down, scrambled for a first down. Unfortunately for the Commanders, things fell apart from there. Howell found tight end John Bates wide open across midfield, hitting him in the hands with room to run, but Bates dropped it.

It didn’t matter, as right tackle Andrew Wylie was called for holding on the play. That ended any hope of a positive first drive. On Washington’s second possession, which began inside the two-yard line, Howell dropped back to pass, and under duress, Wylie was called for another holding penalty, resulting in a safety.

Head coach Ron Rivera wanted something positive from his offense, so he sent them back out for another series. Howell and his teammates responded with an excellent drive, completing five passes for 57 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jahan Dotson.

Jacoby Brissett then entered the game for the Commanders at quarterback. Brissett picked right up where Howell left off, making some excellent throws, including one to Byron Pringle. A few plays later, Brissett ran it in from 12 yards, and out Washington was up 14-2.

From then on, there wasn’t much from Washington’s offense as Jake Fromm played most of the second half for the Commanders. The Browns made a push late, scoring a touchdown with under two minutes remaining, but missed the two-point conversion. Instead of attempting an onside kick, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski chose to kick it deep, allowing the Commanders to kneel and run out the clock.