Category: Washington Training Camp

Dan Quinn’s answer about a No. 2 receiver is telling

The Commanders like their current group of receivers.

Throughout the 2024 offseason and training camp, it was a foregone conclusion that Jahan Dotson was Washington’s No. 2 receiver.

That is until preseason games began, and head coach Dan Quinn noticeably one day praised some wide receivers but neglected to mention Dotson. After a week of much speculation, suddenly, on the morning of August 22, Adam Peters had traded away Dotson and a fifth-round choice to the Eagles. In exchange, Washington would receive a third-round choice and two seventh-round choices.

To this day, fans and media still discuss the team’s need for a No.2 receiver. Quinn apparently doesn’t agree.

On Wednesday, when asked about “the lingering discussions” about the Commanders’ need to develop a No. 2 receiver, Quinn smiled and responded, “No, I’ll let you and the guys outside have those ones. For us, we’re really focused on the guys that are here, honestly, just absolutely battling for it.”

Olamide Zaccheaus leads the receivers (other than Terry McLaurin) with 10 receptions, averaging 11.4 YPR. Noah Brown follows him with 9 receptions, averaging 12.3, Luke McCaffrey (7/ 11.3), Dyami Brown (5/ 7.4), and Jamison Crowder (1/ 5.0).

Quinn interestingly added, “What you will see sometimes each week is some reps may change by the position, what’s needed maybe for that game plan or for how we’d want to attack. But we’re really pleased with the group and their competitive nature, what they stand for.”

For what it is worth, the Eagles were without DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown last week, and Brown has now missed the last three games. Dotson has not taken advantage of their absences, as he has only accumulated five receptions for 25 yards in his four games.

Commanders’ rookie LT Brandon Coleman is trending upward

The rookie left tackle continues to play more snaps each week and the arrow is pointing up.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn was asked Tuesday about rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman.

Coleman has yet to start in his three games, but he has seen action on 65 offensive snaps (34 percent), rotating with starter Cornelius Lucas.

“We continued to balance them up a little more, as we’re going to do, but we knew that was going to be one of the factors inside, to make sure (Trey) Hendrickson can’t ruin the game. I believe he got inside late, on one late (rush) where they got the sack and created the negative yards.”

“But by and large, I felt Brandon’s technique and energy, all the things when you are missing some time, start coming back into play. So, we’ve been impressed, and the arrow is definitely going up.”

https://Twitter.com/Mason_Kinnahan/status/1838607324044497298

Also of note, in these three games, Coleman has yet to be penalized. So, he is not getting beat early and is holding on to avoid his quarterback getting killed.

Washington drafted the 6-foot-6, 320-pound rookie out of TCU in the third round with the 67th overall choice. He had received first-string reps before injuring a pectoral muscle in training camp.

The coaches have determined to bring him along, play him each week, to help Lucas get some rest each week, providing both of them playing time and rests during the game.

Coleman has received progressively a few more snaps each of the three games. Against Tampa Bay in Week 1, it was 14 offensive snaps. Then, it was 22 against the Giants and 29 against the Bengals. Notice the progression: 24 percent, then 31 percent, and finally 49 percent.

Consequently, barring injury, Coleman may most likely play a higher percentage of plays than Lucas for the first time this season on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Two oddities regarding the Commanders’ depth chart

Some takeaways from Washington’s Week 1 depth chart.

So the Commanders’ defensive depth chart is “unofficial,” they say.

When I was looking through it on Tuesday, I read each name quickly and didn’t notice anything unusual. I caught Michael Davis and Dominique Hampton being listed as the backup not once but twice.

So, I looked a second time at the starters, and this time, I noticed they had listed an extra starter. The Commanders had listed 12 instead of ll as their starters. Why?

Though listed as such, the Commanders are not going to start Clelin Ferrell, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler at the same time. They could, yes, but not if they also start cornerbacks Emmanuel Forbes, Benjamin St-Juste, and Mike Sainristil.

https://Twitter.com/Mason_Kinnahan/status/1822802490443641122

This was not an error. The truth is that, for some reason, the Commanders wanted 12 starters on defense and 11 on offense listed. Had they not yet personally informed one of the 12 that he is not starting? Perhaps they felt it best that the player hear it first from the coaching staff and not social media?

Looking at the Week 1 opponent, the Tampa Bay Bucs, I noticed the Bucs list three wide receivers as starters: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan.

Perhaps the Commanders listed three cornerbacks to combat the three Bucs receivers. Does that mean they will alter the depth chart each week accordingly?

Over to the offensive chart, in the minicamps and training camp, Dyami Brown was often praised. Luke McCaffrey, on the other hand, not so much. Yet, the surprise on the chart was that Brown was listed as a backup and McCaffrey and Olamide Zaccheaus as the starters.

Perhaps the key word in the depth charts is “unofficial,” and we should simply view them as a guide from week to week, but not official.

2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at quarterback?

Previewing the quarterback position for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Jayden Daniels called an audible, overruling the play (screen), which had come in from the sidelines.

It was his first third down in the first series of his first preseason game. He instead called for an empty backfield with all five receivers running a vertical route. Daniels then looked the safety off to the left side of the field, eliminating his help against Dyami Brown. Daniels then fired deep to Brown for a 42-yard gain.

On a third-and-long against the Dolphins, Daniels simply took what the defense gave him. He took the check down, gained good yardage, and made the field goal attempt much closer. The Commanders have to be thrilled with Daniels’ progress thus far.

Of course, there will be struggles; he is a rookie. His extremely lean frame will continue to be a concern. With his quickness and speed, Kliff Kingsbury will want to run some zone-read options each game. Therefore, Daniels will need to get down and avoid hits often.

Marcus Mariota has been one Daniels says he is leaning on heavily. Coaches have said he has accepted his role very well and is supportive of Daniels. Mariota has walked in Daniels’ shoes. He is good to have in Daniels’ ear each day and each game.

On the other hand, Mariota is now dealing with his second injury of the preseason. First, it was a groin, now a chest injury. The plan was that Mariota would be the only other quarterback on the roster, but what little action he saw wasn’t good, and with another injury, one can’t help but wonder if the Commanders might actually have Mariota “inactive” for the opener.

Which leads to Jeff Driskel. Driskel received many more snaps in the preseason and produced several nice plays. As a result, the decision was made to keep Driskel on the roster as the third quarterback. If Mariota is not ready for the opener, they will be glad Driskel is available.

Sam Hartman injured a shoulder in the first preseason game against the Jets and did not see action in the final two preseason games. He was waived, then brought back and signed to the practice squad.

Commanders’ Adam Peters: ‘I couldn’t be more excited’

Adam Peters explains why he’s excited about 2024.

Are you ready for some football?

Commanders new general manager Adam Peters is ready for some football.

He told “Grant & Danny” of 106.7 The Fan on Thursday, “I couldn’t be more excited,” said Peters. “I can’t believe it. It just felt like the blink of an eye that we’re here now.”

Peters said he was even talking on the practice field last week with some of the Commanders coaches about how fast this offseason and preseason have gone, and they will be in Tampa soon for the season opener.

“I am the most excited, but I think our fans should really, really be excited about this next week and what’s to come with this team…I am excited about our offense with Kliff, and the way he runs it, and the guys that are executing it. It’s going to be a really fun offense to watch. It’s going to be a fast offense. It’s going to put defenses in a bind with what we do.”

The Commanders gave up the most passing touchdowns in the NFL last season and surrendered the most points. But with all of the additions and subtractions Peters has made, he also feels better about the defense.

“I really love how fast and physical the guys are playing, the mindset of the guys and the leadership of that side of the ball too. So I’m honestly just really excited about how we played and how we’re going to play in the style of how we play.”

Now, of course, that is coming from a general manager who is comparing last year’s team and how they played to what he has assembled in his first offseason with the team. He is not attempting to persuade the fan base that the Commanders are going to the Super Bowl this year.

Yet, looking at all his hard work and the hard work of Dan Quinn, his staff, and the players, Adam Peters is excited that this team is trending upward for this season.

How ready are the Commanders at cornerback?

Previewing the cornerbacks.

What sort of group have the Commanders assembled at cornerback?

Do you realize the Washington Commanders gave up an unbelievable 518 points in 2023? The closest team to them (Cardinals) surrendered 63 points less.

The Commanders couldn’t pressure opposing quarterbacks, and the back seven made up for it by not covering anybody either! The passing defense was so bad that it gave up 344 more yards than the 31st-ranked Bengals. Opposing teams passed for 39 touchdowns against Washington—last in the league.

Ron Rivera was seen on a Commanders video excitedly driving to work on the morning of the 2023 NFL draft, anticipating drafting Emmanuel Forbes, available at No. 16. Rivera selected Forbes.

https://twitter.com/Tiller56/status/1693784745493111054

Forbes struggled terribly during the 2023 season, but what made it even worse was that the coach coaching the defensive backs (Brent Vieselmeyer) was an unqualified secondary coach, as Rivera was in a lame-duck year.

This year, Forbes has gained 15 pounds, and there is a qualified secondary coach (Tommy Donatell) who coached the Chargers secondary the last three seasons. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. coached the secondary for the Packers (9 seasons), Falcons (1 season), and Cowboys (3 seasons).

The Commanders’ current roster includes five corners: Forbes, Benjamin St-Juste, rookie Mike Sainristil, and veterans Mike Davis and Noah Igbinoghene.

Sainristil was great in college, but this is the NFL. There will be struggles in learning, but coaches say he has continued to get after it and looked good in training camp.

Davis and St-Juste both have plenty of experience starting outside, so they could very well be the choices to start the opener next Sunday.

Igbinoghene was the Dolphins’ first-round choice in 2020 (30 overall), but he just hasn’t developed as was projected coming out of Auburn. In fact, Igbinoghene has only started five games in his four NFL seasons. He did spend 2023 with Quinn and Whitt in Dallas and chose to follow them to Washington.

Note: Lastly, Commanders Wire had last read the Commanders have two corners on the practice squad (Chigozie Anusiem and Bobby Price). However, we noticed Price is actually listed on the roster. We’ve searched for confirmation but have yet to find any communication from the Commanders that such a move was made. Consequently, it might be a clerical error.

First-half observations from Commanders vs Patriots’ final preseason game

Five thought on the first half.

The Washington Commanders hosted the New England Patriots on Sunday in their third and final preseason game. Here are some observations from the first half of the Commanders’ game against the Patriots.

  1. Jeff Driskel played the entire first half, completing 12 of his 18 attempts for 73 yards. He did have a bad interception, where he stared down his receiver and threw directly into coverage, which he never saw.
  2. Cole Turner had another pass go off his hands, and it was intercepted by the Patriots’ Joe Giles-Harris. This is Turner’s third season, and it has not been impressive in the last two weeks. We will see if Colton Yankoff gets that fourth tight end spot on the roster.
  3. I’m not sure about Noah Igbinoghene. Early on, I thought he would surely make the roster, but he missed two tackles in the first half.
  4. Armani Taylor-Prioleau is trying to make the roster at offensive tackle. But one play sticking in my mind is when he was taken and pushed all the way back to Driskel, forcing Driskel to abandon passing the ball and stepping up and being tackled at the line of scrimmage.
  5. KJ Henry was completely unblocked when he nailed Jacoby Brissett, appearing to cause Brissett shoulder pain. Henry had good penetration on two other plays, disturbing the Patriots’ offense.

How does the Dotson trade impact the Commanders?

How does the Dotson trade impact the Commanders moving forward?

Moving forward, what effect might the Jahan Dotson trade have on the Washington Commanders?

Of course, we don’t “know” the certainty of the future. Yet, doesn’t it remain a strong probability that a message was indirectly sent to the team when your WR2, a first-round draft choice just three drafts ago, is traded?

Several players had previously spoken out that the change in approach by this new coaching staff was evident from their arrival. Players had expressed increased energy, intensity, enthusiasm, and competition.

Just one week ago, head coach Dan Quinn praised some of the wide receivers but not Dotson. Former Redskins running back/returner Brian Mitchell volunteered that body language spoke volumes about what players were buying in and which were not.

On Thursday, a message was sent. Dotson was traded. Most specifically, the wide receiver group is more aware now than ever of what is expected of them on a running play or on running a route through contact.

But not only the receivers; perhaps the remainder of the team now looks differently at the coaches, for they have learned that the coaches are not afraid to make deals to rid themselves of whomever they don’t feel is buying in.

Fans instantly thought of a trade for Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, or Armari Cooper. But no, Dan Quinn was clear. This was not about acquiring another receiver. To me, Quinn was saying he believes this trade was, in their view, an addition by subtraction.

Quinn and Peters need to be correct on this one. They know this, of course. With two years remaining on his contract, they could see Dotson four more regular season games. Yet, from their evaluation, might they not be overly concerned?

You know, perhaps like Andy Reid wasn’t overly concerned to have traded Donovan McNabb to Washington?

Why is Commanders’ Dan Quinn losing sleep this week

This is not an easy week for Dan Quinn.

In a few days, on Tuesday, August 27, NFL teams must reduce their roster from 90 to a maximum of 53 players before 4:00 p.m ET.

That is a lot of decisions that need to be made from the end of Washington’s Sunday night home game against the Patriots until Tuesday by 4 p.m.

Dan Quinn led an energetic training camp that ended Friday. “I am pleased as we’re heading out of camp,” Quinn told the press.

However, what looms ahead is not allowing Quinn to relax or enjoy the fact that the team has just completed his first Washington Commanders training camp.

“The way we look at it is that it’s a 70-man roster… it’s always a hard conversation for the ballplayer, whether a veteran or a rookie.” By 70, Quinn refers to the 53-man roster and then the 17-man practice squad that teams can construct after each released player has an opportunity to sign with another club.

 “There’s a lot (that keeps me up at night)… a lot of that has to do with what’s to come…” Quinn spoke of getting to know the person, not merely the player, making it even harder when it comes to the cut-down days.

“It’s a hard conversation walking into that room because you’re not coming with good news,” Quinn spoke of talking with some players, telling them what they would need to see if the player makes it back to them on the Practice Squad.

In addition, Quinn offered, “If a player’s not coming back, I try to give him some things to work on in case he has another opportunity elsewhere.”

Why did the Commanders trade Jahan Dotson?

Dan Quinn talks why the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson.

When Commanders coach Dan Quinn opened the floor for questions on Friday, John Keim was first and simply asked, “Why the decision to trade Jahan (Dotson)?”

“I think at the end, we’re always going to make decisions that are just rock solid and best for the team. This was one of those examples where we had an opportunity to do that. So that’s why we did it.”

Wow, it was “rock-solid and best for the team” that Dotson be given his ticket headed for elsewhere. Just a moment later, Quinn echoed this, “but certainly at the end, like I said, just really a matter of here’s an opportunity to go help the team, and thought that was the best way to go about it.”

The first-year Commanders head coach did not mention any of the particulars that Logan Paulsen has provided over the last week. Quinn also did not speak of the nature of Jahan Dotson’s competing in team drills or the two preseason games played thus far.

If you are looking for a few reasons why the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson…

  1. Dotson was too easily moved off of the timing and spacing of his routes in practices and the two preseason games.
  2. Dotson did not display urgency on the practice field or buy-in to the new coaching staff’s culture.
  3. Dotson, last year in his second season had some issues with dropping balls that were easily catchable.
  4. Peters and Quinn are looking for more physical, active, blocking wide receivers.
  5. As a first-round selection in the 2022 draft, Dotson’s salaries would have escalated these next three seasons. He is guaranteed $1,573,032 for this season (3rd). It naturally escalates to $2,757,048 in his fourth NFL season. The Commanders would then have been determining whether they were going to offer Dotson another sizeable raise involving the fifth-year option.
  6. The Commanders gained a top-100 pick in next year’s draft, as the Eagles are sending a third-round selection. Wide receiver classes continue to grow, as the college game is producing more receivers who can play right away. The Eagles will also send two seventh-round selections, which will have lower salaries for four seasons if they make the team’s roster.