Team sports can often come down to a key matchup.
If one team can exploit a matchup, it may be enough to play a significant role in a game.
On Sunday, former Commanders’ defensive end and now current New Orleans Saints DE Chase Young will be matched up against Commanders rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman as the Commanders face the Saints in New Orleans.
Young, the second overall selection of the 2020 NFL draft, was said to be “a generational talent” coming out of Ohio State. His workout videos are fantastic, but the game results have not been a match since his rookie season.
Young was the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year, but his play fell sharply in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He never regained his level of play, although he considered himself a team leader of the defense.
Coleman was the Commanders’ third-round selection (67th overall) in the 2024 draft. Getting his feet wet and rotating with Cornelius Lucas early, he has now emerged as the starter (8 games).
Will the rookie from TCU be ready for Young, who will no doubt want to show Washington that they made a mistake in not signing him to a second NFL contract? Young has been rushing well and making an impact. Coleman will need to be alert and aggressive.
For instance, Young recorded ten quarterback pressures against the Giants, a Saints high for 2024. According to Next Gen Stats, Young is fourth in the NFL in quarterback pressures this season. Yet, interestingly enough, Young has only 3.5 sacks this season.
Young may not be finishing well enough to get the sacks, but Coleman must have a good game to prevent Young from pressuring Jayden Daniels. The crowd noise of Saints fans could also be a factor for Coleman. He will have to get off to a quick start, especially in passing situations.
Coleman vs Young; this will probably be a good contest on Sunday in New Orleans.