Tag: 2021 NFL preseason

Ron Rivera was happy with several of Washington’s rookies on Thursday

Ron Rivera was pleased with the rookies after one preseason game.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera met with the media via Zoom on Friday after the WFT’s 22-13 loss to New England in the preseason opener.

The best news from Rivera’s Friday presser was there were no major injuries on Thursday,

Rivera also went over the performance of several of his rookies and came away impressed.

Sam Cosmi started the game at right tackle and played most of the first half. Cosmi did well in both pass blocking and in the run game. Rivera praised his hand placement and footwork.

At this point, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else starting at right tackle in Week 1. Cosmi has gradually gotten better each day this summer.

Rivera paid rookie tight end Sammis Reyes, an ideal compliment.

Reyes caught two passes but didn’t look natural either time. That’s ok. Reyes offers plenty of things you can’t teach, such as size, athleticism and physicality. Thursday’s performance would have to be considered encouraging from Reyes.

What about first-round pick Jamin Davis?

Davis didn’t stand out in his first professional action. Some fans were panicking. Relax. Once things slow down for Davis, he is going to be an outstanding NFL linebacker.

Rivera wants to further expand undrafted rookie running Jaret Patterson’s duties.

Patterson was extremely impressive on Thursday.

Wide receiver Dyami Brown and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste also impressed in limited duty.

Washington fans should be encouraged about its 2021 rookie class.

 

Everything Ron Rivera said after Washington’s loss to New England

Everything Ron Rivera discussed in his postgame press conference after Thursday’s loss to New England.

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It’s not often that your head coach is content after a loss. Well, for Washington head coach Ron Rivera, he has multiple reasons to be happy after his team’s 22-13 loss to the New England Patriots in the preseason opener.

Rivera went into the game wanting to see his first-team offense move the ball. With Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, the offense did move the ball, and tight end Logan Thomas continues to stand out.

Rivera also spoke of backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke — and he was impressed.

Staying on the offense, while some watching on the NFL Network may have been surprised by the performance of rookie running back Jaret Patterson, Rivera was not.

Speaking of rookies, Rivera left some rookies in the game a little longer to gain more experience. And he was pleased with Washington’s top four picks in Jamin Davis, Sam Cosmi, Benjamin St-Juste and Dyami Brown.

Perhaps the biggest topic coming out of the game was kicker Dustin Hopkins, and his two missed field goals. Rivera said it’s not all on Hopkins.

To be fair, he’s right. Washington has a new long snapper in rookie Camaron Cheeseman. On at least two snaps Thursday, the snaps weren’t perfect. Whether it is the kicker or the punter, a snap that is just off completely throws off the timing of the kicker or punter.

That doesn’t let Hopkins off the hook because these issues have been around for years. But it does buy him more time, and that makes sense.

It will be interesting to watch Washington’s special teams units in the final two preseason games.

 

The Touchdown Wire Week 1 preseason preview podcast

The NFL preseason is back, and from Trevor Lawrence to Mac Jones, Justin Fields, and everything else, Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield are ready to help you prepare for the first full slate of games.

Football is back, and Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Mark Schofield are back on the pod to discuss it! With a full slate of preseason games from Thursday through Sunday, it’s time to discuss what to watch in every game. Before that, we get into Doug’s recent piece on 15 second-year breakout players, and Mark’s additions to the concept. A lot of guys who didn’t have a preseason in 2020 are ready to make big moves.

After that, we get into the most compelling questions of the start of the 2021 NFL preseason:

  • How can Josh McDaniels best scheme Mac Jones up for success? And why is the answer to this similar to how Matt Nagy can make things better for Justin Fields?
  • Is it a big deal that Zach Wilson is making mistakes on purpose in training camp?
  • Are the Steelers using pre-snap motion just for the heck of it? And can Dwayne Haskins speed things up a little?
  • Will the Cardinals have a plan for Isaiah Simmons?
  • The Falcons had just 108 two-tight end snaps last season, but eight touchdowns and two interceptions. With new head coach Arthur Smith and new ultimate weapon Kyle Pitts on board, will Atlanta match that rate in the preseason alone?
  • How will Darrell Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer maximize Trevor Lawrence as a passer? Or, if you’re a longtime Seahawks observer, will they do so at all?
  • Is it time to worry about Joe Burrow’s recovery? And what the heck is up with Dak Prescott?
  • What will the Packers finally see in Jordan Love?

Check out the pod for the potential answers to these and many other questions!’

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How to watch, listen, stream Washington vs. Patriots in preseason Week 1

How to watch, listen and stream Washington’s preseason debut at New England.

The Washington Football Team opens up the 2021 preseason on Thursday with a trip to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots.

Washington enters the preseason opener intending to play its starters. Head coach Ron Rivera didn’t say how long the starters would play, but he detailed what he was looking for from his quarterbacks.

“Is he going through the checks, the processes he needs to?” Rivera said Tuesday. “When I’m done, I’m going to take a look and see what the playbook tells us, whether or not we spread the ball around properly and we used all of our assets out there.”

While most of Washington’s roster is set, there are still several battles to be won this preseason. Wide receiver, defensive back, defensive end, and the offensive line are some positions to watch for Washington on Thursday night.

The Football Team will be playing Rivera’s former franchise quarterback in Carolina, Cam Newton. Washington will also see plenty of New England’s first-round quarterback, Mac Jones.

Here’s how you can watch the Washington Football Team and the New England Patriots preseason battle:

How to watch, listen, stream Washington at New England

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts

TV: NFL Network

Radio: SiriusXM channel 380 for Washington’s broadcast and channel 381 for New England’s broadcast.

Stream: FuboTV (try it free).

 

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick talks playing in the first preseason game

Ryan Fitzpatrick discusses the preseason, his leadership role and Washington’s weapons.

Washington quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is set to make his debut in Week 1 of the preseason on Thursday against the New England Patriots.

Head coach Ron Rivera said earlier this week the starters would play and set expectations for what he wants to see from his team, specifically the quarterbacks.

For Fitzpatrick, who is entering his 17th NFL season in 2021, you’d think playing in Week 1 of the preseason would be something he wouldn’t like. However, in an interview with Kim Jones of the NFL Network, Fitzpatrick spoke of why the preseason is important, especially being on a new team:

I think it’ll be good. It’ll be good to get out there and go through the process with the guys. I’m new, I‘m trying to get a feel for some of these guys. But even just the communication, in and out of the huddle, getting out there and looking at a play clock again, communicating with the line on pass play and run plays. That kind of stuff, it’s good to get a little dress rehearsal, so I’m excited to get out there a little bit.

Rivera wanted to see Fitzpatrick show basic command of the offense in his first start, which shouldn’t be an issue for the veteran passer.

Throughout the offseason, you’ve seen teammates praise Fitzpatrick and show genuine excitement about him running Washington’s offense. Wide receivers, especially, know that Fitzpatrick will give them plenty of chances to make plays down the field.

Fitzpatrick was asked about his leadership role with Washington and played it down.

In my position, with them all looking at me, listening to me on every play, it’s a position of natural leadership, where guys have to stop, look and listen. I don’t think the experience hurts either. I just try to come in and meet everybody, form those relationships, be myself, and it usually works out.

Speaking of those teammates, Fitzpatrick seems almost giddy when discussing his weapons.

It’s been great so far. It’s been fun working with all of them. There’s a lot of different guys you have to defend in this offense. Even a guy like Logan Thomas, what a target he is, it’s a good luxury to have.

Washington fans are certainly excited to see Fitzpatrick for the first time in the burgundy and gold on Thursday evening.

Ron Rivera, Bill Belichick praise one another ahead of Thursday’s game

Ron Rivera and Bill Belichick took turns praising the other on Tuesday.

The Washington Football Team opens the preseason on Thursday against the New England Patriots. This will be a different New England team as the Patriots will feature former Carolina Panther legend Cam Newton under center.

Newton, of course, played nine seasons under Washington coach Ron Rivera when the two were in Carolina.

On Tuesday, Rivera spoke of going up against, arguably, the greatest coach in NFL history in New England coach Bill Belichick.

“The best thing about coach is there are no apologies for who he is,” Rivera said, per Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston. “He’s true to himself. He’s true to form.”

“I do appreciate watching him and trying to understand the things that he does and watch what happens with his team. He had a dynasty basically, and now they’re rebuilding it, and it’s going to be fun to watch.”

New England is in its second year without legendary quarterback Tom Brady who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship last season. Newton will battle rookie Mac Jones for the starting quarterback job for the Patriots.

Belichick, meanwhile, is looking forward to facing Washington.

“Obviously a good football team, well-coached,” Belichick said, per Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington. “Coach Rivera always did a good job. He did a good job in Carolina and had some success last year in Washington. I think he does a great job having a good, sound fundamental team. They’re tough and physical. So, this is a good opportunity.”

Belichick would mention how his New England teams faced Rivera and the Panthers several times in the preseason. He noted why it was always good for his teams because Rivera’s squads are always prepared and fundamentally sound.

The respect between these two veteran coaches is real; otherwise, they wouldn’t continue to schedule the other in the preseason. Both coaches know the other will have their team well-prepared — even in the preseason.

 

Washington safety Landon Collins makes appearance on ‘Good Morning Football’

Landon Collins talks about Washington’s defense, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sean Taylor, and his foundation.

Washington safety Landon Collins may be the story of training camp for the Football Team. Collins, who injured his Achilles in October, returned to practice this spring in just seven months.

When it came time for training camp, there were no limitations for Collins. Earlier this summer, Collins described his recovery process and said he aims to be the “best safety in football.”

For Collins, entering his third season in Washington, this is a big year. During his absence last season, rookie Kamren Curl stepped in and became one of the top defensive rookies in the NFL. Now, with both players on the field, Washington has rotated safeties throughout camp.

Collins was a guest on “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network on Tuesday and was asked why Washington’s defense would be the best in the NFL in 2021:

Look, it’s gonna be a long season, and I can’t tell you why. But, I know every week we are going to come out their work, we are going to prove our best, and we gonna come out there and shut offenses down. That’s what we do; that’s what we harp on, we find the ball, and we got some mean people on our team, so be excited for that.

From there, Kyle Brandt discussed the quarterback competition, specifically Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Collins smiled in discussing Fitzpatrick,

“It’s good to have Ryan here,” Collins said. “He’s fantastic; we got a vet back there doing his thing. He got this no-look pass we all hate; he’s killing us with. But it’s fantastic seeing him back there doing his thing.”

Now, if we could only have evidence of that no-look pass, no doubt it would be meme-worthy.

Finally, Collins got the opportunity to talk about his hero: former Washington safety Sean Taylor:

If you could feel my heart beating right now, you would understand. Being here, being in this atmosphere he has played under, organization-wise, it’s exciting. It gives me chills each and every day. Just being here, is a blessing.

Collins is having an outstanding summer, and Washington hopes his return, paired with other newcomers and younger players being one year older, will propel the team on a deep run in the playoffs.

Sights and sounds from day 12 of Washington training camp

The top sights and sounds from Ashburn on Tuesday.

The Washington Football Team wrapped up practice for the week on Tuesday before Thursday’s preseason opener at the New England Patriots.

Overall, it was a quiet and rather uneventful day of practice as the team finished preparations for the first game.

The bigger headlines came after practice when Washington defensive end Montez Sweat talked about him and Chase Young’s goal of breaking the combined sack record by teammates in 2021.

“We talk about it all the time, breaking records and stuff like that,” Sweat said, per Ethan Cadeaux of NBC Sports Washington. “I personally want to go get the combined sack record that the guys got back before. We talk about it all the time.”

You probably shouldn’t count out Sweat and Young.

Here are the top sights and sounds from Washington’s training camp on Tuesday.

3 ways Texans coach David Culley says preseason will help the rookies

Houston Texans coach David Culley knows no preseason hurt rookies in 2020. Here are three ways having a preseason slate will help the new class.

Houston Texans coach David Culley has one aspect of his career he can share with the 2021 NFL draft class and undrafted free agents: he is a rookie, too.

The 65-year-old coach takes over as the man on the sidelines for the first time in his career. In his last stop with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was the receivers coach and passing game coordinator from 2019-20, Culley got to see the effects of what not having a preseason did to the development of the rookies.

In 2021, the NFL will provide a preseason schedule of three games. Culley joined Texans Radio play-by-play Marc Vandermeer and sideline reporter John Harris to talk about how preseason games are critical to the development of the rookies.

“As a rookie, I found out last year, no preseason games, the rookies that I thought was ready weren’t quite as ready simply because the speed of the game just hit them like that,” said Culley. “I saw some rookies that were a little more hesitant than you expected because of not having those preseason games, and that’s why right now having the three preseason games, that is invaluable for new players, especially rookies, to get out on the field.”

Here are three areas where the preseason games will help the rookies, according to Culley.

2021 NFL preseason schedule by team

The NFL released their 2021 preseason schedule. Here is a look at every preseason schedule by team.

The NFL released their preseason schedule for the 2021 exhibition campaign.

There are some tepid Super Bowl rematches, such as the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs opening up the first official week of preseason.

The Dallas Cowboys take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in a long-awaited Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

To accommodate for a 17-game schedule, the league borrowed from the four-game preseason — kind like daylight savings time — and added that extra game on the back end of the schedule to create a 17-game schedule.

NFC teams get two home preseason games this year. The AFC gets just one.

Here is a look at every team’s preseason schedule with all times Eastern.