Tag: 2022 Commanders Opener

Opener encouraged Commanders coach Ron Rivera

Ron Rivera was pleased with his team’s effort and preparation in Week 1 win.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera was really upbeat today while talking with the media.

Wouldn’t you be upbeat when you realized you had a stretch of the game where you were outscored 19-0 and yet came away with the win?

Quickly here are some items on the offensive side of the ball that has Rivera feeling good right now.

Brian Robinson: “It was good to see him out there. He is progressing very well. Each week he gets to see the doctors and the trainers. They felt now is a good time to see how he does outside. We will see how he reacts to everything tomorrow morning.”

OC Scott Turner:
“Just watching him go through what coordinators do on a daily basis in terms of talking with him on Monday and Tuesday. You see the growth and you see the development. Just understanding how to attack people and how to create those matchups that you’re looking for. Using what you have. I think that has been very good. I think it has been very strong in terms of development.”

On how the offense handled blitzes Sunday:
“I thought they handled them pretty well. A big part of it obviously is getting a degree of comfort and trust with your offensive line and with the receivers knowing that they are going to get where they need to be when they see a blitz. That is probably the biggest thing that you saw. There were some really good things that happened. He got pressured, but not as much as he could’ve.”

Commanders Blitz Preparation Paying Dividends:
“We do a blitz period every day. It’s an opportunity for him to see it every day. That’s what we did through training camp and we do that now. We work on the opponents blitzes and what we can anticipate. It’s not just him that benefits from it, but the rest of the offense that benefits from it as well just working on it every day.”

Coach Rivera knows the team has a much different momentum after Sunday’s win.

“It’s the vibe more so than anything else. It was fun to watch how the guys came in on Monday and the excitement when we went through the tape in the team meeting. It is one of those things now that as you go forward you want to continue to work hard and keep the energy level up. That’s big.”

 

Washington’s Carson Wentz ready for Jaguars and Pederson

Carson Wentz has nothing but praise for his former head coach.

Speaking with the media, Washington quarterback Carson Wentz realizes there are reasons the NFL has the Commanders hosting the Jaguars in the season opener.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson was the Eagles head coach from the 2016-2020 seasons. Pederson and the Eagles drafted Wentz in Pederson’s first draft with the Eagles in 2016, trading up to get Wentz with the second pick overall. Pederson and Wentz came together (2016), and they were both sent packing following the 2020 season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBFpdue58A

“He meant a lot with the kind of whirlwind that year. I was the starter eight days before the season, all those things. He meant a lot. I thought he was a great coach, great guy, fun to be around, meant a lot over the years. Went through a lot of good and some of the bad, obviously all together, but it means a lot to me.”

However, Wentz is facing Pederson Sunday, so no question Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio have inquired into Pederson’s philosophy and methods of directing his offense. “Yeah, obviously it’s an offense I know a lot about, and I’ve been around and been involved with. So, there’s some of that, there’s always some of that everywhere you go, but I think this week will be fun to compete against him, to see him.”

“Great coach. A lot of respect for him over the years and so it’ll be interesting to see what they do, obviously it’s different with a different defensive coordinator. It’s some different pieces over there, but I know he’ll have his guys ready. I always felt ready when I played for him.”

Wentz is not only in his third city in three seasons, but he is also the first to start for the Commanders as they launch their new brand Sunday.
“I think we talk about football, football, football, football, so you can lose sight of some of those things. But at the same time, I think it’s cool to be involved in something new, and that’s what we look forward to. (We are) going out there with a new sense of a mission, so to speak and a new purpose, to some extent, but I think guys are excited for it.”

Last season ended with huge disappointment as Wentz and the Colts lost the season finale to the 2-14 Jaguars in Jacksonville 26-11, eliminating the Colts from the playoffs. What does Wentz think of facing the Jaguars in his first game this season?

“I think it obviously makes for a fun story and all that. But for me, it’s week one. It’s another football game.  Last year was last year. It was a different team. I was with a different team. They were coached by a different coach. A lot of new things.”

On his third team in three years, he is obviously also with a new receivers group. “I’ve been very encouraged by the guys this year. A lot of young guys, but a lot of eagerness to get better, to learn, to keep growing together and so it’s been fun to get out there on the practice field, and I look forward to that continuing to carry over into the game.”

But make no mistake, Wentz knows all NFL quarterbacks need the big fellas up front to produce.

“I think almost everywhere I’ve been the offense has to do with the offensive line. You know, I have so much confidence in these guys and their ability to protect, to open up holes in the run game and I’m grateful for them. I’m looking forward to playing behind those guys. 

 

Commanders update depth chart for opener against Jaguars

We examine Washington’s depth chart for Week 1 vs. Jaguars.

There were a few noticeable changes to the Washington Commanders’ depth chart Tuesday.

Nothing serious, but a few changes nonetheless were listed as the Commanders head into week 1, hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars at FedEx Field Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The most pressing areas for Sunday are Kam Curl and Brian Robinson Jr. Listed as the starting strong safety, Curl injured his thumb against the Chiefs in the second preseason game and is in a cast. If Curl needs another week for the thumb to heal, Darrick Forrest is listed as next-man-up at strong safety.

Robinson had locked up the starting running back spot, but with his having been shot in a carjacking attempt, he will not be playing the first four games. Antonio Gibson returns again as the starter. J.D. McKissic and Jonathan Williams will give Gibson relief.

Also of concern, Logan Thomas is still listed as the first Commanders’ tight end, though there has yet to be an announcement that Thomas will be ready for action Sunday in the opener. We should know more after the daily injury reports this week.

When the Commanders go with 3 receivers, the top three listed are Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson. They are backed up by Dyami Brown, Cam Sims and Dax Milne. Milne has been updated to both the top punt returner and kick returner. Gibson is listed as the second kick returner and Dotson as the second punt returner.

For those concerned that Chase Roullier is listed as the only center on the depth chart, guard Wes Schweitzer can also play center and would be the second center if Roullier is injured.

Defensively, there were three updates to the depth chart since the original 53-man roster was announced. Washington had claimed linebacker Jon Bostic and corners Rachad Wildgoose and Tariq Castro-Fields. All three are listed as backups at their respective positions.

James Smith-Williams remains a starting defensive end until Chase Young can return to the lineup after missing a minimum of the first four games. Shaka Toney is listed to back up Smith-Williams.

Finally, it can’t be overlooked that the Commanders must replace both starting guards (Ereck Flowers and Brandon Scherff) from the 2021 season. The updated depth chart lists Andrew Norwell (LG) and Trai Turner (RG) to be the starters with rookie Chris Paul (LG) and Wes Schweitzer (RG) the guard backups.

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