Tag: 2022 Washington Commanders

NFC East Week 4 preview

We preview Week 4 around the NFC East.

  • Eagles 3-0
  • Cowboys 2-1
  • Giants 2-1
  • Commanders 1-2

 

PHILADELPHIA

The Eagles sit atop the division and this week play host to the surprising Jaguars who went out to Los Angeles in Week 3 and crushed the Chargers 38-10.

Jalen Hurts leads the Eagles passing offense which is currently 3rd in the NFL with 296.7 YPG.

The Eagles display effective offensive balance ranking 7th earning 150 YPG.

DALLAS

After losing Dak Prescott, the Cowboys have won both of their games and are understandably favored this week at home against Washington, who has lost their last two, being outscored 46-0 in the first half of those two games.

In addition, the Cowboys have received great news as Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz and Connor McGovern are expected to return for the offense while Jayron Kearse is expected to be back on the defense.

Cowboys QB Cooper Rush has the eighth-highest DVOA overall at 18.8% while Washington’s Carson Wentz ranks 26th at -19.8%.

The Cowboys are fourth in the NFL in rushing offense at 16.2% with both Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard placing in the top 10 in DVOA. The Commanders are far behind in rushing the ball, ranking 25th with a -24.8%.

Yet, the most glaring difference in the two teams thus far might actually be the Cowboys’ front 7 on defense has looked and performed far superior to Washington’s offensive line.

NEW YORK

The Giants are hosting the Bears in a contest between two 2-1 teams. The Giants are going to be without wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson. Even more, they will miss the play of defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was also listed out.

The Giants defeated the Titans and the Panthers the first two weeks before falling to the Cowboys on Monday night at home.

The Bears upset San Francisco in Week 1, then fell to the Packers in Week 2. This past Sunday, the Bears defeated the Texans 23-20.

WASHINGTON

The Commanders’ offense yielded an embarrassing 17 QB hits to the Eagles in a 24-8 romp in Week 3. That same offensive line now must face the Dallas Cowboys front 7 which includes Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong, Jr.

Even more, Wes Schweitzer is out for Sunday, and Charles Leno has been battling a bad shoulder and is questionable.

Carson Wentz was sacked 9 times by the Eagles and endured 17 QB hits. He has thrown 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. However, Wentz has apparently not seen the field well, taking 15 sacks and his QBR is down to 40.4.

 

Frustrated Chris Cooley has some harsh words for the Commanders

Chris Cooley was frustrated in his review of the Commanders’ 24-8 loss to the Eagles, even using the word “idiots” at one point.

Former Washington tight end Chris Cooley actually said some Commanders’ coaches were idiots.

As a guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast Thursday, Cooley was describing what he had observed while watching the film of the Commanders’ 24-8 loss to the Eagles.

Now, in fairness to Cooley, it is not altogether certain to whom he was referring. Was he referring to offensive coordinator Scott Turner? Or head coach Ron Rivera?

Cooley marveled that the Eagles played a 3-man defensive front many times in the game. “I don’t know how teams could play this in the NFL. You are just counting on teams throwing the ball on first down…It’s a 3-4 front as  they can bail the two ends like linebackers. It’s a 3-4 front with only one linebacker. Which makes it a 3-3.”

Sheehan reacted, “Then, why didn’t they (Commanders) run against this?” To which Cooley responded, “Because they’re idiots. I don’t know. They actually ran the ball ok, when they ran the ball. (But) they could never commit to it.”

You could hear in Cooley; it was in exasperation he called them idiots. Because he quickly countered, “I don’t know.”

After explaining the defensive alignment and its basic coverage Cooley said “I don’t know if he ever really saw it. And I don’t know why they kept calling play-action against it. I don’t know if Wentz saw it, I don’t know if Turner saw it.”

Cooley sounded passionate that they repeatedly attempted play-action passes when he pointed to a particular play where the offensive line did not sell run at all. He said they should initially have low helmets, low pads, but didn’t, so the Eagles knew it was a pass right away. He then said, “If that’s the case they should abort the fake because it only takes Wentz’s eyes off of the field.”

Sheehan then asked, “If Scott Turner (offensive coordinator) had adjusted, he would have adjusted to what?”

Cooley succinctly replied, “I am fine with some short-pass stuff.” Then he pointed out a play early where Terry McLaurin was in a single coverage by the Eagles. Yet, Wentz ate the ball and thus the sack. “McLaurin was open; just throw him the ball…That is what you want, one-on-one with Terry.”

There is much, much more here is the full show link.

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Commanders will get large test from Cowboys’ front seven

It’s the Dallas front seven that is Washington’s biggest challenge in Week 4.

“Dak Prescott is going to be out of action at least four weeks with an injury to his throwing hand? Oh, Dallas is absolutely going to go 0-4 in that stretch.”

So, thought most everyone that isn’t a diehard Cowboys fan. Two weeks later, the Cowboys defense has shown it they who are the backbone of the team in Dallas.

No doubt, Commanders, Eagles and Giants fans wrote off the Cowboys, and now at 2-1, winning both games started by Cooper Rush at quarterback, we now know we wrote off the Cowboys too soon.

The Commanders travel to Dallas for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff in Week 4. In the last two weeks, it is the Commanders who have looked nothing short of terrible in the first half of both games being outscored 46-0 by the Lions and Eagles. The Commanders yielded 17 QB hits to the Eagles.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ front seven defense has led the way in their victories over the Bengals and Giants. Often in team sports, it is matchups that are crucial in making a difference. If the Commanders’ offensive line is no better than they were the first two halves against the Lions and the Eagles, it will be the third consecutive halftime blowout the Commanders will suffer.

On the flip side, the Cowboys running game splitting time between Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 178 yards in 28 carries prior to Cooper Rush taking a knee on the last two snaps. That means Dallas averaged 6.35 yards each time Pollard or Elliott carried the ball. Consequently, the clock was running, and the Dallas defense was getting rested, permitting Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence to be energized to rush Daniel Jones for 5 sacks and 9 QB hits.

The Eagles’ Brandon Graham was the NFC defensive player of the week because of his huge success against the Commanders in Week 3. DeMarcus Lawrence against the NY Giants accumulated 6 solo tackles, 3 QB sacks, 3 TFL and 3 QB hits.

The Commanders’ offensive line will also have to prepare for and execute well against the explosive Micah Parsons.

What can offensive line coach John Matsko do to improve the Commanders’ performance enough in one week?

Around the NFC East in Week 3

The Eagles stand alone atop the NFC East with a 3-0 record.

The Eagles and Cowboys were big winners in Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season, as the four NFC East teams faced off against each other.

Both the Eagles and Cowboys not only won their games against the Commanders and Giants respectively, but both wins were on the road.

  • Eagles 3-0
  • Cowboys 2-1
  • Giants 2-1
  • Commanders 1-2

 

 

 

 

Kevin Sheehan raises questions about Ron Rivera’s results

Kevin Sheehan pointed out some ugly numbers for the Commanders over the last three years and reveals what he wants to hear from Ron Rivera.

Kevin Sheehan presented one of his better monologues kicking off his Monday podcast episode.

Sheehan declared the Commanders had been “outclassed, outcoached, outed in every possible way they could be” by the Eagles in Week 3.

“The first half of the last two games they have been totally exposed, totally humiliated.” He then reminded his listeners he is aware it is early, and 14 games remain to be played.

Sheehan’s presentation was centered around the fact this is now year three of Ron Rivera’s coach-centric era where he has his own staff, and he is in control of player personnel, not a general manager.

He revealed Sunday was the 7th time in 36 games Rivera’s Washington team was trailing by 20 points or more at halftime. Think about that. Then he added it was the 10th time in 36 games Rivera’s team trailed by 20 points at any time during the game.

Here are some excerpts of actual quotes as well Sheehan offered.

“Games like Sunday, where the game went badly and badly quickly are not unusual with this group.”

“We do not need to hear nor should you (Rivera) speak of the players needing to adhere to the scheme, that the schemes are fine and the players need to do their jobs. That every play ten guys are doing their job, and one guy isn’t. You cannot say that this week.”

“This is the week we should hear Ron Rivera say, ‘This is on me. I am the head coach. I am also in a coach-centric environment, the final decision maker on players.'”

“Well, the buck stops now with Ron Rivera. No more, the players need to be more mature, and they need to do what they’ve been told to do… I believe he will step up in true Harry Truman defiance, ‘the buck stops here.”

“He (Rivera) has been a stand-up guy his entire career. I am not looking for alarm. I’m not looking for a mea culpa. But he is smart enough to know after two weeks like the last two; he can’t put this on the players this week.”

“I still have a belief in Ron Rivera as a competent NFL coach.  I know that may sound crazy right now, but look, he has a track record of figuring these things out. His track record is starting slowly and figuring it out, finishing strong. He has done that with his first two teams here. 1-5 (2020) finishing 7-9 and 2-6 (2021) finishing 7-10.”

“He came into one of the most dysfunctional organizations in all of sports. Things got even worse from the moment he arrived: the name being lost, the workplace issues, his cancer, inheriting a 3-13 team, without any semblance of class.”

“The grace period that you have had for the first two years is over.  It’s time to start winning more on the field and being less embarrassing off of it. Do that, and you will be pleasantly surprised by our reaction. But don’t play us and ask us to jump on board prematurely.”

“I will tell you this, if what you get moving forward, is what you have gotten the last two games? Three to four wins this year, max. And then we are into a whole different conversation about what is next in 2023.”

“But, it is only three weeks…”

Again, you can find Sheehan’s Monday episode titled “Embarrassed by The Eagles” here.

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.”

 

Commanders make roster moves, more moves to come

A look at some of Washington’s roster moves from Tuesday. Could the Commanders be busy the rest of the week?

The initial 53-man roster has been set.

The Commanders kept 27 offensive players, 23 defensive players and three specialists. This reveals the coaches and front office are concerned about the defensive personnel. So, they were willing to go ahead and release a couple of extra defensive players and will be searching through those players released and waived by other NFL teams, in hopes of picking up perhaps two players.

The five linebackers the Commanders kept were Cole Holcomb, Jamin Davis, David Mayo, Milo Eifler and De’Jon Harris. Harris is the biggest surprise. But of course, coaches are in the meetings and on practice fields knowing much more than we do.

I see the New Orleans Saints released linebacker Jon Bostic. Just kidding. They liked the person, the leader Jon Bostic, but he was out of position so often in pass coverage. They are not going to re-sign Jon Bostic.

Seriously, I can’t help but notice Landon Collins is still out there available. The coaches are obviously not happy with their linebackers. Would they contact Collins to see if he is interested in being signed to once again fill the Buffalo Nickel role?

Has Collins determined he has made enough money that he is no longer willing to play the Buffalo Nickel for Washington? On the other side of the coin, did the front office burn their bridges with Collins, asking him to take a second reduction in salary last Spring?

Only keeping four cornerbacks on the initial 53-man roster is sure to change Wednesday. Kendall Fuller, William Jackson III and Benjamin St-Juste were expected. Seventh-round draft choice Christian Holmes out of Oklahoma State is the fourth corner. With only one injury, the cornerback position is nothing short of precarious. They no doubt are going to sign another corner.

Jonathan Williams was kept out of the final preseason game while Jaret Patterson played. That was revealing. They value Williams more; Patterson was cut Tuesday. Brian Robinson may still open the season on an injured list. This would mean more carries for Williams, helping Gibson carry the load, while McKissic will be counted upon as a very valuable third-down weapon.

Stay tuned; Wednesday will be a super busy day for Ron Rivera, Martin Mayhew and Marty Hurney.

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Commanders to retire Sonny Jurgensen’s No. 9

The Commanders will honor Sonny during the Week 18 home game against the Cowboys.

Finally, the Burgundy and Gold No. 9 will be retired.

Tuesday, on his 88th birthday (August 23, 1934) the Washington Commanders announced they are retiring Sonny Jurgensen’s No. 9 jersey.

Jurgensen quarterbacked the former Redskins from 1964-1974 so well, that he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 1983 class.

The Commanders will honor Sonny, officially retiring his jersey during this season’s Week 18 home contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Jurgensen being 88 years old, we hope he will be able to attend.

Sonny led the NFL in completions and passing yards in 1966, 1967 and 1969, despite his offensive line giving up the most sacks in 1969 (40). Also in 1967, Sonny set a franchise record that remarkably still stands today, when he passed for 31 touchdowns (in only a 14-game season).

In 1970 on a 6-8 team, he led the NFL in completion percentage. In 1972 the Redskins had their best team since the 1940’s. Sonny led the team to four straight victories including an exciting come from behind 24-20 win over Dallas at RFK, where Dallas had led 13-0 and 20-7.

The next week in New York against the Giants, Sonny was untouched when  he stepped in an uneven section of turf, tearing his Achilles tendon. At age 38, Washington continued to win, becoming NFC Champions before losing Super Bowl VII to Miami 14-7. Sadly, Sonny had to watch on crutches.

Jurgensen retired after the 1974 season and continued being hugely popular in the DMV, working for WTOP TV 9 and later WRC TV 4, providing Redskins analysis. He then joined the Radio Broadcast team of Frank Herzog and Sam Huff, announcing games for the team he loved from 1981-2018.

Consequently, Sonny Jurgensen quarterbacked Washington for 11 seasons and was part of the legendary radio broadcast team for another 38 seasons. When we think of retired Washington Redskins jerseys, who have actually put in the time and work that Sonny Jurgensen has?

Could there even be anyone else as deserving as Sonny Jurgensen?

 

Some notable firsts for the Washington Commanders

A lot of firsts for the Commanders in the preseason loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Saturday was a day of “firsts” for the Washington Commanders.

It was the first preseason game of the 2022 NFL season.

It was the first game of any kind where the DMV home team was now the “Commanders.” At least there will be no more jokes by NFL TV shows about “the football team.”

It was the first time fans saw players wearing the “W” on the helmet. You know what? The “W” on the helmet looked pretty cool, don’t you think?

It was the first time for the new Commanders’ uniforms. The white top and bottoms looked better than I anticipated.

It was the first time the “W” logo was at midfield of FedEx Field. The “W” looked good on the helmets, but I’m sorry; how could anyone think the “W” at midfield wasn’t far inferior to the Redskins logo of many years?

It was the first time the “90” on the left shoulder of the jerseys was displayed, signifying the franchise played its inaugural season way back in 1932 as the then Boston Braves. I like the “90” on the jersey.

It was the first time “Commanders” was visible, printed in the end zones. The end zone’s green grass blended beautifully with the gold lettering “Commanders.” However, it instantly made me think, “Green Bay Packers.” When discussing this color combination,  no one doing or overseeing the job realized Burgundy was clearly missing. It was a horrible look for the reason it looked very much like something for Lambeau Field.

Secondly, if the logo is “W” including both burgundy and gold, the end zones “Commanders” also needed to include both burgundy and gold. Thus, there would be unity in the presentation of both the “W” at midfield and the “Commanders” in the end zone.

Come on, guys.

Carson Wentz directed the Commanders’ first touchdown drive (14 plays, 82 yards), and Brian Robinson scored from one yard out, the first preseason touchdown in Commanders’ history.

Taylor Heinicke led a 15-play drive only to throw the first Commanders preseason interception, stopping the drive.

Joey Slye missed the first Commanders’ extra-point attempt, but Sam Howell in the final quarter became the first Commanders player to score two touchdowns in a preseason game and completed the first successful two-point conversion attempt to Alex Erickson.

In the game’s final minute an illegal contact penalty and a face mask penalty helped put Carolina in field goal range, and the Commanders had blown their first lead and lost their first game.

Of course, there were more firsts, but space only permits one more mention. The Commanders announced the new mascot will either be a Hog, Dog, Super Hero or Historical Figure.

Is there any question that the mascot should be a HOG?

 

Who has the best tight end in the NFC East?

While the division may not contain any of the biggest names at the position, there is still a ton of talent at tight end. @CDPiglet ranks the teams based on their stables.

The tight end position has five superstars hovering above the crowded field in the NFL. Kansas City’s Travis Kelce, San Francisco’s George Kittle, Baltimore’s Mark Andrews, and Las Vegas’ Darren Waller were joined last season by Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts.  Ranked underneath them the position is filled with solid players who could still be enormously important to offenses even if they aren’t game changers.

Whether big red-zone threats, seem stretchers, quarterback security blankets, or even just good blockers, tight ends impact offenses more than most other positions. Doing any of those jobs at a high level can create headaches for defensive coordinators, but ones who can do it all can be nightmares.

The NFC East as a whole has some very productive starters, but where do they rank versus one another? This series is a position-by-position breakdown of what each organization is bringing to the competition and the focus in this edition are the tight ends.