Tag: Adam Peters

It’s clear what the Commanders think of cornerback Emmanuel Forbes

The last four weeks are further proof of what the Commanders think of Emmanuel Forbes.

There was hope for second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes this offseason. It was a fresh start for the Washington Commanders 2023 first-round pick under new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

As a rookie, Forbes’ position coach had no business being an NFL position coach and was fired after Thanksgiving. However, Quinn, known for getting the most out of defense backs, hired an excellent staff, including defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., secondary coach Tommy Donatell, assistant defensive backs coach William Gay and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons. Gay and Simmons both played defensive back in the NFL.

Forbes was excited about the changes, and the new staff seemed eager to work with Forbes.

When the Commanders had a joint practice with the Jets this summer, Forbes struggled. But it was practice. Forbes played 55% of the defensive snaps in the season opener against Tampa Bay. He missed the next two weeks with an injury.

Forbes returned in Week 4 in a blowout win over the Cardinals, participating in 56% of the defensive snaps. The following week, against Cleveland, Forbes played only four snaps and was a healthy scratch against Baltimore.

In a Week victory over Carolina, Forbes played 29 snaps, but in the four games since, he has played a total of eight defensive snaps. Despite being active, Forbes did not play a single snap in two of those games. Forbes was active for Washington’s Thursday night loss to the Eagles, but veteran Michael Davis, who had played 32 total snaps all season, played 20 snaps against Philly.

While the Commanders wait for Marshon Lattimore’s debut, it’s clear where they see Forbes. The 16th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft is clearly at the bottom of the cornerback depth chart and is likely not long for Washington once the season ends.

Forbes’s best-case scenario is that he makes some plays when he gets a chance. Otherwise, some of the knocks against him coming out, such as his size and inability to defend the run, will keep him off the field. Washington’s coaches aren’t biased against Forbes. He had the same opportunity as everyone else, even more so being a recent first-round pick, but has failed to capitalize.

Making matters worse, Peters had to trade future assets to the Saints to acquire Lattimore because Forbes hasn’t developed, and coaches don’t feel like he will.

 

What did Jahan Dotson say about Commanders and Dan Quinn?

What did former Washington first-round pick Jahan Dotson say about his former team?

Jahan Dotson was the object of much criticism during Commanders’ training camp.

He was traded to the Eagles, and for the next three or four days, the main topic on DC Sports radio was body language and its importance in team building.

The biggest surprise was that GM Adam Peters traded Dotson to the NFC East divisional rival Philadelphia Eagles. Peters was heavily criticized for trading Dotson within the division.

However, Dotson has not (yet) had a productive season through nine Eagles games. He has eight receptions for 98 yards and no touchdowns in his nine Eagles games.

When Dotson was asked about Thursday’s opponent, the Commanders, how did he respond?

“You have a great coached team, a great leader of men,” Dotson said of Quinn. “If you can implement the right kind of mindset and the right kind of culture, you can do a lot of great things, and that’s a kudos to coach Dan Quinn. He’s doing a fantastic job. He knows how to grab the room and … he makes it very easy for people to listen to him and do what he asks.”

Being traded by Quinn before he had even completed a single training camp, one might expect much different comments. But apparently, after spending his first two seasons with Ron Rivera and his second one with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, Dotson was apparently very impressed with Quinn’s coaching and leadership.

What did Dotson have to say about his former Washington teammates? “They have some fantastic players over there and they’re putting their players in some good positions to make plays.”

Credit to Dotson here. He could have taken a shot or two at the new coaching staff that kicked him out the door. However, he took the time to be honest and give credit where it was due.

After all, Dotson played on that 4-13, weak, noncompetitive team that finished next to last in the NFL, earning the No. 2 overall draft pick.

Dotson knows how much worse it was last year; he lived it.

Kliff Kingsbury not the only successful Commanders coordinator

Washington defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. also deserves praise.

Kliff Kingsbury has been the talk of the NFL through 10 weeks due to the play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels isn’t playing like a rookie and is firmly in the MVP mix because of his play in leading the Washington Commanders to a 7-3 start.

Kingsbury’s offensive design and play-calling are praised across the NFL. The praise for Kingsbury and Daniels is deserved. Did anyone watch Washington’s offense last year?

But defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is barely mentioned in the talk about Kingsbury and Daniels.

It’s time to change that. After Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Whitt’s defense is ranked 14th in total defense, 6th in pass defense, and 12th in scoring defense. The Commanders’ run defense must improve, but they did an excellent job Sunday against the Steelers, holding them to an average of 3.3 yards per attempt.

When you consider Washington’s personnel challenges, specifically at cornerback, Whitt is doing an outstanding job.

Another area where the Commanders have done well is pressuring opposing passers. Most believed Washington would struggle to rush the quarterback with no high-level pass rushers on the roster, yet veteran Dante Fowler Jr. has 8.5 sacks and is on pace for a career year. Others, such as Dorance Armstrong, Clelin Ferrell, Jalyn Holmes, and rookie Javontae Jean-Baptiste, have had success rushing the quarterback at times, too.

When you’re a coach, you’re judged by results. Is your team or unit improving throughout the season? In Whitt’s case, yes, it is. Check out this graphic courtesy of Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

The Commanders hope the acquisition of Marshon Lattimore pays dividends. The four-time Pro Bowler was acquired last week and has yet to debut. But general manager Adam Peters felt good enough about the team’s progress to make a splashy move for a high-level player at the NFL trade deadline.

Earlier, we asked if you’d seen Washington’s offense last year. Did you happen to see the defense? It was even worse. And Whitt’s defense is improving without one of its best players, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen.

So, the next time someone praises Kingsbury, don’t forget about Whitt. Heck, special teams coach Larry Izzo has been outstanding, too. Regardless of how things end up, the Commanders truly had a home-run offseason from hiring Peters to Quinn and his staff to the selection of Daniels and other newcomers.

Grading Commanders trade for cornerback Marshon Lattimore

What grade did we give the Commanders for adding Marshon Lattimore?

The Washington Commanders made a bold move Tuesday. Washington sent three draft choices to the New Orleans Saints for four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. The Commanders also received a fifth-round pick in return.

Here are the full details of the trade:

New Orleans receives:

  • 2025 third-round pick
  • 2025 fourth-round pick
  • 2025 sixth-round pick

Washington receives:

  • CB Marshon Lattimore
  • 2025 fifth-round pick

So, before you think Washington gave up too much, let’s offer some perspective. The third-round pick that the Commanders sent to New Orleans was not the one they received from Philadelphia in the Jahan Dotson trade. That third-round pick belongs to Miami, which currently has a 2-6 record.

The sixth-round pick is New Orleans’ original pick received in the August trade that sent defensive tackle John Ridgeway from the Commanders to the Saints.

General manager Adam Peters was able to flip Dotson, the underachieving former first-round pick who has seven catches in eight games for the Eagles, for Lattimore while keeping the presumed better third-round.

When judging this trade, you should also consider that the Commanders have Lattimore under contract for two more seasons. They land a Pro Bowl cornerback to fill their most significant need, and Peters retains picks in the first three rounds of next year’s NFL draft. The Washington GM was able to help the 7-2 Commanders for this stretch run while not sacrificing future assets.

Grade: A+

Commanders trading for Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore

The Commanders get much-needed cornerback help with Marshon Lattimore.

The Washington Commanders need help at cornerback. At 7-2 and leading the NFC East, the Commanders have a dominant offense led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Washington currently ranks in the top five of most offensive categories.

Now, defensive help is on the way.

Seeking help at cornerback, general manager Adam Peters has made a bold move, trading for New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The Commanders currently have Emmanuel Forbes, Benjamin St-Juste, rookie Mike Sainristil, Noah Igbinoghene and Michael Davis at corner. Forbes, the 2023 first-round pick, rarely plays, leaving St-Juste, Sainristil, and Igbinoghene logging most of the minutes at cornerback.

Lattimore, 28, is a four-time Pro Bowler with 15 career interceptions. He is currently out dealing with a hamstring injury, which doesn’t appear serious.

Lattimore, who played at Ohio State, joins a Washington team with three former OSU teammates: WR Terry McLaurin, DE Jalyn Holmes and WR Noah Brown.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reveals the compensation involved for Lattimore.

Lattimore has two years remaining on his contract after the current season.

 

Report: Players around the NFL want to be traded to Commanders

Players from around the NFL want to be traded to Washington.

Here’s a phrase you haven’t heard this century: Multiple NFL players want to be traded to the Washington Commanders.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter almost broke the Internet Saturday evening with the following headline: “Players want to be traded to Commanders at deadline.”

We don’t need to go over all the evidence to understand why Washington is a different place these days. Of course, it begins with new ownership led by managing partner Josh Harris and trickles down to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn.

There’s also a roster with 50% turnover from last season, led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Here’s an excerpt from Schefter’s story:

In recent weeks, there have been players who privately stated or told their agents they want to be traded to the Commanders, league sources told ESPN.

This is coming from the preeminent NFL reporter. Everything changes when you find a franchise quarterback. The Commanders have that with Daniels. His teammates love him, his coaches love him, and fans love him as his jerseys fly off the shelves. It’s been a while since Washington had a popular jersey, especially since the name change.

The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. ET. Will the Commanders make a move? We shall see. Another thing to consider is that if Washington does add, players are much more likely to be interested in signing an extension to remain.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz: ‘I can’t say enough good things’

Zach Ertz with high praise for the Commanders’ leadership.

Many questioned the Washington Commanders’ decision to sign veteran tight end Zach Ertz in March. What could a soon-to-be 34-year-old tight end who hadn’t played a full season since 2018 offer the rebuilding Commanders?

Like everything else they’ve done since general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over, there was a plan. Not only was Ertz familiar with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, but he was also a strong presence in the locker room, and Washington envisioned him becoming an offensive leader who could develop some of the young players while still starting.

So far, so good. Teammates have raved about Ertz’s leadership, as have coaches. On the field, he’s been a security blanket for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Through seven games, Ertz has 25 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown.

Ertz spent the first 8.5 years of his NFL career with Washington’s NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, the Commanders were owned by Daniel Snyder and had a poor reputation around the league.

Not anymore. Every time Ertz speaks of Washington’s leadership, he talks of how close the locker room is and how special this coaching staff is. On Wednesday, Ertz joined the NFL Network to talk about the Commanders’ impressive turnaround.

“Coach Quinn is one of, if not the best, leaders I’ve ever been around,” Ertz said. “Just his ability to connect with each and every person on the roster to get the most out of them. He does it in a phenomenal way by just bringing a lot of energy, demanding that standards are upheld, and making those standards extremely clear. And if guys aren’t meeting the standards, he’s very consistent with his message that it’s not good enough and we have to be better………he wants the best for every person in this organization.”

Ertz then delivered a line that seems consistent under new owner Josh Harris, Peters and Quinn.

“You don’t just show up on Sundays and expect good things to happen,” Ertz said. “The wins are earned throughout the week. They’ve brought in guys that love the process, that love to practice. These are my types of guys. I’ve had so much fun since I’ve gotten here. Everyone is just all about trying to get better each and every day. I can’t say enough good things about this place.”

Guess what? He’s telling the truth. Times have changed in Washington, and adding veterans like Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner was critical in changing the franchise’s culture.

A stark contrast between the Commanders and Panthers

The Commanders and Panthers are in totally different places — a good thing for Washington.

The Panthers organization is in bad shape.

Not only are the Panthers 1-5, but they also have the NFL’s worst point differential this season. And it is not even close. How bad is it? Well, after only six games, the Panthers have already been outscored by 100 points, and the closest to them (Jaguars) are a -65.

Therefore, in only six games, the Panthers are averaging not only being the worst team but the worst team by a touchdown more than anyone else.

Their new head coach, Dave Canales, is in his first season as an NFL head coach. Is it perhaps more telling that Canales got the job after only one season as an NFL coordinator?

Which brings us to majority owner David Tepper. Tepper took over the Panthers in 2019, fired Ron Rivera midseason, and has since kept the revolving door busy.

Tepper fired Rivera and appointed Perry Fewell to finish out 2019. Tepper then hired Matt Rhule in 2020, but during the 2022 season, Rhule was given the pink slip, and Steve Wilks was tabbed as interim head coach to conclude 2022.

Frank Reich was Tepper’s next choice as head coach in 2023. However, after only 11 games, Reich was fired, leaving Chris Tabor to finish the season.

Canales accepted the offer, resulting in Tepper being his boss while Canales took on his first NFL head coaching position. By the way, Washington had not yet hired Dan Quinn.

Tepper wanted QB Bryce Young (Alabama) and traded entirely too much, moving from the No. 9 position in the 2023 draft to the top position. C.J. Stroud (Ohio State) was certainly available, but Tepper got his choice.

The Texans rebounded to a winning season in 2023, while the Panthers finished an NFL-worst 2-15. They are still without the top pick in the 2024 draft because Tepper gave it up to get Young in 2023.

How might Panthers fans feel Sunday when watching the Panthers face Jayden Daniels, who could have been their choice this year if Tepper had not traded up for Young?

All week, the Commanders have heard from the DMV fan base, NFL media, and local media that Washington is now the favorite to win the NFC East.

But that is not solely because Washington is invincible. No, the Commanders have several roster needs that will be addressed next offseason.

Yet, for now, Commanders fans can be very thankful that their owner is Josh Harris, not David Tepper, their GM is Adam Peters, their head coach is Dan Quinn, and their quarterback is Jayden Daniels.

 

ESPN wants to see the Commanders trade Emmanuel Forbes to this team

Will the Commanders move on from Emmanuel Forbes?

It’s been a rocky two years for Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes. The No. 16 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft struggled as a rookie and was benched twice.

In defense of Forbes, Washington’s 2023 coaching staff was a trainwreck. However, in the offseason, Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera as head coach. Quinn brought Joe Whitt Jr. with him from Dallas and named him defensive coordinator. Quinn and Whitt have a history of developing Pro Bowl cornerbacks.

Unfortunately, Forbes has not taken hold of one of Washington’s starting cornerback jobs. He’s missed some time with thumb surgery, and when he plays, he hasn’t exactly stood out.

During last week’s game at Baltimore, the Commanders kept Forbes inactive. Quinn reasoned it had nothing to do with what the coaching staff thought about Forbes but was due to personnel. The Ravens are a run-oriented team, so the Commanders would play less Nickel, which meant they didn’t need as many cornerbacks.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently named 12 trades he’d like to see before the NFL trade deadline. One of those 12 trades involves the Commanders moving on from Forbes. Barnwell proposes Washington send Forbes to the Los Angeles Chargers with a sixth-round pick in 2025 and receive a 2025 fifth-round pick in return.

First-round picks aren’t usually on the trade block before they’re even halfway through their second pro campaigns, but Forbes is a unique case. An undersized (166 pounds) corner out of Mississippi State, the Ron Rivera regime drafted him with the 16th selection in last year’s draft … and didn’t end up liking what it saw. Forbes began the season in the starting lineup before being benched in October. He was in and out of the lineup the rest of the way.

The new regime that took over after Rivera was fired, meanwhile, doesn’t appear to see much in the 23-year-old, either. Forbes has played just 72 defensive snaps this season. While he has been held back by a thumb injury, he was a healthy scratch for last Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. He is probably the sixth corner on Washington’s depth chart and is due over the next three years more than $6 million guaranteed, which the team might prefer to spend elsewhere.

On the other hand, if an organization still sees Forbes as the dynamic playmaker he was in college, three years of a young cornerback for $6 million is a bargain. The Chargers might be willing to take the plunge, given that Asante Samuel Jr. is on injured reserve for the next three games. There’s not much on the long-term depth chart for Los Angeles at cornerback, as Samuel and Kristian Fulton, the team’s two starters on the outside, will both be free agents after the season. Taking on $6 million for a player who hasn’t been even a passable NFL corner might be a dangerous move, but the upside of landing a prospect who went in the middle of Round 1 just 18 months ago would be worth the risk for Jim Harbaugh & Co.

If Washington was offered this trade, general manager Adam Peters would likely pounce. Peters has already added more picks through trades for 2025 by dealing 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson and defensive tackle John Ridgeway.

Forbes still has a chance to turn things around, but that better happen soon. The Commanders likely have already made their minds up about Forbes — good or bad.

Commanders named as potential trade partner for veteran cornerback

Will the Commanders look to the trade market for help at cornerback?

Before the season, the Washington Commanders’ most significant concerns were offensive tackle and cornerback. The Commanders are 4-2 through six games and in first place in the NFC East. The offensive line has held up extremely well. The same can’t be said about the cornerback position.

Rookie Mike Sainristil has looked the part in the slot. Sainristil continues to improve and had his first interception last week against Lamar Jackson. Veteran Noah Igbinoghene has been much better than expected while returning starters Benjamin St-Juste and Emmanuel Forbes have remained inconsistent.

St-Juste had a rough time in Sunday’s loss against the Ravens, while Forbes, Washington’s 2023 first-round pick, was inactive.

On Tuesday, the Commanders brought former All-Pro cornerback Kyle Fuller for a workout. Fuller, 32, hasn’t played in two years, and he injured his knee badly in his final game. A signing seems unlikely.

Could Washington general manager Adam Peters look to the trade market for help?

Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports recently named several NFL trades that should happen, one of which involves the Commanders trading for a veteran: Patriots’ cornerback Jonathan Jones.

While Jones is easily the Patriots’ most accomplished cornerback, new coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged recently that New England is just beginning a multi-year rebuild. At 31, approaching 2025 free agency, Jones therefore makes for a logical trade chip. While he’s been more solid than spectacular for years, his experience could be invaluable to Washington, which has a potential playoff contender thanks to rookie Jayden Daniels but has struggled mightily on the back end of Dan Quinn’s defense.

The compensation involved was a 2025 sixth-round pick, of which Washington has two.

Jones could come to the Commanders and immediately become a starter and help the secondary. Sure, he’s 31, but he’s remained relatively healthy throughout his career. He brings not only experience but also playoff experience. Jones has won two Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a favorite of legendary coach Bill Belichick.

Don’t worry about Jones’ age in this case. Washington wouldn’t need to give up significant compensation, and Jones would provide help immediately without a long-term commitment. Of some of the names being floated as trade possibilities, Jones makes sense as a Washington target.