Tag: C Tyler Biadasz

Dan Quinn: ‘Former Cowboys have been effective Commanders’

Multiple former Cowboys are helping turn around the Commanders in 2024.

When Dan Quinn came to Washington, he knew he needed help on the line of scrimmage.

Sunday, in a Week 12 contest, the Dallas Cowboys (3-7) come to town to face the Washington Commanders (7-4).

Quinn was asked by the media on Wednesday why he wanted to sign former Cowboys such as C Tyler Biadasz, DE Dorance Armstrong, and LB Dante Fowler.

“Yeah, I think the line of scrimmage is a big deal and I saw firsthand with Tyler, and Dorance and Dante and what they could do and how they could affect the game,” Quinn said.

Quinn continued that he also saw maturity in those players, which he felt could be an asset in explaining to other players Quinn’s reasoning for some things he wants.

“I knew having some people along those lines to maybe look around the corners as I was just getting started. ‘What Dan’s trying to say here might be X, Y, or Z.’”

Having worked in practice against WR Noah Brown during the 2021 and 2022 seasons for the Cowboys, Quinn wanted him when the Texans released him on their last cuts to their 53-man roster. The Commanders certainly needed a receiver with size.

“Then, the addition of Noah, as well, was somebody that although we didn’t spend years together, I did get a sense of what the worker was, the competitor was. And he really just wanted a chance to compete, and that’s something that he knew he would get the opportunity with us here, saying that was going to be kinda the central theme of what we were going to do. So, that’s kinda the backstory there.”

Consequently, some former Cowboys will lead this Commanders team in its preparation to face the Cowboys Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

 

Why Commanders offense is struggling the last two games

Why has Washington’s offense struggled the last two weeks? There are multiple reasons.

The Washington Commanders offense is looking to rebound from two subpar performances.

The Commanders, in the last three games, have been outscored 39-11 in the fourth quarter.

In their last game, a 26-18 loss to the Eagles (8-2), the Commanders generated only 264 offensive yards, averaging 4.2 yards a play.

One of the early season successes for OC Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was the largely effective conversions on third and fourth downs. However, against the Eagles, the Commanders were only 3-12 on third down.

In particular, Jayden Daniels was not getting the ball down the field, as Terry McLaurin never even had a reception until 10:27 in the final quarter. Daniels was visibly inaccurate more often than usual.

In addition, Daniels only passed for 191 yards, though he attempted 32 passes. This resulted in Daniels averaging 5.9 yards per attempt, much lower than he was accomplishing earlier in the season.

The offensive line is beat up, though able to continue to play. Rookie Brandon Coleman had his worst pass-blocking performance in the last two weeks, but then again, he is playing with a shoulder that is not 100 percent. Guard Nick Allegretti and center Tyler Biadasz are playing injured.

Local DMV sports media might consider thinking a bit more before lashing out at Kingsbury, as some have. They suggest the Commanders’ offense is falling off because Kingsbury’s offenses always do later in the season.

That may or may not be true this season with Washington. What is undeniably true is that the Commanders’ offense is wounded right now, and the bye week can’t come soon enough for Washington.

The offensive personnel has many members playing injured. Consequently, their performance is bound to decrease. Kingsbury has not been the one bouncing passes, dropping passes, and being unable to pass in the last two weeks.

Understand the Steelers and Eagles are both division leaders through Week 11. They are simply better teams than the Commanders right now.

Yes, the offense has been struggling lately, but injuries to an offensive personnel already not one of the elites in the league while playing against two quality opponents only stand to reason there were going to be more struggles.

A significant reason the Commanders are an NFL surprise

This group is dramatically improved from last season.

Why are the Commanders such a surprising team in four games?

The knee-jerk response is rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Of course, that is probably the most significant difference compared to last year’s team. As much as we love Daniels, we know it’s not that simple; it never is.

The Commanders’ offensive line is better than last year—no, make that so much better.

Friday, speaking with the media, head coach Dan Quinn praised offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

“Yeah, I think coming into it [we] wanted one, somebody that was an excellent teacher, and I think at that position, that’s where a lot of development takes place. You’re coaching a lot of guys and the development of that position, it’s not like just add water and play.”

Even more interesting was that one of Quinn’s friends in NFL coaching circles Brian Daboll (NYG HC) had previously spoken very highly of Johnson.

“I’ve known Brian for a long time, and like any job you’re looking for, you want to ask as many people as you can. And what really came through for me strong was the teaching, that part of things. And that was really important to me. And so I’ve really been impressed by the work that he has done so far.”

It would be simplistic to say that Daniels is the sole reason the Commanders are better, but it would be to say that Johnson is the sole reason the offensive line is better.

Consider the stark contrasts between last year’s offensive coordinator’s press conferences and this year’s. The two men are so different in approach on and off the field. The Commanders are running the ball well enough and often enough that Daniels is not being asked to carry too much of the load.

Lastly, just months ago, most of us complained about Adam Peters when he waited until the third round to draft an offensive lineman, and even more when that was his only draft choice used on the offensive line.

Peters knew what he was doing, fully aware he had already released Nick Gates and Charles Leno. Next, he had signed free agents Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz. Lastly, he drafted Brandon Coleman 67th overall.

In summary, this offensive line is not last year’s, their coach is not the same, and neither is their offensive coordinator.

Yes, the offensive line has been a major contributor to Jayden Daniels making headlines for the last two weeks.

More importantly, the Washington Commanders have been making headlines the last two weeks.

Commanders’ Tyler Biadasz bonding with his new teammates

The new Commanders center discusses coming together with his teammates.

Tyler Biadasz says the Commanders are really jelling, coming together as a team.

Biadasz (center) met with the local media following Friday’s training camp workout. Other players have referred to head coach Dan Quinn putting players together in a room to talk and get to know one another, so Biadasz spoke of growing together with fellow players.

“Camp’s been great… Obviously, camp, you spend a good amount of hours in the building. Obviously, having practice first thing in the morning and getting out late at night or if you’re having extra meetings or whatever that may be. But no, we’re doing a hell of a job of just becoming the best team we can be as a unit.”

Naturally, offensive players will have more opportunities to meet with defensive players.

“I’m on offense, so I’m more in those meetings and everything like that. We’re all coming from different places and we’re starting to gel in regards of the timing and the chemistry and even the bonding outside the building. That’s a huge asset to us and we’re doing a heck of a job with that.”

Michael Deiter (guard/center) was a college teammate at Wisconsin. Deiter came to the NFL in 2019, while Biadasz was drafted in 2020. Deiter has played for the Dolphins and Texans, while Biadasz was with Quinn in Dallas.

“It’s definitely great. Shoot, we played for four years together in Madison in college. So, just knowing where he’s at, but also again, we’re coming from different backgrounds, and he’s been on two other football teams in the league.”

Also drafted in 2019 out of Big Ten rival, Illinois, was Nick Allegretti.

“Yeah, it’s been great, man,” Biadasz said of the projecting starting left guard. “For real, we definitely have talked about the rivalry that we had in college and stuff like that. It’s like how we said before, the chemistry in the room, we’re always talking, we’re always building, but we’re having fun doing it for sure.”

Cowboys writer says Commanders signing already a flop

Some over-the-top comments regarding the Commanders and Dan Quinn.

A writer covering the Dallas Cowboys went on record Friday, stating he believes one Dan Quinn signing might already be a flop.

Jerry Trotta, who writes for “The Landry Hat,” asserted the new Commanders head coach, “Quinn overspent on a pair of Cowboys free agents in Dorance Armstrong and Tyler Biadasz and signed a 33-year-old tight end in Zach Ertz who’s played only 17 games the last two seasons.”

I actually admit to being concerned regarding Ertz, not knowing what he might still be able to contribute in 2024 for the Commanders.

Trotta then continued a step further, saying, “Any of those moves could blow up in Quinn’s face, but there’s one marquee signing that already looks like a flop: running back Austin Ekeler.”

Ekeler had appeared on the “Up and Adams” show with Kay Adams, stating that the Chargers were going a different direction, deciding to sign bigger running backs. So, Ekeler signed with Washington.

This reason didn’t satisfy Trotta, who called Ekeler’s reason “ludicrous.” Yet, Trotta doesn’t seem to understand that though Ekeler carried the ball 206 and 204 times during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the 5-10, 200-pound running back is now entering his eighth NFL season.

The Commanders are not planning on using Ekeler to carry the ball 200+ times in 2024. If he reaches that many carries it will only be because Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez were both injured during the season.

The Commanders hope to assign Robinson and Rodriguez the workload of carrying the ball between the tackles, permitting Ekeler to be utilized more in space as a third-down back or pass-receiving back.

Trotta concluded, asking his readers, “You think Quinn already regrets signing Ekeler?”

Frankly, isn’t it much too early to make such an assumption?

Ekeler’s contract is only for two years. The Commanders can get the most out of Ekeler over two seasons by not pounding a 200-pound back too often, especially when they have guys like Robinson and Rodriguez, with younger bodies with less wear and tear, who can get the tough yards.

Perhaps, might his wishes that Quinn is not successful in Washington, be clouding Trotta’s judgment?

After all, we all (myself certainly included) have our own biases, and they reveal themselves from time to time.