Tag: Commanders offense struggling

Jay Gruden on Commanders: ‘It was hard to watch’

Some good perspective from a former quarterback and head coach.

The Commanders took major steps backward in Sunday’s Week 3, 37-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills, according to Jay Gruden.

Gruden was appearing for his weekly appearance on “The Chris Russell Show” on The Team 980 weekdays from 1-4 p.m ET.

“I really didn’t see a lot of separation by the receivers; Buffalo did a great job of matching the routes, playing tight coverage,” added Gruden.

Gruden expressed that for a young quarterback who is getting his first starts in his career, it is difficult for them not to get stuck on a receiver. Thus, when the coverage was as good as was the Bills, Sunday, Sam Howell was then holding the ball, resulting in more sacks and quarterback hits.

For the record, the Bills sacked Howell nine times. When they didn’t sack Howell, they recorded an additional 15 quarterback hits and also intercepted him four times.

The former University of Louisville quarterback stated that during the game, when the coaches are talking to Howell through the helmet technology, they should be reminding him often to “check down.”

Gruden clarified, saying you might not need to do this with an experienced veteran, but you really should be proactive in your communication with an inexperienced guy like Howell.

The former Redskins head coach (2014-19) pointed out there are different ways to help protect your quarterback, saying, “You keep a couple of extra guys in to protect, which means you will only have a two and three-man route. You can also come up with three-level throws. You can double-team a defensive end from time to time to give your outside lineman some relief from time to time.”

The former Bengals and Jaguars offensive coordinator admitted, “It is a head-scratcher because it is not like Robinson (Brian) was getting stuffed each time he ran the ball. He was getting four and five yards.”

“When you have a young quarterback, you have to take some pressure off of him, throwing a screen pass, throwing a bubble screen, getting back to some of those RPOs they had some success with in the third quarter.”

“Really, the biggest problem I had was when it was 30-0, and they kept him in and kept getting him killed. It’s not the best way to build a young quarterback’s confidence… it was hard to watch.”

Commanders defense saves the day for 20-16 win over Cardinals

A big effort from the defense saves the day for the Commanders.

Despite what you have often heard in the last decade, defense can still win NFL games.

Sunday, the first game of the new ownership group headed by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales, was very much a celebratory tone. Until the Commanders offense committed three first-half turnovers and thus trailed the Cardinals 13-10 at the half.

With Washington still trailing 16-10 late in the third quarter, the Cardinals faced a 3rd & 15 from their own 35. Montez Sweat broke through, sacked quarterback Josh Dobbs, who fumbled and Daron Payne recovered on the Cardinals 29 with two seconds remaining.

It was exactly what the offense had needed, struggling as it was. Following the three first-half turnovers, the Commanders offense on its two second-half possessions had run 7 plays gaining 0 yards and 3 plays for two yards.

So, taking over on the shortened field of 29 yards, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy had his offense give the ball to running back Brian Robinson Jr four consecutive plays, which gained 21 yards. Following a Sam Howell incompletion, Chris Rodriguez ran for two more, setting up a 3rd & Goal at the 6.

Howell took the deep snap, dropped back, then rolled left, tucked the ball in and scored standing up. The Commanders were up 17-16 and would not relinquish the lead.

Again when the defense gave the Commanders the ball, they were 3 & out, punting back to the Cardinals. Again it was Dobbs who fumbled and again it was Sweat making the play on Dobbs. This time DT Abdullah Anderson recovered at the Arizona 37.

Joey Slye added his second field goal of the day for a 20-16 Washington lead with 2:23 remaining.

The final Cardinals’ possession produced only 12 yards in six plays as the defense again held, giving the Commanders a win in their 2023 opener.

When the day was concluded, the defense had held the Cardinals to 9 points. Remember, Sam Howell’s second-quarter fumble had granted the Cardinals a defensive touchdown from two yards.

Picking up from where they were last season, the Commanders defense held the Cardinals offense to converting only 4 of 14 third downs. Unlike last season, the defense forced two second-half turnovers and it was enough for the Commanders defense to save the Commanders offense and get the Week 1 win.