Tag: Commanders Offensive line

ESPN’s Mina Kimes: Commanders’ Dan Quinn on the hot seat

This is just silly.

Thursday once again reminded us that those who cover the NFL nationally might see the Commanders much differently than those residing in the DMV.

“The Mina Kimes Show,” featuring Larry (ESPN product) with guest Kevin Clark, found Kimes and Clark discussing whom they felt were the top ten current NFL coaches.

After each produced their top ten and the reasons why, the two transitioned to discussing which five NFL head coaches are “on the hot seat.” These five coaches could very well lose their jobs if they don’t have a successful 2024 season.

Both Kimes and Clark agreed that the top two NFL coaches on the hot seat are Robert Saleh (Jets) and Mike McCarthy (Cowboys). Clark felt Nick Sirianni (Eagles) is his third on the hot seat, declaring the Eagles is a really good job, and therefore, there will be candidates interested, and the ownership will also be interested in those candidates.

Kimes then declared that all four NFC East coaches could be on the hot seat. Interestingly, Clark had already said “three;” however, when Kimes stressed all four, Clark backed down, saying, “I completely agree.”

Well, you didn’t completely agree a minute ago, and she has not even defended her claim, and you now already “completely” agree? It was strange.

“Dan Quinn did not make my top five (list), but he could,” said Kimes. “If there is one coaching hire who might be one and done, it would be him. I cannot believe he was their first choice.”

Clark quickly responded, “What gave that away?”

“I am very nervous about the situation Jayden Daniels is walking into behind that offensive line,” continued Kimes. And if it looks bad, to me, new ownership, I could see him (Quinn) getting the axe.”

Clark added, “The thing about Dan Quinn, he is going to be a victim of his own success, if Jayden Daniels looks good. People are going to want that job in a way they didn’t want it three months ago.”

“There will be people calling Adam Peters, ‘Just saying, I might be available this year,'” added Clark.

Remarkably, Kimes pointed to new ownership (Josh Harris Group) and then explicitly declared she could see the new ownership firing Quinn.

Wait, why?

What about Josh Harris has pointed to him being impatient? What about Josh Harris has she observed that could result in Harris wanting to rid himself of Quinn after only one season?

Remember, Harris is the guy hiring and permitting Adam Peters to hire a new front office.

Consequently, why would you begin to agree with Kimes here? All the evidence points to Harris permitting Peters to execute a long-term plan. Remember several of the free agent signings were only one-year deals?

Both Kimes and Clark are incorrect in their assessment of the Commanders’ direction. Josh Harris is not quick to pull the trigger. Harris has not shown himself to be near-sighted or quick-tempered.

Dan Quinn is not on the hot seat.

Twitter reaction to Commanders pick of Braeden Daniels at No. 118

Twitter reacts to Washington’s selection of Braeden Daniels.

After the Commanders started their 2023 NFL draft selecting back-to-back defensive backs, they have now chosen back-to-back offensive linemen.

In the first two rounds, they had chosen Emmanuel Forbes (16th overall) and Jartavius Martin (47th overall). Now they have determined to make additions at center and guard with Ricky Stromberg (97th overall) and Braeden Daniels (118th overall).

What was the Twitter reaction to the Commanders selecting the guard from Utah?

Chris Cooley: ‘The Commanders have glaring protection issues’

Chris Cooley identifies a major problem with Washington’s offense.

Sunday night’s game at FedEx Field against the Giants is huge for both teams’ playoff hopes.

You may recall the Giants really got after Taylor Heinicke. The Commanders experienced difficulty in protecting Heinicke against the Giants. Chris Cooley addressed this and here are a few excerpts of Cooley describing what he observed to Kevin Sheehan on Sheehan’s podcast.

“They have glaring protection issues. And they know they have glaring protection issues because they are max-protecting 70% of the time.”

Cooley was alluding to how the Commanders are keeping tight ends in and running backs as well to block, trying to protect Taylor Heinicke, but that means they are also on these instances running only three-man routes combinations.

“Dude, that is 1977 Don Coryell. That is really hard to execute in the NFL right now, and you are really putting a lot on your quarterback to make big-time throws down the field. It is a hard deal to get done in three-man route combinations.”

“You cannot turn guys loose off of the edge… The Giants were getting free hitters on five-man rushes. I get it when you stink at protecting, but this is a consistent problem for Washington.”

“You cannot score points in the NFL this way. You can score 20 points. You can find a way to execute and make a couple of throws on a couple of drives, But you cannot consistently drive the ball down the field and score when you are max-protecting 70% of the time.”

“The first sack-fumble was a max-protect. But when one, two or three is not open, where are we going with the ball? If you are max-protecting and you look to the right and then back to the center and if both are not open, you are gone! Go (run) or get out of the pocket, one or the other. Make something happen or run.”

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Commanders coach Travelle Wharton talks offensive line

The assistant offensive line coach sees progress despite the rocky start to the season.

Travelle Wharton is a name most Commanders fans will not recognize, but the assistant offensive line coach is in his fifth season in NFL coaching.

Wharton played at South Carolina, grabbing the attention of enough scouts that he was drafted in the third round (94th) of the 2004 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. Wharton who played in the NFL for nine seasons (2004-2013), met with the media Friday.

The team has suffered so many offensive line injuries early in the season.
A huge loss was losing center Chase Roullier and Wharton addressed this.
“Chase is not just a good player, but just a leader on our line and in the locker room. So losing him was a big hit for us. His confidence and getting us in protections and things like that. You can hear it with other players when he talks, everybody listens. Guys have been really stepping up, so it just shows everyone, Hey, be ready.”

After losing two centers, Nick Martin was signed and had to start immediately.

“I thought Nick stepped in last week and has done really well for just coming in and picking up what we were doing. For everybody else on the line, it’s really staying fine-tuned and understanding those calls cause we rehearse it so much during the course of the week and meetings and stuff like that, or what you’ll call here on different looks.”

The offensive line has at times gotten beaten badly. But Wharton sees progress.

“We are consistently getting better every time we step out there. We gotta continue to work; that’s the big thing. You lose a couple guys here and there, and the next guys step up, but we gotta continue to go. That’s what you have to do as offensive line, play hard together.”

Saahdiq Charles replaced Trai Turner at right guard and made some plays last week.

“He’s been in a few times, a few snaps. He’s getting the opportunity to play, and that’s the biggest thing when you get an opportunity to play in NFL games; you have to take advantage of it. I think mentally he’s prepared.”

“He’s always been explosive, from year one to year two is a big jump, man. He’s really grown overall as a football player mentally and physically of what he needs to do. He played multiple positions. He’s one of those guys that can play multiple and you have to be a pretty smart player to do all that and have the athletic skill set to do it also.”

“Andrew Norwell came in and has been physical. Let me start by saying that, he’s a great teammate that plays great football and he’s been physical. The continuity of those guys and Andrew being in there has been really well because he can make the blocks on the front side and the back side and do a good job in pass pro.”

Commanders make moves to bolster offensive line depth

The Washington Commanders made another offensive line move Tuesday.

The Washington Commanders made two personnel moves Tuesday, attempting to strengthen their offensive line depth.

With the Commanders offensive line struggling, they signed guard Keaton Sutherland to the practice squad. To make room for Sutherland, the Commanders released center Jon Toth.

Sutherland, age 25, (6-5, 315) played his college ball at Texas A&M.

Undrafted, the Bengals signed Sutherland as a free agent before waiving him, then bringing him back in 2019. He appeared in one game, was waived, and then claimed by the Dolphins, playing in three games in the season.

Back the Bengals went Sutherland, playing in one game in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

The 49ers signed Sutherland in March for the 2022 season; however, the former Texas A&M Aggie was released on Sept. 13.

Toth (6-5, 310), 28, has six games of NFL experience with Washington during the 2021 season.

The former Kentucky Wildcat was in on 17 special teams snaps last season and 7 offensive snaps.

The Commanders brought in center Nick Martin two weeks ago, and he started against Dallas in Week 4.

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Commanders, Wentz disappoint again vs Dallas

It’s another disappointing week for the Commanders, who, quite simply, aren’t very good.

For the third consecutive week, Carson Wentz and the Washington Commanders didn’t get the job done, falling 25-10 to the Dallas Cowboys.

The game was in Texas; everything is big in Texas. Or so some of the Washington brass thought anyway. The Commanders thought it a big deal they were wearing an alternate black uniform, going against the tradition of wearing some combinations of burgundy and gold. You know, the actual team colors for the 90-year history?

Daniel and Tanya Snyder were front and present, seen lapping up the atmosphere down on the field with Jerry Jones in his “JerryWorld” stadium.

It was a football game, and in the end, the story is never the uniforms, the owners showing up, the point spread, or the mass of media predictions and pregame shows.

Plain and simple, the Commanders (1-3) are not as good as the Cowboys (3-1). You know, the team who lost Dak Prescott in Week 1 and was written off as eliminated from playoff contention? It’s a team game, and the Cowboys quarterback and Cowboys defense are better.

Washington’s quarterback Carson Wentz had some sort of aversion to stepping up into the pocket (when there was one). He preferred to fall back, not plant his feet on throws and thus suffered (again) from a lack of accuracy.

Wentz attempted 42 passes and only gained 170 yards for an anemic 4.0 yards per attempt. Wentz’s counterpart Cooper Rush attempted 27 passes completing 15 for 223 yards for a much more efficient 8.3 yards per attempt. Wentz had two more interceptions and a touchdown pass. Rush countered with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

The Washington defense came into the game giving up big plays. So, on the first drive, they gave up a 31-yard pass to Ezekiel Elliott. They also permitted a 30-yarder to CeeDee Lamb and a 45-yarder to Noah Brown.

If you watched the two games last season, one single glaring characteristic remained true in this first game between the two teams this season. The Dallas pass rush is visibly accomplished by much more explosive athletes. Thus, the Cowboys recorded 11 QB hits, 6 TFL and 2 sacks. Washington looked much slower choosing to rush Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams instead of Shaka Toney in passing situations.

Washington outrushed Dallas 142-62 providing balance, yet the offensive line several times didn’t protect Wentz well. When the line did protect well enough, Wentz simply was not good enough.

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