Tag: Dan Quinn Commanders HC

What do the Commanders know about Marshon Lattimore’s injury?

What is Marshon Lattimore’s current status?

Marshon Lattimore did not practice again on Thursday.

We know some said Lattimore was coming to a good team and would find his hamstring wasn’t really injured after all. Well, seeing the opponent is the 6-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, and Lattimore has not practiced Wednesday or Thursday, we should safely conclude that, yes, Lattimore does have a hamstring injury, and it has been confirmed by the trainers and medical personnel.


GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn, and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt have all publicly stated since the trade that they love Lattimore’s competitive fire and intensity.

The Steelers coming off a bye week, are rested, and they have also picked up former Redskins and Packers pass rusher Preston Smith and receiver Mike Williams. In addition, the Commanders are apparently going to be without Lattimore, and the Steelers do like for Russell Wilson to go deep occasionally.

Whitt, in his introductory remarks launching his press conference, expressed,

“I didn’t know if I was going to see some guys with their heads down because you bring in a talent like this, some other guys might say, ‘Well, I’m going to lose opportunity.’ And they might be saying that I don’t know, alright. But that’s the business, but nobody’s acting that way.”

Whitt likes the winner’s attitude he sees in the current defensive backs, who are glad to be bringing in Lattimore. Whitt added, “That’s a credit to DQ (Quinn) and AP (Peters) and the brotherhood and the culture that’s being set here. That everybody is bringing them in, helping him, teaching him, talking to him.”

However, Whitt made it clear from the start that he was willing to talk about his defense but not about Lattimore’s health and when he would actually begin playing for the Commanders.

“As soon as we can get him out there, we will. When that will be, I don’t know. Okay. So, please don’t ask me because I don’t know when that will be, but as soon as we can, we will.”

Would the Commanders keep Lattimore from running until warmups for Sunday’s contest? We can only hope. But for now, they might be targeting Lattimore for Thursday at the Eagles.

Panthers game will reveal much about 2024 Commanders

We will learn a lot about the Commanders this week.

The Panthers game is a big game this Sunday.

No, I’m not kidding. Honestly, it is a bigger game than many may realize.

Oh, how quickly we forget.

That’s right. In one short calendar year, the Commanders revealed to all of their fan base and the NFL world that they were never going to have a winning team under Ron Rivera.

Rewind to October 1, 2023. The Commanders (2-1) went up to Philadelphia to play the Eagles and lost a tough, contested game 34-31 in overtime.

What happened next was an eye-opener. The Commanders were announced as a 6.0-point favorite to defeat the winless and hapless 0-4 Chicago Bears at FedEx Field.

Players were heard in postgame interviews talking about how the loss in Philadelphia had been a good loss. Ron Rivera continued to talk about how the culture was good and how he believed in his team and, in particular, Sam Howell at quarterback.

Reading Twitter and listening to DC sports radio the next three days, the overwhelming consensus was the Commanders were so much better than the Bears and would win handily in the Thursday Night Football game.

Watching the game was so enlightening. From the outset, it was irrefutable that Ron Rivera did not have his team ready to compete. The Commanders were a step slow, they were not intense. The fact is Ron Rivera’s team was not energetic, and they were not competing as the Bears were.

The Bears thoroughly embarrassed Rivera’s team on national television. The team that seemingly was two games better, playing at home and on a very short week, found itself down 17-0 and then 27-3 at the half. The final score was 40-20. It was the definitive moment; we all knew the Ron Rivera era was finished. He was never going to have a winning team in Washington.

Fast-forward to 2024. Ron Rivera is gone, and Dan Quinn coaches here now. His team went to Baltimore last Sunday and won respect from the Washington fan base and NFL world, competing well, though losing to the Ravens 30-23.

Similarly to the 2023 game, the Commanders are 4-2, and the Panthers are only 1-5. Again, the game is going to be a Washington home game. The Commanders are a 7.5-point favorite.

Frankly, the Commanders need to be focused and intense in preparation, ready to show they are not resting on a moral victory like the 2023 team did.

This is an opportunity for Dan Quinn and his staff to show how much better they are than the Ron Rivera staff. Have this year’s Commanders team focused to truly compete each and every week.

On more than a couple of occasions, the Ron Rivera teams (2020-23) raised expectations and hopes of the fan base, only to then lay an egg in games where they were expected to or had a chance to win.

The good teams focus on process. On Sunday, we learn how focused and mature Dan Quinn’s Commanders really are.

Commanders suffer multiple injuries on the defensive line

Commanders lost more than a game in Week 6.

The Commanders’ loss to the Ravens Sunday was not their biggest loss.

On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn told the press that DT Jonathan Allen had suffered a pectoral tear, and the team would miss Allen this season as he was looking at season-ending surgery.

You don’t simply replace a Jonathan Allen player and leader.

“Yeah, for sure. It’ll be a multitude of people and roles, and how we can feature guys to do that because Jon’s rare and he’s got unique skills and talent. So, it’s not just plug and play,” Quinn said.

Quinn then pointed to the depth at the position for the Commanders. “We got a big, deep crew and we’ll feature all of them a little bit differently and finding the ways that we can do that. But we’ll certainly miss Jon and the strength and the attitude that he brings inside.”

But Allen was not the only defensive lineman injured Sunday.

Quin said Dorance Armstrong had a rib or oblique injury, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste has an ankle injury. We will hopefully get some more information on that. “The X-rays were negative, but certainly dealing with the type of sprains and things to go.”

The return of Efe Obada was just in time because he is certainly going to be needed now without Allen. Quinn did not dismiss the possibility that the Commanders might now be forced to acquire another lineman.
“It’ll be something that [General Manager] Adam [Peters] and his staff and I will visit with about.”

But he also stated that players on the depth chart need to prepare for unexpected injuries. He spoke of Jeremy McNichols as a prime example of “staying ready, and your moment comes, you nail it.” He’s the one on our team right now that comes to mind first.

Commanders’ Quinn ‘We are working hard to develop Forbes’

Dan Quinn remains positive about Emmanuel Forbes and his future.

Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes had a rough 2024 season opener.

Getting beat in coverage several times was bad enough, but then Forbes was called for not one but two penalties on the same play. He was then benched and or injured for the remainder of the game.

Following the game, Forbes had an X-ray, but the word was that it was not serious. Sure enough, Forbes had a splint on his thumb, but he was out there working at practice on Wednesday.

“We’re working really hard to develop him,” expressed Dan Quinn at his presser Wednesday. Would he want some plays back? You bet. But I’d also say this is a young player we’re developing and working with him. He’s improving, and going to improve.”

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1651769851201871877

While Benjamin St-Juste was battling Mike Evans for much of the opener, Forbes continues to play well below the standards of what the 16th overall selection in the draft should be. Rookie Mike Sainristil was also given a rude introduction to the NFL by the Bucs.

It was also surprising Michael Davis, whom the Commanders signed as a veteran free agent, literally saw zero snaps at corner against the Bucs. I thought Davis was going to be spelling Forbes, keeping them both fresh and stronger at the game’s end. But no, Davis only saw special teams action.

This raises a question. Does defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. see Davis as too high a risk to play corner in the game? After seeing how Forbes struggled against the Bucs, might Davis be called upon more this week? Then again, if Forbes’ wrist is giving him problems during the game, does Whitt turn to Davis anyway?

This leads us to Noah Igbinoghene. He played 28 snaps at corner (44%) against Tampa Bay. He also made one of only two plays for the Commanders defense on Sunday where a pass was actually defended. This occurred when he was in very tight coverage and was able to get a hand on a ball, deflecting the pass. St-Juste recorded the only other defended pass. Igninoghene was also with Quinn and Whitt in Dallas for the 2023 season.

Commanders’ assistant GM Lance Newmark has connection to legendary Washington GM

Lance Newmark’s connection to Bobby Beathard.

Lance Newmark knew the Washington Commanders would be challenging, but he is glad he came aboard.

Newmark was first actually hired by former Washington general manager Bobby Beathard, when Beathard was the GM of the Chargers in 1996. Being hired by the Detroit Lions in 1998, Newmark then spent the next 25 seasons with the Lions in various scouting capacities and player personnel.

Knowing the Commanders were 4-13 last season and haven’t had a winning regular season since 2015 and 2016, they are, to say the least, a challenge for their new assistant general manager.

Newmark met with the media on Thursday, declaring, “Every day, we’ve come in here with the attitude of trying to get this better, to make this team as competitive as it can be right away, while also trying to build a team that is going to be competitive for the long haul.”

It didn’t take long to recognize that Newmark and general manager Adam Peters are on the same page. Newmark was echoing much of what Peters told the press on Wednesday. “Every day, we just try to find ways to get better, to improve our roster, to improve our process, whether it’s free agency, the draft, workouts, going back on guys that have been hurt.”

“We try to look under every rock and find every opportunity to improve; we’re trying to do that as fast as we can.”

Newmark has been around a long time, working in the NFL for 28 consecutive seasons. This year, he began working with head coach Dan Quinn for the first time.

The front office, coaching staff, and roster have been overhauled. The DMV hopes this will result in more wins in 2024.

Why is Commanders’ Dan Quinn losing sleep this week

This is not an easy week for Dan Quinn.

In a few days, on Tuesday, August 27, NFL teams must reduce their roster from 90 to a maximum of 53 players before 4:00 p.m ET.

That is a lot of decisions that need to be made from the end of Washington’s Sunday night home game against the Patriots until Tuesday by 4 p.m.

Dan Quinn led an energetic training camp that ended Friday. “I am pleased as we’re heading out of camp,” Quinn told the press.

However, what looms ahead is not allowing Quinn to relax or enjoy the fact that the team has just completed his first Washington Commanders training camp.

“The way we look at it is that it’s a 70-man roster… it’s always a hard conversation for the ballplayer, whether a veteran or a rookie.” By 70, Quinn refers to the 53-man roster and then the 17-man practice squad that teams can construct after each released player has an opportunity to sign with another club.

 “There’s a lot (that keeps me up at night)… a lot of that has to do with what’s to come…” Quinn spoke of getting to know the person, not merely the player, making it even harder when it comes to the cut-down days.

“It’s a hard conversation walking into that room because you’re not coming with good news,” Quinn spoke of talking with some players, telling them what they would need to see if the player makes it back to them on the Practice Squad.

In addition, Quinn offered, “If a player’s not coming back, I try to give him some things to work on in case he has another opportunity elsewhere.”

Quinn thrilled with Commanders’ rookies Newton and Coleman

Dan Quinn praises rookies Johnny Newton and Brandon Coleman.

Monday was the first day of the 2024 Commanders being in pads; it was also a time when the line of scrimmage became more of an emphasis.

When the pads go on, the hitting begins, the blocking begins, the tackling begins, and so instead of simple handoffs and passes being the focus, line play becomes more integral.

Two particular linemen have Quinn’s attention, and it was no accident he was asked about both rookies

Quinn is pleased regarding rookie DT Johnny Newton, the 36th overall selection in this year’s draft.

“No limitations at all,” Quinn said of Newton who had two offseason foot surgeries.

“He is actually doing great. Then we’ll start the team periods shortly with him. He’s making huge strides. He’s in excellent shape, so it was more just by design. The player is wanting to go badly and is showing he can, but really we want to stick to our plan of how we’re ramping him up. But yeah, you’ll see him in some team work soon.”

When asked what he has seen from OT Brandon Coleman, Quinn offered some praise. Coleman was the 67th overall selection in April’s draft.

“One of the things that I knew was he is a very good athlete, but what I have been more impressed by is he’s got great balance for a big guy, and so he’s got power in his legs. One foot coming back, redirecting on pass rush stunts that could go. So that might be one of the things I didn’t know was really one of his strengths. I knew he was a good athlete and movements and that, but balance is a harder thing to test. You have to see it. And so he is very rarely somebody that’s out of position or on the ground.”

More from Quinn on Coleman:

“He’s very deliberate in the way he moves and practices. I think he’s a very in-control player, and I think that’s a real attribute as an offensive lineman. You never see him overextended or out of position because when you do get beat, usually somebody’s out of position, it’s hard to recover. He has that ability to stay connected to somebody, and that’s one of the things I’ve been impressed by so far.”

It would be great if both rookie linemen remain healthy, making huge contributions for the Commanders during the 2024 regular season.

 

Joe Theismann: Jayden Daniels shouldn’t play in the preseason

The Washington legend spoke about Jayden Daniels and the preseason. He had some interesting thoughts.

How many snaps should Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels get in his first preseason?

Joe Theismann knows quite a bit about playing in preseason games. In fact, when Theismann entered the NFL with Washington in 1974, NFL teams played six of them.

On Thursday on “The Craig Hoffman Show,” Theismann said the team has so many new faces and “Jayden Daniels isn’t and shouldn’t play in the preseason.”

The former Redskins quarterback (1974-85) continued that he understands Daniels was the Heisman Trophy winner and had a great final season at LSU; however, the NFL is much more advanced than even the SEC.

“I’ve watched him work; I’ve been at practice. I’ve sat and visited with him. I like him a lot. But our business is a tough business to learn,” said Theismann.

Theismann knows Daniels will have his struggles when the regular season begins. He recalls his own struggles with inconsistency, which resulted in his losing the job to Billy Kilmer for two seasons before being named the starter in the 1978 season.

When Theismann said Daniels “isn’t” playing in the preseason, was he revealing that he knows something that coach Dan Quinn or GM Adam Peters may have told him?

This was probably nothing more than Theismann’s way of saying Daniels would see very little action. In fact, Theismann later stated he thinks Daniels might play only a couple of series in the first two preseason games.

The Commanders will face the Jets (Aug. 10), Dolphins (Aug. 17) and Patriots (Aug. 25) in the preseason before opening the regular season in Tampa against the Buccaneers on Sept. 6.

Commanders listed as one of top 5 most underrated Week 1 games

Commanders and Bucs named a “sneaky good” Week 1 matchup.

What are the top five most underrated games of Week 1 in 2024?

Rich Eisen, on the “Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday, came prepared with his list of the top five games that he believes are under the radar of most NFL fans.

Eisen provided one honorable mention game that barely missed his list when he cited the Titans at Bears. Eisen stated this will be a big game as well because he believes overall No. 1 2024 draft selection QB Caleb Williams will result in the Bears being the most talked about non-playoff team (2023) during the upcoming preseason.

In his countdown, Eisen listed the Commanders at Buccaneers as the fifth most underrated game of the openers.

“Nobody is talking about this one. This team made the divisional round last year, and you want to talk about running it back, I am talking about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And it is the debut of Jayden Daniels in the National Football League and Dan Quinn as the new head coach of the Washington Commanders. Commanders at Bucs is an under-the-radar sneaky good Week 1 game that we are not talking about right now. I kind of dig it.”

“What if Washington hangs 30 on them and wins by two scores?” asked co-host Chris Brockman.

Eisen replied back, “Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr. These are no slouches, and Jayden Daniels comes in and shows up like he could be like, remember last year’s second overall pick in the draft did (referring to C.J. Stroud of course). No expectations, not high, right?”

The rest of Eisen’s list of Week 1 most underrated games were:

4. Cardinals at Bills

3. Texans at Colts

2. Jaguars at Dolphins

1. Raiders at Chargers

You can watch here for video of the entire segment.

Did Commanders make Daniel Jeremiah’s top five breakout teams in 2024?

The Commanders named a potential 2024 breakout team by Daniel Jeremiah.

Daniel Jeremiah, a guest on the Rich Eisen Show on Monday, came prepared with his five breakout teams for 2024.

That is to say, which five teams who bottomed out last season will make a large improvement in 2024?

The NFL Network analyst gave his top five in this order: Bengals, Chargers, Bears, Commanders, and Cardinals.

What did Jeremiah and Eisen have to say about the Commanders?

Eisen: “Washington? I was talking about it again the other day when Chris (Brockman) had them 31st on his rankings. Jayden Daniels, I can’t wait to see what he looks like. But Terry McLaurin, Ekeler, Brian Robinson, Jahan Dotson, Kliff Kingsbury dialing it up. They have weapons there, man. They could really light it up, potentially.”

Jeremiah: “They’ve got some weapons there. Offensive line, they’ve got bodies to fill all of those holes. That’s my one, let’s wait and see. I do have some reservations there. Let’s see what that offensive line looks like. But the other side of it, Rich, this is not player-driven but more coach-driven; when was the last time you saw a Dan Quinn defense that didn’t punch above its weight? They’re going to be playing with their hair on fire, playing so hard, squeezing every drop of talent they can out of that group. I think he is going to get more out of that defense than people are expecting.”

Eisen shot back: “The last time I saw that out of a Dan Quinn defense, was the last game he coordinated for the Dallas Cowboys, to be very honest with you.”

Jeremiah simply laughed as if to say, “Ok, you got me with that one.”

I’m usually a big fan of Jeremiah’s work. However, in this case, upon first glance, NFL fans should notice that though the Bengals did finish last in the AFC North in 2023, their record was 9-8. Consequently, how are they going to have the largest breakout in 2024 unless they win 14 games to finish 14-3?

Also, the Bears were actually 7-10 in 2023, three games better than the 4-13 Commanders and Cardinals, while two games better than the 5-12 Chargers.

The discussion did not provide the qualifications for a top breakout team. Should a top breakout team win, say, five more games than they did in 2023?

If so, Jeremiah’s five teams’ records would be as follows: Bengals 14-3, Bears 12-5, Chargers 10-7, and Commanders and Cardinals both 9-8.

Unless one is willing to define what a breakout season is in terms of improved wins (+5, my example), then what are we even predicting?