Tag: Dan Quinn

Commanders release DE Shaka Toney

Toney was just reinstated last week.

That didn’t take long. Days after the NFL reinstated defensive end Shaka Toney from an indefinite suspension for gambling, the Washington Commanders released him on Monday.

Toney, a seventh-round selection in the 2021 NFL draft from Penn State, played two seasons for the Commanders, appearing in 26 games, finishing with 16 tackles, including two for loss, three quarterback hits and 1.5 sacks.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Toney faced long odds at making Washington’s roster in 2024. While the Commanders are without their top four edge rushers from a year ago, new general manager Adam Peters rebuilt the position this offseason, adding veterans Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell.

Armstrong and Fowler are close with new head coach Dan Quinn, while Ferrell followed Peters and new defensive line coach Darryl Tapp to Washington from San Francisco. The Commanders also re-signed veteran Efe Obada.

Additionally, Washington returns second-year edge defenders K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr., both of whom showed potential at times last season.

With nine picks in this week’s 2024 NFL draft, the Commanders are expected to select an edge rusher at some point. Washington hosted multiple edge defenders on top 30 visits.

Commanders showing interest in Virginia Tech defensive tackle

Could the Commanders be looking for defensive tackle depth in the NFL draft?

For the first time in a while, the Washington Commanders have no Virginia Tech players on their roster. This offseason, Washington released starting tight end Logan Thomas and allowed starting cornerback Kendall Fuller and kicker Joey Slye to depart via free agency.

No Virginia Tech players are expected to be selected in the first few rounds of the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. However, defensive tackle Norell Pollard has emerged as a candidate to be chosen sometime on Day 3 of the draft.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston, several teams, including Washington, met with Pollard throughout the pre-draft process.

Pollard played five years for Virginia Tech, where he played in 61 games for the Hokies, with 48 starts. He finished his career with 118 tackles, including 22 for loss, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles.

In past years, the NFL would have considered Pollard undersized to play defense tackle, but that trend has changed. Pollard’s quickness and low center of gravity make him an intriguing NFL prospect.

The 6-foot-0, 283-pound Pollard earned a 77.7 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023, including an impressive 86.6 pass-rushing grade.

Pollard will be an interesting name to watch on Day 3.

The Commanders have starters Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, with John Ridgeway and Phidarian Mathis as backups. But, this is a new staff with head coach Dan Quinn perhaps preferring less size and more quickness on the interior of the defensive line.

Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu embraces the underdog mentality

Frankie Luvu has been an underdog his entire career, and continues to embrace that mentality heading into his first season with the Washington Commanders

Frankie Luvu may very well be the most underrated linebacker in the NFL, and is arguably the most underappreciated player in the league, period.

The veteran linebacker is heading into his seventh season in the NFL, and his first with the Washington Commanders after putting pen to paper on a three-year, $36 million dollar deal.

Speaking on his new contract, and new team, Luvu tells Touchdown Wire that the plans in store for him, as well as the overall outlook of the franchise, made Washington his ultimate destination.

“Just the opportunity and what they have planned for me,” Luvu said. “The culture. Talking to the coaching staff and everyone now that I’m here, I know they’ll know how to utilize me in every way in this defense.”

Luvu added that playing for new head coach and defensive guru Dan Quinn is something that he is very much looking forward to in this new endeavor with Washington.

“Man, I can’t wait,” Luvu said with an excited grin. “Everybody speaks highly of him, and rightfully so. You see what he’s done with the guys that he’s had over the last few seasons in Dallas, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but under his wing.”

Luvu isn’t the only linebacker Washington added to the middle of their defense, though. The Commanders signed future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner to play alongside Luvu — a move that has the former Carolina Panther very galvanized.

“Bobby is the epitome of what it means to be a linebacker in this league,” Luvu said. “How he walks in the building, his habits, how he takes care of his body, how he watches tape- what more can I ask for in a guy to come in and learn from? To pick his mind and better my mind, make myself better. Every day, we’re in the room competing, talking, and building that bond and chemistry, and it’s an absolute blessing to be in that room with him.”

Luvu spent the previous three years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. While there was constant turnover in terms of head coaches and quarterbacks, Luvu doesn’t have a bad word to say about his time in Charlotte.

“I can say I had a good time in Carolina,” Luvu said. “The relationships I built out there with all the coaches, all my teammates- I’ll always have love for them, as well as the organization and the city of Charlotte. I look at every year as a blessing. I had three years out there to build my name and build my brand. And because of that, I have new opportunities in Washington where I feel like the sky is the limit.”

Luvu has consistently been one of the league’s top off-ball linebackers. He finished last season in the top 25 in total tackles and once agin being one of PFF’s highest rated linebackers with an overall grade of 80. Despite his production, though, few seem to mention him in the same breath as the Fred Warners and Roquan Smiths of the NFL — something that Luvu himself says just adds more fuel to his fire.

“That’s just another chip on my shoulder, man,” Luvu said. “I came in undrafted and now I’m going into my seventh year in the league. I’ve been an underdog, doubted, counted out my whole life. That’s just the type of mentality I’ve had, and what’s got me this far. So when I see the headlines of ‘underrated linebacker,’ that’s just more wood to the fire for me.”

Not only is Luvu a perennial underdog, so too is his new squad. The Commanders haven’t won more than 10 games in a season since 1991, a streak that the Washington State product and the rest of the veterans on the team are hoping to break.

“I truly believe we’ve got a good squad,” Luvu said. “Having Bobby in there, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Jeremy Chinn. Plus on offense you bring in a guy like Austin Ekeler, who is one of those top guys at the running back position, Terry McLaurin- we have the guys. Now it’s just a matter of us being able to put it all together. Vets like myself and those names I just mentioned, we just have to lead from the front.”

The Commanders will all but certainly be riding the hand of a rookie quarterback this season, which will have its own set of built-in challenges. However, if the team can lean on their defensive stars and whomever their rookie quarterback is can make enough plays to win games, who’s to say they can’t have ride all the way to surprising the NFL with a playoff berth?

Commanders hire Dave Gardi as senior vice president of football initiatives

Josh Harris with another big hire for the Commanders.

Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris continues to make big-time hires. On Monday, the Commanders named Dave Gardi, the senior vice president of football initiatives.

Gardi comes to Washington after working in the NFL offices for the last 21 years, including the past 10 years as the senior vice president of football operations.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters released a statement via the team’s website:

I’m excited to welcome Dave Gardi to the Washington Commanders. Dave has been one of the most highly regarded executives at the NFL League Office and is someone with an immense knowledge of the game. He will be an invaluable resource to our front office as we continue to usher in a new era of Washington Commanders football. It’s my pleasure to welcome Dave and his family to the DMV.

Gardi will handle in-game management duties for the Commanders, supporting the coaching staff and front office on compliance with NFL protocols, officiating trends and health and safety protocols.

Head coach Dan Quinn had the following statement:

Dave Gardi is one of the brightest minds in our league when it comes to football operations. He will be an incredible resource to the coaching staff as we prepare and plan for game days. Dave brings a unique perspective to our organization after working with the League Office for two decades. His addition makes our organization better across the board. I am thrilled to welcome Dave and his family to the DMV.

During his time at the league office, Gardi played a major role in developing policies and procedures to help control competitive balance and the integrity of the game.

Gardi played at Brown before receiving his law degree

As expected Commanders hosting Maye and Daniels next week

The Commanders get some face time with Maye and Daniels next week — one week before the NFL draft.

Well, that didn’t take long.

Just 24 hours ago, Commanders Wire encouraged Commanders fans not to make too much of Tuesday’s announcement that Jayden Daniels would visit the Commanders next week.

Though Adam Schefter, Brian Kelly and Colin Cowherd had all said in the past week that the Commanders were going to draft Daniels, we said, yes, the Commanders may draft Daniels, but those guys don’t actually know whom the Commanders are going to select.

We also declared that Adam Peters would certainly have Drake Maye visit the facility and perhaps J.J. McCarthy as well.

So, Wednesday brought the announcement that North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye will also visit Ashburn next week.

Indeed, Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and owner Josh Harris have wisely not given any indication to anyone in the media who the Commanders will select with that No. 2 overall selection.

The possibility exists that the three may not only be acting wisely to not publicly declare their intentions. Seeing these three quarterbacks are also receiving such varied evaluations from the draft analysts, could it be that the Commanders trio of Peters, Quinn and Harris honestly, have not yet been able to be in unison regarding the selection?

Perhaps, being undecided, the Commanders are still continuing to do their necessary homework. If that is the case, could it be that this final visit/interview for each next week may be the determining factor in the end?

It’s a huge decision for Quinn and Peters. Just last year, the Panthers took Bryce Young, yet the guy selected next was C.J. Stroud, who had a much better rookie season.

With that in mind, the Commanders may want to conduct one more face-to-face interaction to observe how the young men refer to surprising questions or statements.

Ron Rivera chose Chase Young at No. 2 when quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert were not chosen until the fifth and sixth selections. Rivera never recovered and never obtained the quarterback he needed, either.

 

2024 NFL draft: How old are some of the draft’s top quarterback prospects?

Sam Howell is younger than two of the 2024 NFL draft’s top QB prospects.

Sam Howell, Washington’s starter during the 2023 season, is actually still younger than 2024 NFL draft prospects Bo Nix and Michael Penix.

Yet, the Commanders new administration already determined the better thing for the Commanders was to go ahead and trade Howell.

Howell, entering his third NFL season, will turn 24 in September. Bo Nix, who quarterbacked at Auburn and then Oregon, is already 24, and Michael Penix, who was under center at Indiana and later Washington (Huskies), will turn 24 on May 8.

The question has been raised, “Did Adam Peters and Dan Quinn give up too soon on Sam Howell?” Of course, the answer is not going to be a simplistic yes or no. That’s because it is much too early to know. There simply is not enough data at this point to make an altogether certain conclusion either way.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams will turn 23 in November. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy will not turn age 22 until Jan. 2025. LSU’s Jayden Daniels will turn 24 on Dec. 18, and Drake Maye (North Carolina) will be 22 on Aug. 30.

All of these players have different amounts of experience in different situations. Penix attempted the most passes of college quarterbacks (555). Nix (8th) attempted 470, while Maye attempted 425 (18th).

Contrast this with McCarthy (332), where Michigan’s defense kept them in every game. They won the national championship with a tough defense and an effective running game. They simply didn’t need McCarthy to throw nearly as much.

Consequently, just because there was less opportunity for McCarthy to throw does not mean he can’t be a capable passer in the NFL.

Howell had played in one NFL game when he became the starter for 2023. He showed flashes early in the season, but following the Seattle game, Howell noticeably dropped off in effectiveness and confidence.

Should Washington have traded Howell? At this point, we have no idea how Howell will respond to last season’s descending second half. Perhaps the new scenery and new coaching staff will do him well.

There have been reports that Sean McVay (Rams) and Sean Payton (Broncos) were also interested in Howell. That speaks well for Howell.

At this point, only one thing is certain: the Commanders “felt” it better that Howell not remain here as either the starter or backup to the quarterback they are going to select at No. 2 overall.

The Caleb Williams-to-Washington dream can end now

Caleb Williams is only taking one pre-draft visit — to Chicago. The nonsense of him telling the Bears he wouldn’t come there is over.

When it became apparent the Washington Commanders weren’t very good last season, most fans rooted for them to lose, understanding the losses were more important than the wins in a lost season. That was the correct strategy.

Ultimately, Washington lost its final eight games to finish with a 4-13 record. That futility earned the Commanders the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. It all came at the perfect time for Washington in a quarterback-rich draft and a completely new regime.

Out is Ron Rivera. In are new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn. Since the end of the regular season, Washington allowed numerous free agents to walk, released others and signed over 20 outside free agents.

A new era indeed.

Now, we look ahead to the NFL draft. In less than three weeks, the Commanders and Peters have an opportunity to change the franchise’s fortunes for the foreseeable future. Washington has nine picks in the NFL draft, including six in the top 100, beginning with the second overall pick.

It’s almost a guarantee that it will be a quarterback. We do know it will not be Caleb Williams. The Bears are almost guaranteed to select Williams No. 1 overall. After Williams officially visited Chicago last week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported it would be the only top-30 visit for Williams.

If Williams believed he was going anywhere else, do you believe he would refuse visits with other teams? That includes his hometown Commanders. Many fans have been hoping and dreaming that Williams would tell Chicago he wasn’t interested, forcing its hand, much like Eli and Archie Manning did to the Chargers in 2004. Former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, who often loves a good hot take he can’t defend, even suggested that Williams tells the Bears he doesn’t want to go there.

That’s not happening.

Williams making it clear he’s not taking any more visits means he’s going No. 1 to the Bears. There are no more hypothetical trade scenarios for Washington moving up one spot. The Bears could just turn in their draft card now, and the NFL can put the Commanders on the clock at No. 2 overall on April 25.

Report: Multiple NFL people believe Drake Maye will go to Commanders at No. 2 overall

Has it been Drake Maye all along for Washington? That’s what some believe.

The endless speculation continues regarding the Washington Commanders and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Will the Commanders select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy?

While the rumor mill speculated McCarthy seems like a pick that Washington general manager Adam Peters would make, the odds still favor Maye or Daniels to the Commanders.

Several NFL insiders have speculated about which quarterback Peters likes best or which fits offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense best. While the results are mixed, Daniels is generally the top choice.

But, according to longtime NFL writer Ralph Vacchiano, who covers the NFC East for FOX Sports, several NFL sources have told him they don’t see Maye sliding past Washington at No. 2.

In fact, multiple NFL sources said they don’t believe Maye will get past the Commanders at No. 2. Despite a lot of speculation that Daniels is a better fit for the scheme of new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and a report that GM Adam Peters was eyeing McCarthy, there are many people around the NFL, who view those tidbits as smokescreens.

“I think we’re at the point where people are just overanalyzing and forgetting all the reasons why Maye is one of the two best quarterbacks in this draft,” said one NFL personnel executive. “He’s a big kid [6-foot-4, 223] with a big arm who can run. Sure, he can be inconsistent and he made some throws in college that he shouldn’t have tried.

Vacchiano is plugged in, having covered the Giants for years. Many call this time of year “lying season,” as teams like to hide their interest in specific players. If Maye is the guy for Washington, it would make no sense for Peters to reveal that information. As of now, the draft begins at No. 2, with the Bears expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall.

The Commanders have not likely made a final decision. They will use the next couple of weeks to host players on pre-draft visits and go over interviews before reconvening until a final decision is made.

At Maye’s pro day, it certainly looked like Peters and Dan Quinn were interested in Maye, but could that have been a smokescreen, too?

We still have 18 more days until the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Tress Way loves Commanders new HC Dan Quinn’s mindset

Tress Way is fired up for Dan Quinn and this new regime.

The Commanders in a meeting room, head coach Dan Quinn asked the returning players to all stand to their feet and move to another seat.

He asked them to move around and get to know some of the new players. Quinn encouraged players who didn’t know other players to make an effort at friendship because some of these guys could become your best friends.

Tress Way first made an active roster with the then Redskins back in 2014. This is now Way’s 11th consecutive NFL season, and Quinn is his third head coach with Washington.

Way, is not only a veteran, he is a wise one. He sees beyond a football. He spoke of Quinn’s task, “How can you galvanize all of us and bring us together towards a common goal?”

The former Oklahoma Sooner understands a team has many individual members yet comes together and, therefore, must work together for the common good of the whole. “Everybody has unique strengths, unique gifts…I just like to empower guys regarding the things they do well.”

Rather than pointing fingers at coaches, Way was already publicly declaring the players’ responsibilities: “It’s up to us, the players, to get to know one another, to create this bond, and then go win some football games.”

Upon hearing the Commanders’ new coach announced as Quinn, Way texted him congratulating Quinn. Way came to Quinn’s office a few days later, and the two chatted for 20-25 minutes. “I bet three minutes of it was about football, and all he (Quinn) asked about was how I got into the league.” Way elaborated, saying he, too, was able to ask some questions of Quinn, and he will always remember that day for the way he was able to get to know Quinn.

Way talked truthfully about how all NFL teams are very positive this time of year, thinking this year will be better than last year. But he then added, “It’s so authentic the way (Quinn) is delivering a message to you…it’s very impressive, it’s fun.” Way should know, witnessing these times over a decade.

Here’s hoping Dan Quinn will bring lots more fun through winning games. That would be a new experience for Commanders fans.

How did Eric Bieniemy respond when asked if Dan Quinn offered him a job?

Bieniemy said in February he was not fired.

Eric Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Washington Commanders anymore. On the second day of UCLA’s spring practice, Bieniemy spoke publicly for the first time since leaving Washington after one season as offensive coordinator.

A reporter mentioned Bieniemy’s departure from Washington and asked if new head coach Dan Quinn had offered him a job or about any other NFL opportunities before accepting a position as Deshaun Foster’s offensive coordinator.

With a smile on his face, Bieniemy made it clear he didn’t want to discuss his previous employer.

“Here’s what I’m going say is this: I’m here coaching at UCLA,” Bieniemy answered. “All that other stuff, you could go talk to the Commanders. I’ll leave it just like that.”

Bieniemy spent 10 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs before departing after Super Bowl LVII to become the offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders. Bieniemy hoped to help improve a struggling Washington offense in what was a lame-duck year for head coach Ron Rivera in an effort to land a head-coaching job.

Things didn’t go well. The Commanders went 4-13, and Rivera was fired. After Quinn was hired, he said he had spoken with Bieniemy and wished him well, but they would not be working together in Washington.

“I think he’s an excellent coach,” Quinn said on Feb. 5. “I had a chance to visit with him today. We’ll continue that dialogue, but we’re not going to work together here, but in this coaching brotherhood, I wanted him to know, man, I really respect the work that he’s done……I wish EB nothing but the best, and he’ll do a great job.”

In an email to ESPN, Bieniemy said he was not fired.

“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing.

Rivera ceded much control to Bieniemy in 2023, allowing him to structure practices to his liking and giving him complete autonomy on offense. The Commanders finished 26th in total offensive DVOA, per FTN. Heading into the season with a young quarterback, Bieniemy’s offense led the NFL in passing attempts and finished dead last in rushing attempts.

Bieniemy doesn’t want to talk about the Commanders, while Washington fans have turned the page from the previous era.