Tag: Da’Ron Payne

Commanders punter Tress Way emotional in describing what Ron Rivera means to him

Tress Way emotional in describing what Ron Rivera means to him.

The Washington Commanders will likely move on from head coach Ron Rivera on Monday after four seasons with the team. Rivera accepted the job as Washington’s head coach and, essentially, general manager in Jan. 2020.

Unfortunately for Rivera, things didn’t go as planned, and he finished his tenure in Washington with a 26-40-1 record.

On Sunday, after the Commanders’ 38-10 loss to the Cowboys ended the 2023 season, several players praised Rivera in the locker room after the game. One of those players was Washington’s longest-tenured player, punter Tress Way.

“I remember whenever my father got sick, during the COVID season (2020), Coach Rivera called every night to ask how it was going, and dad passed,” Way said, fighting back tears. “But, I’ll never forget that one, that was…..just called, every night, so, it was cool.”

Way has been with Washington since 2014 and has played for Jay Gruden, Bill Callahan and Rivera. One of the more popular players on the team, Way is a beloved locker-room leader and wasn’t the only player to have fond feelings for Rivera.

Tight end Logan Thomas and defensive tackle Daron Payne also praised Rivera.

Has Jonathan Allen played his last game for the Commanders?

Have we seen the last of Jonathan Allen in a Washington uniform?

Has Jonathan Allen played his last game for Washington?

The Commanders ruled out the Pro Bowl defensive tackle and longtime team captain for Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. That means Allen’s 2023 season is over after 16 games and 53 tackles, including 10 for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 19 QB hits.

Those aren’t bad numbers, but fans have come to expect more from Allen. He nor Daron Payne were as impactful in 2023 as they were in 2022. And Allen’s frustration with the constant losing showed on more than one occasion.

After a Week 7 loss to the Giants, Allen went on an uncharacteristic profanity-laced tirade. Some thought Allen wanted out of Washington, but he later said in his weekly appearance on the “Sports Junkies” that wasn’t the case.

However, later in the season, Allen again appeared frustrated, admitting he has thought of what it would be like to play for another organization.

“1,000 percent,” Allen said on the “Sports Junkies. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. I play this game to win, and I would love to win here, for sure. But I want to win, first and foremost.”

That’s led to plenty of speculation that Allen could be on the block, with some even predicting Washington would trade the 2017 first-round pick.

Allen has two years remaining on his contract at base salaries of $14 million (2024) and $15.5 million (2025). However, there is no guaranteed money remaining on Allen’s deal, meaning he could be easy to move — if Washington chooses.

Allen has been a popular player since arriving in 2017. In addition to being an Ashburn native, Allen grew up a fan of the team. He’s remained one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles and a tremendous locker-room leader. Washington has always featured Allen and Terry McLaurin as faces of the franchise in recent years. But with the Commanders expected to land a top-three pick in the 2023 NFL draft, there will likely be a new face of the franchise — a quarterback.

Washington can’t let everyone go and a new coach may want to continue to build his defense around Allen and Payne. If the Commanders move Allen, he should fetch at least one day-two pick in the upcoming draft.

No Commanders make the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl

And none deserved to make the Pro Bowl.

Five Washington Commanders made the Pro Bowl in 2022: Defensive tackles Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, safety Jeremy Reaves and punter Tress Way.

One year later, the 4-12 Commanders saw no players make the Pro Bowl.

Four teams saw no players selected to the Pro Bowl, and three of those teams are currently in the top four of the 2024 NFL draft order: Carolina (No. 1, but pick goes to Chicago), Washington (No. 2) and New England (No. 3). Green Bay was the fourth team with no players selected to the Pro Bowl.

Only two Commanders finished among the top 10 in fan voting at their respective positions: Kam Curl (10th among safeties) and Terrell Burgess (third among specialists).

Who were Washington’s top contenders to make the Pro Bowl? Well, it’s tough to make an argument for anyone. Statistically, McLaurin is probably the most likely, as he’s 54 yards away from 1,000 yards receiving for the fourth consecutive season. However, McLaurin is far down the list among wideouts deserving to make the Pro Bowl, through no fault of his own.

Last season’s defense was among the best in the NFL, but the 2023 defense broke the franchise record last week for points allowed in a single season.

The College Football Playoff has major interest for some Commanders

There are Washington players representing each school in the College Football Playoff. Alabama, of course, leads the way.

The 2023 College Football Playoff kicks off today with the two semifinals.

First, in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, will be the Michigan Wolverines, this season’s top seed, facing the fourth-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide. Kickoff is scheduled for shortly after 5 pm.

Part two of the CFP doubleheader will be played at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Second seeded Washington Huskies will be matched up against the third-seeded Texas Longhorns. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 pm.

How are these four colleges represented on the Washington Commanders:

Commanders PFF grades: Best and worst performers vs. Rams in Week 15

The grades are in. Who graded the highest on offense? What about defense? One player really stood out on offense.

The Washington Commanders finally enjoyed a week off. The Commanders returned to action in Week 15 with a cross-country trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams.

Unfortunately, Washington’s luck against the Rams was much the same as before the bye week. Los Angeles jumped out to a 28-7 lead on the Commanders, but Washington stormed back late in the fourth quarter behind backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Sam Howell midway through the fourth quarter before falling 28-20.

The defense’s performance was similar to that of the previous game. While some things improved, look no further than Cooper Kupp’s 62-yard touchdown to see that the Commanders’ coverage issues are still a major problem. And it was another game in which Washington’s pass rush struggled to apply pressure on Matthew Stafford.

How did Pro Football Focus grade the Commanders?

It’s time to review PFF’s best and worst from Washington’s Week 15 game. Here are the grades.

 

Commanders’ 7 most disappointing players in 2023

The Commanders are 4-9 and having a terrible season. Which players have been the most disappointing?

The Washington Commanders are off in Week 14. At 4-9, the Commanders have lost four games in a row and six of their last seven. Washington fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio after a 45-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, and we appear to be heading into the final four games of the Ron Rivera era.

The Commanders opened the season 2-0, but it’s been downhill ever since. While there were expectations that quarterback Sam Howell would have ups and downs in his first season as the starter, everyone expected Washington’s defense would keep them in games. Instead, Howell has shown more positives than negatives, but the defense — a consensus top-10 unit in 2022 — hasn’t been able to do anything right.

The offense has shown signs of progress under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, but even that promise has tailed off recently. Washington has struggled along the offensive line, and the receivers have taken a step back in 2023.

It would be easy to name every Washington offensive lineman as its most disappointing player, but quite frankly, there wasn’t a lot expected from the group as a whole in 2023.

With the Commanders off in Week 14, we look at seven players who have been the most disappointing for a variety of reasons.

Commanders had 5 first-quarter sacks vs. Giants in Week 11

Yet Tommy DeVito has 184 passing yards and 2 TDs against Washington’s defense.

The Washington Commanders have had some trouble getting pressure on opposing passers since trading edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the NFL trade deadline.

All Washington needed was the right opponent to get its pass rush going. As it turns out, that opponent was the New York Giants. And while the Giants have owned the Commanders recently, New York’s struggling offensive line and undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito provided Washington an opportunity.

The Commanders sacked DeVito five times in the first quarter, led by linebacker David Mayo, who had two sacks. Rookie DE K.J. Henry had his first official NFL sack, DT Daron Payne and CB Benjamin St-Juste also had sacks for Washington.

According to Washington PR, the five first-quarter sacks are the most in franchise history. And it’s also the first time one team has had five sacks in a single quarter since the Seattle Seahawks did it in 2006.

Outside of the sacks, DeVito has played well vs. Washington and has the Giants ahead 14-3 with two touchdown passes against the struggling Commanders.

Unless Washington quarterback Sam Howell turns things around in a hurry, it looks like another long day for the Commanders against the Giants.

Some concerning numbers for Commanders DTs Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen

The numbers don’t lie: Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne haven’t been as effective in 2023 as they were last season.

When the Washington Commanders agreed to terms with defensive tackle Daron Payne on a new four-year, $90 million contract in March, they clearly had some decisions to make.

Signing Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a four-year extension in 2021 meant the Commanders were paying a hefty price for two players in the same position group. That’s not entirely unusual, but it would mean that Washington would likely choose between one of two edge rushers, Chase Young or Montez Sweat.

The Commanders surprised everyone two weeks ago, trading Young and Sweat. After all, Washington still had Payne and Allen.

Payne had a breakout season in 2022, recording a career-high 11.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. His previous career-highs were five and seven, respectively. Meanwhile, Allen dominated again, going to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

But Allen and Payne haven’t been nearly as dominant in 2023. One such stat that measures pass-rush effectiveness is ESPN’s pass-rush win rate. And those numbers don’t fare too well for Allen and Payne.

Their lack of impact is even more pronounced now with Young and Sweat gone. Head coach Ron Rivera was asked about his star defensive tackles on Wednesday.

“They have been for the most part,” Rivera said. “They’ve done the things that we’ve needed them to do up front. They’ve held the line. I mean, we’ve done a nice job keeping things inside. Their interior push has been pretty good, and they’ve been fairly consistent. They really have.”

The numbers don’t lie. Washington’s defense has underachieved and is one of the NFL’s worst. Allen and Payne have also taken a step back. For the Commanders to improve defensively over the remaining seven games, they’ll need Allen and Payne to begin making impactful plays again.

Commanders open 21-day practice window for DT Phidarian Mathis

Mathis has missed 23 out of a possible 24 games early in his NFL career.

The Washington Commanders could soon be adding more defensive tackle depth behind Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and John Ridgeway.

Washington opened its 21-day practice window for second-year defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis on Wednesday, meaning the Commanders have that time to either activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.

The 2022 second-round pick played three snaps in the season opener last year before injuring his knee and was lost for the season. Just before the season began this year, Mathis, along with fellow defensive lineman Efe Obada, was placed on short-term IR. Obada returned two weeks ago but hasn’t played a ton.

Washington has used veteran Abdullah Anderson as the third defensive tackle this season behind Allen, Payne and Ridgeway. Ridgeway, a second-year player like Mathis, has impressed.

Mathis has already missed 23 out of a possible 24 games in his young career. He practiced fully on Wednesday, so, much like Obada two weeks ago, Mathis is trending toward being active for Week 8 vs. the Eagles.

Daron Payne dislocated finger in Sunday’s game and immediately returned

Payne dislocated his finger, set it himself and returned to the game.

Washington fans were undoubtedly concerned during late in Sunday’s 24-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons. On a second-and-goal from the Commanders’ two-yard line, Washington defensive tackle Daron Payne was injured on the same play in which he committed a neutral zone infraction.

Payne looked to be in considerable pain, leaving the field with trainers.

Washington called timeout. When the game returned from a break, Payne was back on the field, and his impact was felt. Eventually, the Falcons would face a fourth-and-goal. Under heavy pressure, quarterback Desmond Ridder lofts the ball into the end zone where cornerback Benjamin St-Juste was waiting for his first career interception.

Crisis averted for the Commanders.

But what happened to Payne?

After the game, he spoke to reporters and said he dislocated a finger. Ouch. But this is the best part:

Payne is a tough dude. In the first season of a four-year, $90 million contract, Payne never misses time. Sure, the coaches give all the defensive linemen a breather, but you can count on Payne and Jonathan Allen to always be on the field in crunch time.