Tag: DE James Smith-Williams

Formern Commanders DE James Smith-Williams signs with Falcons

Smith-Williams’ departure makes it official. The book on the 2020 NFL draft is closed in Washington.

In the latest free agent signings, James Smith-Williams has departed the Commanders to join the Falcons on a one-year deal.

Drafted in the seventh round (No. 229) in the 2020 draft by Washington, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack defensive end played four seasons for the Burgundy and Gold.

When Chase Young went down in 2021 with a season-ending knee injury, Smith-Williams noticeably improved the Commanders defense for the remainder of the season. His defense against the run proved to be a contributing factor to the team winning four consecutive games when he entered the lineup.

He started the last six games of that 2021 season, recording 30 tackles (11 solo, 19 assisted), including four for a loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, and five additional QB hits.

Smith-Williams started 14 games in the 2022 season, contributing 23 tackles (12 solo, 11 assisted), including five tackles for a loss, three QB sacks and 16 QB hits.

In his final season (2023) in Washington, injuries limited him to 13 games (7 starts), 22 tackles (11 solo, 11 assists), two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and eight quarterback hits.

Here are highlights from his last two Washington seasons.

When the 2024  free agent signing period launched in March, the Commanders new administration determined to sign Dorance Armstrong Jr. and Dante Fowler Jr. both defensive ends who had played for new head coach Dan Quinn in Dallas.

Then, the Commanders signed Clelin Ferrell, a former 49ers defensive end, whom new GM Adam Peters knew from his time as the assistant general manager in San Francisco.

The Commanders had also determined, this offseason, to re-sign Efe Obada over Smith-Williams. Obada has played both inside and outside on passing downs, accumulating 15 career sacks in his 74 NFL games played.

A couple of things are noteworthy. New Falcons free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins has the same agent as Smith-Williams (Priority Sports & Entertainment), and current Falcons assistant general manager Kyle Smith was with Washington and ran the draft board during the 2020 draft, Ron Rivera’s first with Washington.

Commanders’ Rivera provides injury updates

In addressing Washington’s injuries after the bye week, Rivera hinted at a free-agent mistake without saying it.

It’s no secret the Commanders are 4-9 and hoping to get some people back in the lineup.

What may be a secret, however, is that the Commanders have actually been one of the healthiest teams in the entire league this season, and yet they have managed to lose nine of their last 11 games after opening the season 2-0.

Yet, there are some injuries, and head coach Ron Rivera was asked during his weekly Monday press conference when those players might return to action during the last four weeks of the season.

Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and defensive end James Smith-Williams: “Forbes had a good week of rehab. He’ll be evaluated through practice this week, as will James Smith Williams for the most part.”

Ricky Stromberg: “Stromberg, actually, you know, he had the surgery. He’s still going to be down for a while.”

Safety Darrick Forrest: “DeFo, he’s got to be re-evaluated by the doctors. We’ll go from there.”

Left guard Saahdiq Charles: “We’re gonna check in on him tomorrow and see where he is. Then we’ll go from there.”

Rivera was asked a follow-up regarding Stromberg, “Does it sound like then he’d probably be done for the year?” “It looks like it obviously because of the surgery, and it’s unfortunate. The young man showed he had the tools you are looking for. Big, stout, physical guy, very smart, intelligent football player. He showed that to us and, unfortunately, got hurt playing. That was a tough one because, between him and Tyler (Larsen), I felt we could have been very, very stout up front for the remainder of the year.”

Did you catch that? Rivera was planning on not using Nick Gates in the middle any longer? Was Rivera admitting by implication that the Nick Gates experiment did not go well? Was the signing determined to have been a mistake?

Rivera was then asked if Brian Robinson was going to be able to practice this week. “We’ll see him tomorrow, and he will be re-evaluated, and we’ll see. He should be ready to go for practice, I’m anticipating that. But we’ll see everybody again tomorrow.”

 

Why Commanders vs. Ravens is so important for rookie defensive ends

Monday presents a massive opportunity for rookie defensive ends Andre Jones Jr. and K.J. Henry.

Monday’s preseason game for two defensive players could be huge.

The Commanders will host Baltimore Ravens in the preseason contest. For the Commanders, they have two rookie defensive ends for whom this game could be very large.

Though drafted in the fifth round at 137 overall, K.J. Henry, a defensive end out of Clemson, was expected to push and make the team. Unexpected was seventh-round choice (and 233 overall) defensive end Andre Jones out of Louisiana.

Jones has, honestly, looked better in camp thus far. With only three preseason games, Monday’s against the Ravens could play a large role in the future of both players.

The Commanders can only keep so many defensive ends on a 53-man roster. NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players before the NFL league-wide deadline of August 29 at 4 pm.

Everyone knows the Commanders plan to start Montez Sweat and Chase Young at the defensive end spots. Next, come the primary backups. At the beginning of camp, there was no doubt those two were James Smith-Williams and Casey Toohill.

How many defensive ends are the Commanders going to keep on their 53-man roster? If there are five defensive ends, this would indicate room for only one more.

Thus far, Efe Obada has been working primarily on the inside, and the Commanders have listed Obada on the depth chart at defensive tackle, but he does possess position flex; thus, he could play both tackle and end.

Is the final defensive end spot up for grabs between Henry and Jones? Both rookie ends are going to be watched closely Monday as the defensive coaches are looking for evidence regarding whom they should keep on the roster.

If the Commanders keep ten defensive linemen, the ability to play both end and tackle will be huge for guys like Smith-Williams and Obada. Those smaller and, thus, not asked to play inside at tackle, need to display both the ability to set the edge against the run and rush the passer.

Something coaches are not going to ignore is that Sweat, Young, Smith-Williams, Toohill and Obada are all entering the final season of their contracts.

If the Commanders determine to only keep four linebackers they could stash one or perhaps two linebackers on the practice squad. They could also keep an extra defensive end on the roster because they are quick enough to play well on the special teams. If they do keep an extra defensive end, could it mean they keep both Henry and Jones on the roster, utilizing both on coverage teams?

Speaking of defensive ends, this game against the Ravens could thus loom very large for the other defensive ends, underdogs looking for a roster spot, such as Joshua Pryor and Will Bradley-King.