Tag: DE Montez Sweat

Postgame quotes after Commanders perplexing loss to Eagles

Some postgame quotes from several Washington players after Sunday’s loss to the Eagles.

This Commanders’ loss to the Eagles was perplexing as the offense produced, but the defense could not get to a visibly hobbled Jalen Hurts.

What was the reaction in the locker room and the postgame shows?

“When you look at a game: Your kicker kicks a 61-yard field goal. You score 31 points. And you lose? That is one you don’t understand.” Brian Mitchell

“Ultimately, when you look at the game, it is not a matter of we didn’t run or pass enough. No, we didn’t make the plays.” Brian Mitchell

“They moved some pieces along the offensive line. I thought Tyler Larsen did an excellent job calling protections- no free runners to the quarterback. I thought Sam also helped that group, getting the ball out of his hand quickly…and I think EB called a fantastic football game today. So I think there are positive things.” Logan Paulsen

“They told me New York decided it was an incompletion.” Ron Rivera on the Jahan Dotson 4th down incompletion

“Because I didn’t see it on the screen. I was looking up at the screen to see if there was something that could help me and then I was waiting to hear something from somebody upstairs (did you see it or not?). We haven’t seen the replay yet. So we weren’t sure. They did their hurry up, ran to the line and snapped the ball…I still don’t know if it was or wasn’t complete.” Ron Rivera on not challenging the Eagles 4th down completion for a first down that was actually incomplete.

“I’m not going to answer any questions on personnel.” Ron Rivera declining to talk trade deadline

“I mean, it’s in the air, but in the end, we have a game to play, a job to do. I intend on doing that job to the best of my ability.”  Montez Sweat on current trade talks

“Anything can happen, but I can only control what I can.” Montez Sweat conveyed that his agent is keeping him informed

“My job is to play football, and that is what I am going to continue to do. It’s tough. I don’t have nothing to say; it’s tough.” Chase Young on close loss

“It’s out of my control. I’m going to go back and evaluate myself, see where I made mistakes and hold myself accountable.” Chase Young on if he or Montez Sweat played their last game together.

“We’re right there. But at the end of the day we let another one slip away from us.” Sam Howell on another tough loss

“I told him (Terry McLaurin) that I have to give him a better chance. … I’ve got to make his job easier. Terry’s a great player, and I have to do my part.”  Sam Howell on those two late drops by Terry McLaurin

Chris Simms: ‘Commanders not in command yet’

“Sam Howell looks like he belongs.”

The Commanders were not yet in command.

That is how Chris Simms host of Chris Simms’ “Unbuttoned” podcast on NFL on NBC summed up the Commanders performance in Week 1.

“Sam Howell did some good things. He made a few young quarterback mistakes. Some sacks, misses a throw. A lot of people are saying it was Heinicke-esque. It’s a little of that. But this guy has more talent than Heinicke. ”

“He had the fumble, had the interception.” Simms felt Howell tried to put extra juice on the pass and it got away from Sam and was intercepted by Zaven Collins. (I thought it was tipped at the line of scrimmage. Will need to go back and watch the replay).

Simms also pointed to the Antonio Gibson fumble ending a nice drive. Yes, Washington had gained 59 yards, and that was a killer fumble.

“Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals coach) should be proud. His defense did some good things. Washington didn’t run the ball well, the Cardinals got pressure on Howell, and there were not a lot of big pass plays.”

Simms pointed to safety Kam Curl and defensive end Montez Sweat, who both made several plays on the day.

“Sam Howell looks like he belongs; he really does. Their offensive line, I think, is going to be better this year. Even though it was not their best showing here.”

The comparison was also made that Howell is a bit like Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“I don’t think we can expect the Cardinals to win a ton of football games, I don’t,” said Simms. “I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I think it was encouraging that they hung around today created some chaos on the defensive side of the ball.”

Washington’s offense will need to prevent defensive chaos next Sunday when they are the road team at Denver. They will also probably need to win the turnover battle, which they lost 3-2 to the Cardinals Sunday.

Commanders defense saves the day for 20-16 win over Cardinals

A big effort from the defense saves the day for the Commanders.

Despite what you have often heard in the last decade, defense can still win NFL games.

Sunday, the first game of the new ownership group headed by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales, was very much a celebratory tone. Until the Commanders offense committed three first-half turnovers and thus trailed the Cardinals 13-10 at the half.

With Washington still trailing 16-10 late in the third quarter, the Cardinals faced a 3rd & 15 from their own 35. Montez Sweat broke through, sacked quarterback Josh Dobbs, who fumbled and Daron Payne recovered on the Cardinals 29 with two seconds remaining.

It was exactly what the offense had needed, struggling as it was. Following the three first-half turnovers, the Commanders offense on its two second-half possessions had run 7 plays gaining 0 yards and 3 plays for two yards.

So, taking over on the shortened field of 29 yards, offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy had his offense give the ball to running back Brian Robinson Jr four consecutive plays, which gained 21 yards. Following a Sam Howell incompletion, Chris Rodriguez ran for two more, setting up a 3rd & Goal at the 6.

Howell took the deep snap, dropped back, then rolled left, tucked the ball in and scored standing up. The Commanders were up 17-16 and would not relinquish the lead.

Again when the defense gave the Commanders the ball, they were 3 & out, punting back to the Cardinals. Again it was Dobbs who fumbled and again it was Sweat making the play on Dobbs. This time DT Abdullah Anderson recovered at the Arizona 37.

Joey Slye added his second field goal of the day for a 20-16 Washington lead with 2:23 remaining.

The final Cardinals’ possession produced only 12 yards in six plays as the defense again held, giving the Commanders a win in their 2023 opener.

When the day was concluded, the defense had held the Cardinals to 9 points. Remember, Sam Howell’s second-quarter fumble had granted the Cardinals a defensive touchdown from two yards.

Picking up from where they were last season, the Commanders defense held the Cardinals offense to converting only 4 of 14 third downs. Unlike last season, the defense forced two second-half turnovers and it was enough for the Commanders defense to save the Commanders offense and get the Week 1 win.

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.