Tag: Frankie Luvu

Commanders vs. Eagles Player of the Game: LB Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu is our Commanders’ Week 11 Player of the Game.

The Washington Commanders lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 26-18 on Thursday Night Football’s Week 11 edition.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, much of it in the second half, to lead Philadelphia to a huge NFC East win over Washington.

While Barkley was terrific for the Eagles, which player shined for the Commanders?

This week’s Washington Player of the Game is linebacker Frankie Luvu. Luvu finished with 10 tackles, behind Jeremy Chinn’s team-leading 12, and had two sacks.

Luvu was everywhere against the Eagles and was a catalyst in Washington’s success against Philadelphia through three quarters. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as Luvu and the defense wore down late in the second half

Luvu’s two sacks give him seven on the season, second only to linebacker/defensive end Dante Fowler Jr.

The Commanders look to get back to their winning ways next week when they return home to face the Dallas Cowboys.

Commanders DE Dorance Armstrong quietly excelling recently

Dorance Armstrong has been getting it done as a pass rusher recently.

The Washington Commanders’ defense struggled early this season. In Week 1, Washington couldn’t stop Baker Mayfield and had no answer for Malik Nabers in Week 2. In Week 3, the Commanders got just enough stops for quarterback Jayden Daniels to outlast Joe Burrow for the upset road win.

However, over the past two weeks, Washington’s defense has improved. Newcomers such as linebacker Frankie Luvu and defensive end Dorance Armstrong have gotten comfortable and emerged as impact defenders for the Commanders.

In last week’s win over the Browns, Luvu had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. Armstrong didn’t receive as much attention for his play, but the former Dallas Cowboy had 1.5 sacks last week, giving him three over the past three games.

While Armstrong hasn’t posted huge sack numbers, his impact is helping others, such as Luvu. His career high is 8.5 sacks, which he set in 2022, playing only 47% of the defensive snaps. Now a full-time starter, Armstrong is positioned to set a new career high in sacks this season.

 

Frankie Luvu on Dan Quinn: ‘The dude is legit’

Frankie Luvu wishes he played for Dan Quinn his entire career.

The Washington Commanders are 4-1 and the talk of the NFL. While most of that chatter has centered around phenomenal rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, there are plenty of noteworthy stories happening in Washington.

New head coach Dan Quinn, who many called a retread, with much of the fan base believing general manager Adam Peters was hiring the second coming of Ron Rivera, has proven to be the perfect coach for the Commanders.

Quinn transformed the culture within weeks, something Rivera had failed to do in four years. Sure, winning helps, but Quinn has the pulse of his team. Every player on the roster believes in what he’s teaching.

One of those players signed with the Commanders in March, wanting to play for Quinn. Linebacker Frankie Luvu has made his presence felt in recent weeks for Washington’s defense and joined Ari Meirov on “NFL Spotlight” to discuss all things Commanders.

“I wish I was playing for Dan Quinn my whole seven years in the league,” Luvu said. … “Dude is just a solid, solid coach: a solid, solid person, father. A mentor, every category that you think a “G” should be at, he always says that, ‘Be a G,’ that’s DQ. The moment he hopped on the phone with me and started chatting and telling me he can’t wait for me to get to Washington….The dude is just amazing. All energy, high-energy dude, but it’s real energy, there’s nothing fake about it………..The dude is legit.”

Players loving Quinn isn’t new. All of his former players, including Micah Parsons, love him. The Commanders will eventually run into adversity. How will they handle the first sign of adversity under Quinn? One thing is certain: the Commanders believe in Quinn and the coaching staff, and that’s a refreshing change in Washington.

Quick facts from Commanders’ 34-13 win over Browns

Several facts and stats from Commanders’ 34-13 win vs. Browns.

Here are several of today’s quick facts regarding the Commanders 34-13 win over the Cleveland Browns in Landover.

  • The Commanders won their fourth consecutive game Sunday, after losing the season opener. The last time Washington won four straight was in 2021, when Washington was 2-6, won four straight to go to 6-6.
  • With the win, the Commanders are 4-1 for the first time since the 2008 season. But that team fell apart, finishing 8-8.
  • No. 17 Terry McLaurin caught four passes for 112 yards today. It was the 17th game McLaurin has totaled at least 100 receiving yards.
  • With another rushing touchdown today, RB Jeremy McNichols has scored in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
  • With three touchdowns rushing today, Washington has now registered three rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
  • The Commanders’ defense held the Browns to 1-13 on third downs, while the Commanders were 8-17 on third downs.
  • Washington accumulated 434 total offensive yards, while the Browns only managed 212. The Commanders averaged 6.7 yards a play while limiting the Browns to 3.6 yards a play.
  • The Commanders are reporting that today QB Jayden Daniels has become the first player in NFL history to have had 1,000+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards in their first five career games.
  • Scoring 34 points on Sunday, Washington has now scored 30+ points in three consecutive games for the eighth time in franchise history and the first time since 2005.
  • Terry McLaurin reached 400 NFL career receptions. McLaurin, Gary Clark and Satana Moss are the only receivers in franchise history to record 400+ receptions in their first 6 seasons with Washington.
  • Frankie Luvu had 7 tackles (4 solo) a fumble recovery, 2.5 sacks as the Commanders totaled 7 QB sacks. Others who had one were Bobby Wagner (1.5), while Jonathan Allen, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler each had one.

Commanders vs. Browns Player of the Game: LB Frankie Luvu

Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu earned Player of the Game honors in their 34-13 victory over the Browns in Week 5.

[lawrence-related id=103486,103442,103403]The Washington Commanders hosted the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and came away with a resounding victory that saw starting quarterback Jayden Daniels take a seat in the fourth quarter simply to give him a rest. The 34-13 final only tells part of the story, and what you don’t see is the context around how we got there.

This week, Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu set the tone for the defense and earned Player of the Game honors.

Luvu recorded seven tackles (four solo), 2.5 sacks, two tackles for a loss, and three quarterback hits. His energy bolstered the defense’s efforts, holding Deshaun Watson to 125 yards through the air. He also recovered a Watson fumble.

The offense obviously did its thing behind Jayden Daniels and scored 34 points, but the defense has been a point of contention this season, and Luvu took a leadership role today to change that opinion.

A veteran in his seventh year, this is Luvu’s first season with the Commanders. He spent three seasons each with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before donning maroon and gold, and he’s really coming into his own with his new defense.

Commanders reveal Week 2 captains and a franchise legend will be honored vs. Giants

Captains for Week 2 are in and the team will honor former tight end on Sunday.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn abandoned the traditional method of naming team captains ahead of the season and chose weekly captains.

“We’ll be using game captains, and I’ll also utilize a group of some leaders that will be kind of with me on some decisions that or emphasis that I wanna make with the team,” Quinn said earlier this month. “But, we’ll pick game captains until the postseason, and then we’ll pick postseason captains. That’ll be throughout.”

In Week 1, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin was one of Washington’s three captains, along with defensive end Clelin Ferrell and safety Jeremy Reaves. McLaurin and Reaves have been captains in Washington prior to this season.

It’s Friday, so the Commanders revealed captains for their home opener on Sunday against the New York Giants.

  • C Tyler Biadasz
  • LB Frankie Luvu
  • S/special teams ace Percy Butler

Quinn revealed in his Friday press conference the team went crazy when Butler was revealed as one of the captains. The third-year safety has been excellent on special teams since being drafted in 2022 and has been trusted with more responsibility at safety under the new coaching staff.

The Commanders will also honor Vernon Davis, a Washington, D.C. native and former tight end, as their “legend of the game.”

Davis, who played at Dunbar High in D.C., enjoyed a successful college career at Maryland before the 49ers selected him as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Davis spent 9 1/2 seasons in San Francisco before he was traded to the Broncos midway through the 2015 season. Davis earned a Super Bowl ring during his short stint in Denver and signed with his hometown Redskins in 2016.

https://twitter.com/Commanders/status/1834603726440436059

Davis played the final four seasons of his NFL career in Washington. Davis caught 583 passes for 7,562 yards and 63 touchdowns for his career.

Since retirement, Davis has remained busy as an actor, philanthropist and author.

Commanders’ first-half observations vs. Dolphins

10 quick observations from the Commanders’ first half against the Dolphins.

The Commanders trail the Dolphins 10-6 at the half.

Here are some observations of the first half:

  1. Jayden Daniels looked poised and under control. He completed 10 of 12 attempts for 78 yards. He had a nice designed run of 13 yards.
  2. Jeff Driskel showed he has some wheels as well, with a 41-yard run. Driskel has been a pleasant surprise, making plays in the pocket in both games. He completed 7 of 10 for 57 yards.
  3. Was hoping Riley Patterson would kick well tonight and move towards winning the job, but with missing two field goals in the first half, it’s most likely not going to happen.
  4. Dyami Brown has won the confidence of Daniels. Brown received three targets early, catching all three passes for 19 yards.
  5. The Commanders had two runs of 11 yards from Brian Robinson and another 11-yard run from Michael Wiley.
  6. On a 3rd and 2, Austin Ekeler followed a good inside push by the OLine; however, Andrew Wylie was called for holding, setting up a 3rd & 12. That was huge, as it basically killed the drive, forcing a field goal attempt.
  7. Defensively, Jamin Davis had a nice rep when he forced a quick pass, and also leaped to block down the pass.
  8. Frankie Luvu was in on four tackles on the first Dolphins possession. He was very active out there.
  9. Percy Butler was beaten for a touchdown but recovered to get a finger on the ball, deflecting it just enough to save a touchdown.
  10. The Commanders exhibited plenty of Kliff Kingsbury’s uptempo offense.

 

Which Commanders player will have a breakout season in 2024?

Who will have a breakout season in 2024?

Frankie Luvu has taken an interesting path to the Washington Commanders. In 2018, Luvu was an undrafted free agent who signed with the New York Jets. He spent three seasons with the Jets, appearing in 40 games and making three starts.

In 2021, Luvu signed with the Carolina Panthers. While a lot hasn’t gone right in Carolina under owner David Tepper, Luvu was an exception. He played in 16 games with four starts in 2021 before becoming a full-time starter in 2022.

Over the last two seasons, Luvu combined to record 236 tackles, including 29 for loss, 12.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. His success with the Panthers led Washington to give him a three-year deal.

Luvu is set for a big role in head coach Dan Quinn’s defense. Luvu’s versatility and ability to rush the passer could lead to a big season for him in 2024.

How big? Jared Dubin of CBS Sports predicted one breakout player for all 32 teams in 2024. Luvu was his pick for the Commanders.

Luvu got a decent-sized contract in free agency, but it didn’t come near getting him into the top tier of off-ball linebacker salaries. In Dan Quinn’s defense, he has a chance to really shine as a versatile second-level playmaker — especially if Quinn gets creative with his abilities as a blitzer.

In some ways, you could say the 27-year-old Luvu has already broken out. However, he has an opportunity for so much more playing for Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Luvu could be Washington’s top pass rusher in 2024 and will compete with middle linebacker Bobby Wagner to lead the team in tackles.

Everyone is high on Luvu. He could be even better than many initially believed when the Commanders signed him.

Commanders punter Tress Way’s tackle fires teammates up

Tress Way fired everyone up on Saturday.

Tress Way is the longest-tenured player on the Washington Commanders’ roster. Way has been with Washington since 2014, and there probably aren’t too many specialists as popular with their community, teammates, and fan base as Way.

The two-time Pro Bowl punter was in the news this spring after the Commanders selected quarterback Jayden Daniels in the NFL draft. Way gave his No. 5 to Daniels.

It was an emotional moment for Way, but he believed he had made the right decision for the sake of the organization.

During Saturday’s preseason opener against the New York Jets, Way launched a 54-yard punt in the fourth quarter that Jets returner Brandon Codrington appeared to have some green grass in front of him. However, Way would have none of it, coming out of nowhere for an impressive form tackle and stopping Codrington after a 13-yard return.

Here’s the play, and notice the reactions of his teammates.

Everyone rallied to Way, led by linebacker Frankie Luvu.

Everybody loves Tress Way.

On Sunday, safety and special-teams stalwart Jeremy Reaves, a close friend of Way and his family, made a promise to Way’s wife on Instagram.

While his teammates loved it, you can bet general manager Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and special teams coach Larry Izzo loved it even more. They stress competing on every snap, and Way’s tackle — in the preseason — is the epitome of competing.

It’s not every day you see a punter running down the field and getting physical, much less in the preseason. That’s why Tress Way is one of one.

 

Ryan Kerrigan helping Jamin Davis in his new role as a pass rusher

The franchise legend is helping Jamin Davis in his new role.

Jamin Davis is entering a critical point in his career. Washington’s fourth-year linebacker is adjusting to a new position this season, which also happens to be a contract year for the 2021 first-round pick.

Through three seasons, Davis has had his share of ups and downs, leading the team to unsurprisingly decline his fifth-year option for 2025.

The Commanders hired a new coach this offseason. Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera — the man who drafted him. Despite the change, Davis is excited about playing under Quinn and receiving a fresh start.

Washington added two starting linebackers in free agency — Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu — leaving Davis’ role in question. However, Quinn believed Davis’ athleticism could be beneficial at edge rusher. Considering the Commanders’ need for a quality pass rush, it could prove to be a wise move.

The good news for Davis is he has some help. Franchise legend Ryan Kerrigan, who holds the team’s all-time sack record, is now the assistant linebackers coach/pass rush specialist. Before Day 2 of training camp practice, Quinn spoke of Davis’ development and Kerrigan’s assistance.

“Well, coming into it, I wanted to find out what were all the unique things he could do,” Quinn said. “So, in the spring, alright, I want to see him guard a tight end. Now, I want to see him guard a back, and then now, let me see as the pass rush goes. How do you utilize this size and length that he has? And so, part of that experiment is to see, let me see more rush.”

Quinn then discusses Kerrigan’s involvement.

“What’s nice is having a guy like Ryan Kerrigan here that can work specifically on the skills that we’re going to ask Jamin to do,” Quinn said.

“So, you’ll him before and after practice. Sometimes, you’re going to see small moments, like in micro-teaching sessions for five or 10 minutes a day with somebody that, over time, can add up. When you keep doing that over and over, you’re skills are going to increase. And, so, Ryan and Jamin are closely connected because when you have to play more than one position, there’s a burden that comes with the player……….So, Ryan has been an integral part of Jamin’s development as an end of the line rusher.”

Some believe Davis could be on the roster bubble because Quinn moved on from him as an every-down linebacker. However, in hearing the coach talk about Davis, it’s clear he believes he can thrive in this role. If Davis can become a quality pass rusher, it will help Washington in 2024 and Davis next spring when he becomes a free agent.