Why was Commanders loss to Bears so disheartening for fan base?

Is the honeymoon already over? Fans were let down once again.

Thursday’s 40-20 loss to the Bears was one of the more disappointing losses in recent Washington football history.

Why is this the case? Most likely it is because our hopes had been raised by multiple factors. What are those factors?

Sam Howell played well enough in his only 2022 game that we foresaw development this season and improvement at the quarterback position.

Ron Rivera, in the offseason, repeatedly told of how Emmanuel Forbes and Quan Martin were going to be helping this year’s team create turnovers, which was lacking on the 2022 defensive unit.

Eric Bieniemy was brought in to replace Scott Turner as offensive coordinator. Bieniemy was being presented as an instant, huge improvement over Turner, who could also help in the development of Howell.

Jahan Dotson flashed some really great pass-catching and route-running skills in his rookie season. Dotson would only improve in his second season, causing the offense to have a dynamic duo of wideouts in Dotson and Terry McLaurin.

2022 guards Trai Turner and Andrew Norwell very much underachieved in 2022. So much so that neither was invited back for this season. Sam Cosmi and Saahdiq Charles were said to be very much more athletic, mobile and would bring improvement to the interior of the offensive line as well as mobility in the screen game that terribly struggled in 2022.

Cole Holcomb departed via free agency, but oh, how the Commanders’ brass was happy with the signing of Cody Barton to start for Holcomb at linebacker.

Former owner Daniel Snyder sold the team officially in July. In addition, the new ownership group could not have launched their endeavor any better than they did that first weekend. Josh Harris, Mitch Rales and Mark Ein are local. They spoke of loving the Redskins. They proclaimed with energy they wanted to regain the glory days of the Redskins being one of the most successful franchises during the George Allen (1971-77) and Joe Gibbs (1981-92) seasons. And Earvin “Magic” Johnson would also help, having been such a competitor and team player himself in the NBA. 

Instantly, attendance at training camp soared. Excitement at the home preseason games was swelling. The team began the season with two opening wins. The home schedule saw three sellouts; fans were returning, spending their money because our hopes were rising.

We understood losing to Buffalo and Philadelphia; after all, both of those teams are Super Bowl contenders. So, much of the talk Monday through Wednesday was about how the Commanders were going to win this “must-win” over the Bears. There was even much talk of “by how much” would the Commanders need to win to satisfy the fan base.

Suddenly, the Commanders trailed 17-0. Disappointment became confusion, which led to consternation, anxiety and dread. Then it was 27-3 at the half, and most of us were frustrated, angry, infuriated.

Our hopes had been raised so much, only for the team to again completely dash them. Our emotional balloons had been burst.

Adversity has set in; the honeymoon period is coming to a close. We again hope, hope for a recovery to respectability.

 

What are the Commanders’ options with Daron Payne?

Which of these decisions will the Commanders make regarding Payne?

The Washington Commanders have a big-time decision to make regarding their big-time defensive tackle Daron Payne.

Payne, drafted by Washington with the 13th overall selection in the 2018 NFL draft has made it clear he wants to get paid what he feels he is due.

Playing in 81 career games in his five seasons, Payne has rushed the passer well from the inside, collecting 26 sacks. This past 2022 season, the former Alabama Crimson Tide tackle had a huge increase in two defensive statistics. Payne collected 18 tackles for a loss, when his previous high had been 7 in 2020. He also accomplished 20 QB hits when he had best collected 15 the previous season.

So, Payne is ready to be paid. It is not a simplistic yes or no for the Commanders. For now, it seems the Commanders have four options. 1) Sign Payne to a long-term deal such as they did with fellow defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, 2) Franchise tag Payne, keeping him for another season, 3) Franchise tag Payne and trade him, 4) Permit Payne to walk via unrestricted free agency.

If the fourth option is taken, the best return the Commanders would likely receive in compensation is a third-round draft choice at the end of the third round in the 2024 draft.

The third option is one where the Commanders could actually receive the most compensation in return. But then again, head coach Ron Rivera is not guaranteed a 2024 season. Thus, the temptation for Rivera might be to make a decision that is best for the team this 2023 season, not necessarily what is best for 2024 and beyond.

The first option is the most unlikely, simply because the Commanders are not going to be able to sign Allen, Payne, Montez Sweat and Chase Young all to long-term deals.

The Commanders need to capitalize on Payne’s value. With the season he had in 2022, his value may never be higher in the NFL. Which reminds many of us of Kirk Cousins’ value and the offer Bruce Allen had for Cousins from the 49ers. Allen was stubborn, dug in, and absolutely blew it as a personnel executive.

Cousins walked, and Washington has not had a winning season since Cousins was behind center in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

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Commanders target Bieniemy interviewed for a head-coaching job

Washington wants to talk to Bieniemy, but his No. 1 focus is the Super Bowl and then head-coaching opportunities.

While the Washington Commanders have made it no secret they are interested in interviewing Eric Bieeniemy, he made it clear Tuesday that he has interviewed for a head coaching position.

The Kansas City offensive coordinator was the subject of more than a few interviews Tuesday during Super Bowl week in Glendale, Arizona.

Bieniemy himself was being asked about his NFL coaching future as well, Tuesday. At one point, Bieniemy was asked not if he wanted to go elsewhere next season but if he wanted to be back with the Chiefs.

The former Colorado Buffalo running back replied, “Here’s the thing, I’ll have that conversation with Coach Reid at that particular time. … Obviously, I’ve known Coach Reid for damn near half my life. We’ll sit down and have a talk, and we’ll talk about everything.”

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was very insistent that the current Chiefs offensive coordinator, Bieniemy, was “past deserved,” having already proven in Mahomes’ mind he should have been hired by someone to be a head coach.

Washington’s Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew are said to be interested in Bieniemy for the vacant offensive coordinator position for the Commanders. It remains a tough sell why Bieniemy would leave the hugely successful Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes for a team like Washington, which has not had a winning season since Kirk Cousins was behind center for the Burgundy and Gold.

Bieniemy also made it clear he has interviewed for the Indianapolis Colts head coaching position. So, if a move is in order for Bieniemy, it remains a challenge for some of us to believe he would come to Washington on a lateral move, with no guarantee of a 2024 job, when he could stay with Mahomes or accept a head-coaching position.

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Will Ron Rivera again overspend for a new quarterback?

Will they Commanders truly give Sam Howell a shot? Or will Ron Rivera go looking for another veteran quarterback?

With Sam Howell being the only quarterback under contract for 2023, the Washington Commanders will seek a quarterback or two this offseason.

Will Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew determine to ride with Sam Howell in 2023 and thus choose to bring in a veteran free agent who can be a game manager if needed?

If that is the case, there are several free agents who could be a good fit. Jacoby Brissett, Andy Dalton and Mike White each made less than $5M last season.

Dalton could be reunited with Ken Zampese, whether he is the 2023 QB coach or the offensive coordinator.

Or might Rivera and Mayhew knowing they must win next year, swing for the fences and pursue a veteran like Aaron Rodgers or Derek Carr? Pursuing offensive coordinators such as Eric Bienemy, might this actually signal the Commanders will be shopping again for a big-name quarterback?

Are the Packers actually wanting to move along from Aaron Rodgers? If so, they certainly will be in conversations with teams who want a serious upgrade at the position this upcoming season.

Certainly Carr wants to be elsewhere next season. The Raiders and Carr ended the regular season on bad terms; they are separated and looking to divorce.

Last off-season, the Commanders presented themselves as desperate, too needy. As a result, Chris Ballard of the Colts worked a great deal in the Colts favor for a quarterback they were likely to release if they couldn’t find a needy buyer.

Has the Commanders’ brass learned from last offseason’s trade? How much are they considering that the Raiders want to get rid of Derek Carr? How much are they asking questions, attempting to learn why the Raiders want to divorce from Derek Carr?

The Packers have been an intelligent organization, and if they want to turn the page from Rodgers, you can take it to the bank; there is good cause. So why would the Commanders be so willing to offer high draft choice(s) for a guy who certainly disappointed last off-season receiving a sizeable raise, yet chose not to be the leader he was paid to be, teaching, leading the younger receivers group?

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What might new offensive coordinator mean for Sam Howell?

Washington’s next offensive coordinator is a critical hire with Sam Howell in mind.

Sam Howell looked across the line, and seeing the silver and blue Dallas Cowboys, he received the snap of the ball, dropping back on his first NFL passing attempt.

The line of scrimmage being the Dallas 16, Howell looked to his left, and there was Terry McLaurin completing a stutter move in a shallow crossing route moving from left to right beneath much of the Dallas secondary.

Howell planted his right foot to throw, tapped the ball with his left hand, and then looking in the middle of the field, passed toward McLaurin, leading him further to the right.

McLaurin made the catch around the ten-yard line, squared up his shoulders, and headed up the field into the end zone untouched. Sam Howell had attempted and completed his first NFL pass for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington defeated Dallas 26-6 as Howell enjoyed the thrill of passing for and running for his first NFL touchdowns, both in his initial NFL game.

The former North Carolina Tar Heel had not been drafted until the fifth round by Washington. Understandably, Howell was the No. 3 quarterback behind Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. Only after the team was officially eliminated from the playoffs was Howell given the last game.

Two days later, Commanders offensive coordinator Scott Turner was fired. Rivera had thought so much of Turner that following the 2021 season; Turner was given a contract extension. But now he was being fired by Rivera, though Turner had worked with eight quarterbacks in these three seasons as offensive coordinator.

So, the search for a new offensive coordinator has begun. With Rivera’s win totals in his three seasons being 7,7 and 8, next year is most likely the last for Rivera unless Washington is in the playoffs.

So what offensive coordinator wants to come to Washington, where there have not been winning seasons since 2015-16? What offensive coordinator wants to come to work for a head coach who may be in his last year?

In addition, if 2023 with the new offensive coordinator does not result in Washington being in the playoffs and the new owner cleans house, what will that mean for Sam Howell in 2024?

It will mean three offensive coordinators in three NFL seasons for a third-year quarterback drafted in the fifth round. Commanders fans and certainly Sam Howell himself are hoping for a much smoother transition.

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Yet again, Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew must make huge decision at QB

Mayhew and Rivera have some huge decisions to make — and soon. Perhaps the big decision isn’t all that difficult after all.

Leadership means making tough decisions.

Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew are well aware that if next season does not bring an improvement in the win total, they will be finished with the Commanders.

Last offseason, Commanders Wire wrote prior to the Carson Wentz trade about our concern that Rivera and Mayhew had presented an appearance of desperation and being needy. Sure enough, our concerns were confirmed when the Commanders acquired Wentz. They gave up a third-round draft choice, a conditional second/third-round choice, swapped picks in the second round (five places), and agreed to take on all of Wentz’s $28 million salary for 2022.

This is what we wrote last offseason to close that post:

Sometimes in negotiations, we really must be careful because if our posture is one of being too needy, the negotiation will actually be nothing more than the other guy taking advantage of us. A fair mediation will involve you being willing to walk away from the table. I am hoping, if need be, Coach Ron and Mayhew are both willing to walk away from the table.

A year later, here we are again. Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is going to be available via trade. We’ve seen the best Taylor Heinicke can give, and we have no idea how Sam Howell will develop over the next three seasons.

However, Carr has a $34,875,000 cap hit in 2023, $43,875,000 in 2024 and $43,175,000 in 2025. Rivera and Mayhew need to win next season. Consequently, they might not want to wait to see if Howell develops.

There are also pending free agents to consider, such as Daron Payne, Taylor Heinicke, Cole Holcomb, Cam Sims, Jeremy Reaves, Jonathan Williams, Khaleke Hudson, Milo Eifler, Tyler Larsen and Wes Schweitzer.

Oh, and what about 2024 free agents such as Montez Sweat, Kamren Curl, James Smith-Williams, Antonio Gibson, Chase Young, Kendall Fuller and Curtis Samuel?

The Commanders should go with Howell on his rookie contract, build through the draft, sign their proven players who can help them in the next three to four years, and sign a low-cost, veteran quarterback.

The best leaders do what is best for the organization in the short term and the long term, and this offseason will go a long way toward showing a potential new Commanders owner what kind of leaders Rivera and Mayhew are.

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If Commanders make the playoffs, what happens at QB in 2023?

If Heinicke leads the Commanders to the playoffs, what happens in 2023?

Logan Paulsen and Craig Hoffman were asked Friday on their Take Command podcast, what occurs with the Commanders’ quarterback position next season if the Commanders make the playoffs this season?

Hoffman: If Heinicke wins a playoff game, I think you have to bring him back with a chance to compete for the starting job. That’s one of those things, is the locker room going to let you go another way?”

“It would take some major boldness from Rivera and the Marty’s [Mayhew and Hurney] to move on from a guy who wins a playoff game, if we get to that point.”

“I think it makes the Wentz part of this very easy though. I think you move on from him. You don’t want to spend $26 million on him next year. I don’t know that I would want to do that anyway. I think if we are talking a guy who wins a playoff game, that is going to be hard to move on from.”

Paulsen: “I don’t think there is any doubt Taylor is going to be back here with some type of extension. The question is, is he your long-term answer? I think both of us would say, probably not.”

“I do think there is some merit to finding guys in the second and third rounds with upside talent. Taylor has all the intangible things you want. But if you were to get a guy and insulate him in this offense. Grow him up in the offense much like the Steelers did with Ben Roethlisberger or Baltimore did with Joe Flacco even Russell Wilson in Seattle.”

“I think Heinicke should be back; he deserves to be back. I think there is no question about that. I don’t think he is the starter for this team.”

“If the ultimate goal is to get to a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl, which I think it is for you and I and a lot of fans and the coaches here, then something definitely needs to change. You need to be able to deploy and embrace a passing attack a little bit more to be successful.”

For the second half of the answering the question, click the link above,

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Commanders waiver claims: The one time they struck gold

Washington has struck gold with waivers before. Could it happen again with either of the new cornerbacks?

What benefit will the Commanders receive from claiming two cornerbacks off of waivers last week?

Yes, the reality is both Rachad Wildgoose and Tariq Castro-Fields were not valued as the top 53 players on their respective teams. Consequently, Wildgoose was let go by the Jets and Castro-Fields by the 49ers.

Did you notice head coach Ron Rivera looked to GM Martin Mayhew while admitting, “I think he’s (Wildgoose) a second-year player from the Jets,” and Mayhew confirmed that was correct.

It illustrates the league has too many players out there for a head coach to know everyone available. This is why you hire scouts and rely on Mayhew and Marty Hurney. One man cannot do it all, nor should he attempt to.

Mayhew himself was a good corner in the NFL with Washington (1989-92) and Tampa Bay (1993-96). You don’t last in the NFL eight seasons (starting the vast majority of your games) unless you know much about the position and are a great athlete.

Mayhew spoke highly of Washington’s new corners. After all, would anyone else in the organization know as much about what it takes to play corner as Mayhew?

Most of the time you claim a player off waivers, and he reminds you why he was on waivers. But then there are times the guy was maturing and blossomed when provided another opportunity.

Such was the case when Washington drafted an offensive tackle in the 11th round (272 overall). It didn’t work out, he went to Kansas City, but they waived him a month later.

The next season the Cowboys claimed him, but he didn’t impress enough there either and was waived during the preseason. The very next day Washington claimed him off waivers, hoping it would work for him the second time around. 28 days later, they again waived him.

Thinking he could play, they tried again a third season. He broke through, making the roster, even starting 7 games. His fourth season he started every game, playing well enough he started at right tackle for 12 consecutive seasons.

When he retired he had played in 156 games (all for Washington) starting 146. He had become good enough to be the starting right tackle for 6 Redskins playoff teams, 2 Super Bowl teams and 1 Super Bowl championship team.

He deservedly became an original member of “The Hogs,” and the Washington football organization does not regret having claimed George Starke off of waivers.

 

Eric Stokes enjoying learning with the Commanders

Washington’s senior director of player personnel Eric Stokes spoke to the media Wednesday, and he’s been a fan of Armani Rogers for a while.

Eric Stokes, senior director of player personnel for the Washington Commanders, spoke with the media Wednesday.

“I’ve been assistant director. I’ve been college director. I’ve been assistant GM. Obviously working day to day with Coach [Rivera], I get a better sense of our overall coaching staff. You just kind of get a better sense of how everything kind of comes together and operates.”

Stokes was asked what he got from the Front Office Accelerator program.

“I’m really excited about where the direction of that program’s headed. It really gave us some really good insight in terms of having some of the one-on-one communication and dialogue with the owners around the league.”

Stokes spoke highly of others in the Commanders organization with whom he has had the privilege of working.

“Tim Gribble’s done an outstanding job as our director of college scouting. Always excited to work with him. I really kind of joke to both Marty [Hurney] and Martin [Mayhew] that he’s really kind of one of the glue guys of our group. I’ve been with five different organizations, nine GMs, seven different head coaches.”

When asked about rookie tight end Armani Rogers who is converting from a college quarterback, Stokes said, “You’re gonna laugh, but this is almost a three-year process because both Marty [Hurney] and I actually saw him initially at UNLV when he was a quarterback. But you could see that he, necessarily, wasn’t gonna be a quarterback. It was too far away to see what he could actually evolve into. To predict that he would end up being a tight end, I can’t tell you that I would’ve saw that because really you have to give that to Armani. I mean, what he did is quite frankly remarkable. I can’t say that I’ve really ever seen anything move at this type of pace and that’s why I’m so excited about where he’s going.”

“I mean, that’s the beauty of the situation every day I have an opportunity to sit back and learn from two guys (Mayhew and Hurney) that have been there and have done it. I just appreciate both those men so much. They’re so humble. They’re so transparent.”

He talked of how he has been learning the last 24 hours with cuts, signings, and practice squad matters.

“Look, there’s a lot of moving parts to what’s taking place. There’s a lot of unknowns or a lot of things that we may not have answers to right away. Chris [Polian] our director of pro personnel’s done a great job of leading our pro personnel department and really getting everything prepared in terms of all the different possibilities.”

When asked what Stokes is responsible to do during the week, he responded, “When I get back on Monday after the games, it’s all about evaluating from within and just kind of seeing where we are seeing injuries, just kind of checking to see if there’s anything that we need to do in terms of transaction, bringing guys in for workouts. I’m working collaboratively with Chris [Polian] just kind of getting an idea of an emergency list.”

Stokes was drafted out of Nebraska by the Seattle Seahawks in the 5th round (142) in the 1997 NFL Draft. He relayed how he received a call from his agent informing him Seattle had included Stokes on the expansion draft list. Consequently, he was drafted by the Browns. Stokes said he loved Seattle, and his girlfriend at the time said to him, ‘Well, we’re gonna have to get married here if you’re gonna send me off to Cleveland’.”