What everyone said after the Commanders’ loss to Steelers

A collection of quotes from Commanders, Steelers and analysts following Sunday’s game.

Though the Commanders led by ten points in the second half, they lost 28-27 to the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday at Northwest Stadium.

Here is a collection of post-game quotes from players, analysts, coaches and media personalities.

Jayden Daniels

“Yeah, it’s not, it’s not all on him (Newton). That’s what everybody’s gonna see, just that one big play. But it’s not all on him, and we’re all together. No matter what people outside the building are saying, are thinking, man, it doesn’t matter. What matters is what’s in the building and how we love each other, how we support each other. We have each other’s backs.”

“I mean, I don’t like losing, so I don’t want to feel like this, this feeling. I don’t want to have losses, you know, competitive. I want to win in everything I step foot in and I put my mind to so I wouldn’t say it’s any motivation. Just like, ‘man, how can I go back to work and kind of get this feeling in my system.’ When I win, I want to keep winning. When we lose, I don’t want to lose. I want to win again.”

Mitchell Tischler

“It’s ok to be frustrated by the play but the personal attacks at BSJ are uncalled for, he’s been nothing less than respectable and accountable and while wins and losses matter, how you handle it matters too.”

“Veteran QB > Rookie D-Linemen … pretty emblematic of a mistake-filled game for the Commanders.”

“Zach Ertz has been in this league for too long to not run that route to the first down line … looks super close, hope review overturns it.”

Benjamin St-Juste

Sometimes I get caught up in trying to make the play so much that I try to guard everything. In those situations, you’ve got to pick and choose, and you’ve got to pick the right option.”

John Keim

According to TruMedia, Pittsburgh sent five or more rushers on 19 snaps, a season high. The previous high was 11 vs. the Giants last week. Daniels was 7-16 in those situations. Three sacks.

“An absolute dime from Wilson to Williams. Yes, Washington could have used Lattimore today.

“Washington proved it can hang, but man they left too much out there. Some definite missed chances on O. The miss to McCaffrey was huge.

“No magical ending. No moral victories. But this team is right there. And reinforcements soon.”

Dan Quinn

“The missed opportunities sting the most.”

“I said that this is a 24 hour rule and so we got 24 hours. By the time we get in for tomorrow afternoon, we’ve got to clear it and we’ve got to go. And so we hadn’t talked a lot about next week the previous week. They know what’s ahead and we’ll be prepared for that.”

“I said I love what they stand for, for one another. And I don’t know if I learned that, but it was confirmed again, and so I was hurting for them. That locker room’s hurting, but there’s also these lessons that we have to apply to know that we do have to learn from them and go on and this just happens to be that lesson comes back quickly, as we get into our next game.”

“I would hope that the missed opportunities are the lesson to apply because I thought it was just maybe a little uncharacteristic. I thought maybe a few drops, maybe a few plays that weren’t quite like us. I love that we are in this kind of fight. These are the kind of ones that you need to build some resilience and some resolve, but we are establishing that kind of toughness and identity that we want to be about.”

Sam Cosmi

“I have so much faith in this team…There’s nothing more that I want to do than to beat Philly,[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media] so they’re going to have a pretty pissed team on their hands.”

Craig Hoffman

“That play is why you trade for Lattimore. In a must-have man-to-man situation, they know they needed better guys in coverage. Unfortunately he’s not ready yet. Mike Williams, PIT’s addition, was.”

Mike Tomlin

“Man, be real slow comparing people to Lamar Jackson. That’s a multi-time MVP. That’s Mr. Jackson. We’ll see Mr. Jackson in a few days.”

Commanders OL continues to have some question marks

The final two preseason games are huge for several offensive linemen.

Two weeks ago all the word out of Ashburn was so positive regarding Brandon Coleman.

Coleman had been taking reps at right tackle and left tackle. He was moving better than any of the tackles on the current roster. Everything was said to be going well for him.

Commanders fans were excited, and word was spreading that the Commanders had found their franchise quarterback and franchise left tackle in Adam Peters’ first draft as Commanders general manager.

12 days later, however, offensive tackle has become again a position of uncertainty and concern.

Head coach Dan Quinn stated Coleman was day-to-day or week-to-week with a pectoral/shoulder issue. Coleman will most likely not see action in Miami this week.

As much as we would rather see him in the lineup, what’s more important is to allow Coleman to heal and be ready to get some good reps in preparation for the Sept. 8 season opener in Tampa.

The other four starting spots on the line are pretty much settled. Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, and Andrew Wylie are still probably upgrades from the 2023 season.

Going a bit further, if the Commanders were to keep nine or ten linemen, seven of the spots seem assured. In addition to the four mentioned above, there are Cornelius Lucas and Coleman at left tackle and then Michael Deiter, the top reserve inside lineman who has been getting the most reps at both guard and center.

This leaves two or three spots about which we can not yet be certain. Last year, we were told that Mason Brooks was really tough and aggressive and might develop nicely. Brooks was cut on Wednesday.

So, this week, watch for the play of reserves Ricky Stromberg (C/G), Julian Good-Jones (G), Chris Paul (G), and J.C. Hassenauer (G) and tackles Braeden Daniels, Trent Scott, Armani Taylor-Prioleau, and David Nwogwugwu.

The first Ron Rivera draft pick released by Commanders’ Dan Quinn

Others could soon follow.

On Wednesday, receiver Dax Milne became the first player Dan Quinn released who had been drafted by Ron Rivera.

Milne was actually the last player Rivera drafted in the 2021 class in the 7th round, No. 258 overall.

All eight of the 2020 Rivera draft class have already departed. Chase Young was traded to the 49ers last year. Antonio Gibson, Saahdiq Charles, Khaleke Hudson, Kam Curl, and James Smith-Williams were all allowed to look elsewhere for employment in the off-=season. Antonio Gandy-Golden played a grand total of ten NFL games, and Keith Ismael lasted two seasons in Washington.

Without question, the best player drafted by Rivera was guard Sam Cosmi. Others still around from that 2021 draft class are LB/DE Jamin Davis, CB Benjamin St-Juste, WR Dyami Brown, TE John Bates and S Darrick Forrest. Davis and Brown have largely been disappointments. Davis is being given some reps at defensive end by Quinn. If he does not shine in preseason, it’s very conceivable the 2021 first-round choice will not make the 53-man roster.

Of the 2022 Rivera draft class, only WR Jahan Dotson and RB Brian Robinson are guaranteed for the active roster. Sam Howell was traded, and Phidarian Mathis simply hasn’t been healthy enough to see the field. Percy Butler, Cole Turner, Chris Paul and Christian Holmes all need to prove themselves in preseason.

Finally, Rivera’s 2023 class only exhibited two players to produce last season (S Quan Martin and RB Chris Rodriguez). Both played hard and well on special teams and when given the opportunity at their respective positions.  Braeden Daniels looked like he was drafted entirely too early to play tackle last preseason. He has been taking some work at guard, and it may already be his last chance. C/G Ricky Stromberg was injured in 2023, while Andre Jones and KJ Henry watched Adam Peters sign multiple defensive ends.

This leaves the 2023 first-round selection, CB Emmanuel Forbes. Rivera raved about Forbes on draft day, even before selecting him. Forbes struggled horribly and says he has gained over 15 pounds in preparation for 2024.

How many former Rivera draft picks will make the Quinn 53-man roster?

Which Commanders/Rivera draft choices are in danger?

Which Ron Rivera draft picks could be in danger of not making the 53-man roster?

With a new coaching staff, new general manager and plenty of new free agent additions, which Commanders draft choices made by Ron Rivera are in danger of not making the 53-man roster?

Rivera’s drafts have proven to be largely ineffective. So, why would the new administration feel any obligation to hang on to anyone from a 4-13 team?

From Rivera’s 2023 draft class, clearly, Braeden Daniels needs to be impactful, or he is gone. In the 2023 training camp, Daniels proved he was not ready for the NFL and was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list.

Defensive back Quan Martin and running back Chris Rodriguez were the two most promising rookies during the 2023 regular season. First-round selection cornerback Emmanuel Forbes struggled tremendously, and third-round choice C/G Ricky Stromberg was injured, only playing in four games. Defensive ends Andre Jones and K.J. Henry also need to have good camps, with Henry having flashed more in 2023.

From the 2022 class, only Jahan Dotson and Brian Robinson are safe, while Sam Howell has already been traded. With the drafting of defensive tackle Johnnie Newton, are both Phidarian Mathis and John Ridgeway sure to make the roster? Mathis was a second-round choice in 2022, while Ridgeway was claimed from Dallas. Mathis has battled injuries keeping him off of the field, while Ridgeway has flashed more often than Mathis.

Defensive backs Percy Butler and Christian Holmes have both performed well on special teams, while tight end Cole Turner and guard Chris Paul have not produced as well as Rivera had sometimes proclaimed they would in their two years.

Guard Sam Cosmi (2021) appears to have become the best of the Rivera draft choices (2020-23), and tight end John Bates might be safe at tight end. However, 2024 is a must-year for linebacker/edge Jamin Davis, receiver Dyami Brown, corner Benjamin St-Juste, safety Darrick Forrest and receiver/returner Dax Milne.

Eight players were drafted in 2020 by Rivera, but heading into training camp in 2024, not a single of those players are still with the team.

Plain and simple: Adam Peters and Dan Quinn don’t owe anything to the players drafted by Rivera. So, why would it surprise any of us if several of the above players are cut during this upcoming preseason?