Tag: James Smith-Williams improving

Commanders rule out St-Juste and Milne vs. Falcons

Losing Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday creates two big openings for the Commanders. How will they replace them?

Friday was a not a good news day for the Washington Commanders.

The team ruled out both Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Naturally, the first thought that comes to mind is the size of Falcons receiver Drake London. St-Juste certainly has the most size and best range of any of the Commanders defensive backs. The loss of St-Juste against the Falcons should not be minimized.

Of note, the team elevated corner Danny Johnson from the practice squad on Oct. 24 and Johnson has seen action in each game from Weeks 8-11. Johnson only played two defensive snaps against the Colts and none against the Eagles. However, he was in on 50 defensive snaps against the Vikings and 11 last week in Houston. So, Johnson is the likely candidate to see more action against the Falcons.

Corner Rachad Wildgoose has not seen action on defense since the Colts game and rookie corner Christian Holmes has seen only special teams action this year, with the lone exception being six snaps on defense against the Eagles in Week 3.

Washington does have three other defensive backs on their practice squad, were they to determine to elevate one up to the roster this week. Corn Elder has seen regular season action with the Panthers (2018-20) and last season with Washington. Texas Tech rookie Damarcus Fields saw action for the Saints on special teams in two games earlier this season and was signed to the Commanders’ practice squad on Oct. 26.

Troy Apke was released from the practice squad, but brought back to the squad this season and has the most regular-season game experience of those available to be elevated to the roster.

With Milne being out Sunday, possibly rookie Jahan Dotson will be called upon to return punts. Dotson started out quite well, with four receiving touchdowns in the first four games, but pulled a hamstring and missed the next five consecutive games.

The Commanders did receive some good news Friday. Defensive end James Smith-Williams who is producing his finest year thus far in 2022, had been out of practice with an illness, but he returned Friday and is expected to play against the Falcons.

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Commanders midseason grades: Defensive line

Washington’s defensive line deserves an “A” so far in 2022.

The Commanders defensive line has certainly been the leading group through the first nine weeks of the 2022 season.

Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne are “taking care of business” leading the defense.

Allen is third in the NFL through nine weeks in tackles for a loss (11). Payne is right on Allen’s heels, only trailing by one with 10.  Defensive end Montez Sweat has contributed 6 tackles for loss in these first 9 games of the season.

Payne lead the team with 5.5 QB sacks, with Allen second, with 4.5 sacks. Sweat is second only in QB hits (19) to the 49ers Nick Bosa (20). Payne has provided plenty of QB hits (13) coming from the inside. Allen continues to bring heat as well with 11 QB hits.

What may really surprise readers is that reserve defensive end James Smith-Williams has contributed 12 QB hits, and this in only 8 games, having played on 55.2 percent of defensive snaps. Efe Obada another reserve lineman, has contributed 7 QB hits.

The run defense has been solid, now ranking No. 2 in the NFL per Football Outsiders DVOA metric. For instance, Dalvin Cook, one of the more elusive runners in the NFL was held Sunday by the Commanders to a mere 47 yards in 17 carries (2.8). The Vikings were No. 4 in rushing offense per Football Outsiders DVOA.

And Washington is expected to get defensive Chase Young back — as soon as this week.

Grade: A

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Del Rio has the Commanders defense trending upward

The stats confirm that Washington’s defense is good — really good.

Have you noticed the Commanders defense trending upward?

Following losses to Detroit and Philadelphia many in the Commanders fan base cried out that the Commanders defensive coordinator had to go.

Del Rio had actually named Jamin Davis as someone who could play better, and that didn’t go over well with the fan base. Del Rio also this year talked of last season having some players who performed like they were individual contractors rather than teammates playing together as a unit defensively.

The Commanders third-down defense is allowing only 32.8% conversions, up from 31st in 2021 to 3rd after nine games and they are bringing pressure, tied for 10th in sacks with 23 sacks.

Del Rio indeed has his defense improving, yielding 217.4 passing yards per game, which is 18th in the NFL. The rushing defense is also on the rise, tied for 12th, yielding 4.4 yards per rushing attempt. They are also at No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense per the Football Outsiders DVOA metric.

Keep in mind this reforming and progression defensively has occurred without the second overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft, defensive end Chase Young.

Did you know Jonathan Allen is third in the NFL in tackles for a loss (11)? In addition, Daron Payne is right behind Allen with 10. Montez Sweat is second in the NFL with 19 QB hits. Payne, James Smith-Williams and Allen have also produced 13, 12 and 11 QB hits respectively.

The offense is not significantly better with Taylor Heinicke. Though Heinicke has more mobility than Wentz, it’s not a matter of Wentz being bad and Heinicke being good. No, they both have their struggles and limitations.

The offensive line continues to struggle in pass protection, regardless of the quarterback. In addition, we’ve not seen the line control portions of games via the running game like we did during a four-game winning streak in 2021.

How much is Del Rio’s defense carrying this team? Well, did you realize the punter who has been forced to punt the most times in the NFL through nine weeks is Tress Way?

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