John Keim Podcast – Syndication Server

Voice of Commanders remembers how driven legendary Washington coach Joe Gibbs was

The voice of the Commanders discusses the legendary Joe Gibbs.

Bram Weinstein grew up in the DMV, a big Washington Redskins fan.

Weinstein told John Keim of Ampire Media this week of how he grew up attending games at RFK Stadium, home of the Redskins, and they were one of the three or four best teams in the NFL many seasons.

Joe Gibbs coached Washington from the 1981-1992 seasons, leading them to five NFC Title games, four Super Bowls and winning three Super Bowl championships.

So, when Gibbs returned to coach the Redskins in the 2004 season, there was Weinstein, then an adult, a graduate of American University, and a reporter doing his job covering the Redskins.

Weinstein found Gibbs “to be a genuinely nice person, very giving with his time, with the exception on Fridays, when he turned into ‘Friday Joe.’ The game face came on.”

“He was extremely generous with his time Monday through Thursday then Friday would come along. It was like a light bulb went off. It was like he was ready to go into the ring. He became very short and didn’t have time for you anymore. He was just ready to go, and you could see the competitive nature.”

Weinstein also notes that Gibbs was very good at getting to know the people in the media and giving them some time to do their jobs. However, when it was time to double down and just work, he says, Gibbs took it as seriously as anyone I ever saw. You saw the competitive fire literally come out of him.”

During Gibbs’ second tenure, Weinstein says, “You could see why it burned him out the first time. It meant so much; his emotions went to such a place the results ate at him.”

Indeed in nine of his twelve seasons in his 1.0 tenure, the Redskins won over .600 of their games. In those twelve seasons, only one was a losing season, and that was a 7-9 1988 season.

“That’s who he was, and that’s probably why he was so successful. He knew how to handle personalities, how to delegate authority, knew how to motivate. When Sundays rolled around, it was dead serious to him.”

“I think that is why these guys played for him the way they did, the two times they played for him.”

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels and Joe Theismann both took the lead

Jayden Daniels has been praised for his leadership qualities, like another former Washington QB.

Recently drafted Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels would probably enjoy learning about the quarterback leadership provided by Joe Theismann.

After only two regular season games in 1982, the NFL player’s strike began. The players vowed together to withhold their services and did for 57 days.

The then Redskins were 2-0, and Joe Theismann, Washington’s starting quarterback, rather than simply sit out on strike, had the foresight to call up teammates and arrange team workouts. Why wait until the strike concluded? “We wanted to be ready when it happened,” said Theismann.

Art Monk has stated that it was Theismann who was the leader, “who orchestrated everything” as the team would work out at local fields, unable to use their Redskins practice facility.

“When the season started back up, we just kept rolling, and it was because of Joe’s leadership,” recalled then Redskins kicker Mark Moseley. “I think that is when the players really started to rally around Joe as their leader, the catalyst who was going to take us to where we were going.”

Where they were going was an 8-1 regular season, an NFC championship with playoff wins over the Lions, Vikings, and Cowboys, and a Super Bowl XVII championship win over the Dolphins.

Theismann, with Washington beginning in the 1974 season, had not been an elite NFL quarterback. Nor had he been voted a Pro Bowler. But leading as he did in the 1982 season, he was a Pro Bowler and the unquestioned leader of the Super Bowl champs. The next season he was again a Pro Bowler, even more an All-Pro, and the Associated Press MVP of the NFC champion Redskins.

What does this have to do with Jayden Daniels?

Soon after Daniels was drafted, he told former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen he needed to work to get better. So many rookies are clueless, thinking that because they were successful in college, they will be successful in the NFL. Most of them have rarely thought about the fact that roughly 200 colleges play college football, and there are only 32 NFL teams.

Daniels really improved while at LSU, and it was not all because of his physical ability. Commanders fans will love to hear that John Keim reported following the draft that Daniels was on the plane already beginning his study of the Commanders’ playbook.

While at LSU, Daniels did not rely solely on his talent. He was a team leader, organizing some 5 a.m. workouts with players.

As Keim pointed out to Paulsen, other players who might not have wanted to, showed up as well, following Daniels’ leadership.

Paulsen responded, “I want my quarterback to have that ability to engage with his teammates.” Daniels admitted to Paulsen that it was not easy. Initially, there were, understandably, players who did not want to be there by 5 a.m., but Daniels had the ability to persuade them, leading them by example.

Paulsen is convinced that Daniels was drafted by Washington not only because he is a great runner but also because he is an accurate passer. Paulsen firmly believes Daniels was chosen because he was a leader at LSU.

Like Theismann, Daniels may have begun to learn that leaders don’t just give orders. No, leaders make the sacrifices to get out front and lead.

Who knows, perhaps he will have the opportunity to learn a thing or two about leadership from Theismann himself.

ESPN analyst examines Commanders 2023 draft selections

Analysis of each of Washington’s seven selections.

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John Keim sat down and chatted with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid recently.

Reid gave his thoughts on the Commanders’ recent draft in how it might help their personnel.

1st Round (16 overall) Emmanuel Forbes

“We knew they had to corner, somehow, someway and they addressed it really early. I think they really needed to get a player who could get them some turnovers because that’s what they lacked last year. You know walking through the door Forbes is going to help you with your turnover production.”

2nd Round (47 overall) Jartavius (Quan) Martin

“I thought he was a home run selection for them. He was one of my favorite prospects because he satisfies so many needs in a secondary… so many hats he can wear.”

3rd Round (97 overall) Ricky Stromberg

“He has a ton of experience; a five-year player at Arkansas. If it were me, I’d put him out there Week 1 as the starter, I think that highly of him.”

4th Round (118 overall) Braeden Daniels

“I think his athleticism can be on display. I thought he was more consistent at guard. His tape was up and down at tackle.

5th Round (137 overall) K.J. Henry

“A young developmental piece that doesn’t have a super-high ceiling but can come in and play 10 to 12 reps a game that you feel good about. I think he can help you walking through the door.”

6th Round (193 overall) Chris Rodriguez Jr

“A bigger back you can run between the tackles. You don’t really want to run him on the perimeter a ton because he is more of that ‘downhill get those tough yards’ type of player.”

7th Round (233 overall) Andre Jones

“A true pass rusher which is something they need. You’re just taking a flyer on players that late. Athletic, you are hoping you can get something out of them. Maybe he is a Practice Squad guy where you can hope to stash and develop him.”