Tag: K Austin Seibert

Adam Peters continues strengthening Commanders

Adam Peters continues to make all the right moves.

On Wednesday, in his press conference, Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters said, on more than one occasion, that he wanted to do what was good for the team.

Who could dare argue that Peters has done a fantastic job of repeatedly addressing the roster and seeing what changes he can make that are good for the team?

When hired, David Aldridge of The Athletic asked Peters what he thought of the roster. Peters didn’t reply immediately. He paused, took a breath, and replied that there were a few cornerstone pieces to the roster, and he had a lot of work to do.

And work is what Peters has done. He did not tweak Ron Rivera’s roster. Peters overhauled Rivera’s roster. After training camp, when the roster was reduced to 53, 30 were those brought in by Peters since taking the job.


Rather than being satisfied with his efforts,  Peters immediately returned to the driver’s seat and made quite a few decisions in the next week. He signed receiver Noah Brown (cut by the Texans), traded defensive tackle John Ridgeway to the Saints, signed linebacker Nick Bellore (released by the Seahawks), re-signed tackle Sam Cosmi to a four-year contract, and released receiver Byron Pringle; these all before the opener.

Once the season began, Peters released kicker Cade York, but the Jets released kicker Austin Seibert, so Peters quickly grabbed Seibert.

A few weeks later, veteran DT Jonathan Allen was lost for the season, and DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste was placed on injured reserve for at least four weeks. Well, the Jets had just released DE Jalyn Holmes. Instead of promoting a DE from the practice squad, Peters felt that the best thing for the team was to sign Holmes to the active roster. Holmes played only 11 defensive snaps against the Bears, but one of those, he had a quarterback sack.

Two weeks ago, Peters released Jamin Davis, a first-round draft choice by Rivera in 2021. This week, he traded for veteran Saints corner Marshon Lattimore and released DE Efe Obada, making room for Lattimore.

On Wednesday, Peters released WR Mike Strachan. Why? With DE Clelin Ferrell’s knee still not 100%, Peters brought back Obada to the practice squad, doing what he thinks strengthens the Commanders.

When they last met: Commanders and Giants

What happened the last time these rivals met?

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Washington 21, NY Giants 18 – Week 2, September 15, 2024

Austin Seibert, playing in his first NFL game of 2024, successfully kicked seven field goals, the last of which gave the Commanders a walk-off 21-18 victory over the New York Giants in Landover, Maryland.

GM Adam Peters claimed Seibert after Washington released kicker Cade York.

On the other side of the field, the Giants lost their kicker, Graham Gano, which resulted in the Giants attempting two-point conversions twice but missing both of them.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels was spectacular over most of the field, completing 23 of his 29 passing attempts for 226 yards and no interceptions. However, Daniels was sacked five times, and the Commanders never reached the end zone.

Instead, Seibert was called upon and came through with field goals from 27, 45 and 26 yards in the first half, keeping Washington close to the Giants, as they trailed only 12-9.

Seibert tied the game in the third quarter with a field goal from 27 yards. He then gave the Commanders a 15-12 lead, connecting from 29 yards with 2:47 remaining in the quarter.

In the final quarter, trailing 18-15, the Commanders got into position, allowing Seibert to tie the score from 33 yards with 7:12 remaining.

When the Giants turned the ball over on downs, Daniels drove the Commanders down the field one last time, and Seifert’s 30-yard field goal as time expired, gave Washington their first victory of 2024, evening their record at 1-1.

While Daniels manufactured a 99.1 passer rating, Brian Robinson churned up 133 rushing yards on his 17 rushing attempts, and Zach Ertz led the Commanders with 62 receiving yards on his four receptions. Washington moved the ball so well all day that punter Tress Way was never needed to punt.

Quick facts from Commanders’ 18-15 win over the Bears

Some quick facts from Commanders’ win over Bears.

The Commanders were entirely outplayed in the final quarter, gave up the lead, and yet won with a final Hail Mary to beat the Bears 18-15 at Northwest Stadium.

Here are some of the quick facts from the sixth win of the Commanders’ season:

  • Jayden Daniels said it was his very first Hail Mary to win a game…ever!
  • Terry McLaurin today passed Ricky Sanders for seventh place in franchise receptions.
  • Daron Payne recorded his first solo sack of the season.
  • The Commanders went 59:57 seconds before scoring their only touchdown today, scoring on the game’s final play.
  • The Commanders outgained the Bears 481-307.
  • The Commanders, in the final quarter, surrendered drives of 84 yards (but the Bears bailed them out by fumbling on the exchange) and then 62 yards for what appeared to be the winning touchdown by the Bears.
  • P Tress Way has achieved his 280th career punt to be inside the 20-yard line. Way is second in the NFL.
  • Jayden Daniels had 313 passing yards compared to only 111 for Caleb Williams.
  • The Commanders have not lost a game at “Northwest Stadium” (4-0).
  • DT Johnny Newton recorded his first NFL quarterback sack and first recovered fumble today.
  • 1997 was the last time the Commanders had held two consecutive opponents scoreless in the first half (Weeks 10 and 11).
  • Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’s three first-half completions for 33 yards were his fewest for any half thus far in 2024.
  • The Commanders are 6-2 for the first time since 2008. That team collapsed, finishing 8-8.
  • K Austin Seibert passed Mark Mosely’s franchise record of 81 points scored through eight games, which he accomplished in the 1983 season. Remember, Seibert did not play in the first game of this season.
  • Austin Seibert made his first four field goal attempts before missing his fifth attempt, (connecting with the ground slightly before his foot struck the ball).

Dan Quinn relieved the Commanders found a kicker

Quinn talks going from looking for a kicker to giving Austin Seibert a game ball in less than a week.

Dan Quinn has coached two Commanders’ regular-season games and is already on his fifth kicker.

Appearing on the “Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday morning, Eisen asked Quinn, “When you signed your kicker last Tuesday, did you think you would be giving him a game ball five days later?”

“Hell no!” Fired back Quinn, laughing in amazement.

“I wanted to make sure that we were just constantly supporting him. We have a fantastic snapper and holder that work with him in Tyler Ott and Tress Way. They gave him a great chance to come in and do well.”

“We’re really pumped. He came through in the biggest of ways, including a game-winner. So, a remarkable first game as a Commander.”

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1835411403395510350

“Is that your first game coaching ever with seven field goals?’, asked Eisen.

“Absolutely. It was actually a franchise record with six. But we joked maybe Austin wanted to put a little distance between himself and somebody else, so he nailed seven.”

Oh, the kickers who have been Commanders in such a short time for Dan Quinn. The Commanders opened the regular season with Cade York, whom they had acquired from the Browns for a conditional draft pick. He didn’t meet the conditions, so he was released after the opening week loss to Tampa Bay.

Having played the Jets in the preseason opener, Austin Seibert did a fine job kicking, so when he was released, GM Adam Peters quickly grabbed him before anyone else could, preparing for their Week 2 games.

Riley Patterson wasn’t performing up to expectations, so he was released on August 22. Before York and Patterson, the Commanders had signed and given some preseason experience to Ramiz Ahmed before releasing him on August 13.

Of course, all of this came about because veteran Brandon McManus, the guy Washington expected to be its kicker in 2024, had been signed, participated in workouts, and never informed the Commanders of his impending legal charges. So, they released him on June 2.

Dan Quinn quotes Bill Belichick in preparation for Week 3 vs. Bengals

Dan Quinn quotes the great Bill Belichick in preparation for Week 3.

Dan Quinn is an intense man and a fierce coach; however, he has also displayed a sense of humor.

Sunday, following the Commanders’ 21-18 walk-off win over the New York Giants, a local reporter commented to Quinn that kicker Austin Seibert had been signed the day following the season-opening loss in Tampa.

She then asked Quinn, “Had you seen him before?” Quinn was kind, simply replying humorously, “Yes, and you have, too.” After a brief pause, he smiled and continued, “New York Jets.”

Indeed, Seibert had kicked in the pre-season opener against the Commanders. Quinn could have embarrassed her in front of the others. There have been coaches who have done such a thing. But Quinn did not, trying to smile and gently remind her she had also seen Seibert in the Week 1 preseason game.

On Monday, Quinn made a few introductory comments, as he often does, before opening the floor for reporters’ questions. Quinn said the Commanders will learn from their mistakes and, as a result, improve during the season.

Quinn then had some fun, indirectly referring to another famous NFL press conference moment when he declared, “We’re definitely on to Cincinnati.”

He could have said that the coaches and team must focus on their next opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals. Though factually accurate because the Commanders do travel in Week 3 for a Monday Night Football contest against the Bengals, Quinn decided to go tongue-in-cheek and quote the great Bill Belichick.

For those unaware, it was Oct. 5, 2014. The Kansas City Chiefs had just handed it to the New England Patriots. Belichick’s Patriots were so manhandled that Belichick had taken Tom Brady out of the game.

When a much younger Albert Breer asked Belichick about the Patriots not being accustomed to such a beating, Belichick responded, “Yeah, but we’re on to Cincinnati.”

A follow-up came, and Belichick interrupted, “We are on to Cincinnati.” A third attempt, another interruption: “We’re on to Cincinnati. It’s nothing about the past. It’s nothing about the future. Right now, we are preparing for Cincinnati.”

A fourth follow-up began. Again, Belichick interrupted, “We’re getting ready for Cincinnati. That’s what we’re doing.”

When a fifth attempt was made, again Belichick interrupted, “We’re gonna game plan, do the best we can, ready to go Sunday night, same as we always do. Nothing’s changed.

So notice Quinn, Monday, not simply, “We’re on to Cincinnati.” No, Quinn added, “We’re definitely on to Cincinnati.”

Dan Quinn can be fun, and as long as this team wins and brings him joy, we are likely to see more of that humor from Quinn.

 

Kingsbury made good calls on final drive, leading to Commanders win over Giants

A great final drive from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Last week, Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he made one of the worst play calls in his career. Today, he made three good ones on the final possession, leading to a 21-18 Commanders win.

The Commanders were extremely fortunate to even have the opportunity for Kingsbury to make the much better play calls.

You see, the Giants had the ball 4th & 4 at the Commanders 22-yard line, with the game tied 18-18. However, their kicker Graham Gano had injured a hamstring and was unable to come out and kick what for him would be an almost automatic 39-yard field goal.

So, the Giants were forced to go for the first down. Daniel Jones rolled right and found Malik Nabers along the sideline. Perhaps Nabors was worried about getting his feet down because he dropped what would have been a first down. The Giants were now unable to run down the clock. The Commanders would have an opportunity to score themselves.

First, Kingsbury had Noah Brown in the game. Brown has more experience than several Commanders receivers not named Terry McLaurin. Brown ran a great route, was wide open, and Jayden Daniels found him for a huge 34-yard gain to the Giants’ 43.

https://Twitter.com/Tiller56/status/1835408952085082341

Kingsbury called Brian Robinson’s number on 2nd & 2 at the Giants’ 35, resulting in an 11-yard gain and a first down at the Giants’ 24, forcing the Giants to call timeout with 57 seconds remaining.

https://Twitter.com/Tiller56/status/1835409551186968839

Surely, the call would be for another Robinson run. New York Giant defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux certainly thought so. As Daniels put the ball in Robinson’s belly, Thibodeaux came crashing down from his left defensive end position to hit Robinson for a tackle for a loss.

However, the call was for a zone-read option, and Daniels kept the ball and scooted outside through the area vacated by Thibodeaux, picked up a block from tight end Zach Ertz, gaining 14 yards to the Giants’ 10.

https://Twitter.com/Tiller56/status/1835409858180403295

The zone-read call enabled Austin Seibert to kick a 30-yard game-winner rather than attempt a more difficult kick over 40 yards. Seibert made the kick, Kingsbury made three good calls on the final possession, and the Commanders and Dan Quinn had their first win of 2024.

It was also the first time the Commanders had beaten the Giants in Landover since Kirk Cousins was the quarterback in 2017.

Commanders announce two new roster moves

The Commanders officially add a new kicker and sign an interesting prospect to the practice squad.

Tuesday, the Washington Commanders made one expected move and signed a local college project.

As expected, the Commanders, after releasing kicker Cade York, officially signed kicker Austin Seibert to the active roster.

Tress Way will love this move, as Seibert and Way both played for the Oklahoma Sooners. Seibert scored 499 points in his college career, an NCAA record at the time. The Browns used a fifth-round pick on Seibert in the 2019 draft, while Way went undrafted and signed with Washington after being released by the Bears in 2014.

York missed both field goal attempts in a Week 1 road loss to the Tampa Bay Bucs. In addition, York also erred, sending a kickoff out of bounds. He had come to the Commanders via a conditional draft pick if he performed well enough to be on the Commanders roster for two games. Thus, Adam Peters made the move, releasing York on Monday, retaining the draft selection.

Astute Commanders fans will recall Seibert kicking for the Jets in this season’s preseason opener. He has played in 31 games in five NFL seasons, making 80.4% of 56 field goal attempts and 90.3% of his extra points.

“I think it just really goes to show we have really high standards,” head coach Dan Quinn said during his Monday press conference. “That’s kind of where we’re at to say, ‘Hey, we’re knocking back off of this’…not one time to keep attacking and finding ways to go get better.”

Seibert has already been around the NFL block a couple of times, kicking for the Browns (2019-20), Bengals (2020), Lions (2021-22) and the Jets (2023). Here are his complete NFL stats.

Tuesday, the Commanders also added rookie offensive tackle Anim Dankwah to the practice squad. The 6-foot-8, 353-pound tackle was a First-Team All-MEAC tackle while playing for Howard University. Initially, Dankwah was an undrafted free agent of the Philadelphia Eagles.