Tag: LB Bobby Wagner

Quick facts from Commanders’ 34-13 win over Browns

Several facts and stats from Commanders’ 34-13 win vs. Browns.

Here are several of today’s quick facts regarding the Commanders 34-13 win over the Cleveland Browns in Landover.

  • The Commanders won their fourth consecutive game Sunday, after losing the season opener. The last time Washington won four straight was in 2021, when Washington was 2-6, won four straight to go to 6-6.
  • With the win, the Commanders are 4-1 for the first time since the 2008 season. But that team fell apart, finishing 8-8.
  • No. 17 Terry McLaurin caught four passes for 112 yards today. It was the 17th game McLaurin has totaled at least 100 receiving yards.
  • With another rushing touchdown today, RB Jeremy McNichols has scored in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
  • With three touchdowns rushing today, Washington has now registered three rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
  • The Commanders’ defense held the Browns to 1-13 on third downs, while the Commanders were 8-17 on third downs.
  • Washington accumulated 434 total offensive yards, while the Browns only managed 212. The Commanders averaged 6.7 yards a play while limiting the Browns to 3.6 yards a play.
  • The Commanders are reporting that today QB Jayden Daniels has become the first player in NFL history to have had 1,000+ passing yards and 250+ rushing yards in their first five career games.
  • Scoring 34 points on Sunday, Washington has now scored 30+ points in three consecutive games for the eighth time in franchise history and the first time since 2005.
  • Terry McLaurin reached 400 NFL career receptions. McLaurin, Gary Clark and Satana Moss are the only receivers in franchise history to record 400+ receptions in their first 6 seasons with Washington.
  • Frankie Luvu had 7 tackles (4 solo) a fumble recovery, 2.5 sacks as the Commanders totaled 7 QB sacks. Others who had one were Bobby Wagner (1.5), while Jonathan Allen, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler each had one.

Quinn names game captains, provides Newton, Forbes injury updates

Quinn updates the Commanders’ injury situation ahead of Monday night. He also named the captains.

At his Saturday press conference, Dan Quinn announced the three captains for the Commanders’ game on Monday night.

Quinn announced the three captains will be receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, punter Tress Way and linebacker Bobby Wagner.

Zaccheaus signed as a free agent in the offseason. He plays with the Falcons (2019-22) and last played for the Eagles in 2023. The former Virginia Cavalier has played in two games this season for the Burgundy and Gold. He has four receptions for 29 yards and returned a punt against the Giants for 24 yards. Quinn Saturday spoke of how Zaccheaus is working hard, “chasing better and better.”

Wagner, a future Hall of Fame linebacker, Quinn said Saturday he really likes Wagner’s “consistency, dependability, if you need something, you look to Bobby. His tackling, his hitting will certainly be a presence this game.” Wagner leads the Commanders with 19 combined tackles, 9 assists and 4 tackles for a loss through two games.

Way is the longest-tenured Washington player, dating back to 2014. “The impact in our building goes way beyond being a great punter, and he has a real presence with our guys,” expressed Quinn. Way has punted three times, averaging 46.3 yards a punt, with 41.3 net yards per punt.

Quinn also spoke positively about rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Recovering from foot surgery after the draft, Newton missed the season opener but saw his first action last week against the Giants, playing 12 defensive snaps.

Quinn preached throughout Newton’s rehab and now returns that he was going to be patient with Newton throughout training camp, choosing to bring him along slowly and have him become more acclimated to the speed of the NFL.

Newton did not record a statistic during his 12 snaps last week, but Quinn said this week in the practices with Newton, “You felt the speed, you felt the movements. And we’re excited to get him more reps.”

Lastly, Emmanuel Forbes did get some practice reps on Saturday. Quinn said they will monitor him, and he could be available on Monday; however, Quinn added Forbes would be more likely to play the following week.

 

Which four Commanders fit DC Joe Whitt’s playing style?

Which four Commanders have stood out to DC Joe Whitt Jr?

“Last week was still not “the play style” that we are desiring.”

That was how Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr began very early in his Friday time with the press.

Whitt did counter that the Week 2 game against the Giants was better than the opener against the Bucs.

“Give credit to both teams we have played, but a lot of our third-down ills are mistakes that we are making on different levels.” He said some were corrected in the second week, but some were still not, and the Commanders will correct them.

Whitt acknowledges his defense has made some positive plays but is frustrated with the reality that the defense is not getting off the field enough. “We’re causing some negative plays on first and second downs, but we get to third downs and for one reason or another (pause). We’ve had five penalties on defense, all five have come on third down. That’s something that can’t happen.”

Whitt made it clear he is concerned about Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase, comparing him to Davonte Adams and alluding to a game in which Chase beat two double teams against the Cowboys.

It is no secret the cornerbacks have struggled. Whitt confirmed this Friday, saying, “We’re looking for the combination that’s going to give us the best chance…It will be a week-to-week deal throughout the defense of we think is going to give us the best opportunity to win the game we are about to face.”

When asked about Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne’s play, Whitt talked of rushing as a collective unit, staying in one’s rush lane being essential for all the defensive line.

Whitt later returned to “the play style,” pointing out Bobby Wagner, Frankie Luvu, Ben (St-Juste) and Quan (Martin), “Those four men have been playing the play style.”

He also praised safety Percy Butler for making some nice open-field tackles that were difficult.

Daron Payne says Commanders defense is hunting

Daron Payne couldn’t be more excited about the new defensive style/scheme.

Working in his seventh NFL training camp, Daron Payne really likes the up-tempo defense Dan Quinn is instructing.

“We are really working on just flying around and getting to the ball, hunting. That’s the main emphasis right now, just you want everybody hunting,” Payne told the media Sunday, following practice.

Payne has been very dependable for Washington, missing games only during the 2019 season due to injury. He missed seven that season and has played in every other single game for the Commanders.

“Coach Quinn is just letting us be explosive. Be explosive guys! Get after the quarterback, get after the run games.”

The former Alabama defensive tackle likes how Quinn is not allowing the defense to be as predictable as it was last year. “It definitely gives the offense something different to see. They won’t be able to scheme us up and just focus on what we do.” Payne said he likes the design calling for more games and movement from the defensive line.

Evidently, the defensive linemen are being called upon to do a lot of running early in this camp. “I usually stay around here and train (offseason), train hard. But like I said, with the new defense we have, they want us hunting so we got to be around the ball. They want us flying, so I feel like that’s just getting me in shape already.”

Payne, after six seasons has recorded 30.0 sacks and he likes what new defensive line coach Darryl Tapp is drilling in camp. “We just don’t come out here and just do things to waste time. He thinks about it and preps ahead and does things to get us in good shape and have good technique.”

There is a huge roster turnover this season and Payne pointed out Sunday he thinks the defensive players are already listening to the lead of linebacker Bobby Wagner. “He commands the huddle and we listen to him.”

The DMV is hoping the new personnel and new coaching staff results in at least a few more wins in 2024.

London Fletcher loves what Bobby Wagner brings to Commanders

London Fletcher is thrilled that Bobby Wagner is in Washington.

“Man, you talk about instant credibility.”

That is how London Fletcher responded this week, when asked on what he thinks Bobby Wagner brings to the Commanders.

Wagner played his college ball at Utah State and has been a six-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler.

It is no secret among Commanders nation (I’m still having trouble saying Commanders) that the linebacker play in recent years has been inadequate, meager, and weak.

“What a difference a year makes,” continued Fletcher. “Where our linebackers were last year, probably one of the worst (units) in the league, while this year number one by some people.”

Having played the position as well as he did and for as long as he did, Fletcher has great respect for Wagner’s accomplishments.

“Bobby is a future Hall of Famer, a perennial Pro Bowler, perennial All-Pro, he still brings play-making ability even at 34 years old. He reminds me of myself when I made the transition to DC. I was 32 years old when I signed with Washington.”

In 2012, Fletcher came to the Redskins as a proven, recognized, credentialed veteran in the league. He was going to be a leader on the field, and players were going to follow his lead. So, too, with Wagner, even if he is 34.

“Just bringing him in there first and foremost is for his leadership. He’s a great leader; he’s been on great defenses. He knows how to run the system that Dan Quinn wants to run.”

Quinn was the Seahawks defensive coordinator in the 2013 and 2014 seasons as Wagner began to shine in the NFL making All-Pro 1st team in 2014.

“But also, it’s one thing to be a leader. It’s another to also be able to make plays. He is still a high-level playmaker.”

Indeed, Wagner has led the NFL in tackles in 2016 (age 26), 2019 (age 29), and then, incredibly, with a career-high 183 combined tackles in 2023 at the age of 33.

Quinn is counting on Wagner’s leadership and disciplined approach to affect many of his new teammates. And if Wagner can have another good year at age 34, Quinn will be glad to take that as well.

PFF commends Commanders draft and roster overhaul

A mostly positive and realistic preview of the Commanders’ 2024 season.

Pro Football Focus provided their season preview Friday, of the Washington Commanders.

Sam Monson and Dalton Wasserman of PFF gave their evaluations. Here we go:

Monson began unfairly calling Dan Quinn “a retread head coach” and noted a “huge proportion of the roster was overhauled.” Quinn once won the NFC; how is he merely a retread?

Wasserman began much more optimistically. He thinks, “Dan Quinn is going to come in there and change things quickly. And for me, this was a monster draft class. This was actually my favorite draft class in the whole league…These are players all over the place who are really good college players…There’s probably no one in our building who hypes up Jayden Daniels more than I do.”

Not being shy about Daniels, Wasserman continued, “I look at him and go, that could be a down-the-line MVP caliber player…He, to me, is the full package. If Caleb (Williams) wasn’t sitting there, he would have been the number one pick pretty easily…I think he is every bit in the Rookie of the Year race as Caleb Williams or anybody else is.”

“I find Washington a really difficult team to project forward,” countered Monson. He pointed to the massive turnover on the entire roster and referred to the NFC East as “that weird division,” noting that no one has won the division in consecutive years in two decades.

“Overall I think you are right, Jayden Daniels could be really, really good. Their offensive line is still a bit of a concern for me. They still don’t have a great-looking one on paper.”

“I don’t think they will be where the Cowboys or Eagles are, but I think this could be a close division, maybe tighter than people are expecting it to be.”

Dalton echoed Monson regarding the offensive line, “I don’t think it is the worst line in the league. It could certainly be a concern, and offensive tackle especially is a spot where that could be a sore spot.”

Dalton likes Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu’s additions at linebacker but sees questions at defensive end and cornerback.

“If they hit on Johnny Newton and Mike Sainristil, you’ve got a seriously better base to work with.

So both guys see things looking up for the Commanders with the new staff and new overhauled roster.

Nothing has come easy for Commanders’ linebacker Frankie Luvu

Frankie Luvu’s path to Washington wasn’t an easy one.

Most undrafted players signing up for an NFL training camp don’t make it.

Joe Jacoby was undrafted in the class of 1981. Jacoby might still be voted into the Hall of Fame someday.

How about this current Commanders team? Did you know linebacker Frankie Luvu played at Washington State but went undrafted?

Yes, sometimes those undrafted players are driven. Their discipline carries them to places the experts felt they would never reach.

Luvu was signed by the Jets, undrafted in 2018. If that’s not enough, He was waived, then re-signed to the Jets practice squad and the active roster. Following the 2018 season, the Jets re-signed Luvu to another one-year deal, then once again waived him. But he played well enough in 2019 to get another one-year deal.

In 2020, the Jets offered a third consecutive one-year contract. Yet, when the season ended, the Jets did not offer Luvu a deal for a fourth season.

The Panthers signed him to a (you guessed it) one-year deal for 2021. Finally, the next season, Luvu was offered a two-year deal, playing again for the Panthers in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Enter Adam Peters and the Commanders. Peters offered Luvu a three-year deal to the 27-year-old veteran linebacker. Luvu is glad to be in Washington.

Luvu spoke Thursday with the media about the veterans really holding each other to a standard on the practice field. He feels like he and fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner are already communicating very well together.

Luvu likes what he sees from linebacker Jordan Magee a fifth-round choice (Temple). “He is picking it up real quick. He’s coming on a long way real quick, for a rookie. (He is) taking everything in early in camp. He’s just been a sponge, trying to pick our minds, me and Bobby. Looking forward to work with him the rest of the camp.”

Luvu has had to work for each contract. Nothing has come easy. He could be just what Jordan Magee needs to learn as a linebacker and a rookie trying to make it long-term in the NFL.

 

Commanders Darrick Forrest enjoying the 2024 offseason

Darrick Forrest thrilled with Washington’s new leadership on and off the field.

Darrick Forrest is thus far enjoying the 2024 offseason.

The Commanders safety, now heading into his fourth NFL season, talked briefly with the Team 980 afternoon host Craig Hoffman after a practice last week.

“It’s been great, getting to know the new coaching staff and learning the new defense”, said Forrest. “Just having fun, getting to know each other.”

To get to know each other, Forrest told Hoffman that they simply got into a room and talked with one another and went over presentations about our lives, and there was boot camp with military coaches, and then as position groups, they also interacted.

“It’s about growing together. If our brotherhood is strong, then I know nothing is going to be able to stop us.”

Hoffman asked Forrest if he could share something he had learned about one of his new teammates. Forrest responded that being around new Commanders safety Jeremy Chinn, has been enjoyable. “Just getting to know his personality, just getting to see his leadership. It’s just great getting to learn from guys that have been able to do it (in the NFL).”

Hoffman asked what Bobby Wagner was like on the field. Forrest responded, “If you could put a gold medal on the field, he’s a gold medal man. He communicates; he sees some things before they happen. And he can get everybody lined up where they need to be. The way he goes about things, they way he gets in here early, the way he takes care of his body, he gets here early in the morning. He goes throughout his day with a routine.”

With new coaches, come new schemes, new emphases. “Now I have a lot more roles, so I am going closer to the line of scrimmage. It’s really about learning the full defense. It’s about knowing how to communicate. I can’t come out here and BS because I know it like the back of my hand. I am still learning things as I am going.”

Forrest also expressed that he is learning from Frankie Luvu. Both Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu were veterans brought in this offseason, and according to everyone, the two linebackers are having a positive effect on the players.

 

Commanders rookie Jordan Magee understands opportunity in front of him

Rookie linebacker Jordan Magee excited about learning under Bobby Wagner.

It’s not how you start, but Commanders rookie Jordan Magee said all the right things last week.

Magee, drafted in round five (139) out of Temple, sat down with Bryan Colbert Jr. recently as Colbert continued to interview all the rookies drafted by the Commanders in April.

So often rookies talk about how much they are going to accomplish, but Magee seems to have an understanding that it is not going to be easy in the NFL.

“I am learning from one of the best coaching staffs in the entire NFL; I’m taking it all in but continuing to work hard.”

Back at home with family and close friends in Delaware, Magee received a phone call on Day 3 of the NFL draft. “All those people in that room played an important part in my life…to have them with me through that journey was priceless.”

His linebacker coach is Ken Norton Jr, and Magee is thankful. “I am happy to learn from him and pick his brain from what he has done over the years…what he was and what he’s continuing to bring to the game.”

Also, Magee has the opportunity to learn from fellow linebacker Bobby Wagner a future Hall of Famer. He spoke of learning aspects from Wagner like, “How do you take on a blocker, how do you learn this play, mindset things, technique things, things that helped him stay in the league a long time.”

Magee also doesn’t seem to over-evaluate himself. He didn’t expect to be drafted until Day 3, “I knew it was coming up soon, but the Commanders were the team with the least communication throughout the draft process, so it was crazy that they gave me that call and changed my life.”

Magee told Colbert that he was not highly recruited by the big football schools. When he arrived at Temple, he was the tenth linebacker on their depth chart.

He expressed that he knows he will be learning and making mistakes, but he understands he must give 100 percent effort to fly around making plays.

When asked about his goals, it was refreshing to hear his response. “I haven’t done anything yet. I haven’t made the 53-man roster…help the team out wherever they need it, like special teams. I love special teams.”

The rookie seems to have his expectations in the right place, which should help him get off to a good start this summer.

Commanders LB Jamin Davis sees a new opportunity

Davis excited about the possibilities of rushing the passer more.

Jamin Davis knows this upcoming season is crucial for him.

Davis spoke with the media, on Wednesday at the OTA in Ashburn.

When asked about the new defense being installed by the new coaching staff, Davis didn’t hesitate in saying, “It’s giving me a chance to just really cut it loose and just go hunt some quarterbacks, honestly.”

The fourth-year linebacker out of Kentucky was surprisingly selected 19th overall by Ron Rivera in the 2021 draft. Davis has had flashes where his athletic ability was observed but he is certainly aware he has not performed near the expectations of a 19th overall selection.

He spoke vaguely of wanting to do something in his past Washington defenses, “but never had an opportunity to do so and I am going to put my best foot forward.”

When asked about this being the final year of his first NFL contract, Davis responded that he doesn’t think about that at all. But then, interestingly offered, “It’s just another chip on your shoulder. You go out there and you try to make some noise as much as possible and hopefully, you do what you can to stay here.”

Davis was thus admitting, he feels he must have his best season thus far, or he will not return in 2025.

Joe Whitt Jr., the Commanders defensive coordinator has Davis’ attention. Davis pointed out that Whitt “comes to work every day and does whatever he needs to do to make this team and defense go in the right direction.” Davis continued, “I don’t think Coach Whitt was BSing around when he said it was a run and hit defense.”

With the Commanders having signed veteran linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, they will likely be starting. What does this mean for Davis’ playing time?

He may be used more as a pass rusher in 2024. He even offered Wednesday, regarding his working some extra with assistant coach Ryan Kerrigan, “He’s been extremely helpful actually. We have been doing things on the side, drills after practice, watching whatever film so I can see what footwork I need to possibly get there a step quicker. Having a guy like that on staff is really beneficial so you can hopefully try to go get his sack number.”

Kerrigan in his ten seasons with Washington accumulated 147 QB Hits in addition to his 95.5 QB sacks. Davis is thinking more about getting after quarterbacks in 2024.