Tag: LB Jamin Davis

4 observations from the first week of Commanders’ training camp

Four observations after the first week of training camp.

Friday brought an end to the first week of training camp. What is the consensus regarding the Commanders thus far?

Through every interview, comment, and reflection this week, a few things do seize attention.

There is more intensity and competitiveness

Players are more vocal, move quicker during drills, and feel a sense of urgency. Benjamin St-Juste said that Dan Quinn has them being competitive about everything.

Jayden Daniels continues to look good

He is completing passes and moving well, and coaches say he is learning, making good reads, and learning the offense. Not many passes are hitting the ground. Before you get too excited with that last one, this was also one of the praises for Sam Howell’s last training camp. Everyone said Howell passed the ball so much better than Carson Wentz or Taylor Heinicke had in previous training camps.

The defensive coaching staff appears to be in unity

Of course, that should be the case in the NFL. But you only have to go back to last season, when the defense looked lost for much of the season and was simply getting blown out often late in the season. Have you noticed more than a few comments this week alone from defensive players about how they feel the communication is great and that they are already actually learning what is expected when certain situations arise?

Jamin Davis really needs a good preseason

Ron Rivera reached for Davis in the first round of the 2021 draft. Davis didn’t even start at Kentucky until his final year, yet Rivera drafted him over Christian Darrisaw when the team needed a young offensive tackle for the future. Davis, in his first three seasons, has yet to catch on to have the impact a first-rounder should have. Barring injury, he won’t start this year. He hasn’t played special teams but will need to this year to make the 53-man roster. He is using time getting reps as an outside pass rusher as they search for a role where Davis could possibly make some impact.

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?

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.

Commanders Del Rio knows his unit can reduce the big plays

Jack Del Rio talks the importance of eliminating the big plays.

Jack Del Rio saw a good effort against the Patriots Sunday; then suddenly, the Commanders gave up two big plays.

“I thought we did a good job defensively last week. We had two plays that got away from us. One in the pass, one in the run. And other than that, we played real, real well.”

Indeed, the Commanders defense limited the Patriots on the way to a 20-17 victory. The two big plays?

Washington led 10-7, and the Patriots, from their own 16, had a 1st & 10. Lining up three eligible receivers tightly on the right side, Mac Jones faked a handoff and then found JuJu Smith-Schuster running across the field from tight right to the left side wide open. Smith-Schuster made the catch at the 23 and was pushed out of bounds on the 36, a 20-yard gain.

On the very next play, Washington ran a stunt, and linebacker Jamin Davis did not plug the closest gap to the right of tackle Daron Payne. New England’s Rhamondre Stevenson exploded through the hole into the secondary. He was met by safety Percy Butler, but he missed the tackle on Stevenson, who then raced 64 yards for a go-ahead Pats touchdown.

In two plays, the Commanders defense had surrendered 84 yards and a touchdown.

So, when defensive coordinator Del Rio was asked Thursday what is keeping this unit from rating as highly as the defensive unit last season in 2022.

“Yeah, explosive plays allowed. That’s been the big problem. We’re playing solid in a lot of areas, but the explosive plays allowed. Many of them kind of gift-type situations are the ones that keep us from ranking well and being able to beat our chest and say, look at our rank right here, which doesn’t mean a whole lot. I think what really means the most is give your football team a chance to win, play complementary football, and make sure we’re getting the ball back for our offense as often as possible.”

One player who was giving up some explosive plays prior to last week was rookie corner Emmanuel Forbes, Jr.  However, last week, Forbes played well enough that PFF graded Forbes as the highest Commanders defensive player last week. The performance pleased Del Rio.

“I think he’s just working at it. You know, he’s a good young player. We believe in him. He’s just gotta grind and work. That’s what he has done, and that allowed him to get himself back in the game, and then he played well.”

 

Commanders get a team win in Atlanta 24-16

It may have been ugly at times, but it was a much-needed team win.

My friend told me late in the fourth quarter, “Thank goodness for the short fields.”

He is exactly correct, as the Washington Commanders defense and special teams led the way in the Commanders’ 24-16 victory Sunday in Atlanta.

It was a team win as the Commanders offense received plenty of help Sunday in providing short fields and big plays to spur the team to a much-needed win, breaking their three-game losing streak.

The three Washington touchdowns were scored on drives of three plays for 11 yards, seven plays gaining 52 yards, and two plays accumulating 27 yards. Can you imagine winning an NFL game when your three touchdown drives only average out to a mere 30 yards a drive?

Trailing 7-3 early in the second quarter, the Commanders Jamison Crowder received a Falcons punt at his own 28-yard line and provided Washington their first exciting punt return of 2023, returning the punt 61 yards to the Atlanta 11.

Sam Howell connected with Antonio Gibson three plays later from the 1, and Washington led 10-7.

The Commanders did drive 52 yards for a touchdown, culminated when Howell found Curtis Samuel from the 7 for a 17-7 lead.

Leading 17-10 in the third quarter, Kendall Fuller intercepted Desmond Ridder at the 50-yard line, returning the pass 23 yards to the Falcons 27.

Brian Robinson then ran for three yards before going 24 yards for a touchdown and a 24-10 Commanders lead.

That was it from the offense. In their next four possessions, they only ran 15 plays gaining a mere 32 yards (just over 2 yards a play).

The Commanders defense again came to the rescue. Leading 24-16, the Commanders blitzed on 3rd & Goal from the 7, forcing a premature Ridder pass, which was intercepted by Benjamin St-Juste in the end zone.

With only 31 seconds remaining, the Lions had driven 59 yards and were at the Commanders’ 34. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio then rushed only four, dropping seven into coverage. Linebacker Jamin Davis jumped the slant route intended for Bijan Robinson and made a terrific interception saving the game for the Commanders.

Defense, special teams, offense…a team win.

Kam Curl wins Washington Commanders’ March Madness bracket challenge

No one involved picked a Final Four team correctly in a wild NCAA Tournament.

It was nothing short of March Madness in 2023, but Kam Curl came out on top.

Curl, a safety out of Arkansas, did not have a team of his four picks to advance to this year’s Final Four. However, neither did anyone else, as it was a crazy tournament as no top seed advanced to a regional final and only one No. 2 seed advanced to a regional final.

Curl finished atop the Commanders bracket challenge scoring a total of 570 points. Unol (not sure who that is) finished second with 540 points 30 points behind Curl.

Linebacker Jamin Davis was third with 530 points. Others I recognize were Daron Payne, Tress Way and Camaron Cheeseman finishing fifth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Interestingly enough, it was Payne who was the leader following the round of 64 games. Payne totaled 260 points to lead Curl (250) and another participant who is not recognizable by their entry name who also scored 250 in the first round.

Curl made up his ground in the second round scoring a high of 200 points, when he predicted 10 of the 16 games correctly in the round of 32.

Alabama was the overall top seed in the tournament and sure enough Payne, Sam Howell and Christian Holmes all had the Crimson Tide to be standing alone in their bracket.

Curl chose Arkansas, Davis went with Kentucky, while Way and Cheeseman both selected the Kansas Jay Hawks as their choice to win it all.

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Counting down the Commanders’ 20 biggest cap hits in 2023: Beginning with No. 15

Here are the next five Commanders’ biggest cap hits for 2022 (No. 11-15).

Which Washington Commanders players will count the largest cap hit for the 2023 NFL season?

This week, Commanders Wire is counting down the top 20 Washington Commanders with the largest cap hit for 2023.

Thus far, we have learned those Commanders who will be the largest cap hits from No. 20 to No. 16.

Now, we look at Washington’s next five biggest cap hits for 2023, beginning at No. 15.

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All salary cap numbers are courtesy of Spotrac.

Commanders defense started so well and then …

The game started quite well for Washington’s defense until it all fell apart.

I know it is hard to believe, but Sunday’s game against the Lions actually started well, quite well.

The Commanders’ defense actually caused Detroit to punt with a “three and out” on the Lions’ first possession, but Washington was embarrassed trailing by 22 at the half before losing to the Lions 36-27.

The first time the defense was on the field, Jack Del Rio dialed up a 3rd down blitz that worked to perfection. Jamin Davis was lined up on the line  (standing up) inside of James Smith-Williams, the left defensive end. To his right, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen both slanted to their left towards Davis, and Davis looped around, both untouched for an easy sack of Jared Goff. It was wonderful execution by players playing as a unit.

It was the exact opposite of what both Del Rio and Ron Rivera expressed frustration with last season when some Washington defensive lineman apparently repeatedly played their own game, trying to get their own stats. Del Rio this week even referred to them as “independent contractors,” meaning they were doing what they wanted to do.

Rivera during the 2021 season on more than a few occasions referenced immaturity, not doing their jobs, and not playing together as a unit. But on this play against the Lions, Allen and Payne clearly slanted away, causing chaos, so that Davis could have the opportunity to sack Goff.

Davis displayed patience as well. He did not simply begin his loop around at the snap of the ball. That would have signaled to the Lions linemen on their right side that something was up. No, Davis began vertically challenging the Lions’ right side and after three steps forward, began his loop-around to his right, and it looked as if the Red Sea had opened for him and he clobbered Goff for the 12-yard sack, forcing the Lions to punt.

It was a clear example of coaching and then players executing what they are coached to perform. However, the vast majority of the rest of the first half was unbearable for Commanders’ fans. The Lions gained 250 yards while Washington accumulated a mere 56 yards and an embarrassing two first downs. In fact, the Commanders’ initial first down did not come until 5:44 remaining in the half and the Lions roaring over Washington 22-0.

On the Commanders’ first offensive possession, Wentz dropped back on 3rd & 4 from the 38, was forced up into the pocket and did not pass the ball, looked a second time for a receiver, and was sacked by Aidan Hutchinson.

However, punter Tress Way hit a beautiful high punt that landed on the Lions 2-yard line, bounced up softly to be easily downed by the Commanders, forcing the Lions to start on their 1 or 2 yard line, but rookie Christian Holmes for some reason couldn’t complete the play.

The Commanders had blown a wonderful opportunity, setting the stage for the remainder of an embarrassing half of football for the Burgundy and Gold and their fan base.