Dan Quinn extremely impressed with Commanders’ rookie left tackle

Brandon Coleman is coming off a dominant performance vs. Lions.

It hasn’t been an easy rookie year for Brandon Coleman.

Commanders general manager Adam Peters drafted the former G/T from TCU in the third round and told he would be a tackle from the start.

Coleman impressed right away with his agility and work ethic. However, he injured a pectoral muscle in training camp, missing important preseason game reps for a rookie LT switching from LG.

“He battled through some of the injuries,” Dan Quinn said Wednesday. “If you go way back, even to training camp and [thinking] is he going to be ready and will he be there and battling some with big Luke [Cornelius Lucas] into the spots. But I think the resilience is the stuff that has impressed me the most as a first-year player battling through it.”

Making it back in time for the season opener, he rotated for a few games with Cornelius Lucas at left tackle. In the November 3 game at the NY Giants, suddenly Coleman dislocated a finger. Wanting to remain in the game, he insisted G Nick Allegretti pull it hard, popping it back into place. Allegretti said he had to look away and then reluctantly pulled it hard for Coleman.

After the game Allegretti commented, “BC has done an incredible job, the composure he has shown…”

Then a knee acted up on Coleman in the last weeks. But there he was in the lineup against the Bucs in the Wild Card weekend 23-20 win.

“You may not know he doesn’t have his A game,  said Quinn. “But he was able to really go and deliver and that’s a good trait to have for any pro player in almost any sport where they have to play through those. And he’s really done a good job on that now that he’s back and- healthy, that’s a big deal.”

Coleman had a huge game against the Lions, protecting Jayden Daniels’ blind side (see above tweet).

Looks like Peters successfully nailed another rookie draft pick for the Commanders.

Quinn offers injury updates on several important Commanders ahead of playoffs

Dan Quinn gave an update on several injured Commanders.

Several Washington Commanders are trending upward for the team’s playoff game in Tampa on Sunday.

On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn proclaimed the good news in dialog with the media.

“[C Tyler] Biadasz is doing good, coming back next on that,” Quinn said. “[CB] Marshon [Lattimore] was also doing well, ran today, so arrow was going up. [LB Jordan] Magee, I’m just kind of reframing some of the guys that missed last week’s game that we were hoping trending up. Same with [T] Cornelius Lucas.

Quinn is hopeful these players are on the practice field when the team begins preparation for the Buccaneers’ prime-time game.

When asked about an injury concern regarding Jayden Daniels, Quinn responded:

“I’m not concerned. I’m feeling good going into the weekend. I’m actually feeling good on the team’s health, so that’s a good thing when you get to this time of year.”

Offensive tackle Brandon Coleman went down in the game but did return to action against the Cowboys.

“Brandon is doing well. He had a good session today to get rolling,” he said. “So, as we’re going into it, I really think from a team health standpoint, we’ll have a better sense for Wednesday, but going into today and the meetings and our runs and rehab runs, all of that was a positive day for us.

When asked about kicker Austin Seibert, Quinn responded that there were no updates on Seibert, adding, “But we were certainly pleased with what we saw from [K] Zane [Gonzalez].”

Dan Quinn praises two rookies not named Jayden Daniels

Quinn explains what stands out about two members of Commanders’ rookie class.

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn was asked Wednesday about two of his rookies, in particular.

Those two rookies were wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Quinn had already spoken very positively about Jayden Daniels and Brandon Coleman the previous day with the press.

“What I’ve seen early, I’ve also seen lately,” replied Quinn. By that I mean, these guys are like a rare level of competitor. They just don’t back down.”

Jayden Daniels might consider getting the ball to McCaffrey more often each game. You see, he has only been targeted six times, but he does have six catches, averaging 10.3 a reception.

“I knew Mike also had leadership skills early on, where guys would look to him, not just the other rookies in the class. But some of the defensive backs as well. So, that is what I saw. As they are growing into their season, they are just three games in, each of these opportunities are so important.”

Sainristil has been in on 16 tackles in three games (12 solo and four assists). He has also has a pass breakup.

“I think when we look back a few months from now, some of the mistakes that guys make early, they don’t make late. But you do have to fight through some of those with the guys. I have unbelievable belief in them about what they are capable of becoming, and that sometimes happens with the youngest players.”

Indeed, McCaffrey made two very nice plays earlier, picking up first downs, but in the final quarter, he once drove to the stick on third down and then cut off his route just short. So when Daniels passed to him, and McCaffrey was instantly tackled, it was 4th & 1, not 1st & 10.

“You make sure they get the experience, so by the time December and January football comes, they have lived through some of those (experiences). They have some scares to look back on, and they’re really better for that.”

Several reasons Commanders opening week is exciting

Why fans should be excited about Sunday and the 2024 season.

Who are the 2024 Washington Commanders?

Who knows?

Seriously, nobody knows. This season is unique in the sense that there are so many unknowns. It raises our curiosity, anticipation, and excitement.

  1. There’s a new sheriff in town: Adam Peters. This was Peters’ first offseason, and now, it is the beginning of his first season as an NFL general manager. He is not inexperienced, however. He has been working like crazy, making all sorts of signings, and he’s shown he’s not afraid to make unexpected trades. I just now counted 30 new players to the Commanders roster this year!
  2. When Dan Quinn was hired, much displeasure was voiced and posted on social media. That didn’t take long to change, however. Quinn is personable, direct, has a sense of humor, and has been full of energy every time he has been called upon. The players like him and respect him, and the fan base has quickly changed their minds. There is excitement in the air, and Quinn is a major reason.
  3. Jayden Daniels is only a rookie, but in his two brief (very) preseason appearances, he was decisive and accurate. There was much excitement before Robert Griffin’s debut in 2012, and rightly so. But doesn’t Daniels appear more prepared and poised? How many times will Daniels run a zone-read option Sunday against the Bucs? How will he handle the defensive pressure of a good, defensive playoff team last year?

https://twitter.com/granthpaulsen/status/1822329867376947482

Oh, there are more reasons why the DMV is excited about this 2024 team. Here are some other reasons there’s such anticipation.

The 2023 team was horrible. They lost their final eight games and four games last season by 34, 20, 12, 35, 30, 17, and 28 points! That’s four games by 28 or more points! One reason there is such optimism is that Ron Rivera’s final team lowered the bar so much. If this team is competitive throughout the season, it will be progress.

The team made it through the preseason with no major injuries. Yes, Jordan Magee is going to miss a few games. Yes, Brandon Coleman and Johnny Newton did not play in the preseason. But Coleman will be back for the opener, and Newton is trending to play soon.

Linebacker play was a weakness the last four years despite the fact that Rivera and Jack Del Rio were good linebackers themselves in the NFL. But Peters has brought in Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner. On paper, that looks tremendously better. How much does Wagner have remaining in his body? It’s another unknown; he is 34. Yet, he did lead the NFL with 183 tackles (96 solo, 87 assisted) in 2023.

There are unknowns and question marks. But one thing is certain: there has not been this much excitement for a season opener since 2012.