Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
With a Week 11 game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Commanders Wire.
The New York Giants (2-8) and Washington Commanders (4-6) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 11 matchup at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
The Giants opened the week as 10-point road underdogs but that spread has softened a tiny bit since then. As of this writing, New York is +9.5.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.
The offensive line has improved since Tyler Larsen took over at center.
After seven games, Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell was on a historic pace to set a record that no signal-caller would want to own. Howell was on pace to break David Carr’s 21-year record as the most-sacked quarterback in a single season in NFL history.
Howell had been sacked 40 times in seven games, putting him on pace to be sacked over 90 times. Carr’s record is 76 sacks. In six of these seven games, Howell had been sacked five times or more.
However, over the last two weeks, Howell has been sacked a total of four times. And none of those four sacks were particularly harmful for Washington’s offense.
What’s changed?
The most noticeable changes are at center and left guard. Veteran Tyler Larsen replaced Nick Gates in the starting lineup, while Chris Paul replaced the injured Saahdiq Charles at guard.
The difference has been clear, particularly at center. Larsen has proven to be an upgrade over Gates.
Head coach Ron Rivera explained the biggest change on the offensive line with Larsen playing center.
“I think the biggest change with him and Chris Paul is, first of all, there’s probably about 60 pounds,” Rivera said about them being bigger than the players they replaced.
“They’re both 330 [pounds]. There’s a lot of girth between our two guards and our center. I think that’s been a big part. They’re very stout. Then secondly, I think the big part of it, too, has really been how veteran Tyler is. His experience, his understanding, and feel for what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.”
Larsen’s size is an asset for Howell. Far too often, the pocket was collapsing in front of Howell, and that’s improved with Larsen in the lineup.
It’s also important to point out that Howell and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy have improved, too. Bieniemy continues to cater the offense to Howell, while Howell is doing much better processing information and getting rid of the ball quicker.
Rivera praised Larsen’s work before the snap.
“There’s a couple of things that you can point to,” Rivera said of Larsen. “Some of it is helping to ID the direction that the protection’s going to go and the type of protection we’re going to use. Then you see them trying to pass a snap off guys, as far as trying to pass them from one blocker to the other. There was an instance, I can’t remember exactly the play specifically, but they had a three-man stunt, and one of our guards wasn’t coming off. So, Tyler came back and left Sam [Cosmi] where he was, and he picked up a crosser. That was a very veteran move. [I] was watching it today with the offensive coaches, and that was one of the things that stood out was just how savvy Tyler was when he saw that.”
The Commanders signed Gates to a three-year, $18 million deal. Imagine if Washington just rolled with Larsen, who signed a one-year contract and used the money spent on Gates elsewhere. Gates, of course, can also play guard, so, if needed, he could fill in at those positions, too.
It’s also worth noting that Larsen has finished the last two seasons on injured reserve, which is likely why Rivera never considered making the 32-year-old Larsen the primary center entering the 2023 season.
Are the Commanders making a change at center for Week 8?
Could the Washington Commanders have a new center on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles?
During Thursday’s practice, veteran Tyler Larsen was snapping to quarterback Sam Howell. Nick Gates was snapping to backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Tyler Larsen snaps to Sam Howell at practice today@JPFinlayNBCS #HTTC#Commanders pic.twitter.com/aor38Dbtyq
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) October 26, 2023
Is this one of the changes head coach Ron Rivera can make to shake things up?
Larsen, 32, is a 10-year veteran and has been with Washington since 2021, following Rivera to the Commanders from Carolina. Over the past two seasons, Larsen replaced injured center Chase Roullier, starting 11 games. In 2021, Larsen started three games before a leg injury ended his season, too.
In 2022, with Roullier out again and Nick Martin struggling, Larsen was healthy enough to return to the lineup in Week 6. Larsen made eight starts, and during that time, the Commanders went 6-1-1 before dislocating his kneecap and ending the year on injured reserve.
If Larsen is indeed the new center, that could be good news for Howell. If the Commanders make the change, it’s more bad news for Rivera. Gates, who signed a three-year deal to be Washington’s new center, would be benched after seven games.
Right tackle Andrew Wylie was better against the Giants in Week 7 but has struggled all season. Those were Rivera’s top two free-agent signings in the offseason, and combined with a draft class that has given Washington nothing, you can see why the Commanders are in the shape they currently are.
With a Week 7 matchup between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Commanders Wire.
The New York Giants (1-5) and Washington Commanders (3-3) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Giants opened the week as 1.5-point home underdogs but that has only gotten worse since then. They are +3 as of this writing.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.
Nick Gates was beloved with the Giants. Now he faces his former team for the first time on Sunday.
Washington Commanders center Nick Gates spent the first years of his NFL career with the New York Giants. An undrafted free agent in 2018, Gates made the roster but spent his rookie season on injured reserve.
In 2019, Gates played in all 16 games, making three starts. He quickly became a fan favorite. He started all 16 games for the Giants at center in 2020, and he did not allow a sack.
In 2021, Gates was named a team captain, but unfortunately, he suffered a severe leg injury against Washington, costing him the remainder of that season. He underwent multiple surgeries and made a heroic return in 2022, appearing in 10 games with eight starts.
In March, Gates signed with the Commanders, in part because Washington wanted him to be the starting center, something that appealed to Gates.
Gates remains beloved amongst New York fans and his former teammates. On Sunday, Gates makes his return to MetLife Stadium for the first time with his new team.
Does this game have any more meaning for Gates?
“Nothing, it’s a football game, you know, it is what it is,” Gates told Scott Abraham of ABC 7 after practice this week. “It’s a business, it’s part of this league. So, you’re going to move on; you’re going to go to other teams. It’ll be nice to see my old buddies, all the old training staff. Other than that, it’s just a football game.”
Has there been any trash talk so far?
“No, not yet,” Gates said before saying he needed to call Daniel Jones, who he called a good friend.
Nick Gates returning to New York!
This is a big week for the former Giants center…facing his former teammates for the first time.
Nick told me, "it's a football game, it is what it is. The business part, it's part of this league" pic.twitter.com/Hi6SpHCird
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) October 18, 2023
Gates reiterated there are no emotions entering this game, saying he liked everybody in New York, holds no hard feelings toward anyone, and is happy to be in Washington now.
Gates has already proven to be a leader for Washington, stabilizing the center position after the position was decimated by injuries for the past two seasons. And if there is a scuffle on the field, you’ll probably see Gates in there somewhere, sticking up for his teammates.
New York Giants QB Daniel Jones says it will be weird to see Nick Gates wearing Commanders colors, while Gates comments on his former mates.
When the New York Giants take the field against the Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon, an old friend will be on the opposite sideline looking back at them.
Nick Gates, once a Giants captain, is now the starting center for their division rivals. And instead of beating up on opponents for Big Blue, it will be his job to stop the likes of Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams.
For many Giants, including quarterback Daniel Jones, it will be odd to see Gates in different colors.
“I’ve a lot of respect for Gates, obviously a close friend and close teammate that I played a lot with, and I think a lot of,” Jones told reporters on Wednesday. “Weird seeing him on the other side, but pulling for him — not this week, but I’ve got a lot of respect and appreciation for him.”
Jones and Gates spent four seasons together as teammates and remain close friends to this day, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a little trash talk leading up to kickoff.
“I’ve got to call Daniel and see what he’s up to,” Gates said when asked if he’d have any words for his former mates. “That’s my boy. Me and Daniel are good friends.”
Gates took a pass on trash-talking Lawrence, who often has a lot to say himself.
“Dexter… That’s a big boy. He’s a tough player. He’s a really good player,” Gates said. “It’s the first time I’ve gone against him in a game, so we’ll see how that goes. In practice, he was tough.
“He (made) me better, though. It was good going against him every day. He taught me things and got me to learn some things about hand placement. I learned how to block him. It will be fun. It’s exciting.”
Gates said there are no hard feelings between him and the Giants after their free agency separation. He understands the NFL is a business and wishes the Giants success, just not this Sunday or any other time they play the Commanders.
[lawrence-related id=717540,717520,717515]
The New York Giants are in need of offensive line help, toughness and leadership, so stealing this old friend from Washington makes sense.
The New York Giants (1-5) will host the Washington Commanders (3-3) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday afternoon in their seventh game of the 2023 regular season.
That, of course, provides those of us here at Giants Wire the opportunity to hypothetically steal from the Commanders’ roster in search of depth and/or talent upgrades for Big Blue.
In looking over Washington’s roster, there are several players who immediately jump off the page. The most obvious is wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who would provide the Giants a true No. 1.
There’s also edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat, cornerback Kendall Fuller, offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr. and guard Sam Cosmi, but there’s one player we simply can not pass over.
Hello again, Nick Gates.
Gates may not be the most dominant offensive lineman in the league but he sure is one of the toughest. And given the Giants’ needs along the line, how valuable would their former captain be this season?
Gates signed with the Giants as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2018 and quickly became a favorite of the fans and his teammates alike. He’s an exceptionally hard worker, a powerful leader, and an unapologetic tough guy.
After suffering a devastating lower leg fracture in 2021, Gates underwent nearly a dozen surgeries, somehow avoiding amputation, and miraculously returned a year later. He’s now a quality starter for the Commanders and has resumed his role as an enforcer.
What are your thoughts, Giants fans? Would you pick Nick Gates or would you steal an entirely different player from the Washington Commanders?
[lawrence-related id=707388,701991,700429]
It was a frustrating day for the offense.
It’s that time of training camp when the offense and defense are ready to hit someone on the opposing team. For the Washington Commanders, the first bit of chippiness occurred earlier in the week when linebacker Khaleke Hudson took exception to a block from center Nick Gates.
Hudson shoved Gates, and fellow linebacker Cody Barton joined in on the fun, throwing a punch before teammates arrived to end it quickly.
Typical training camp.
However, after a frustrating day for the offense on Friday, things heated up with a couple of skirmishes.
There was one instance where right guard Sam Cosmi got into it with defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. After practice, Cosmi spoke to reporters.
It was a spirited Washington Commanders practice.
Sam Cosmi got into it with Phidarian Mathis.
After practice Sam said, "we work hard, we do our stuff, but at the same time we are not going to take any crap from anyone."
Welcome to the dog days of training camp! pic.twitter.com/gzo5JkbZ71
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) August 4, 2023
While the offense has been up and down throughout training camp, Friday was a particularly tough outing for Eric Bieniemy’s side of the ball. And the defensive players were happy to let the offense know they were having their way.
One play, in particular, had wide receiver — and team captain — Terry McLaurin fired up. After making contact with tight end Cole Turner, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste stared over Turner and didn’t help him up, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
That drew the ire of McLaurin.
Benjamin St-Juste popped Cole Turner and stared over him, refusing to help him up. Terry McLaurin rushed over and lit into St-Juste.
Bieniemy yelled from the sideline “Stop with the dumb shit and do your f’in job!”
McLaurin yelled back, “Cant do that shit to your own teammate,…
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 4, 2023
It takes a lot to upset McLaurin, but at the same time, it shows why he’s the ultimate leader. He came to the aid of one of his offensive teammates and wasn’t afraid to get in the face of a defensive player. Everyone on the team respects McLaurin.
After practice, head coach Ron Rivera wasn’t concerned with the skirmishes; in fact, he expected them.
“I expected it to be exactly what it was, a little chippy,” Rivera said. “This is our ninth practice and our fifth one in a row. Quite honestly, I kind of thought that was going to happen.”
It’s easy to be concerned with the offense at this point. But as we’ve said numerous times over the past two weeks, the defense is ahead of the offense. And they should be. This unit has been together for four seasons, while Bieniemy is installing a new offensive scheme with multiple new offensive linemen and a quarterback with 19 career passing attempts.
The concern would be real if the offense were getting the best of the defense. Things are going as they should. There’s still a long way until Week 1.
Veteran center Nick Gates will be critical to Sam Howell’s development in 2023.
[anyclip pubname=”2123″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8169″]
As we look toward the 2023 regular season, we count down the most important players for the Washington Commanders ahead of training camp. On Friday, No. 13 was running back Brian Robinson Jr.
We continue our countdown today with No. 12, center Nick Gates.
The Commanders signed Gates this offseason to a three-year contract to replace former starter Chase Roullier. Washington loved Roullier, but after he missed most of the last two seasons with different leg injuries, the Commanders needed stability at center. Washington has started at least four different centers in each of the last two seasons.
In addition to signing Gates away from the rival New York Giants, the Commanders drafted Ricky Stromberg in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft and re-signed Tyler Larsen. Depth shouldn’t be an issue this upcoming season.
Gates played all over the offensive line during his time with the Giants. The 27-year-old said this year that he came to Washington to play center. Gates is a critical piece to the rebuilt offensive line, particularly with a young quarterback in Sam Howell. Howell has one career start. Having a veteran center such as Gates takes some of the pressure off Howell at the line of scrimmage, as he can help set up protections, among other things.
The Commanders are thrilled with Stromberg but don’t look for them to pair a rookie center with what is essentially a rookie quarterback. Washington has seen what injuries at center can do to an entire offensive line, which is another reason why Gates is critical to the team’s success.
Don’t be surprised, too, if Gates becomes one of the Commanders’ more popular players. Gates is still beloved in New York. He’s also viewed as an outstanding leader.
After seeing so many injuries in the last two years, Washington fans understand the importance of continuity at center.
The Commanders added two centers and brought back Tyler Larsen for 2023.
[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]
The Washington Commanders have cycled through multiple centers over the last two seasons. Longtime starter Chase Roullier missed 24 of a possible 34 games over the previous two years, leading the Commanders to make the difficult decision to release him this offseason.
When Roullier went down, Tyler Larsen, Wes Schweitzer, Keith Ismael and Nick Martin were among those to take snaps for Washington. Schweitzer was better at guard but played center out of necessity. Larsen is a natural center, but he, too, has also battled injuries.
It’s why head coach Ron Rivera prioritized adding multiple centers this offseason. First, Washington signed former New York Giant Nick Gates on the first day of free agency. Gates, who has played guard and center, said he was signed to play center, which was his preference.
Then, Washington re-signed Larsen and selected Ricky Stromberg in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
All of this while Roullier remained on the roster. Of course, once Roullier passed a physical, the Commanders released him.
So, what is Washington getting in Gates?
Gates is beloved by New York fans but not so much by Pro Football Focus. PFF recently ranked the NFL’s top 32 centers and had Gates at No. 27, ahead of only two veterans and three rookies.
Gates started at center for the Giants back in 2020 and did pretty well for a player who was undrafted the year before, earning a 59.7 PFF grade. A horrible leg injury ended his 2021 season after just 74 snaps, but he was finally able to get back on the field in the second half of 2022. He earned a 69.0 PFF pass-blocking grade, seeing time at both center and guard, but struggled as a run blocker.
Should fans be concerned about Gates’ run blocking? There’s a belief that new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s scheme will be friendly to the offensive linemen.
If Gates doesn’t keep the starting job, he can play guard and provide valuable depth across the line. However, Washington clearly believes Gates is better at center and will help stabilize a unit that struggled in 2023. The Commanders also felt Gates would be the perfect veteran center for young quarterback Sam Howell.
