Tag: OT Brandon Coleman

A significant reason the Commanders are an NFL surprise

This group is dramatically improved from last season.

Why are the Commanders such a surprising team in four games?

The knee-jerk response is rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Of course, that is probably the most significant difference compared to last year’s team. As much as we love Daniels, we know it’s not that simple; it never is.

The Commanders’ offensive line is better than last year—no, make that so much better.

Friday, speaking with the media, head coach Dan Quinn praised offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.

“Yeah, I think coming into it [we] wanted one, somebody that was an excellent teacher, and I think at that position, that’s where a lot of development takes place. You’re coaching a lot of guys and the development of that position, it’s not like just add water and play.”

Even more interesting was that one of Quinn’s friends in NFL coaching circles Brian Daboll (NYG HC) had previously spoken very highly of Johnson.

“I’ve known Brian for a long time, and like any job you’re looking for, you want to ask as many people as you can. And what really came through for me strong was the teaching, that part of things. And that was really important to me. And so I’ve really been impressed by the work that he has done so far.”

It would be simplistic to say that Daniels is the sole reason the Commanders are better, but it would be to say that Johnson is the sole reason the offensive line is better.

Consider the stark contrasts between last year’s offensive coordinator’s press conferences and this year’s. The two men are so different in approach on and off the field. The Commanders are running the ball well enough and often enough that Daniels is not being asked to carry too much of the load.

Lastly, just months ago, most of us complained about Adam Peters when he waited until the third round to draft an offensive lineman, and even more when that was his only draft choice used on the offensive line.

Peters knew what he was doing, fully aware he had already released Nick Gates and Charles Leno. Next, he had signed free agents Nick Allegretti and Tyler Biadasz. Lastly, he drafted Brandon Coleman 67th overall.

In summary, this offensive line is not last year’s, their coach is not the same, and neither is their offensive coordinator.

Yes, the offensive line has been a major contributor to Jayden Daniels making headlines for the last two weeks.

More importantly, the Washington Commanders have been making headlines the last two weeks.

Commanders’ rookie LT Brandon Coleman is trending upward

The rookie left tackle continues to play more snaps each week and the arrow is pointing up.

Washington head coach Dan Quinn was asked Tuesday about rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman.

Coleman has yet to start in his three games, but he has seen action on 65 offensive snaps (34 percent), rotating with starter Cornelius Lucas.

“We continued to balance them up a little more, as we’re going to do, but we knew that was going to be one of the factors inside, to make sure (Trey) Hendrickson can’t ruin the game. I believe he got inside late, on one late (rush) where they got the sack and created the negative yards.”

“But by and large, I felt Brandon’s technique and energy, all the things when you are missing some time, start coming back into play. So, we’ve been impressed, and the arrow is definitely going up.”

https://Twitter.com/Mason_Kinnahan/status/1838607324044497298

Also of note, in these three games, Coleman has yet to be penalized. So, he is not getting beat early and is holding on to avoid his quarterback getting killed.

Washington drafted the 6-foot-6, 320-pound rookie out of TCU in the third round with the 67th overall choice. He had received first-string reps before injuring a pectoral muscle in training camp.

The coaches have determined to bring him along, play him each week, to help Lucas get some rest each week, providing both of them playing time and rests during the game.

Coleman has received progressively a few more snaps each of the three games. Against Tampa Bay in Week 1, it was 14 offensive snaps. Then, it was 22 against the Giants and 29 against the Bengals. Notice the progression: 24 percent, then 31 percent, and finally 49 percent.

Consequently, barring injury, Coleman may most likely play a higher percentage of plays than Lucas for the first time this season on Sunday against the Cardinals.

What did Kliff Kingsbury think of the Commanders offensive line in Week 1?

What does the OC think about Washington’s left tackles?

Several times in the opener, Jayden Daniels had to exit reading his progressions to taking off and running to avoid a sack.

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury was asked to comment on Daniels having to take off running several plays.

“It’s a really good front and like I said earlier, a few of those were first read and get out,” answered Kingsbury. As your first game as a rookie, he knows he has a lot of faith in his legs. I would, too, if I could run like that. He made some plays early and got out of there.”

Kingsbury said Jayden didn’t actually have to take off each of those times he did take off running. He explained that it was the rookie’s first NFL game, and he got a little anxious a few times and took off early instead of reading to his second or third progression and attempting to pass the ball down field.

Back to his offensive line:

“I thought they battled against a really good front,” Kingsbury said. “No pre-snap penalties, I don’t know how many holds, I don’t think many. I thought from an execution standpoint (they) played a clean game. Sure, we can all do better, but I thought as a group they played an efficient game.”

As for Brandon Coleman and Cornelius Lucas rotating again at left tackle this week? Kingsbury declared both had earned a right to play in the opener. Yet, eventually, he would like to see what sort of unity could be developed among his top five linemen.

LT Brandon Coleman to play in Commanders’ opener

Some good news regarding a pair of rookies.

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced Friday that Brandon Coleman will play in the season opener on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coleman was drafted out of TCU in round three (67 overall) of April’s NFL draft, and he was getting some reps as the No.1 left tackle in training camp when he injured a pectoral muscle. This resulted in Coleman missing all three preseason games.

The left tackle has been trending upward the last two weeks, and Friday at his press conference, Quinn asked, “Will Brandon Coleman start?”

Quinn responded, “He will play.”

Consequently, because Cornelius Lucas started in the preseason, he will get the start Sunday in Tampa against the Bucs. Coleman is trending upward; the Commanders think he is ready to play some but don’t want him bearing the load just yet. So, it looks like Lucas and Coleman will rotate in some fashion on Sunday.

To this point, no Commanders coach or player has unveiled their plan for playing both left tackles on Sunday. Todd Bowles has active blitz packages for the Bucs’ defense. Thus, perhaps the Commanders don’t want to rush in Coleman too soon with too many blitz rushes to consider.

In other injury news, Quinn made it clear that No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a pectoral injury in Wednesday’s practice. Missing practice Thursday and Friday, Mariota has been ruled out for the opener against the Bucs. Jeff Driskel will serve as Jayden Daniels’ backup.

Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton is trending upward. Quinn said he was closer. In fact, he expressed that Newton will travel on Sunday and said, “We haven’t ruled him out” of playing in the 2024 opener.

How ready are the Commanders at offensive tackle?

How ready are the Commanders at offensive tackle?

It’s hard to believe but Jayden Daniels may not actually be the biggest question for the Commanders in their season opener in eight days.

Yes, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a playoff team last year and yes, the season opener is at Tampa on a Sunday afternoon.

Daniels will face a much fiercer test than he has in the preseason, there is no debating this. But a large factor in how much pressure Daniels sees may be the play of the Commanders offensive tackles.

Andrew Wylie is plugged in at right tackle, and Cornelius Lucas is still the starter until we hear differently from Dan Quinn. Brandon Coleman had a pectoral injury and did not play a snap in the three preseason games.

Coleman is again back working with the team on the field with no restrictions. The TCU rookie said he feels great and is ready to go. So, what happens Sunday in Tampa if Coleman works out all next week?

Will the Commanders make him active? If so, will he play a few series, though he did not play in the preseason?

If he plays three or four series, then Lucas could be much less exhausted in the fourth quarter than if he played the entire game in the Florida heat.

The other tackle on the roster is Trent Scott. Returning from injury, Scott is listed as Wylie’s backup at right tackle.  Chris Paul was asked to play tackle in the preseason, but with Coleman returning, Paul will now be listed as a backup at both guard positions.

Paul was willing to go way outside his comfort zone and play tackle for the good of the team to meet their need at the time. He retains his spot on the roster as a guard.

There is no tackle on the practice squad currently. Certainly, they know much more than we do about why they don’t have a tackle on the practice squad.

Lastly, fans will complain, but they must be reminded that Adam Peters attempted to trade back into the first round to draft a starting tackle; however, he saw the asking price as too much and did not pull the trigger on the trade.

Some good and some not so good from Commanders, Thursday

Some good and bad from Thursday’s practice vs. the Jets.

There is no overarching narrative to the Commanders’ joint practice on Thursday; there were some good and some not very good moments.

Hey, it’s only the tenth day into this 2024 preseason. So, no need to overreact to what transpired in today’s joint practice with the Jets in New Jersey.

It was a joint practice on August 8, and the most significant thing to come out of Thursday might have been that the regular season opener at Tampa against the Buccaneers is to the day, September 8, a month away.

Where there were questions coming into Thursday’s practice, there will still be questions. Remember, this was the first scrimmage action prior to the first preseason game.

Jayden Daniels moved the ball around to several players and Dyami Brown made a nice catch deep. Daniels seemed to process at times and hit a few checkdowns as well.

Corner Emmanuel Forbes collected an interception during the 7-on-7 reps. However, he also gave up some sizeable yardage in man coverage. Benjamin St-Juste also gave up a big pass gain; keep in mind these were not against Aaron Rodgers, who sat out Thursday.

At times, Andrew Wylie and Brandon Coleman have been the starting offensive tackles. Well, neither one of those guys worked in scrimmage reps against the Jets defense. No word on what type of injury kept Coleman out Thursday. NFL coaches don’t need to publicly report injuries, and consequently, most of the time, they won’t.

Both kickers missed multiple kicks today. Apparently it was not that good a day for either Ramiz Ahmed or Riley Patterson.

Commanders prep and rest for joint practice vs. Jets Thursday

Joint practice presents an opportunity for the Commanders.

Having scheduled a practice/scrimmage against the New York Jets for Thursday, the Commanders coaches made Wednesday an off day.

Most fans will be looking ahead to Saturday’s preseason opener vs. the Jets, and that is certainly understandable. However, the coaches are just as interested, if not more interested, in this joint practice/scrimmage session on Thursday.

Take rookie offensive tackle Brandon Coleman, for example. He has looked good in training camp thus far. Yet, remember that he is working against the same Washington Commanders teammates day after day. Coleman is not stupid. Thus, he naturally begins to learn those players’ tendencies and techniques over time.

Suddenly, on Thursday, he will be going against players, first of all, who are not teammates. Secondly, he is going up against players whose moves and strengths he has not yet seen in training camp. Consequently, in just a couple of plays, Coleman (or any other offensive lineman) could be embarrassed, and ball carriers exposed to Jets defenders.

Remember also that the Jets had one of the better defenses in the NFL last season. That is to say, the Commanders’ offensive line may see much more penetration than it has thus far in training camp.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels may, therefore, see a stronger pass rush than he has thus far. If so, how will he respond?

NFL coaches realize these joint practices provide them the opportunity to work on various situations in a much more game-like atmosphere than their own teams have experienced thus far in training camp.

In fact, during this 2024 NFL preseason, only two teams (the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders) do not have a joint practice/scrimmage scheduled.

So, when the Commanders and Jets meet Thursday at Florham Park, NJ, it will be an opportunity for first-year players on each team to become a bit more enlightened regarding competing at an NFL level. Coaches will be looking to see how their players respond when things go wrong, assignments are missed, or mistakes are made.