Tag: P Tress Way 2014- current

Some Commanders’ bright spots against the Jets

We look at some of the Commanders’ bright spots vs. the Jets.

The Commanders lost to the Jets on Saturday, 20-17, at MetLife Stadium.

However, what were some of the bright spots?

Jeff Driskel

Third quarterback Jeff Driskel made some nice plays, passing and running. He completed 7 of 15 passes for 87 yards, with a 16-yard run. Was Driskel the second-best quarterback for Washington on Saturday?

Ben Sinnott

Rookie tight end Ben Sinnott and Driskel hooked up for the longest gain on Saturday. It was a 44-yard pass, and Sinnott demonstrated that he might be a tough ball carrier to bring down in the regular season. Sinnott finished with three receptions on three targets for 57 yards.

Jamin Davis

Jamin Davis knew he needed to make some plays. When he first entered the game, he made two stops on running plays, with the runs totaling only three yards. He displayed quickness and energy on the edge. There was one play where he decided to battle OT (Fashanu) and did not seal the edge, resulting in a 24-yard run.

Dyami Brown

Dyami Brown was covered well, yet he made a nice catch for a 42-yard gain. Later, Brown made another nice catch for 13 yards from Driskel. Brown is in his fourth year and the first three have been disappointments. This was a good start for him today if he is to make this team in 2024.

Cole Turner/John Bates

Did you see tight end Cole Turner on Daniels’ touchdown run? Turner lined up on the right side and drove his man to the back of the end zone. Tight end John Bates also took care of his man. Daniels was able to jog in for the score because these two did such a good job on the play.

Tyler Owens

Punt return coverage is a place where players can make an impression with their hustle and or a tackle. Such was the case today for undrafted safety Tyler Owens (Texas Tech). He is 6-foot-2, 213 pounds.

Tress Way

Also, there was a punt return that started right; the returner then reversed his field all the way left, and there was Tress Way. He came up and made the nice, clean tackle. I noticed the bench really reacted to Way’s tackle/effort. Don’t you know the coaches loved that as well when an older punter is hustling?

 

Commanders season opener in 5 days: Washington’s best No. 5

5 Tress Way days until the Commanders open the 2023 NFL season.

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 5 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 5?

Only nine players in Washington franchise history have worn No. 5 during a regular season game. Of the nine, two were quarterbacks, and the other seven punted or kicked.

Both quarterbacks were disappointments for Washington. Heath Shuler (1994-96) was the third overall selection by Washington in the 1994 NFL draft. But Shuler, in his three seasons with Washington, completed only 47.7 percent of his passing attempts, had a touchdown to interception ratio of 13:19, a passer rating of 58.3. His net yards passing per attempt was only 5.41 and his adjusted net yards passing per attempt was a poor 3.97.

Donovan McNabb (2010) had enjoyed much success with Philadelphia. But he was trending downward quickly in his only season in Washington. He was benched in Washington and traded to the Vikings for a 6th-round choice which the Redskins used wisely to draft running back Alfred Morris.

Curt Knight (1969-73) in 1970 made 74 percent of his field goals but struggled the next three seasons, and Washington turned to a young Mark Moseley.

Jeff Hayes (1982-85) was not a great punter (39.0) in his four Washington seasons. He is best remembered for his running ability, as he had a 48-yard fake punt run in 1983 and a 24-yarder in 1984.

Some may recall Obed Ariri kicking in two 1987 replacement games. Brett Conway kicked for Washington in 1998-2000. He was waived during the 2000 season, kicked for the Raiders and Jets, then returned to the Redskins for all of 2001. Was injured and waived only kicking one game in 2002.

Jeff Chandler was signed in December of 2004 and kicked three games for the Redskins. Many will not recall that Billy Cundiff kicked for Washington in 2012, but only connecting on 7 of 12 field goal attempts in five games, he was released.

Tress Way (2014- current) is the greatest player in franchise history to wear No. 5. The former Oklahoma Sooner was undrafted and then waived by the Bears in 2013 and 2014. Washington then claimed Way, and all he did was lead the NFL in yards per punt that very season (47.5). The two-time Pro Bowler also led the NFL in 2019, averaging 49.6 yards per punt. In Way’s nine seasons, he has always had a punt of at least 61+ yards and has averaged 47.0 yards per punt over his entire nine-year career.