Tag: QB Alex Smith (2018-20)

Another season brings more quarterbacks for Commanders, McLaurin

Could 2024 be Terry McLaurin’s first winning season in the NFL?

Terry McLaurin is hoping to lead the Commanders in receiving for the sixth consecutive season.

McLaurin was drafted in the third round (76 overall) out of Ohio State in the 2019 NFL draft. On draft night, immediately, there was talk by analysts that McLaurin was a hard enough worker and a good enough athlete that he could make an immediate impact on special teams in his first NFL season.

In addition, Jay Gruden, the Redskins head coach, in his first press conference regarding the team drafting McLaurin, expressed, “He was the #1 special teams player on our board, but it’s really about what he is as a receiver.”

However, when the preseason began, head coach Jay Gruden mysteriously didn’t play McLaurin much at all. Was McLaurin injured? Why was he not getting reps to develop into an NFL receiver?

The season opener was in Philadelphia against the Eagles, and all of the Washington fan base quickly learned that this rookie was already making an impact, not on special teams but as the team’s No. 1 receiver.

In his first game, McLaurin not only started but also caught five passes for 125 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown. He continued to impress, finishing his rookie season of 14 games with 58 receptions for 919 yards (15.8), seven touchdowns, and 43 first downs.

Continuing to be the Commanders top receiver, McLaurin has totaled 1,118 receiving yards (2020), 1,053 (2021), 1,191 (2022) and 1,002 yards (2023).

Perhaps even more noteworthy are the quarterbacks who have played the position for Washington while McLaurin has been wearing the Burgundy and Gold: Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy, Alex Smith, Kyle Allen, Taylor Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Carson Wentz, Sam Howell and Jacoby Brissett.

McLaurin is not a youngster anymore. He has taken hundreds of NFL hits and will turn 29 in September. Washington will again have new coaches and quarterbacks for McLaurin this upcoming 2024 season.

The NFL is not a Disney make-believe movie. The new offensive system will need to be learned and performed under pressure. A struggling veteran (Marcus Mariota) and a rookie (Jayden Daniels) will need to be protected by a very unproven offensive line.

So yes, there are several questions about the 2024 offense, and Commanders fans are hoping, with McLaurin, that he will experience his first winning season in Washington.

 

Forecasting the Commanders 2024 quarterback competition

Jayden Daniels is Washington’s future. Will he start Week 1?

Of course, Jayden Daniels is the projected future starter for the Commanders, but who will start on opening day this September?

Will Daniels be ready enough to be named the opening-day starter over Marcus Mariota?

Cody Benjamin of CBSsports.com asked that question for each NFL team where he feels there will be an actual quarterback competition during this offseason leading up to the launch of the 2024 NFL season.

Quickly, the big picture is that Benjamin sees open competitions for the Commanders, Broncos, Raiders, Vikings, Patriots, Giants, and Steelers.

What does Benjamin see regarding the Commanders’ offseason competition between Daniels and Mariota?

This is the one sham competition of the bunch. But unlike in Chicago, where there is zero question about Caleb Williams’ place atop the Bears’ depth chart, both Daniels and the new Commanders regime are publicly allowing for the notion that backup Marcus Mariota is in contention for the Week 1 gig. We’ll just say this: If Mariota starts, there is something deeply wrong here. Daniels is 23, played five years of college ball and just went No. 2 overall to a roster littered with veteran additions. His electric mobility should give him an instant hold on the job.

If you are interested, here is how Benjamin projects the other starting quarterback competitions for this upcoming season.

For what it is worth, who are the last ten Commanders’ opening-day starting quarterbacks?

  • 2023     Sam Howell
  • 2022     Carson Wentz
  • 2021     Ryan Fitzpatrick
  • 2020     Dwayne Haskins
  • 2019     Case Keenum
  • 2018     Alex Smith
  • 2017     Kirk Cousins
  • 2016     Kirk Cousin
  • 2015     Kirk Cousins
  • 2014     Robert Griffin III
  • 2013     Robert Griffin III
  • 2012     Robert Griffin III
  • 2011     Rex Grossman
  • 2010     Donovan McNabb

When they last met: Commanders and Rams

The Rams dominated Washington the last time these teams played, which is the game best remembered as the day of Alex Smith’s miraculous comeback.

“When they last met” is an ongoing series during the NFL season, recalling the preceding game between Washington and the next opponent on the Commanders’ schedule.

Los Angeles 30, Washington 10 – Week 5, October 11, 2020

The Commanders offense was outgained by over 300 yards as the Rams came into FedEx Field and hammered the Washington Football Team 30-10 in Landover.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff completed 21 of his 30 passing attempts for 309 passing yards and two touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Washington quarterbacks were sacked eight times for minus 41 yards.

The Rams accumulated 429 total yards to Washington’s mere 108 yards of offense. Making his first start for Washington, Kyle Allen scored on his 7-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining in the first quarter. It gave Washington its only lead of the game, 7-6.

Goff then connected with Robert Woods from 56 yards, putting the Rams ahead for good at 13-7. With 7:32 remaining in the half, Goff scored himself from two yards, extending the Rams lead to 20-7.

Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson and Malcom Brown rushed for 61, 38 and 30 yards, respectively. While Washington could only generate 35 rushing yards (27 by Antonio Gibson).

Allen actually played fairly well, completing 9 of 13 attempts for 74 yards, before he was injured with 2:12 remaining in the half when he attempted to pick up a first down along the right sideline.

Allen did not return and was replaced by veteran Alex Smith who was active for the first time since his traumatic lower leg injury on Nov. 18, 2018 (693 days).

Kendall Fuller’s interception of Goff gave Washington an opportunity to score, and Dustin Hopkins came through with a 48-yard field goal on the half’s last play, reducing the Washington deficit to 20-10.

Smith struggled, attempting to avoid sacks, completing 9 passes but for only 37 yards. He was also sacked six times for minus 31 yards and a passer rating of only 58.7.

J.D. McKissic led Washington receivers with 6 receptions for 46 yards, while Terry McLaurin and Gibson contributed 26 and 24 receiving yards, respectively.

With the win, the Rams climbed to 4-1; however, it was the fourth consecutive loss for Washington after opening at home with a 27-17 win over the Eagles.

Commanders seek to win first road opener since…

Do you remember the last time Washington won its road opener?

When did the Washington NFL franchise last win their first road game of a season?

It certainly wasn’t last season in Detroit. The Lions completely embarrassed the Commanders, racing out to a 22-0 halftime lead before defeating Washington 36-27.

How about 2021? Washington had split their first two games, both at home, losing to the Chargers 20-16 and then defeating the Giants 30-29. They traveled to Buffalo for the season’s first road game and were blown out by the Bills. The Bills had leads of 21-0 and 43-14, winning 43-21.

Ron Rivera’s first road game as a Washington head coach in 2020 was not competitive. Washington had won the opener at home 27-17 over the Eagles. But in Phoenix, the Cardinals raced to a 20-0 halftime lead and led 27-3 early in the final quarter before beating Washington 30-15.

Was it during Jay Gruden’s last season as head coach in 2019? Washington opened on the road at Philadelphia. Quarterback Case Keenum connected with tight end Vernon Davis for a 48-yard touchdown and rookie receiver Terry McLaurin for a 69-yard touchdown, and the Redskins led the Eagles 17-0 in the second quarter.

However, the Eagles then outscored Washington 32-10 the rest of the way, defeating Washington 32-27.

That’s right; we have to go all the way back to 2018 to find Washington winning their first road game of a season. The Redskins opened at Arizona, and new quarterback Alex Smith had touchdown passes to Chris Thompson (13 yards) and Jordan Reed (4 yards), opening up a 24-0 lead before winning 24-6.

So, it was six NFL seasons ago when Washington won their road opener. Today, Washington will face the Broncos in Denver. Not only are they looking to win a road opener, but this will be Sam Howell’s first NFL road game as well.

Commanders season opener in 11 days: Washington’s best No. 11

11 days until Week 1 for the Washington Commanders. Who wore No. 11 best for Washington?

Commanders Wire continues a countdown to Washington’s season opener for 2023 in 11 days. Who was the team’s best player wearing No. 11?

Washington NFL trivia for $200, please.

What do Carson Wentz, Casey Weldon, Alex Smith, Patrick Ramsey, and Kim McQuilken have in common?

A: They all were quarterbacks for the Redskins who wore jersey No.11. For the younger fans, McQuilken spent his last season in the NFL as the backup for Joe Theismann in 1979. Weldon likewise spent his last NFL season as a Redskin, backing up Brad Johnson in the 1999 season.

Smith will always be remembered for his horrific injury, frightening infections and remarkable recovery to play again in the NFL. In fact, has any player in NFL history come back from what Alex Smith did to play again in the NFL? Wouldn’t it be appropriate if the NFL renamed the award “The Alex Smith Comeback Player of the Year award?”

DeSean Jackson (2014-16) was an explosive weapon for the Redskins offense in his three Washington seasons. His 56 receptions for 1,169 yards gave him the NFL’s highest average yards per reception at 20.9. The next season Jackson battled injury, only making 30 receptions. Yet, he still averaged 17.6 yards a reception. His 50 receptions in 2017 generated 668 yards (13.4 YPR).

Some other Washington receivers who wore No. 11 were Terrelle Pryor (2017), Devin Thomas (2008-10), Cam Sims (2021-22), Aldrick Robinson (2012-13), and Mike Espy (2006).

Mark Rypien (1988-93) started 72 of his 77 Washington games. He led the team to a 45-27 record in games he started. He passed for 15,928 yards and 101 touchdowns. Rypien’s best season was when he guided the Washington offense to the 1991 Super Bowl XXVI championship. In that season, he led the NFL with 14.3 yards per reception, 8.34 Adjusted Net Yards per attempt, 5 game-winning drives. He was All-Pro 2nd Team and voted MVP of Super Bowl XXVI. In 2002 Rypien was voted one of the 70 Greatest Redskins.