Tag: Rick Doc Walker

Commanders announce new preseason TV broadcasting trio

Two former players and a popular local broadcaster will call Washington’s preseason games in 2023.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”afe1e038-d3c2-49c0-922d-6511a229f69c” cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

The Washington Commanders announced not only the pending sale of the team but a new broadcast team for the Commanders’ preseason games in 2023.

The new team will consist of Chick Hernandez, Brian Mitchell and Logan Paulsen. Hernandez will carry the play-by-play announcer duties with Mitchell and Paulsen providing analysis.

Hernandez has done play-by-play in the past during the preseason. He was once teamed with Joe Theismann as the analyst and former Washington running back Clinton Portis was on the sidelines.

No doubt, many Commanders fans will be glad to have Hernandez back in the fold. He is a local native; he is a diehard, and he exhibits passion and pleasure regarding the team. Perhaps most importantly, he has demonstrated his enthusiasm for the team for decades.

“I know Chick will be good at this and he and Brian Mitchell have a really good rapport, having worked together for years. Brian is now available with the NBCSW deal going away. Logan will be basically a second analyst from the sideline vs. just a reporter. He’s just too smart,” Julie Donaldson, Commanders senior vice president of media and content, told Commanders Wire.

It is my hope that both Paulsen and Mitchell will be able to continue to be objective and possess the freedom to not only praise the team when it is due but also offer honest criticism when it is also due. Both are no doubt, quite capable.

Most recently, the preseason broadcasts for the Commanders games were the 2022 trio of Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Rick “Doc” Walker (color commentator) and Paulsen (sideline reporter).

Rick Doc Walker: Commanders are ‘so underwhelming’

Doc Walker talked the current state of the Commanders — on the field.

A guest on the BMitch and Finlay Show on 106.7 The Fan, Monday, former Redskins tight end Rick “Doc” Walker was on fire with how he feels about this current Commanders’ team.

Walker recalled what it was like 40 years ago playing for the fanbase, “It is the most overwhelming feeling I’ve had in my life of how much it mattered to the people in our community. There was no racism. Everybody treated you like you were family. You spill your guts; you play hurt, you do whatever it takes to get to the prize.”

Regarding the current Commanders team,
“To see these guys who are so underwhelming, fail so often, and be paid so much. I am pulling for them. But all of our kids have never seen them do anything!”

“We went 0-5 (1981). That was when you were borderline suicidal. These guys have done that repeatedly. Embarrassment was we didn’t want to show our face around this town when we didn’t win. You are that committed because you didn’t want to let people down.”

“Now it is professional. The guys can pull up in their Rolls Royce. Nothing ever made me throw up in my mouth (like) every day when guys were driving up to the park in their Rolls with nothing to show for it.”

Walker talked of how what has become news over the years for the franchise is signing free agents and drafting first-round picks.

“It’s all fake; it’s built on sand. They don’t understand; it’s like a girl is all made-up, looks good, got all the style but has horrible breadth.”

J.P. Finlay asked Walker what he made of Chase Young who “when he steps off of the bus is all-world.” Walker didn’t hesitate, interrupting Finlay, “I don’t make nothing of it, save your breath.” Brian Mitchell burst out in laughter.

When Finlay attempted to explain the Commanders have a decision on Young’s fifth-year option, Walker didn’t miss a beat. “Option? You were in last place in the division. I’m not into that (option). What place are you in? Last. So everyone/anybody is expendable.”

“I don’t believe this team is dependent on anybody because you have not been able to win with any of them. That’s me. I am not the norm, I don’t want to be the norm.”

“You got a team in last place. I wish I was the one doing the negotiations. (Mitchell again laughed). You in last place and you think you have leverage on me? You in last place in the division. You got your _ _ _ kicked twice by the Giants?”

“This team has talent, they beat the best (Eagles), but again they don’t get it. Everyone is all worried about the individuals, first-rounders, Pro Bowlers. You got all that, but you are in last place.”

“So, until they take the mindset of ‘we are not going to be kicked around and mocked until we win the hill’… that is what I get into.”

“I like Chase. He is going to be in great shape. He is going to look great. I start judging him at kickoff.”

Washington football’s great history with ‘The Hogs’

A historical perspective on “The Hogs.”

Just when you think it is just about all over, the negative news regarding the Washington football franchise and Daniel Snyder continues.

Washington football’s great history with “The Hogs”

Apparently, the “Hogs” themselves have threatened Daniel Snyder with a lawsuit. Who were the “Hogs?” How did the “Hogs” launch?

Joe Bugel who named his offensive lineman the “Hogs” had come to Washington in 1981 as part of Joe Gibbs’ original coaching staff for the Redskins. Washington drafted Mark May (1st round) and Russ Grimm (3rd round), and grabbed Joe Jacoby an undrafted lineman out of Louisville. They were in the lineup early in that first season as the team struggled to an 0-5 start; however, progressed wonderfully to finish 8-8.

From there the foundation was laid; Washington would win the NFC East the next three seasons, and it would win the NFC four times and three Super Bowls over Joe Gibbs’ first reign as head coach (1981-92).

Joe Gibbs led Washington to three Super Bowl victories, each time with a different quarterback and featured running back. Yet, the constant was Gibbs himself and several original “Hogs:” Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic and Don Warren (tight end). Tight end Rick “Doc” Walker, guard Fred Dean, guard Mark May and tackle George Starke were the other original members in 1982.

John Riggins’ rugged style led to him being an honorary “Hog” and over the years as linemen and tight ends retired, new members were brought into the “Hogs” family.

Starke, the eldest of the original “Hogs”, retired following the 1984 season while Dean had been the first to depart, his last game as a “Hog” being Super Bowl XVII. May was moved from guard to Starke’s right tackle position, and Washington obtained guard R.C Thielmann.

1985 was Walker’s and Riggins’s last NFL season. And when Russ Grimm went down in the 1987 season, Raleigh McKenzie was ready to step right in at left guard as the team won the NFC and Super Bowl XXII over Denver 42-10.

Without question, the best of the Hogs, who was not an original member was tackle Jim Lachey. Lachey would come in 1988 in the trade of Jay Schroeder to the Raiders. He originally played right tackle, moving May back to right guard. Later, Lachey was moved to left tackle, with Jacoby switching to right tackle.

May’s last season in Washington was the ’89 season; McKenzie’s versatility meant he played right guard, and Ed Simmons started 11 1990 games when Joe Jacoby was injured.

The best performance by the unit occurred in the 1991 season when Washington was 14-2, then won each of their playoff games by multiple scores and SB XXVI 37-24 over Buffalo after leading 37-10 and celebrating on the sidelines.

That ’91 team had added Mark Schlereth at right guard, and the flexible McKenzie was most often at left guard when Grimm suffered injuries. Yet the Hogs led Washington to be the highest-scoring team in the NFL; Mark Rypien passed for 3,564 yards, 28 touchdowns, and in all 16 regular season games was sacked only seven times!

After Gibbs retired following the 1992 season, the winning decreased, and the “Hogs” were retiring, but there were some other notable additions as “Hogs” over the next few years such as Ray Brown and Tre’ Johnson.

Yes, the “Hogs” were awesome; they brought Washington fans so much joy, so much winning, the Hogettes, and even Hogfarmers Charitable Foundation, supporting families who suffer from pediatric cancer.

In fact, there were some fans that desired the name “Hogs” over the “Commanders” as the franchise was rebranding.

Now, we have the very unfortunate news that the attempt to provide the team a mascot (a hog) is going to be met with a legal suit by some of the original “Hogs?”

The original “Hogs” feel the Commanders have no right to profit off of the name given to them some 40 years ago by Bugel. I loved the “Hogs” and still love the “Hogs.” Yet, honestly, did the group ever pursue legal standing over the last 40 years? Why only now?

 

Doc Walker shocked by Commanders’ weak performance

Doc Walker puts a lot of blame for Sunday’s loss on Ron Rivera and Scott Turner.

Former Washington tight end for two Super Bowl teams, Rick “Doc” Walker, was shocked Sunday watching the Commanders lose 24-8 to the Eagles.

Walker was the scheduled guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast Monday. Here are some of Walker’s observations and opinions of Sunday’s game.

During the conversation, Walker questioned the offensive line, Carson Wentz, Scott Turner and Ron Rivera. He praised the three pass breakups by Benjamin St-Juste.

“I was in shock. I couldn’t believe what was going on because the Commanders were manhandled.”

“We really got manhandled; I felt bad for them… I was embarrassed; that’s all I can say about it.  I am hopeful we can get somebody who can block this kid number 11 (Micah Parsons) for Dallas and see if we have a chance.”

“They (Scott Turner, Ron Rivera) didn’t sense that Carson was out of sync, that he couldn’t handle the immediate pressure. He held on to the ball instead of throwing it away. It was a jailbreak on him.”

“One of our best guys 82 (Logan Thomas); it was like he was not even in the game plan. We were out of sync and didn’t recover. With Turner on the sidelines, you’ve got to feel it. You’ve got to see that something is not happening, and how do we fix it?”

“When you got two big horses, 320 pounds in front of you, you don’t expect them to get beat like a turnstile. It was inexcusable. You cannot be beaten that way after the defense gives you a couple of stops (early).”

“Oh, by the way, the game is Sunday. All week you are supposed to peak on Sunday, not Monday. Not at the podium; you are supposed to peak on the field, on game day.”

“Why would it change? The same guy is making the decisions (Dan Snyder). I don’t have to ‘think’ anything (about Ron Rivera). Everybody has a record; it’s documented.”

Sheehan mentioned how an NFL team can’t be outscored 46-0 two consecutive weeks in the first half. Walker responded by asking, And he (Rivera) got pi**** off because he was asked about Jimmy Garappolo?”

“It’s ironic that both guys we got up front (Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner) are once again from Carolina. So clearly there is a soft spot for people who have been in Ron’s past. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is best for the program.  And right now it is blowing up in his face because they are not.”

“As bad as it looks and feels you still got a shot. But you are not going to be able to talk your way out of this one. The people you train are going to have to look like they have been coached.”

Walker called for Chris Paul to be inserted into getting playing time. He stressed the jury is out on the guys up front. “You drafted him (Paul). He made your team; coach him up! Get him in there. It can’t be worse.”

“That’s the problem; we get stuck on people here as if you have no alternative. If you have no alternative, that is your fault (referring to Rivera who has control of player personnel).

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

 

Rick ‘Doc’ Walker: ‘Detroit was tougher’ than Commanders

Doc Walker had plenty to say about the Commanders and the coaching staff Monday. He’s not wrong.

Former Washington tight end Rick “Doc” Walker still loves Washington NFL football.

Walker still wants to win as well. There are times like Monday when Walker is a good listen. While a guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast, Walker had some compelling/provocative things to say about the Commanders’ 36-27 loss to the Lions in Week 2. Here are a few excerpts.

“They don’t seem to be clear about what it is they are trying to accomplish.  It’s like I don’t know who is really in charge. I have no idea. From a conceptual standpoint, we keep leaning on our defensive line, and that is good. But we have seen other people destroy us, disrupt us and we don’t seem to have that level of disruption.”

“It would seem we have to create more immediate presence through blitzing or play more man coverage than zone, to where we dictate the outcome. We seem to be a punching bag. I, for the life of me, don’t understand why we don’t contest our opponents’ passes.”

“Our opponents are catching balls uncontested. We are giving them too many junk plays, and that is confusion, disorganization, or incompetence.”

“If Jackson (William) is so good at what he does (man coverage) let him do what he does well. Same thing with 52 (Jamin Davis). ‘Well, he’s really athletic and fast.’ Well then, when in doubt, why don’t you have him rush the passer?”

“I’m telling you, it’s their job (coaches). They selected him (first round) and then said, ‘Oops, we want him to do something different. Oops, we are changing that.’ Come on, man. It’s a classic clown show act! You figure it out, and then we will follow you. The kid seems to be confused. It appears to be a mixed message on the defensive side of the room.”

They (Detroit) were tougher. They were more aggressive. That’s how they train. They were exactly what we thought they would be. I thought we had more talent, but we couldn’t get it cranked up. When we did, it wasn’t enough. And then we became analytics and all that other crap that goes into it. At that point, you can stick a fork in yourself.”

“It’s the new way out. It’s the new thing, the new jive. You can just say, ‘It’s the Analytics.’ Oh, ok, He (Ron Rivera) is really lucky that there are a lot of people who are not in that press crew.”

“We had Carter (DeAndre) last year, and he was a threat. But that was not a high enough priority for us. We figured it out. Maybe the Analytics didn’t allow us to think he had a value.”

“What matters is are we going to have people that can come up and fundamentally tackle people? This is the worst (pause), I don’t even want to call them linebackers. I don’t know what you call them, But I do know this, the guy that they don’t want to sign (Landon Collins) tackles better than anybody on their defense right now except 22 (Darrick Forrest). The best they have been is when he was at his best. They need an offensive lineman and a guy who tackles, and they are playing badass.”

Regarding the Commanders not bringing in more defensive help, “Yea, the Analytics said they didn’t need anybody.”

“Forget the publicity, forget where they went to college and all that crap. Just look at how they (Detroit) performed. People are different than we are. We get close, but we don’t get the prize. Our guy 90 (Montez Sweat) who I consider a freakish guy, is really good but he doesn’t finish. He doesn’t get the desired results. He’s close; our guys are close.”

“Payne (Daron) is playing like he just got out of lockdown. You see that difference? That is the difference that you either have to be coached into that, punked into that, or forced into that. We don’t have THAT. ”

“We have good guys, they are doing a good job, but there is not canine in them that comes out. You don’t get gashed like that. It just doesn’t happen. There is a disconnection, a communication void that is going on. It’s as clear as day to me because I’ve been on winners.”

“Right now if this was a soap box this would be a best-seller; it would be a No.1 rated sitcom because that’s what it is, a sitcom. You think I’m laughin’; I’m not laughin’. It’s pitiful.”

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]