Tag: RT Andrew Wylie

Postgame quotes after Commanders maddening loss to Giants

Current players and former players weigh in on Sunday’s loss.

This Commanders loss was not disappointing nor depressing.

No, it was maddening and infuriating.

What was the reaction in the locker room and the postgame shows?

“We’ve got to be better separating against man, making contested catches and helping Sam out, whether that’s signals or little things throughout the game or throughout a certain look that could give him comfortability that he can really drive the ball.”  Terry McLaurin

“We need help getting the team ready to perform. That’s the best you can give me? That is not good enough.” Rick Doc Walker

“We’re hurting ourselves. … If you want a chance … to have a rhythm, you got to make the routine plays. You have to be able to execute at a higher level (or) you’re shooting yourself in the foot. It’s hard to play against yourself and the opponent.”  Terry McLaurin

“I would say, today, Washington beat Washington… everybody that was involved players and coaches, deserved some blame…everybody is at fault in this football game.” Brian Mitchell

“This team is not winning because we don’t hold them accountable. This team is not winning because we in the media. we as fans find reasons to give them excuses as to why they can’t get better. Tell them the truth. Right now they are not good.” Brian Mitchell

“I love this franchise, and I will not lie to them. Everybody from top to bottom has to get better, or this thing is not going to change up.” Brian Mitchell

“What I wanted to see was for us to play better, be more efficient, be more consistent as a team. There’s a lot of little details that were missed and these things have to be looked at and corrected.” Ron Rivera

“As much as we say it is not that bad, it is really hurting us. You can’t possibly think you are going to be productive each drive if you are allowing yourself to be taking a sack. Sacks happen, but when they happen they way they are for us, something has to change…” Santana Moss

“To me, it’s how you bounce back. We have ten games left to go, you never know what’s going to happen. You have to take them one at a time, you got to stay focused on it.” Ron Rivera

“He was wide open. I have to give him a better throw.” Sam Howell on the 4th down pass to Jahan Dotson

“Hats off to the defense; they kept us in the football game,” Sam Howell

“It’s very, very frustrating…it’s on us five up front. It’s that simple, and it’s something we need to correct.” Andrew Wylie on Sam Howell getting sacked so often.

Commanders get embarrassed by the Bills 37-3

There were no positives for the Commanders.

The Cardinals stink.

The Broncos stink.

I mean, the Dolphins were up 70-20, and there were still seven minutes remaining in that game. Miami eventually won, 70-20.

The Commanders … oh well, you get the idea.

The Commanders were 2-0, having defeated the Cardinals and then the Broncos. Today at home on FedEx Field, the Commanders were embarrassed by the Buffalo Bills 37-3.

It was so bad that I don’t know where to start.

The Commanders were only 1 of 9 on third downs today. Why was that? Starting with interceptions, there were four of those by Sam Howell; one was even returned for a Bills touchdown.

Oh, did I mention there were nine, yes, nine times Washington quarterback Sam Howell was sacked?

When the Commanders managed to get into the red zone twice, they came away with no points each time.

It was so bad that Commanders head coach Ron Rivera sent out kicker Joey Slye with seconds remaining to attempt a 51-yard field goal, hoping (and probably praying) to avoid a 37-point shutout.

Antonio Gibson fumbled again today, and the Bills recovered it. Wonder if offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will come down on Gibson, benching him?

Speaking of Bieniemy, after wins over the Cardinals and Broncos, NFL analysts were referencing Bieniemy like he was Bill Walsh or Joe Gibbs creating an offensive attack.

During the Bills’ onslaught against the Washington offense,  I wondered how strongly Bieniemy lobbied to get right tackle and former Kansas City Chiefs Andrew Wylie signed during the free agent signing period back in March.

Plain and simple, the players and coaches alike today were humiliated and shown to be humans and very beatable.

Dust yourself off, men. The sun will rise tomorrow, and you can get back to work toward putting on a better showing next week.

Doc Walker: Some Commanders are ‘whiners, sissies’

Doc Walker pulls no punches, gives some outstanding analysis on what he’s seen this summer.

Rick “Doc” Walker was doing what he does so well Monday.

A guest on “The Al Galdi Podcast,” Walker, a former Redskins tight end (1980-85), was entertaining, daring and humorous. In other words, it was Doc Walker, as I’ve known him for 40 years.

Walker, as usual, did not hold back sharing his opinion of what he has observed thus far in the 2023 Commanders preseason. “Everyone could see Wylie (Andrew) was struggling at right tackle.”

Walker liked something he saw in returner Kazmeir Allen, “I saw potential promise in our return game if that young man will listen to Brian Mitchell…All that wide running ain’t gonna work in the NFL. But, if you got the guts to jam that thing up the pipe, you coming out of their brother. Because this dude can fly.”

“Doc” voiced his concern over the slow Washington starts during the Ron Rivera three seasons (2020-22). “This (preseason) is like a training session. I got to get you through this, to get you ready for Arizona. Because my target is Arizona in the regular season. Because we have been awful in September.”

Walker then naturally transitioned into Washington’s new offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy. “But now we have a new attitude, though some seem to have gotten their feathers ruffled over Bieniemy. I just hope he keeps doing what he is doing.”

Walker continued, “Anybody that has ever gone from bad teams to good teams understands why bad teams are stuck on stupid. If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going to keep getting the same results.”

The former tight end really appreciates the route running of receiver Jahan Dotson. “If they had a pay-per-view package just for me to watch/stay on him, I’d buy the package just to watch him. He is a superior route runner. I am telling you it is an art.”

How does Doc feel about the offensive line? “Here’s my deal, if you can’t run block or pass block, why are you on the team? Because you played for the head coach? We saw that crap last year with the two guards that were shot (Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner). So, it depends. Do you guys want to win, or are running a boy’s club or a professional football team?”

Walker again turned to Wylie in particular, “I expect him to play better next week because it is the test of a lifetime because he has the Ravens all week. So, if he has any fight in him, any dog in him, it better come out this week.”

“Doc” loves Sam Cosmi being moved from tackle to guard and looks forward to what he thinks Cosmi can accomplish inside.

Then “Doc” again turned his focus to the regular season.

“All I care about is if we are better in September than we have been since Ron Rivera has run the team. We have got to be better in September. In order to do that, it gets ugly in the process. It’s not going to be perfect. You have to go through some tough times.”

“I just want all the whiners that think EB’s practice…………EB is training you to be a champion. I know it is foreign to a lot of these sissies, but the bottom line is that was pathetic what went down.”

“It altered my demeanor all week. I could not believe it. I was shocked by that. But, you gotta move on.”

How was Sam Howell’s night for Commanders?

Overall, it was a good night for the young Washington quarterback.

Sam Howell had some really good moments Friday night in the preseason opener.

Howell started against the Browns in Cleveland and proceeded to complete 9 of his 12 passing attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown for a 119.1 passer rating.

Howell also carried once, gaining eight yards, on a play in which he displayed good feet. He was also sacked once for a loss of -8 yards and a holding call resulted in a safety for Cleveland’s two first-half points.

On Washington’s first possession, facing a 3rd and 6 at the 25 yard line, Howell was forced left but was swift enough, gaining 8 yards for the first down to the 33.

A sack losing eight yards and a holding call and Howell faced a 3rd & 30, resulting in a punt.

The second Commanders possession began deep in the hole at their own 5. Right tackle Andrew Wylie was guilty of holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Howell’s third drive was a beauty, with 10 plays and 80 yards for a touchdown. Howell found Cole Turner for 7 yards, Terry McLaurin for 7 yards, and Turner again for 4 yards.

Perhaps his most significant play of the night was a 4th & 3 at the Browns 39. Why punt when it is preseason? Give your quarterback and offensive unit the opportunity to convert, meaning more offensive plays. Howell rolled right and found Turner for 13 yards to the Browns’ 26.

On the next play, Howell dropped back, looked left and connected with Dotson on the 26-yard touchdown.