Coaches are going to evaluate players during the preseason but fans should evaluate the team overall. Will they be prepared for the first regular season game after only three preseason games?
In today’s first preseason game against the New York Jets, the Washington Commanders moved quickly with discipline and without many mistakes in the first quarter. These are the little things, the basics, the details that this team has been lacking for some time.
It ended as a 20-17 loss by the Commanders but there were some encouraging signs.
Granted, it was the first quarter of the first preseason game but fans can can conclude that the coaching staff had this team prepared to play.
The biggest highlight of the game for the Commanders was in the first offensive drive. In a preseason game, that was prime time for first round Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, the second pick in the draft, to throw a long pass into the arms of covered wide receiver Dyami Brown who made a brilliant catch for 42 yards to the Jets 24 yard line. Following some punishing runs by Brian Robinson Jr., and Austin Ekeler, Daniels faked a hand-off and easily ran into the end zone.
In the second quarter, New York Jets Brandon Allen ran over the Commanders defense. Then mistakes, mistackles and a Jets touchdown over Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and the score was tied at 7-7.
Forbes has been having difficulties with vertical routes and every wide receiver in the league knows it. But a standout play like the 44-yard pass from Jeff Driskel to second-round pick, rookie tight end Ben Sinnott, helped counter the disappointing Jets touchdown.
The quarterback to tight end combination, like Brady to Gronkowski and Mahomes to Kelce, has been delivering Super Bowl wins who have the talent to pull it off. Is Sinnot the next star tight end in the NFL? Only time will tell. But Driskel to Sinnot turned into an Ramiz Ahmed field goal. The Jets countered with another field goal and a 10-10 tie before halftime.
By the second half, any comparison with a regular season game is apples to oranges. It still highlighted preparation by the coaches. A few nice throws from Sam Hartman to Luke McCaffrey, Kazmeir Allen and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint in the fourth quarter and a nice 14-yard run by Marcus Riley turned into a two-yard touchdown run by Riley for a 17-10 lead after Riley Patterson’s extra point.
Note that there’s little patience for journeyman place kickers in the preseason and a 39-yard field goal try by Patterson in the first half hit the goal post and bounced back. It’s one of the “hard knocks” of training camp and a kicking battle currently favors Ahmed–although both kickers are questionable.
Cornerback James Pierre was burned by Jets receiver Brandon Smith on a 37 yard pass from Adrian Martinez and Pierre may not be long for this team. The play led to a 2-yard touchdown run by Israel Abanikanda for a 17-17 tie.
Martinez and Smith connected again later in the quarter for the Jets and the Commanders defensive backups gave up enough yards for a final 37-yard Jets field goal with 21 second left to clinch the game.
Still, the coaching staff, second round pick Jayden Daniels and veteran wide receiver Dyami Brown all receive A grades for the first quarter of a game that ended in a meaningless final score of 20-17.
The next test for the Commanders team, both for players and coaches, is in Miami against the Dolphins next Saturday, August 17. Some questions were answered today but many more questions remain.
Coaches will look for Emmanuel Forbes to improve coverage on vertical routes and try evaluate players who can add depth to the roster, particularly on the offensive and defensive lines. They’ll also look for players who stand out by rising to the occasion with only two preseason games left to play.
Yes, it was the first preseason game and a losing score but it was also a good start for a Commanders team as they begin their mission to reestablish the integrity and warrior-like spirit of a once proud Washington football franchise.
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