Daily Slop – 14 Aug 24: Mark Bullock analyzes Commanders run game against the Jets

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Breaking down the Commanders run schemes

The preseason opener provided a promising first look at how the Commanders run game could work this season

The Washington Commanders preseason opener against the Jets provided us with a first look at what the Kliff Kingsbury offense might look like this season. Obviously, the Commanders aren’t going to show their whole offense in preseason and they weren’t game planning specific schemes and concepts for the Jets defense, but they also aren’t going to be running plays that they haven’t been installing in camp with the intent to use in the regular season.

One of the things that stood out to me when watching the All-22 footage of the game was the amount of zone run schemes and how nicely layered together they were. Now again, it’s only preseason and they aren’t showing their whole offense, but Kingsbury’s offense in Arizona majored in gap scheme concepts and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson has a history with gap scheme runs too. So I was anticipating more gap scheme runs from this team. I do still expect to see things like the GT Counter package the Kingbury used with the Cardinals once we get to the regular season, but perhaps we will also see plenty of zone scheme runs too.

This is perhaps the influence of having a coach like Anthony Lynn on staff. Lynn comes from a two-year spell on the 49ers staff under Kyle Shanahan and is now the Commanders run game coordinator and running backs coach. You could see that Shanahan influence from this preseason game against the Jets, even without any real game planning being done in the preseason.

Let’s start with the first run of the game. Here we see the Commanders in the shotgun with running back Brian Robinson aligned to the left of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Tight end John Bates lines up to the right of the formation but a step back from the line of scrimmage while receiver Dyami Brown is also tight to the right of the formation.

The Commanders run a wide zone run scheme, with the offensive line all stepping in unison to the right and executing the typical zone scheme techniques. They look to generate double teams up front with right guard Sam Cosmi and center Tyler Biadasz, both are very athletic and effective zone blockers, working to the three technique defensive tackle while left guard Nick Allegretti and left tackle Trent Scott look to secure the defensive tackle on the back side. Bates executes what Shanahan would call a sift, where he sifts back across the offensive line to block the defensive end on the back side of the run. Brown is also involved as he climbs up to the safety to try and block him.

The interior trio make this play work well. Cosmi initially secures the defensive tackle on his outside shoulder before Biadasz works across and helps kick the defender outside to ensure Cosmi wins that block. Biadasz then climbs up to the second level and picks up the Mike (middle) linebacker. At left guard, Allegretti gets in front of the back side defensive tackle and holds him up long enough to allow Scott to get to the block. Scott struggles to gain control of the block fully, so Allegretti stays attached to help secure it. This all creates a nice lane inside for Robinson to run into on his way to a solid gain.

Now that run isolated on its own is nothing that noteworthy, it’s just a pretty simple zone run scheme with a sift block from the tight end. But it was part of a theme for the day. The Commanders layered in lots of similar zone scheme runs with slight adjustments on each one throughout the game.

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Washington Post (paywall)

With Commanders, Martavis Bryant tries to revive career derailed by suspensions

The 32-year-old hasn’t played an NFL game since 2018 because a five-year ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Washington Commanders signed wide receiver Martavis Bryant on Tuesday, giving the team some needed size and competition at the position. Anything beyond that is far from guaranteed: Bryant is 32 and hasn’t played an NFL game since 2018.

Bryant, who was last listed at 6-foot-4, worked out for the Commanders in the spring, then returned Tuesday to sign and take the field for his first practice, an opportunity he said he wasn’t sure he would get again.

Bryant’s first day was limited as he got acclimated to the team and coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. He participated in individual drills to start but took just two reps during the 11-on-11 team periods. The bulk of his time was spent on the sideline talking to offensive assistant Andre Coleman, who appeared to give him a condensed introduction to the offense.

A fourth-round pick out of Clemson in 2014, Bryant began his NFL career with promise. With a long frame and a track background (he ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash at the combine), Bryant had the size and skill set coveted in receivers. He also had a knack for big plays.

As rookie, he had five touchdowns in his first three games and led all receivers at 21.1 yards per reception. In his three active seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he averaged 15.2 yards per catch and had three touchdowns of 80 yards or more.

In 44 career games (36 with the Steelers and eight with the Oakland Raiders), Bryant totaled 2,183 receiving yards (15.1 per catch) with 17 touchdown catches. He also had 94 rushing yards with one rushing touchdown.

Bryant’s pro trajectory was stunted by multiple suspensions for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. He was suspended for four games in 2015, then served a year-long ban in 2016. After getting traded to the Raiders in 2018 and signing a one-year deal, he was suspended indefinitely for yet another violation.

Bryant was reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in November 2023 and promptly signed with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad.

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The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders signing Martavis Bryant adds size, intrigue to uncertain WR room

“I’m sure it’s a grind to stay locked in and be ready for your moment,” McLaurin said. “But when you see him out here running around, big, strong. He looks like he’s in great shape.”

Despite that NFL inactivity — Bryant participated in the XFL as recently as 2023 and was on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad last year — Washington is taking a chance on size. The Commanders worked out the 6-foot-4 receiver in the spring and again on Tuesday before the signing.

“I honestly didn’t know,” Bryant said about having another shot at returning to the NFL. “I had to make sure I was prepared to seize the moment if I was given the opportunity. I’m grateful and thankful.”

Washington coach Dan Quinn was Dallas’ defensive coordinator last season as Bryant continued his comeback bid.

“Competing against him … seeing the skills, seeing how we competed against him. Often, we would put him in a certain spot to simulate the size of a receiver or the speed,” Quinn said. “Getting him here now with (receivers coach) Bobby (Engram), getting the process started, we’ll find out the things that he can do well and how we can feature them.”

Bryant’s long-shot roster candidacy isn’t a bonkers notion considering the Commanders’ situation and the development of heralded first-round quarterback Jayden Daniels.

McLaurin is atop Washington’s receiver depth chart. After the 6-foot playmaker rotational uncertainty follows, and none of the likely roster options offer red zone size. Though the tight ends, namely Zach Ertz and second-round pick Ben Sinnott, can help Daniels in the red zone, Quinn acknowledged Washington sought more height and physicality at receiver.

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Commanders.com

Martavis Bryant wants to seize the moment in new opportunity with Commanders

From the limited amount that he’s seen, he’s already excited to be part of what Washington is trying to build.

“Super exciting, man,” Bryant said. “Guys are out there making plays, working hard and playing fast.”

As for how Bryant fits into that, he has a straightforward approach.

“Whatever they need me to do, man,” Bryant said. “ Just trying to get back and get better, learn every day, learn from my coaches, learn from my teammates.”

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ESPN

Commanders sign Martavis Bryant, after long NFL suspension

Dallas signed him last season to the practice squad after he was reinstated. Quinn was the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.

“Martavis has a really cool skill set. He’s got size and length and the ability to use him in the red zone,” Quinn said. “He looks like a linebacker playing wideout from a size standpoint.”

Quinn said Bryant’s size was a factor in Washington’s decision to sign him. He also said coaching against him in practice helped make the decision. Washington also worked out Bryant in the spring after Dallas released him.

“Seeing the skills, seeing how we compete against him, oftentimes in practice we put him into a certain spot to simulate the size of a receiver, the speed of a receiver,” Quinn said. “He’s got a real size, like the catch radius, throw it over here, he has got length to throw it away from somebody … knowing, hey, this is incomplete, or my guy’s getting it.”

Bryant said he now weighs 208 pounds, having lost 22 pounds after last season. He still has an uphill battle to make the final roster, though Washington is not deep at the position. The Commanders do have Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey in addition to Olamide Zaccheaus and Jamison Crowder. The latter two also are competing for the punt returner’s job. It’s possible one spot will be available for Bryant and a handful of others.

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Sportico (subscription)

Most Valuable NFL Teams 2024: Cowboys First to Top $10 Billion

Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment CEO Tad Brown says non-NFL events are a “massive focus” for the Washington Commanders, which Josh Harris’ group bought last year for $6.05 billion. Brown said HBSE’s Entertainment team has been supporting the Commanders in attracting top events to Landover, Md., including a series of soccer friendlies this summer and booking concerts and other non-football events for summer 2025.

Harris has continued to invest in the current stadium to upgrade the fan experience for NFL and non-NFL events but is also looking at the club’s next home. Brown said the Commanders’ eventual new venue will be designed as a world-class football stadium and to host the biggest concerts and special events on a global scale.

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Locked on Commanders: Washington Commanders Boosted by Return of Andrew Wylie & Darrick Forrest Ahead of Dolphins Practice

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The Little College in Pennsylvania | Hail Tales: Stories from Washington Football History |

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Commanders.com

PHOTOS | Commanders get back to work

The Washington Commanders returned to practice at their facility following their preseason matchup with the Jets. Check out the top photos from the afternoon.

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Washington Post (paywall)

Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy to have knee surgery for meniscus tear

The injury virtually ensures that Sam Darnold will begin the season as the Vikings’ starting quarterback.

The injury was suffered during Saturday’s opening preseason game, according to Vikings Coach Kevin O’Connell. It’s not clear how long McCarthy will be sidelined, but the injury threatens to impede his rookie-season progress and virtually ensures that Sam Darnold will open the season as the Vikings’ starter.

“We didn’t want J.J. to get injured,” O’Connell said during a news conference. “But we don’t know the severity yet. And that is honestly where we’re at right now. And I think we’re hopefully having a shorter timeline than a longer timeline. But the most important thing right now is making sure from a medical standpoint that we’ve identified the injury. The potential severity will come when we do that procedure. At that point in time, I’ll be giving you guys an update as that process plays out.”

If doctors determine McCarthy needs only a trim of his damaged meniscus, he could return to the field in weeks. But if they decide a full repair is required, he could be sidelined for months and miss much or even all of the season.

O’Connell said which type of procedure McCarthy will undergo will be “totally a medical decision” and added, “Certainly what’s best for the long-term health of J.J. McCarthy will be the priority.”

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Front Office Sports

Browns Already Getting Major Pushback on $2.4B Dome Plan

Last week, the Browns unveiled renderings and details of their vision for a new stadium. But on Sunday, two Cuyahoga County leaders released a letter pushing back on the NFL team’s plan, claiming it “does not make fiscal sense” for residents and taxpayers. The Browns are asking for a 50-50 partnership, meaning public funding would amount to $1.2 billion.

“We are writing to affirm our united commitment to keep the Browns in downtown Cleveland for generations to come,” the letter from Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne and council president Pernel Jones Jr. read. The team has been considering a $461 million offer from Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb to help renovate Cleveland Browns Stadium downtown. This came despite the Brook Park City Council passing a resolution encouraging the Browns to strongly consider building a stadium there.

Seen This Before?

The stadium developments surrounding the Browns in some ways mirror one of the franchise’s midwest NFL neighbors.

Earlier this year, the Bears and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released plans for a $4.7 billion domed lakefront stadium that would replace Soldier Field downtown. However, the office of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker eventually branded the Bears’ effort, as currently constructed, a “nonstarter.” That led to Chicago suburbs Aurora and Arlington Heights both renewing their public pursuit of building a new stadium for the Bears.

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