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Daily Slop – 15 Jul 24: Stay in touch with the Commanders and the NFL as training camp approaches

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A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general

Commanders links

Articles

Riggo’s Rag

Commanders getting an immediate upgrade with free-agent signing Frankie Luvu

The former undrafted free agent out of Washington State wasted no time in making an impact over offseason workouts. Luvu received widespread plaudits for his on-field production and early emergence into the heart and soul of Joe Whitt Jr.’s defense. Something that was highlighted further by ex-team cornerback Fred Smoot based on comments via Fan Nation.

“Not just the energy, not just the intensity, not just knowing where to be. He looked the part, he plays the part and I can’t wait to see him…being part of some organized chaos. He’s like a rolling ball with knives sticking out of it. I just can’t wait to see him go downhill.”

– Fred Smoot via Fan Nation

Luvu promises to form a highly productive linebacking tandem with Bobby Wagner. This looks like a tone-setting duo who can provide stability to a position group that became an ongoing source of frustration under Ron Rivera. Their arrival could also give Jamin Davis some extra freedom to maximize his outstanding athletic attributes on the edge.

The Commanders gave Luvu a three-year, $31 million deal with a $11.5 million signing bonus and $19.12 million guaranteed. He was one of very few who received long-term commitments from Peters, which is a testament to the esteem in which the second-level enforcer is held in league circles.

There isn’t much Luvu cannot do on the field. His exceptional energy is infectious and should rub off positively on his teammates. The determination he displayed throughout Carolina’s two-win campaign in 2023 was nothing short of astonishing. If the Tafuna (American Samoa) High School product brings this to Washington, his impact will be immediate.

Quinn will already be thinking up ways on how to ensure Luvu enters the elite category for linebackers across the NFL next season. With 236 tackles, 12.5 sacks, nine passes defended, 29 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, and 26 pressures over the last two years as a starter, expectations couldn’t be higher.

Commanders Wire

Warren Sharp isn’t high on the Commanders offensive line in 2024

Analytics guru Warren Sharp recently released his 2024 NFL preview, and it’s clear that he doesn’t rate Washington’s offensive line highly, ranking them 27th in the NFL.

The good news? The Commanders are ranked ahead of the Cowboys after stealing away Biadasz — a four-year starter in Dallas.

Not only is Washington ranked ahead of Dallas, but another NFC East rival, the New York Giants, is ranked dead last. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are ranked fourth.

The Commanders offensive line could keep them from making a dramatic offensive improvement in 2024. There is a lot of hype around Daniels, but Washington must keep him upright. Opinions are mixed on Coleman. While most everyone liked him as a prospect, many saw him more at guard. Peters and the Commanders see Coleman as a tackle, and he split time with Lucas in the offseason program at left tackle.

Washington hopes Coleman is the answer. If he’s not, it could be another long season for the Commanders.

Sports Illustrated

Where Does Washington Legend Joe Gibbs Rank Among NFL Head Coaches?

Long before there was a Washington Commanders to speak of Joe Gibbs was leading the franchise to multiple championships.

“(Joe) Gibbs has one fewer career win than John Harbaugh over the same number of seasons, but that completely undersells the impact he had as Washington’s coach. During his first 12-year run with Washington, his teams finished with fewer than eight wins just once, a 7-9 season in 1988, and that includes an 8-1 record in the strike-shortened 1982 season,” says 33rd Team’s Dan Pizzuta in his column ranking the top 10 NFL head coaches of all-time. “Gibbs led teams to the playoffs nine times with four Super Bowl appearances and three wins. Despite being a Don Coryell pupil and building up an explosive passing game as San Diego’s offensive coordinator, Gibbs’s Washington teams were built through the offensive line and dominant ground game. He’s the only head coach to win a Super Bowl with three different quarterbacks.”

Not every season under Gibbs was a gem. The team started with an 8-8 campaign in his first season as head coach.

The next year, the strike-shortened one, Washington had as many wins in just nine games and won the first of three Super Bowls. That one quarterbacked by Joe Theismann.

Doug Williams quarterbacked the next, coming in the 1987 NFL season, and finally Gibbs won one more with quarterback Mark Rypien. Setting his record as the only coach to win Super bowls with three different quarterbacks.

Quinn has been to one, with quarterback Matt Ryan during their time with the Atlanta Falcons. So if he gets to another it’ll be with a second quarterback. Not quite the same achievement, but if he can pull it off he might have a shot at becoming the second-greatest head coach the Commanders franchise has ever seen.

Podcasts & videos

NFC East links

Pro Football Focus

Best 2024 NFL offseason decision by every NFC team

DALLAS COWBOYS: DRAFTING COOPER BEEBE

The Cowboys didn’t seem to get better this offseason. Their playoff loss was a disappointment, and they didn’t do much to make outsiders think that 2024 will be different. The team lost defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, offensive tackle Tyron Smith and running back Tony Pollard.

However, I did like their draft and their selection of Cooper Beebe, one of the most experienced offensive linemen in the class. He can potentially start on the interior and help make up for the loss of Tyron Smith.

NEW YORK GIANTS: EMPHASIZING THE OFFENSIVE LINE

This is more of a “best strategy.” While the Giants didn’t add a massive name in free agency along their offensive line, they brought in Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan, Aaron Stinnie and Austin Schlottmann. The sum of those four signals new life and some needed flexibility to improve the unit from 2023 after the Giants fielded the lowest-graded offensive line in the league (47.2).

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: HIRING TOP-NOTCH COORDINATORS

The Eagles faltered significantly in their final few games of the 2023 season. After starting 10-1, they dropped six of their last seven outings, including a wild-card playoff game against the Buccaneers.

Both coordinators, Brian Johnson and Sean Desai, are out, and the Eagles were able to replace them with proven commodities Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio. Philadelphia still has a top-tier roster, and the hope is that these coaching changes will bring out the best in the players once more.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: HIRING DAN QUINN

The Cowboys losing Dan Quinn is partially why I didn’t like their offseason. On the flip side, I love that Washington is giving Quinn another shot at a head coaching gig. Quinn enjoyed a lot of success in Atlanta, even if it wasn’t always in the win-loss column.

Quinn is one of the top culture coaches in the league. It seems like he always gets the most out of his talent, and the players seem to ride for him. That’s the kind of coach the Commanders needed to usher in their new era.

NFL league links

Articles

Washington Post (paywall)

Former Raven and Texan Jacoby Jones, who set a Super Bowl record, dies at 40

The wide receiver and return specialist was best known for seasons in Baltimore and Houston as well as his 108-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII.

The Ravens on Sunday announced Jones’s death. Information about the cause of death was not available, but the NFL Players Association, citing Jones’s family, said he died “peacefully at his home in New Orleans.”

Jones recently was the receivers coach at Alabama State and in February was hired as offensive coordinator of the Beaumont Renegades, an indoor football team.

Ravens Coach John Harbaugh issued a statement in which he said: “I loved Jacoby Jones. We all did. His spirit, enthusiasm and love for people were powerful. He was a light. He was the cherished son of his loving mom, Ms. Emily. They were so close. He was a man of faith.

All a’Twitter