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
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Washington Post (paywall)
Commanders’ offense heats up at a joint practice in South Florida
Jayden Daniels leads unit to five straight touchdowns during a red-zone drill, and other takeaways from the session with the Dolphins.
The brief workout — 80 minutes of on-field work — was intense and at times chippy but generally productive for a Commanders team still working out the kinks and finding its identity.
The offense was prolific. The Dolphins were without some of their stars — wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and linebacker Bradley Chubb are on the physically unable to perform list, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wideout Jaylen Waddle did not practice — so Washington didn’t get the full breadth of Miami’s speed. Nevertheless, the Commanders’ offense thrived early, scoring five touchdowns in a row at one point during the early red-zone period.
Washington’s defensive front brought the pressure. It’s still early, and the sample size is small, but Washington’s defensive line is playing with better cohesion and communication than it has in years past — even with second-year player K.J. Henry taking many reps with the starters. (Clelin Ferrell did not participate and did not have a listed injury, so it’s plausible he received a veteran’s day off.) The pressure from especially the interior, with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, created trouble for Tua Tagovailoa and helped the Commanders’ back end seal off plays.
The wide receiving corps is an open race behind McLaurin. Not necessarily for roster spots but for the depth chart. Washington’s first unofficial depth chart, released before the team’s preseason opener against the Jets, listed McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus as starters when they open in 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one running back and one tight end). There’s no question McLaurin is the No. 1 wide receiver. But the No. 2? Not so clear.
The Athletic (paywall)
Jayden Daniels, Commanders offense flash ‘attacking mentality’ in Miami
“They were definitely stretching the field,” said Fuller, who signed with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. “Quick tempo. In the first period, they came out strong. … With the talent they have, the quarterback, it is definitely a great offense to go against.”
It’s hard to imagine many defensive players earnestly making such a comment in recent years. Washington’s army of meh quarterbacks rarely kept the scoreboard operators busy under two offensive coordinators. With Daniels, the Commanders’ explosive rookie quarterback, executing Kingsbury’s plan, the look, feel and speed are very different.
“(Daniels) plays with an attacking mentality. That’s what you want, and that’s what this offense is based upon,” Kingsbury told The Athletic following practice. “That’s the way he likes to play.”
More extended fields meant seeing blitzes and coverage schemes from the Dolphins that weren’t vanilla. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, interviewed by Washington for the head-coaching position before the hiring of Dan Quinn, called Cover zero, pressure packages and different fronts.
Kingsbury didn’t just sign off on these rules of engagement in the controlled practice. He encouraged Miami’s staff to “bring it all because we’re going to get it cleaned up now, not Week 3.”
The play caller wanted to watch his receivers win in space against Miami’s secondary. Everyone wanted to see Daniels’ development. Even in weather conditions that pushed the feel-like temperature over 100 degrees, the first-round pick rarely appeared uncomfortable on the field.
“Handling the pressure, getting the ball out of his hands, going to the right place with the football, I thought he was very sharp,” Kingsbury said. “He wants the ball in his hands. He’d play the whole game on Saturday if he could. That’s the type of mentality that he has, and that makes it fun for us and his teammates.”
Commanders.com
Practice notebook | Dan Quinn, Mike McDaniel connect over life, football
Long before he was one of the NFL’s up-and-coming offensive wunderkinds, McDaniel was an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was able to learn from Quinn and then-offensive coordinator Kyle Shannahan. It was there that McDaniel started to expand his football knowledge, but Quinn’s leadership taught him than just how to win on the field.
“Dan Quinn has been a big influence, a gigantic influence on my career,” McDaniel said. “Not only from what I learned under him from a head coaching perspective, [but] just the way he looked at anything team related and how the culture that he really instilled.”
McDaniel also credits Quinn for helping him through a serious personal issue. McDaniel struggled with alcohol dependency during his time with the Falcons, but with help from Quinn and the rest of the staff, he was able to connect with a team psychologist and had a three-week stay at a treatment facility.
“And on top of that, from a whole life perspective or just from my journey, it just so happened that it was under his leadership that I had a crossroads in my life,” McDaniel said. “And to have somebody that supports you, that pushes you in the direction of ‘No, you can,’ that believes in you and that decides on his own accord that you’re worth investing in and believing in — how big of a deal is that? It’s everything.”
Commanders.com
Ben Sinnott looking to prove himself after standout performance vs. Jets
With just over three minutes left in the first half of the tie game, the second-round pick out of Kansas State busted through traffic down the middle of the field to catch a long pass from quarterback Jeff Driskel. Sinnott’s impressive combination of size and strength was on full display as he bullied his way through defenders and brushed off tackles to pick up a few yards after catch.
“That felt good,” Sinnott said following the game. “I try to pride myself on my physicality and the after-the-catch stuff. It’s tough to show that physicality and that finish without guys actually trying to tackle you. It’s something I just wanted to bring from college, so it was good to get that out of the way and kind of prove to myself that I can do it at the next level.”
“I wish I could have broken free, but just trying to get the extra yards, extend the play and try to put the team in the best possible position to succeed.”
Sinnott posted a team-high 57-yards, catching each of his three targets. He earned a PFF grade of 87.2 — the highest of any of Washington’s 2024 draft picks in Week 1 of the preseason.
As Sinnott and the rest of the Burgundy & Gold jet to Miami, the rookie is excited for what’s to come for himself and the rest of the team in Week 2 of the preseason. Aside from his own personal achievements on the field, Sinnott saw flashes of excellence from his teammates that he thinks will instill confidence in the group as they prepare for their Week 1 opener at Tampa Bay.
“Guys are clicking, even today, you see the confidence carrying over from the game and guys really connecting and putting in new concepts and still being able to hit those. It’s been great to see and I can’t wait to see where we can be.”
ESPN
Can Commanders protect QB Jayden Daniels?
They’re doing so with a rebuilt offensive line one season after allowing a franchise-record 65 sacks, but believe a new scheme, a mobile quarterback who makes quicker decisions, and a revamped interior will see them succeed. They also know talking about it now won’t alleviate any concerns.
“The only thing that really gets people to not worry about that,” Commanders offensive line coach Bobby Johnson said, “is to have success and produce.”
Despite the big number last season, the sack total wasn’t solely on the offensive line. Playcalling and rookie quarterback Sam Howell holding onto the ball too long were also major factors. But guard Sam Cosmi says he’s liked what he’s seen so far and believes new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme will better keep defenses “second-guessing” a season after Washington attempted the most passes in the NFL.
Washington coach Dan Quinn said a big key is marrying the concepts of the run game to the pass game, helping with play-action and providing further protection. The Commanders, for example, have pulled their interior linemen on both runs and passes this preseason.
“The run action with the play pass and the runs, that’s where the secret sauce is,” Quinn said.
Another factor: Howell had the ninth-highest time before being sacked last season, which coaches attributed to slow decision-making. Johnson said Daniels’ presence should help alleviate those issues.
“He makes it easy because he’s a quick decision-maker,” Johnson said. “He gets the ball out and hey, if all else fails, he’s got great legs and he can take off on you. That can put some pressure on the defense; they’ve got to be sound in the rush lanes. If they get off a rush lane and he sees a seam, he can go.”
Lucas will play Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, and Wylie looks likely to play as well. But Coleman has not practiced since Aug. 4.
Commanders Wire
Commanders WR Jahan Dotson acknowledges he’s not where he wants to be
After Thursday’s practice against the Dolphins, Dotson acknowledged he’s not where he needs or wants to be.
“Yeah, I am trying to show what I can do every single day,” Dotson said. “Just be better than I was yesterday. I’m trying to grow every single day that I come out here. Trying to find something to get better at every single day.”
“I’m not where I want to be,” Dotson said via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “I’m going to keep building every single day to make sure I’m where I want to be. … I feel like I’m getting pretty comfortable with the offense, especially moving inside and outside and being able to play almost every position we have in the wide receiver room.”
Dotson should be commended for speaking to reporters and being honest after a difficult week. He understands the spotlight is on him. If he rises to the challenge, he can look back at this as a turning point in his career.
Dotson showed flashes of excellence during his rookie season in 2022. However, like most of Washington’s roster, he struggled last season. The Commanders hope by moving Dotson to the slot, he can use his quickness and route-running to become a central part of Washington’s passing game.
Commanders Wire
How wrong was Eric Bieniemy for the Commanders in 2023?
By the numbers, according to NFL analytics expert Warren Sharp, Eric Bieniemy was a disaster for the Commanders in the 2023 season.
Sharp, owner of SharpAnalysis.com, was a guest of the “Al Galdi Podcast” on Thursday, providing some real detailed numbers regarding Eric Bieniemy as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator. Here we go:
“You’re passing the ball a lot; you should be able to have some explosive plays. But the Commanders were terrible in producing explosive plays. They had only 19 plays of 30+ yards for the entire season. Even though they had 736 dropbacks (26th in explosive plays while #1 in dropbacks).”
“This is when, on occasion, you might want to run the ball creatively just because the defense is playing pass. And yet, despite those light boxes (defense playing less men in the box), they ranked 29th in EPA per rush on first down.”
“He used the lowest rate of play-action in the NFL (32nd), the 22nd rate of motion, the 5th rate of shotgun, and the 6th rate of 11 personnel. They have no disguises to the defense, they don’t do anything to help their young quarterback. The defense is already playing the pass…as much as we know that Sam Howell struggled and is now gone, Eric Bieniemy did absolutely nothing to help Sam Howell, in my opinion.”
“You trailed by over 5 points a game after the first quarter, which was the #1 largest deficit in the NFL. You didn’t make any adjustments in the second quarter, which means you trailed by the largest deficit of any team by halftime of 133 points.”
Sharp concluded that Bieniemy “got it all wrong in the process.”
Episode 888 – Guest: @SharpFootball. Outstanding analytics-based #Commanders breakdown.
– how Eric Bieniemy went wrong
– Jayden Daniels & Kliff Kingsbury analysis
– specific ways in which the offense must improve
– key point about Washington’s schedulehttps://t.co/XSTqGQJzA1— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) August 15, 2024
Podcasts & videos
Miami joint prax pod – Jayden looks strong and having actual tackles makes a difference https://t.co/ezQh6P9vHr
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) August 15, 2024
On video talking about the receivers/the connection with Jayden Daniels and an interview with Terry McLaurin about perhaps the QB he can finally build a connection with. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/hM8hWMO28U
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 14, 2024
On video. @NickiJhabvala could have gone viral if the ️had come thru while recording. Instead, just a good report from her on the Commanders’ joint session. On Jayden Daniels; Sainristil; the DL; Jahan Dotson, Terry McLaurin. @ESPNRichmond https://t.co/VUWggbnVAE
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 15, 2024
New @TraporDive film session is out now #RaiseHail
I broke down some moments from the Commanders-Jets preseason opener before we fully gear up for Miami week. Mostly reserves, but several standouts in position group battles.
Like/Subscribe/Comment your thoughts… pic.twitter.com/4noz7NK8MR
— Jamual (@LetMualTellit) August 15, 2024
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Commanders face off against Dolphins in joint practice
The Washington Commanders were in Miami for a joint practice against Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins. Here are the top photos from Thursday morning.
NFC East links
NFL.com
2024 NFL preseason, Week 2: What We Learned from Eagles’ win over Patriots on Thursday
Eagles’ backup quarterback job up in the air? Making his second consecutive preseason start, Kenny Pickett might be leaving the door open for his role following yet another ordinary performance. The Eagles’ backup QB looked good on paper (11 of 13 for 67 yards) but most of those completions were on well-designed short throws. It was a different when looking downfield for Pickett, who looked hesitant to throw in a collapsing pocket and was sacked four times. Pickett did go up against a Patriots defense that played mostly starters, however, Tanner McKee’s performance might start the rumblings of a new argument in Philly. McKee led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter (11 total points) and was responsible for the deciding score, throwing a nice pass to Ainias Smith for a two-point conversion. The third-stringer was in control under center and moved the offense well, finishing with 140 passing yards (15 of 19) — an outing that might have Pickett watching his back going forward.
Patriots pass rushers make their case. [S]everal Patriots defenders answered opportunity’s knock one day following Matt Judon’s exit out of New England. Josh Uche, Deatrich Wise and Keion White each notched a sack against the Eagles’ second-team offense. The collection of pass rushers looked explosive off the edge and had Philadelphia backups reeling as New England allowed just 65 total yards and three points in the first half. While Wise has been a relied-upon starter the past few seasons, Uche and White will be looking to expand their roles in 2024. Raekwon McMillan might also be in that mix. The off-ball linebacker lined up off the edge plenty on Thursday night and made his presence felt with a game-high eight tackles and one tackle for loss. As life without Judon began on Thursday, Jerod Mayo’s squad made it a point to show it can live on fruitfully.
Pro Football Talk
Eagles OG Tyler Steen ruled out with ankle injury after being carted off
Tyler Steen, a third-round pick in 2023, had been competing for [an OL] job until an ankle injury forced him to miss practice time earlier this month.
Steen started at right guard Thursday night but lasted only 12 plays.
He stayed down after a 5-yard completion from Kenny Pickett to Britain Covey before eventually walking off the field. Steen was examined in the sideline medical tent before taking a ride in a cart to the X-ray room.
The Eagles [was] ruled out Steen with an ankle injury.
Bleeding Green Nation
Another Eagles WR lands in concussion protocol
Not great…
The Philadelphia Eagles are now down two wide receivers with just a few weeks until the start of the 2024 season, with John Ross suffering a concussion against the Patriots in their preseason Week 2 game.
Ross had one catch for nine yards in New England, but in the third quarter, left the field to be evaluated for a concussion. This comes just two days after rookie WR Johnny Wilson suffered a concussion during the Eagles-Patriots joint practice.
There has yet to be a clear WR3 for the Eagles, and with Ross and Wilson both sidelined, it’s hard to imagine Howie Roseman doesn’t look to add some more depth at the position. DeVante Parker ended up retiring on the first day of OTAs, and Parris Campbell has been dealing with an injury, so what was a strong group in April, is now pretty depleted.
NFL league links
Articles
Front Office Sports
Are You Ready for Some Flag Football? NFL Stars Eye Olympic Gold
Even active NFL players are showing their support and desire to potentially compete in the next Summer Games. But there’s confusion, too, over which nations and athletes will compete, what the flag football games will look like, and why the most popular sport in the U.S. is headed to the Olympics at all.
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Here’s everything fans need to know about flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics:
NFL players, both active and retired, are likely to compete. Many, like Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill (above), Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, and former tight end Rob Gronkowski, have expressed their desire to represent Team USA. League leaders are open to that possibility. “The player interest is real and palpable,” NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly said last fall. “There’s a desire to work through with these stakeholders and get to that outcome.” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has called Olympic flag football a “great opportunity” for the league and its players.
Olympic flag football will be a 5-on-5 competition. Featuring two 20-minute halves, games will be played on a field that’s 50 yards long and 25 yards wide, with two 10-yard end zones. Teams will have four downs to get a touchdown. Venues have not been determined.
Front Office Sports
ESPN Cuts Robert Griffin III, Sam Ponder in Cost-Saving Moves
Months after ESPN demoted former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III from its Monday Night Countdown team, the network fired him.
Griffin and Sam Ponder, the host of Sunday NFL Countdown, both lost their jobs on Thursday. The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Griffin, who last played in the NFL in 2020, had two years left on his deal. As is usually the case in high-profile talent layoffs, ESPN will still pay out his contract.
A source familiar with the move called it a “straight business decision” aimed at cutting costs. Though both are still owed money on their contracts, there could be offsets in place if either is hired elsewhere.
Front Office Sports
Private Equity Targets Football: NFL, College Poised for Investments
The NFL remains on track to begin allowing franchises to sell minority ownership stakes to institutional investors by the end of this year. “We believe that would be something that could make sense for us in a limited fashion,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in July. That limit is 10% of any one franchise, which is lower than the threshold set by the NFL’s American counterparts at the NBA, NHL, and MLB, some of which allow private equity firms to hold as much as a 30% stake.
October’s owners meetings in Atlanta have been a loose deadline for when the NFL would like to approve its new private equity investment policy. This week, the league is said to be meeting with major firms like Arctos Partners, the Carlyle Group, Blackstone, CVC Capital Partners, and Dynasty Equity, according to Sportico.
No NFL team is currently up for grabs, but last summer’s $6.05 billion sale of the Commanders seems to have pushed the rest of the league to speed up the process around private equity. “Raising $3 billion is a lot of work,” new Washington owner Josh Harris has since said. Last October, the league formed a new special owners committee that was tasked with evaluating institutional investors.
“The value of the franchises are reaching such levels, the opportunity to have more flexibility to provide financing and keep a family in control without having to sell major blocks of their ownership—there are models that can work,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank (above) told Front Office Sports in February.
Tweets
A Big Day Arrives for the NFL and Private Equity https://t.co/XYYOMIhGPI via @sportico @bpcoffey
— Scott Soshnick (@soshnick) August 15, 2024
Discussion topics
Barstool Sports
Meeting of The Minds: Antonio Brown & Le’Veon Bell Discuss Whether or Not They Have CTE
Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell ask each other if they think they have CTE.
(via @CtespnN) pic.twitter.com/mW3fFIQSqZ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 13, 2024
Gotta be honest, my first instinct was the roast them for having no clue what CTE actually is. But then I thought about it for a minute, and I don’t think I can define CTE either. Like if I had to write down on paper what exactly is CTE, I’m not going to give you a very educated answer. I have a general idea. I know it’s a result of concussions and repeated blows to the head. I know football players who attempt to run routes over the middle against prime Vontaze Burfict are at high risk for it.
I’m no doctor, but maybe Antonio Brown never recovered from this disgusting hit by Vontaze Burfict pic.twitter.com/7FKGRs9AiD
— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) January 2, 2022
But as former NFL players… the league that’s the poster child for CTE… you’d think these guys might have a little better grasp on it. But even without knowing the dictionary definition, I’m sorry Antonio Brown, I gotta shoot it to you straight. I’m pretty sure you got it.
I’m actually shocked he even asked that question. I thought CTE was his entire brand. Based on everything I see from him on the internet, I thought Antonio Brown wore CTE around like a badge of honor. I mean, he named his entire media company after it.
(Ok maybe it’s a stretch to call CTESPN a media company. But he does have a website. It hasn’t launched yet. But I’m the mailing list, so I’ll be the first to know when it does)
And I’m pretty sure Le’Veon Bell knows it too. He just didn’t have the heart to tell him. That stoned awkward laugh after AB asked the question said it all.
[F]or the record, the dictionary definition of CTE is, “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain condition thought to be linked to repeated head injuries and blows to the head. It slowly gets worse over time and leads to dementia, but the right help and support can manage the symptoms.”