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Daily Slop – 2 Aug 24: Luke McCaffrey, Ben St-Juste, Brian Robinson, the 3rd running back, and Rivera’s leftovers

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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

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Washington Post (paywall)

How former QB Luke McCaffrey became a key receiver for the Commanders

McCaffrey was a backup quarterback at Rice and moved to wide receiver to get on the field. He shined, and the Commanders drafted him in the third round.

At the end of his 2021 season at Rice University, quarterback Luke McCaffrey approached Coach Mike Bloomgren with a proposal. What if he changed positions?

What if, after spending years trying to become a starting Division I quarterback and eventual pro, he shifted gears to ensure he could stay on the field? Because that’s really what he wanted — to play and keep playing.

“At first we didn’t know what position I would play,” McCaffrey recounted. “We actually talked about safety, we talked about playing running back, talked about just being a gadget guy, a special teams guy.”

That McCaffrey had the athleticism and skill set not just to change positions but have his pick of almost any skill position he wanted said plenty.

The Commanders took McCaffrey to bolster a wide receiving corps that, outside of leading wideouts Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, lacks a clear hierarchy. The room needed an infusion of talent and depth, and McCaffrey’s impressive start to training camp has all but solidified his place as No. 3 in the room.

The Commanders — and Bloomgren — believe his ceiling at the position isn’t even in sight.

“He’s doing a really good job,” McLaurin said. “He’s a sponge. Every rep that we get, he always has a question, and I can tell he’s really watching everything that I do. … For him to be a rookie coming in, he just carries himself like a pro. Like, I look at his notebook — I sit behind him in meetings — and his notebooks are filled up. He’s engaged. He always knows what he’s doing out here.”

Washington Post (paywall)

Day 7 takeaways: The competition level ramps up

Clearer communication on defense. Cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who missed part of practice Tuesday with what he called a “little hip flexor strain,” was a full participant Thursday and impressed by starting one-on-ones with an interception.

St-Juste said he feels comfortable in the new scheme in part because the communication is “night and day” compared with the old coaching staff. These coaches, he said, have reduced the number of techniques he needs to use and put him in positions to succeed, such as playing more “press” and “bail” coverages rather than “off,” which is not his strength.

“It’s very precise on what you need to do so you don’t need to think about a million things when you go out on the field,” St-Juste added.

But wait, a reporter said, haven’t you said the same thing about communication in each of the last three camps? Why will this year actually be different?

“We have everybody on board,” St-Juste said. “I feel like we said it in previous years, and along the season a certain group maybe fell apart and communication or connection between us and maybe certain coaches, it started falling apart. But the fact that we were able to build a strong foundation in [offseason workouts] and all be on the same page — staff, players — that’s what makes it different. … We can’t really fall apart because everybody’s keeping each other accountable.”

Luke McCaffrey, Armani Rogers and Brandon Coleman impressed in one-on-ones. McCaffrey, a rookie wide receiver out of Rice, stood out with short-area quickness. Rogers, a 26-year-old tight end, had acrobatic catches. Coleman, a rookie offensive lineman from TCU, showed balance against talented rushers.

Terry McLaurin and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. had a couple good battles, and though Forbes broke up a pass in the period, McLaurin made probably the play of the day against him in team drills on a deep ball down the left sideline.

There weren’t a ton of reps — the one-on-one period wasn’t even 10 minutes long — and reporters were not allowed to shoot video.

The Athletic (paywall)

Seven Commanders roster questions to ponder one week into training camp

How many remaining draft selections from the Ron Rivera era will make the final 53?

Keep reading if you need an example of the challenge general manager Adam Peters inherited. Of the 33 selections from 2020 to 2023, 21 entered training camp; the 2020 class is gone for those scoring at home. Releasing 2021 seventh-round receiver Dax Milne on Wednesday lowered the total. Only seven of the remaining 20 are roster locks: guard Sam Cosmi, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, Bates, Dotson, running back Brian Robinson Jr., cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and safety Quan Martin. Brown appears close, as mentioned above.

Jamin Davis, a 2021 first-round pick, faces an uphill battle based on his initial camp struggles as an edge rusher. Coaches haven’t abandoned the notion of keeping Davis at linebacker. Impressing on special teams would significantly improve his chances. Safeties Darrick Forrest and Percy Butler aren’t on the lock list based on camp usage and position depth.

KJ Henry feels like the favorite for the fourth defensive end spot, but the other members of the 2023 class have work to do. That includes running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., who surprisingly hasn’t been part of the kick returner audition, center Ricky Stromberg, guard/tackle Braeden Daniels and defensive end Andre Jones Jr. It seems doubtful both offensive linemen will make the roster. Stromberg, a 2023 third-round pick coming off a significant knee injury, must show he’s healthy and can help at guard.

Final tally: I guess 11 to 12 of the Rivera-era 33 picks stay with Henry. Forrest, who did not practice Thursday, and Butler are the best bets. The fate of Phidarian Mathis, a second-round pick in 2022, might depend on whether Washington will keep a fifth defensive tackle or edge rusher.

As for whether Quinn might make choices based on the players he and Peters added, “I didn’t want to have any bias in that regard. … I think as an NFL ballplayer, they don’t want to be bulls—ted. And many times, they have to try to read between the lines. … That’s not what we’re about here. … It’s not on reputation. It’s on the performance.”

Is the Week 1 kicker on the roster?

There’s a decent chance the answer is no, though the first day of competition between Ramiz Ahmed and just-added Riley Patterson was perfect. Practice concluded with each player attempting five field goals roughly from distances between 27 and 55 yards. Ahmed, shaky in camp overall, made all of his tries first. Patterson, who would be on his fifth team in four seasons if he makes the squad, matched him.

Patterson’s experience is the obvious differentiator over Ahmed, who was a brief UFL injury replacement this year for former Washington kicker Chris Blewitt. The new kickoff rules complicate the matter, with every team seeking a plan of attack. More kickers will become available by final cuts. Some likely have a longer career high on field goals than Patterson’s 53.

Commanders.com

Training camp notebook | Brian Robinson looking forward to more snaps as pass-catcher

f there’s one thing Brian Robinson Jr. has been adamant about over the course of his young career, it’s that he’s more than just a power back.

Yes, Robinson has a reputation of being able to bowl through defenders with ease. He’s shown plenty of that over the years, whether it’s pushing across the goal line for a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles or carrying multiple Atlanta Falcons players on his way to picking up a first down.

But Robinson also wants to show that he can be just as potent as a pass-catcher. We’ve seen some of that, too, like when he had six receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks last year, but moments like that have been more infrequent.

With Washington using a new scheme led by a new offensive coordinator, Robinson is hopeful he can finally be an all-around weapon.

“I feel like this offense is very versatile,” Robinson said. “We can do many, many different things. We have several different weapons that can do several different things. We have a versatile minded offensive coordinator [Kliff Kingsbury], he’s creative.”

Commanders.com

K Riley Patterson brings competition to Commanders special teams

The Commanders claimed veteran Riley Patterson after the Jacksonville Jaguars released him on Monday. He will be paired with Ramiz Ahmed, who has been with the team since the offseason workout program, and compete for the privilege to be Washington’s kicker for Week 1 when the team plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“We’re just going to not back off of the competing in every spot,” Quinn said. “We’ve been pleased with what we’ve seen so far with Miz [Ahmed], but as part of this competition that’s also part of the job and what goes into it.”

Patterson, an undrafted free agent from Memphis, has spent time with the Detroit Lions, Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. He started the 2023 season with the Lions — his second stint with the team — but was waived and signed by the Browns on Christmas Day. He hit 88.9% of his field goals in 2023, including all 11 of his kicks between 30-39 yards, and had a long of 52 yards.

For his career, Patterson is 88.1% on field goal kicks and 95.9% of his extra points. He has three field goals of 50-plus yards over the past three seasons.

Riggo’s Rag

Brycen Tremayne staking a strong claim to make Commanders’ roster in 2024

He’s 6-foot-4 with encouraging athleticism, so these traits offer something different to Washington’s passing attack. There’s also a lot to like about his ability to track the football downfield and use his wide wing span to excel in contested catch situations.

He’s not the quickest, which holds Tremayne back. His 4.57-second time in the 40-yard dash at Stanford’s pro day wasn’t great. At the same time, his physical approach and assured hands make him an intriguing candidate to make the 53-man roster.

Having this sort of tall, imposing presence can be an asset over short-to-intermediate routes. Tremayne’s nous for getting off press coverage quickly makes him an enticing red-zone weapon for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Before this, he must prove himself worthy of involvement.

It’s been a bright start to camp for Tremayne, but what comes next is more important. The Commanders would be wise to give the player targets aplenty over their preseason slate. Doing it in practice is one thing. If the hopeful can produce in a more typical game-day setting, that’ll carry a ton of weight.

Commanders Wire

Michael Davis believes Commanders defensive staff can ‘elevate’ his game

Despite entering his eighth season, cornerback Michael Davis believes he still has his best football ahead of him. When the 29-year-old was asked what enticed him to join the Commanders after eight seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, he mentioned how Washington’s defensive staff have developed cornerbacks in the past.

Specifically head coach Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, and defensive passing game coordinator Jason Simmons.

“I know that I have an extra level to reach, and I thought that with them being teamed up with them, I could reach that level,” Davis said.

Under Quinn and Whitt’s tutelage in Dallas, cornerback Daron Bland broke the NFL single-season record for pick-sixes with five, and cornerback Trevon Diggs led the NFL in interceptions in 2021 after an up-and-down rookie season. Davis said he could see that extra level being brought out of him because of the coach’s persistence in putting him in “uncomfortable situations.”

“So, every day I practice, they are like Michael, like we want you to go press, like you got to consistently go out and perfect your craft, keep pressing,” Davis said. “No matter the situation… in my head, it might feel like I don’t wanna go press, but in the back of my mind, it’s like if I go up and press and challenge myself, it’ll make me better”

Sports Illustrated

3 Things We Learned About the Commanders in Week 1 of Training Camp

With Week 2 underway the Washington Commanders have learned some things in the first five practices of training camp.

LEAD BACK – FOR THE THIRD JOB

Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are the top two running backs on the Commanders roster. That much we knew already.

The question was whether or not Chris Rodriguez Jr. would be able to hold off Jeremy McNichols in the battle to be the third back in Washington. So far, it looks like McNichols has the early lead for the gig.

While Rodriguez was here last season – his rookie season – and showed flashes of ability when given the opportunity, he’s far less established in the NFL than McNichols who is entering his 7th season with his sixth franchise.

The last one McNichols played for was the San Francisco 49ers where Commanders general manager Adam Peters came from as well as offensvie run game coordinator and running backs coach Anthony Lynn. So there’s no accident to McNichols arriving to Washington with coach Lynn, and it looks like that familiarity and experience is paying off for him through one week in training camp.

Podcasts & videos

Building the Brotherhood | Commanders Log: Season 3, Episode 4

Photos

Commanders.com

PHOTOS | Back in pads

The Washington Commanders returned to practice after their day off for their second day in pads. Check out the top photos from Thursday.





NFC East links

ESPN

NFL training camp 2024 live updates: Latest on roster battles

Dallas Cowboys

New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is pleased with what he has seen so far from his defense. He has kept some of what Dan Quinn did for three seasons while adding tweaks to certain responsibilities for players at all three levels.

Zimmer is so pleased that he has not brought out his trademark bite when things don’t go right.

“I hadn’t had to use it much, but I probably got the same bite,” Zimmer said. “But now I’m trying to be very specific about what we want and make sure they understand exactly what we want. The other coaches are doing a really good job. We meet together a decent amount with the whole group because I want them all to know what everybody is doing, where they’re supposed to be and who is doing a good job and who needs to do a better job here and there. I’ve been impressed with this group, I really have. I heard all this stuff when I came here, this and that, but I just go by what I see and what I see has been good.” — Todd Archer

(Last update: Aug. 1)

New York Giants

After a few rough days and practices, quarterback Daniel Jones and the Giants offense got back on track Thursday. Jones connected on a pair of deep balls for touchdowns, one to Malik Nabers and the other to Jalin Hyatt. The problem for Jones had been underthrowing balls deep down field at the start of camp. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka didn’t think it had to do with Jones’ recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee last year. Instead, he attributed it to timing and familiarity.

Still, they were going to keep throwing them. It was almost as if coach Brian Daboll knew it would only be a matter of time. Practice makes perfect. He said before Thursday’s improved performance: “Time on task. Keep working on them. We’ll get ‘em!”

They did on this day, leaving a much better taste in the mouths of the team’s offensive players than from earlier this week. — Jordan Raanan

(Last update: Aug. 1)

Washington Commanders

Washington thought it had its kicking position solved this spring — until Brandon McManus was sued for sexual assault. The Commanders cut him and signed Ramiz Ahmed and, Wednesday, added Riley Patterson to provide competition. Both kickers made all five field goals Thursday — from 28, 33, 38, 48 and 53 yards. Patterson has made 59-of-67 kicks in 39 career games — he was 15-of-17 with Detroit last season. Ahmed has yet to attempt a kick in the NFL.

The Commanders also added receiver Byron Pringle, who will compete for a role as a kick returner (he’s never returned a punt in the NFL) and the fifth or sixth receiver spot. The first four are likely Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Dyami Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey. Olamide Zaccheaus is another strong possibility. Veteran punt returner Jamison Crowder is vying for one of the last spots as well. — John Keim

(Last update: Aug. 1)

The Athletic (paywall)

Who’s the next Hall of Famer from every NFL team?

Dallas Cowboys: Darren Woodson, S

Woodson played a leading role on the Jimmy Johnson-built Dallas defenses that won three Super Bowls in the 1990s. A finalist for the Hall in each of the past two seasons, Woodson has gotten further in the process than Jason Witten, who ranks second to Tony Gonzalez in receiving yards among tight ends. He had 23 interceptions, including 12 from 1994 to ’96, when he was named first-team All-Pro each season.

New York Giants: Eli Manning, QB

Tom Coughlin’s candidacy in the contributor category remains very much alive, but Manning will move front and center once he becomes eligible in 2025. The quarterback’s longevity, prominence and performance during two Super Bowl-winning playoff runs make him a fascinating candidate. Manning was arguably never a top-five quarterback, but those Lombardi Trophies could make the difference.

[editorial comment: I can’t stop laughing at the idea of Eli Manning in the Hall of Fame]

Philadelphia Eagles: Jason Kelce, C

Kelce’s recent retirement makes him Hall-eligible for 2029, which leaves a wide berth for Eric Allen, Brian Westbrook or another Eagles great to make a push. Kelce was a six-time first-team All-Pro over his final seven seasons and is on a very short list of all-time NFL centers from a movement/athleticism standpoint. Fletcher Cox, who also just retired, and Jason Peters (mentioned above in the Bills section) are also worthy candidates, but Kelce seems like the surest bet to get in first.

Washington Commanders: Trent Williams, OT

Williams is entering his fifth season with the 49ers after nine with Washington, with no indication he’s slowing at age 36. In fact, Williams only seems to have gotten better. His streak of 10 successive Pro Bowl seasons (in seasons in which he’s played — he missed 2019 because of a contract dispute) includes first-team All-Pro selections in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the first such selections of his career. Joe Jacoby is another former Washington tackle to watch. A three-time Hall finalist for his work on the Joe Gibbs-era “Hogs” offensive line, Jacoby could reappear as a seniors candidate.

NFL league links

Articles

Trib Live

Family of Steelers’ Dwayne Haskins Jr. sues his widow in federal court

An ugly dispute between the widow of the late Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., who was fatally struck by a dump truck in Florida in 2022, and his parents and sister, is now playing out in federal court in Pittsburgh.

Haskins’ family on Wednesday sued the Steeler’s widow, accusing her of misusing his name and image on social media and refusing to share her husband’s ashes.

The plaintiffs — Haskins’ mother and father, Tamara and Dwayne Haskins Sr., and sister, Tamia Haskins, all of Clarksburg, Md., as well as the Haskins Family Foundation — are suing Kalabrya Haskins, of Atlanta, alleging harassment over their attempts to use his name and image on social media.

The lawsuit claims that Kalabrya Haskins has complained about the family posting about Dwayne Jr. on Instagram, leading to the social media platform disabling their accounts.

According to the complaint, since Haskins Jr. died, the plaintiffs have “experienced constant harassment from the defendant whenever they have attempted to reference his name, image and likeness in public forums such as social media.”

In one instance, according to the complaint, Dwayne Haskins Sr.’s account was disabled because he “created ‘an account that looks like it belongs to a celebrity.’”

“This decision was made despite the fact that Dwayne Haskins Sr. simply shares the same name as his famous son, but has not otherwise posted any content on Instagram,” the complaint said.

The dispute is set against a backdrop of squabbling in Allegheny County Orphans’ Court over the quarterback’s estate, which is being administered by his widow against the wishes of his parents.

According to the federal lawsuit, the Haskins family didn’t know about the March 19, 2021, marriage between Haskins Jr. and Kalabrya Haskins, and they had never met her before they wed.

Sportico

NFL Scores Sunday Ticket Win on Stunning Judicial Reversal

[L]ate Thursday…U.S. District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez granted the NFL a judgment as a matter of law in the In Re: NFL’s “Sunday Ticket” Antitrust Litigation. Such judgments are difficult to obtain, because it means the judge concludes—as Gutierrez bluntly wrote in his 16-page order—”no reasonable jury could have found class-wide injury or damages.”

The ruling is a total victory for the NFL, which lost a jury trial last month in Los Angeles. The jury found in favor of a class action representing more than 2.4 million residential subscribers and more than 48,000 restaurants, bars and other commercial establishments that purchased Sunday Ticket anytime between 2011 to 2023. Jurors concluded the NFL violated antitrust law through its 32 teams pooling broadcasting rights for out-of-town fans and, supposedly, exploiting that pooling to charge higher prices. The jury awarded $4.6 billion and $97 million to the residential subscribers and commercial establishments, respectively.

In a hearing Wednesday, the NFL maintained the jury misunderstood how antitrust law works and fumbled a calculation for damages by confusing an overcharge with a discount.

In his ruling, Gutierrez determined that the jury was misled by expert testimony offered by the plaintiffs. The testimony used “flawed methodologies” that led the jury to mistakenly find “class-wide injury and damages.”

The judge added there is “no other support” for those findings except for expert testimony that should have been excluded.

For the NFL and its attorneys, the victory is massive. Not only will they not pay billions of dollars in damages, but they won’t have to change their Sunday Ticket arrangement, by letting consumers buy smaller and cheaper packages, or by allowing them to pay less than $349/year (the price of the Sunday Ticket, which gives access to all games) for access to games in one conference or division. Gutierrez’s ruling means the Sunday Ticket as designed by the NFL is legal under antitrust law.

The plaintiffs can appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Pro Football Focus

Hall of Fame Game featured eight kickoffs, one touchback, a long return of 31 yards

The teams combined for eight kickoffs, with only one resulting in a touchback, though two other kickoffs reached the end zone and could have been downed for touchbacks. The receiving team takes over at its own 30-yard line after a touchback.

Of the seven kickoffs returned, the average starting position was the 25.6-yard line.

The longest return was a 31-yarder by Bears receiver John Jackson.

Each team had an illegal formation penalty, both of which were declined.

Texans punter Tommy Townsend held the ball on the tee for kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn to start the third quarter, with Townsend running off the field as soon as the ball was kicked.

It gave teams around the league a first look at what is supposed bring a dead play back to life, and it likely will be a work in progress for awhile as teams try to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

NFL.com

Texans-Bears Hall of Fame Game ends in third quarter due to inclement weather

The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears ended with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter Thursday night due to inclement weather. The Bears defeated the Texans, 21-17.

“The NFL made the right move with lightning in the area,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said of the decision to end the game. “That was good to see.”

With a thunderstorm raining down on Tom Benson Stadium and lightning in the distance, the game was delayed.

Players were sent away from the field and fans were instructed to leave their seats to seek shelter.

Following a delay of more than 30 minutes, the contest was officially called.

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