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Brandon Colman shows promise against Bengals
Breaking down the Commanders rookie left tackle after a solid outing against the Bengals
Through the first three games, Coleman has rotated with veteran Cornelius Lucas at left tackle. In the first game, Coleman played one series in each half. In the second game, that ramped up to a couple of series. Against the Bengals on Monday night, Coleman rotated in every other series, splitting the snap count almost exactly even with Lucas.
It’s not a very conventional way of doing things with an offensive lineman. Typically you want your offensive line to all stay on the field together to build as much cohesion as possible, which is why it’s rare to see rotation at a certain spot. But in this unique case, it’s allowing Coleman to ramp up slowly to ensure his body holds up after his injury in preseason, while also exposing him to real game situations he’ll face at the left tackle situation. Coleman had some struggles last week against the Giants, who have two excellent edge rushers in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns. This week, he faced off against Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is coming off a career year last season with 17.5 sacks.
My biggest concern with Coleman after the draft was his tendency to rely on two-handed punches. Coleman is strong and when he lands those two-handed punches, they have a big impact. He can really stun defenders and knock them off their initial rush plan, which makes it an effective move. However, in the NFL, shooting both hands at the same time can cause issues. Coleman tends to throw both hands without following up with his feet, resulting in him lunging at rushers.
Here we see a good example of Coleman lunging slightly at Hendrickson. He feels Hendrickson approaching and looks to land his strong two-handed punch, firing both hands at the same time. On this occasion, he manages to land both hands, which stuns Hendrickson’s rush. However, you can also see the traits that lead this to be a worrying technique. If you pause the clip as Coleman lands his punch, you can see his arms are fully extended, his shoulders and head are leaning forward and his center of gravity is pulled forward from under his feet to out in front of his feet. You can get away with that occasionally in the NFL and a lot more frequently in college, but use that type of technique consistently against the best rushers in the league and they will take advantage.
The main issue with this technique is balance. Lunging at a rusher takes Coleman off balance and the best rushers in the league will use that against him. A simple swipe or club that knocks the hands down will mess with Coleman’s balance further and potentially cause him to fall over. The other problem with shooting both hands at the same time is that it can leave him vulnerable if those hands get knocked down. With a one-handed punch, if the hand gets knocked down, the other hand is still there to help recover the block. But with a two-handed punch, if both hands get knocked down by the same swipe or club, then the tackle is in trouble.
Fortunately, Coleman has clearly been working on this issue throughout the offseason and only used his two-handed punch on rare occasions in this game. Instead, he leaned much more heavily on a different technique known as hand flashing.
This time we see a good example of a hand flash technique. As Coleman slides out towards Hendrickson, he extends his outside arm out towards the rusher. This is very normal and Hendrickson assumes that Coleman is just looking to get his hand on him to try and cut off the rush to the edge, so he responds accordingly. Hendrickson sees the outside hand coming towards him and naturally tries to block it with his inside arm. As Hendrickson goes to hit Coleman’s outstretched hand with his inside hand, Coleman suddenly pulls his hand away. This leaves Hendrickson in a vulnerable position, which Coleman takes advantage of.
Hendrickson’s inside arm is now outstretched but swiping at air, so Coleman uses this opportunity to reach out again with his outside arm and place his hand on the outside shoulder of the rusher. This helps him gain some control of the rush, preventing Hendrickson from simply turning the corner and closing on the quarterback. Now, Hendrickson does still try to get the edge, but because of Coleman’s hand placement after his hand flash, Coleman is able to stay in contact and run him by the quarterback.
This hand flash technique is a nice move to have in the tool box for an offensive lineman. When used at the right times, it can bait those hand swipes from pass rushers and make them miss, screwing up the timing of their rushes. Coleman used this technique a few times throughout the game.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders RB Austin Ekeler out vs. Cardinals with concussion
The 29-year-old back is in his first season with the Commanders after playing seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers. He’s been a part of a solid backfield tandem with Brian Robinson Jr., logging 83 rushing yards and 121 receiving yards this season.
This is a legitimate blow for Washington’s offense. The running back tandem of Ekeler and Robinson carried the offense the first two weeks and a chunk of Monday’s first half.
The slithery half of the duo, Ekeler answered offseason questions about his NFL future coming off a season with the Chargers where he averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry. He’s been shifty and tough with the Commanders thus far, averaging 6.4 yards per rushing attempt and hauling in nine receptions on nine targets for 121 yards. Ekeler scored a 24-yard rushing touchdown at Cincinnati and popped a 62-yard kick return at the start of the second half, only to get hurt on his next touch.
Ekeler returned to Virginia after the game while the team went to Phoenix ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. Quinn did not offer a recovery timeline.
Washington Post (paywall)
Eight impressive numbers from Jayden Daniels’s sizzling start
The numbers don’t lie. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders’ offense are thriving.
0 turnovers
Washington is the only team that has not committed a turnover through three weeks, a testament to Daniels’s ability to take care of the ball. He was charged with three fumbles in the Commanders’ Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers, including a backward pass to running back Brian Robinson Jr. that bounced out of bounds on his first career snap, but Washington didn’t lose any of them. Daniels joins Joe Theismann (1982), Mark Rypien (1990), Brad Johnson (1999), Todd Collins (2007) and Jason Campbell (2008) as the only Washington quarterbacks without an interception through their first three games of a season, with a minimum of 50 attempts. Last year’s Week 1 starter, Sam Howell, had thrown five interceptions and lost a fumble by this point. According to Pro Football Reference, the last time the franchise opened the season with three turnover-free games was 1932, when it still called Boston home.
3 punts
The only other team to punt three or fewer times in its first three games since 1945 was the 1992 San Francisco 49ers, who finished 14-2 and lost to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game. With Daniels at the helm, Washington became the first team in the Super Bowl era (since 1967) with zero punts and zero turnovers in consecutive games.
171 rushing yards
Among quarterbacks, only former Washington standout Robert Griffin III rushed for more yards (198) through the first three games of his career. Daniels passed Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham (154 yards in 1985) and Detroit’s Charlie Batch (160 yards in 1998) on that list against the Bengals.
Commanders.com
Practice notes | Commanders have a QB, and hope, in Jayden Daniels
Washington’s offense, now sixth in yards and fifth in points, has become one of the biggest talking points around the league since their showing against the Bengals, and Daniels is at the center of all the praise. His 293-yard and three-touchdown night was only the latest step in Daniels development, which has continued to improve with few, if any, signs of regression since OTAs. He leads the league with an 80.3% completion rate and is seventh in QBR.
Daniels leads the rest of his fellow rookie quarterbacks in nearly every category, from passing yards (664) to passer rating (111.8) and yards per attempt (8.8).
Daniels’ time to throw (2.43 seconds) has been the fourth quickest in the NFL, and while most of his throws have been 10 yards or fewer, two of his most explosive plays — McLaurin’s touchdown and 55-yard reception — show that he is starting to gain more comfort making plays downfield.
Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL quarterback rankings ahead of Week 4
Most efficient passer: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Daniels was sensational in the Commanders’ upset win against the Bengals on Monday night. The first-round pick completed 21 of his 23 pass attempts for 254 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, two big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.
That 91.3% completion rate set an NFL rookie record for the highest single-game mark in NFL history. The first-year signal-caller also earned the highest single-game passing grade ever earned by a Commanders quarterback in the PFF era (since 2006).
♦ Click here to see PFF’s QB grades
Most accurate passer: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Any time a quarterback completes more than 90.0% of their passes, it’s usually a sign of accuracy and rhythm. That was certainly true for Daniels, who delivered an accurate pass on a league-best 78.3% of his attempts on Monday night.
♦ Click here to see PFF’s QB grades
Hogs Haven
Defense through 3 games (18% of season) – what should Washington do?
After 3 games, Washington’s Defensive DVOA is worst in the NFL (37.5) by a sizeable margin (31st team – Rams – is at 24.1) To look at specific metrics:
Washington has surrendered the fourth most points (29.3). To overcome this margin, on average, Washington has to score on 5 (4 TDs and 1 FG) to 6 drives (3 TDs and 3 FGs).
Washington has surrendered the 4th most yards per rush (5.1 yards per carry) and surrendered the 2nd most passing yards per game (255.7 yards per game).
Washington has achieved the 3rd fewest sacks per game (1.3 sacks / 4% of pass plays).
Washington has the worst 3rd down conversion percentage — opponents are converting 61% of time — again by a sizeable margin (2nd worst team – Rams – are at 54%). Washington has generated a single takeaway and no interceptions, ranking 31st in the league.
All of this, despite Washington having the 8th best time of possession in the NFL at (32.19) – so Washington’s offense has generated longer drives to give its defense time to rest, recoup and reset.
Upcoming opponent
The Cardinals Need To Have Kyler Murray’s Back Against The Washington Commanders pic.twitter.com/yVYhgUQ89F
— Fox Sports 910 (@foxsports910) September 24, 2024
Revenge of the Birds
Justin Jones heading to IR with season ending injury
The Arizona Cardinals big free agent signing is done with a triceps injury.
The team made beefing up the defensive line a priority this offseason, and one of the big signings was Justin Jones, the veteran defensive tackle.
After three games, he is done for the 2024 season with a triceps injury.
Jones played a total of 100 defensive snaps, 55% of the snaps available in his three games, and amassed a paltry four tackles: three solo tackles, one assisted tackle and one tackle for loss, to go along with a fumble recovery.
In the pass rush category, the Cardinals paid him a little extra because they assumed he was going to be able to get to the QB a little bit.
In his pass rushing attempts, he had one pressure and one quarterback hit. He was unfortunately slightly underwhelming.
Podcasts & videos
How Jayden Daniels’ Record-Breaking Game Boosts Washington Commanders Confidence | Cardinals Preview
Primetime Showdown | Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals
‘Reliving Cincinnati!’ by The Bram Weinstein Show https://t.co/0SvS6z7nXR
— Bram Weinstein (@RealBramW) September 25, 2024
NFC East links
Pro Football Focus
2024 NFL offensive line rankings ahead of Week 4
5. Philadelphia Eagles (Down 3)
Projected Week 4 starters:
- LT Jordan Mailata
- LG Landon Dickerson
- C Cam Jurgens
- RG Mekhi Becton
- RT Lane Johnson
Right guard Mekhi Becton and right tackle Lane Johnson both exited Week 3’s game against New Orleans with injuries. They were replaced by Tyler Steen and Fred Johnson, who earned PFF overall grades of 79.6 and 68.9, respectively.
Landon Dickerson had a rough outing in Week 3, giving up six pressures — including two sacks — which is tied for the second most in a game over his career. Dickerson is allowing pressure on 10.4% of dropbacks this season. His previous worst rate was 6.4% as a rookie.
Best player: Lane Johnson
Although Johnson played just 18 snaps, he was Philadelphia’s highest-graded offensive lineman in Week 3. He did not allow a single pressure on 13 dropbacks and has yet to allow a pressure this season.
9. Dallas Cowboys (No change)
Projected Week 4 starters:
- LT Tyler Guyton
- LG Tyler Smith
- C Cooper Beebe
- RG Zack Martin
- RT Terence Steele
- Veteran right guard Zack Martin was back to his best in Week 3’s loss to Baltimore. The Notre Dame product surrendered just three pressures — and no sacks or quarterback hits — on 64 dropbacks, leading to an 80.5 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked 13th among guards in Week 3.
All Dallas offensive linemen struggled in the run game in Week 3. None of the five starters earned PFF run-blocking grades above 62.0 against Baltimore.
Best player: Tyler Smith
Smith is allowing pressure on 2.6% of dropbacks this season, which is the best rate of his three-year NFL career.
13. Washington Commanders (Up 8)
Projected Week 4 starters:
- LT Cornelius Lucas
- LG Nick Allegretti
- C Tyler Biadasz
- RG Sam Cosmi
- RT Andrew Wylie
The Commanders continued to rotate at left tackle, with Cornelius Lucas and Brandon Coleman both playing 29 snaps each in Washington’s Week 3 win over Cincinnati. Lucas earned a 72.1 PFF overall grade, while the rookie Coleman finished the night with a 55.1 PFF overall grade.
On the season, the Washington offensive line has allowed just 23 pressures and owns an 88.3 PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating that is tied for the sixth-best mark in the league.
Best player: Sam Cosmi
Cosmi is one of just five NFL guards with 83.0-plus PFF grades in both pass blocking and run blocking.
26. New York Giants (No change)
Projected Week 4 starters:
The Giants’ offensive line had a rough outing in the run game in the team’s win over the Browns. New York averaged zero rushing yards before contact, meaning that Giants running backs were, on average, met right at the line of scrimmage on carries.
After ranking 36th out of 36 centers in 2023 as a rookie, John Michael Schmitz Jr. has taken a step forward in 2024. His 63.9 PFF overall grade ranks 18th at the position after three weeks.
Best player: Andrew Thomas
While Thomas is one of the best pass-blocking left tackles in the league, he did struggle against Myles Garrett in Week 3. The Georgia product surrendered eight pressures in New York’s win, the most in a single game for him since Week 5 of 2020.
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
Tommy Kramer announces dementia diagnosis
Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s unexpected disclosure that he has Parkinson’s disease has prompted another retired quarterback to share his own medical condition.
“With [the] Brett Favre announcement yesterday, I feel it’s best I let everyone know that I was diagnosed with dementia just over a year ago at the NFL Cleveland Clinic,” former Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer said on Twitter. “[Doctors] say I could have anywhere from 2 to 10 years, just had my year check up and it hasn’t advanced and I’ve been sober for almost a year now which will definitely help.
“Please, no sympathy, I’ve lived a great life and wouldn’t change a thing. Nobody wanted to win more than me and I never gave up, and that’s exactly how I’m going to battle this. Football is the life we chose to live and sometimes stuff like this can happen.
Kramer, 69, was a first-round pick of the Vikings in 1977. He appeared in 128 games with 110 starts during 13 seasons with the Vikings. His finished his career with a one-year stint in New Orleans.
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
New Era resurrects the NFL helmet hat: The good and the bad of the ’80s throwback
Is the helmet hat concept an abomination that never should have been resurrected or another ’80s classic back for our cash?
Perhaps the biggest question you’ll ask yourself when laying eyes on this collection: would I actually wear this?
We’ve evaluated every helmet hat available (full set can be seen here), from the good to the bad and the Bengals scripted. A lot of retro looks made this list on the good side because when is retro not in?
Houston Oilers historic: This look is smoother than a Warren Moon spiral, but is it a Tennessee Titans hat or a Houston Texans hat?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers historic: Creamsicle will always be in style as a popsicle flavor and in Tampa Bay Buccaneers retro uniforms. Remember last season when Bucs offensive lineman Tristan Wirfs had to decline a jersey swap after a game because he just couldn’t give up one of his creamsicle jerseys? That same devotion should be applied to this cap, which just might be the most fun selection out of all of the helmet hat options.
Washington Commanders:Jayden Daniels completed over 90 percent of his passes in his Monday Night Football debut on the road and I’m still not going to buy this hat.
Front Office Sports
What UNLV QB’s NIL Departure Means for Future of College Sports
Details of UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka’s decision to sit out the remainder of the season due to a monetary NIL (name, image, and likeness) dispute are still trickling out, but one thing is clear: College sports coaches, players, administrators, and agents are eagerly awaiting what happens next.
Sluka, who transferred from Holy Cross this year, announced late Tuesday he will turn this season—what would have been his last of NCAA eligibility—into a redshirt year, despite leading the Rebels to a 3–0 start while passing for 318 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for 253 yards and another score. “I committed to UNLV based on certain representations that were made to me, which were not upheld after I enrolled,” he wrote on social media.
UNLV’s athletic department issued a statement Wednesday afternoon, saying it interpreted financial demands from Sluka’s agent as a violation of NCAA pay-for-play rules, as well as Nevada law.
Sluka’s next steps are unclear, but he would be able to transfer and play one season for another school in 2025, when and where he could potentially make more money. The timing was key for Sluka because NCAA redshirt rules allow players to retain a year of eligibility if they play four games or fewer.
Will More Disgruntled Players Follow?
Will this start a new trend of players sitting out midseason due to NIL? That’s what was on everyone’s mind in the aftermath of Sluka’s situation.
More details on this story:
UNLV QB Says He’ll Sit Out Rest of Season Over False NIL ‘Representations’