Random Commanders Thoughts

Is anyone optimistic going in to the season?
 
MikefromOH said:
Is anyone optimistic going in to the season?
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I am optimistic !
Because this team thrives under adversity.
For one example, look just 2 years ago at 2020, when everything that could possibly go wrong, went wrong, and against all odds, we won the division, and came so close to defeating Brady and the soon to be champion Bucs.
Then the next year in 2021, when things were relatively normal, we plopped.
I can look back and see other examples.
 
I am relatively optimistic - I think we’ve added significant talent 2 years in a row and I think Wentz is a much better QB than he gets credit for being. The defense is a giant question mark though and if they don’t show up this year that’s hard to overcome.
 
I remember when Gabe was younger, it actually looked like he was more interested in basketball.
But he has now found a home in football
Looks like he will be a Junior this year...maybe he's in next year's draft
Tomorrow, he opens the season against USC. Big test
 
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The draft picks look good.

What is odd to me in Year 3 for Ron is the team mostly shied away from spending any money in free agency to shore up starter and depth issues at LB, DE and CB.

Jamin Davis is an outstanding athlete learning to play pro football. That one year starting at Kentucky didn’t prepare him for the NFL, one reason some teams are cautious about drafting a player this raw that high.

So with one solid prime starter in Holcomb and journeymen like Bostic and Mayo, Washington is leaving itself as thin at the position as any other team in the league.

At DE with the uncertainty re Chase’s return date, the team could have traded for or signed a veteran rusher for insurance. Obada to me is not a realistic option even for 4-5 games.

So, overall I don’t know what to make of this team. The trade for a veteran quarterback to me signaled the rebuilding was over and the team was looking to be a 9-10 win playoff contender in 2022.

But with the lack of other like moves at critical spots I wonder if that is possible.

The Eagles indeed seem to be the team in the East making a lot of moves with trades and signings to make a run at Dallas in 2022.
 
I think Rivera's 'building' was very forward facing... the problem is we're in year 3, in a division surrounded by a ton of questions, in a relatively weak NFC, with a weak schedule. THIS year was a good one to push some of those chips into the middle on a couple game changers.

Davis is a long term play. He may be a legit LB in another year, but that doesn't help us now.
Chase Young likely recovers (possibly not back to be 'as' explosive, but still very good), but it's very likely we don't see a 'true' version of him until closer to the end of the season.


This comes back to why I'm always nervous about the HC and personnel guy being the same person. The personnel person needs to be worried about 5 years from now... the HC needs to be worried about 5 min from now... the two then hash it out and they blend together. When the same guy has to wear both hats, you find yourself struggling to have balance. If a GM had picked Jamin Davis instead of Ron.. do you think we would be in this position, or would Ron (HC) have been pushing the personnel dept to get more at that position this past offseason?
 
I agree with you. No way Joe Gibbs hangs onto Troy Apke for 4 years. He was never a threat to contribute at safety for which we used a #4 pick on him.

The club should also have traded Daron Payne if they were not going to resign him.

We consistently keep guys until their contracts expire and don’t get added value back by dealing those that may garner interest by other teams.

Trading Payne could have opened things up for Matt or Tim Settle at lower cost.
 
Bulldog said:
The draft picks look good.

What is odd to me in Year 3 for Ron is the team mostly shied away from spending any money in free agency to shore up starter and depth issues at LB, DE and CB.

Jamin Davis is an outstanding athlete learning to play pro football. That one year starting at Kentucky didn’t prepare him for the NFL, one reason some teams are cautious about drafting a player this raw that high.

So with one solid prime starter in Holcomb and journeymen like Bostic and Mayo, Washington is leaving itself as thin at the position as any other team in the league.

At DE with the uncertainty re Chase’s return date, the team could have traded for or signed a veteran rusher for insurance. Obada to me is not a realistic option even for 4-5 games.

So, overall I don’t know what to make of this team. The trade for a veteran quarterback to me signaled the rebuilding was over and the team was looking to be a 9-10 win playoff contender in 2022.

But with the lack of other like moves at critical spots I wonder if that is possible.

The Eagles indeed seem to be the team in the East making a lot of moves with trades and signings to make a run at Dallas in 2022.
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I can’t fault them for not reinforcing the DL - and they did add Mathis who is a huge sleeper pick who I predict great things for. Not beefing up the LB and DB corps is borderline malpractice. I just don’t get it, I really don’t.
 
The iggles definitely seem to be the team trying to build something. We seem like we are just trying to not look foolish.

I also agree with we should have a vet DE who could fill in and help lead the DL. It's a shame we only let him sign a one day contract and retire....
 
Perceptions change so quickly. Just two years ago, we were sure that we were on the cusp of a defensive dynasty that would overwhelm teams for years to come. We had this unstoppable defensive line manned with young players who were only going to get better and a play caller who was once best in the league. Today, we're praying that the offense can do enough to make up for a crap defense and an even crappier, unimaginative DC.

I think I'm one of those who's lost pretty much all faith in JDR's ability to out-chess his opponents, any opponent. It's just bizarre how he's fallen into that Haslett, Barry graveyard of recent Washington DCs. You'd have thought that with Rivera as head coach that our defense would at worst be solid. Is it talent? Is it play design? Is it play calling? All of the above?

Are we crying, "The sky is falling" only to be delightfully surprised by a defense that will be much better than we expect? I don't know. I just know that our view of this defense is so much worse than it should be given the talent and resumes. If it really is Del Rio (and Rivera is back up to speed healthwise) than the head coach should give his DC the boot and take over. If it's talent they have no one to blame but themselves.
 
burgold said:
Perceptions change so quickly. Just two years ago, we were sure that we were on the cusp of a defensive dynasty that would overwhelm teams for years to come. We had this unstoppable defensive line manned with young players who were only going to get better and a play caller who was once best in the league. Today, we're praying that the offense can do enough to make up for a crap defense and an even crappier, unimaginative DC.

I think I'm one of those who's lost pretty much all faith in JDR's ability to out-chess his opponents, any opponent. It's just bizarre how he's fallen into that Haslett, Barry graveyard of recent Washington DCs. You'd have thought that with Rivera as head coach that our defense would at worst be solid. Is it talent? Is it play design? Is it play calling? All of the above?

Are we crying, "The sky is falling" only to be delightfully surprised by a defense that will be much better than we expect? I don't know. I just know that our view of this defense is so much worse than it should be given the talent and resumes. If it really is Del Rio (and Rivera is back up to speed healthwise) than the head coach should give his DC the boot and take over. If it's talent they have no one to blame but themselves.
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I would say it's mostly coaching that is hurting the Washington defense. Washington gave up so many first downs in 3rd and long situations last year. That tells me there is a lot of poor defensive schemes being used in those situations and players making bad mental mistakes, maybe because there is not enough emphasis on the mental aspect of the game during practice and coaching sessions. That was the worst Washington defense that I ever saw last year. Success at the NFL level is mostly about the mental aspect of the game, not the physical aspect. There is such a small gap in physical talent level between NFL teams. Small mental breakdowns during a handful of plays is all the difference between winning and losing.

That's why certain teams like the Patriots and Steelers are successful year after year -- they do the little things correctly from a mental perspective.
 
Theismann To HOF said:
I would say it's mostly coaching that is hurting the Washington defense. Washington gave up so many first downs in 3rd and long situations last year. That tells me there is a lot of poor defensive schemes being used in those situations and players making bad mental mistakes, maybe because there is not enough emphasis on the mental aspect of the game during practice and coaching sessions. That was the worst Washington defense that I ever saw last year. Success at the NFL level is mostly about the mental aspect of the game, not the physical aspect. There is such a small gap in physical talent level between NFL teams. Small mental breakdowns during a handful of plays is all the difference between winning and losing.

That's why certain teams like the Patriots and Steelers are successful year after year -- they do the little things correctly from a mental perspective.
Click to expand...


I saw that too ; more proof that it wasn't all Heinicke's fault ?
We made one coaching change on defense that I'm aware of.
I don't know if more is needed, but let's hope that one makes a difference, up front on the D-line.
 
Screenshot_20220905-102112.png
 
Lovin Cousins said:
I saw that too ; more proof that it wasn't all Heinicke's fault ?
We made one coaching change on defense that I'm aware of.
I don't know if more is needed, but let's hope that one makes a difference, up front on the D-line.
Click to expand...

Definitely not Heinicke's fault. Hell, Washington would have finished 3 - 14 last year if it wasn't for Heinicke's excellent play in several close games last season. Washington had NO help from their defense last year.
 
I am in the boat where I think Heinike is a bottom third starter. He played well and heroically at times. He does have limitations, but especially during the first half of the season the defense let him down and he played well enough to win.

You can start and win with Heinike, but as with many QBs you have to play him in a very specific scheme.
 
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