Random Commanders Thoughts

[Riggo44]

What, was Haynesworth unavailable?

 

[NickyJ]

RG3 must have paid to be an actor for them.

 

[Chris]

This kind of stuff is contributing to a new silly season.

Ranking every NFL defense from best to worst for 2026: Rams still not Top 3 — USA TODAY

Who owns the NFL's best defense after the Rams' big trade for Myles Garrett? We ranked each team from best to worst for 2026.

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29 Washington Commanders

Between Daronte Jones and Sonny Styles, the Commanders are pinning a lot on a pair of first-timers. The latter is tasked with rejuvenating a defense that was one of the NFL's most easily gashed groups, giving up more total yards (384 per game) than anyone else while ranking 30th in yards allowed per play (6). The latter might be the most vital offseason addition for a unit that will hang its hat on versatility, as the No. 7 overall pick will shoulder a heavy load and potentially wear the green dot right away. Though the hyperathletic linebacker has proven capable of handling any assignment thrown at him, he'll still need significant assistance from edge-rushing additions Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson. Improvement is within reach, but it could take a good deal of time before results materialize.”

 

[skinsinparadise]

lol, ranking food for the press

26) Commanders​

The Commanders used to have one of the worst spreads in the NFL under Dan Snyder. Maybe second-worst, behind only Jacksonville. They had food that looked like this:

I think it looks like some combination of a rooster, Jabba the Hutt, and the baby dinosaur from Dinosaurs.

And what was hilarious about the Dan Snyder-era spreads was that everyone was given a ticket, which you had to hand in to enter the food spread area. This prevented people from going back for seconds. Bitch, I didn't even watch firsts.

Under Josh Harris, it's merely below average, which is a big step up.

Pregame the Commanders typically have a crappy breakfast, like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and pancakes as breakfast offerings.

Under Harris, at least the food seems semi-fresh. Under Snyder, it felt like you were eating food that he personally injected with COVID and farts.

They have also since added a candy section. Not pictured are individual wrapped LifeSavers. Like, Wint-O-Green or Pep-O-Mint. That's actually a great inclusion, and should be mandatory in every press box so reporters' stank-ass breaths are a little fresher during postgame interview scrums.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

So, is that slop pictured the good stuff?

Also, how can we go from 32 to 1 if Josh's food is merely below average?

 

[Chris]

The quality of the press box food is pretty low down on my list. 🤣

 

[Conn]

So, is that slop pictured the good stuff?

Also, how can we go from 32 to 1 if Josh's food is merely below average?

That’s the old bad stuff

We’re ranked at 26, not 1. Which is definitely below average, so that tracks.

It’s also written in a humorous enough way that it seems it doesn’t really matter above a certain quality level. Old school journalists wouldn’t even eat team-provided food on principle (this may never have been true in sports writing though lol), so the fact they’re not served surf ‘n’ turf is not a crime. Ideally you’d always want to be top-10 in everything just as a marker of quality as an org. 26 isn’t good enough bc what we’re feeding the media should probably reflect closer to what our staff is eating, which should be higher quality than 26th in the league. But NFL teams also shouldn’t be competing to kiss the media’s ass the most, of course you have the local beat writers who are always there but you also have the national folks passing through, and the opposing team’s beat writers. These are folks who should try to remain fairly unbiased and you should feed them well, but the main marker of quality there should be in providing a range of options and accommodating different dietary needs, not in serving gourmet food to the people who report on you. IMO of course. Keep it professional and the food should be good, pleasantly surprising even, but not amazing. It’s a very old school idea but by keeping the offerings a little more humble for media members, the idea is that they don’t feel bought and paid for with food they wouldn’t even buy themselves at their hotel or whatever, it’s guilt-free and it’s fuel and it doesn’t register as an attempt to manipulate in the old school way. And keeps the journalists on the outside of the real power and wealth they’re supposed to fairly report on.

Of course most real journalism and all the old societal norms that propped up that ‘fourth pillar’ are pretty much dead. So yeah sure feed em gourmet all-you-can-eat and try to butter em up so they don’t call you cheap

This became a bit off-topic lol

 

[skinsinparadise]

Their Training camp VIP spread which was spread with the press, not bad, eggs, breakfast meats, pasteries, a ton of different juices, coffee, not great but not bad. Under Dan the VIP for training camp was about free water and chips.

 

[burgold]

Snyder viewed the press as his enemy and I think he got his communication teams and even catering to reflect this. As often with Snyder it was stupid and it backfired. The relationship with the media got more caustic. The endless losing didn't help, but the nasty treatment probably subconsciously poisoned the well further leading reporters to look at this team through even more of a negative lens. We weren't the lovable, try-hard losers. We were just losers in the press' eyes. And it was a spiral that got worse as the years went on.

I think I was lucky in that my only "press" experience with the team was during Gibbs II. I got great access, great tape, and even a one on one with Gibbs himself (the only one who did that day.) I think I even managed not to fanboy embarrass myself. On the other hand, that experience taught me a big lesson which is if you find yourself in a moment find a way to enjoy it. With Gibbs, I was so worried about being a pro that I never unslung the camera around my neck and asked someone to take a picture of us together. After that, I realized, be a pro, but also be a human, too.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

We’re ranked at 26, not 1. Which is definitely below average, so that tracks.

My bad for not reading the article. Rankings usually involve all teams so not sure why they had to say from 32 to 1 in the title. I assumed, incorrectly, that they were referencing the Commanders moving from 32 to 1. Guess I forgot what Benny Hill said about assuming.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

many times I have seen reports on Jerry Jones having an amazing spread. So perhaps it works to an extent. They do seem to get more benefit of the doubt

 

[RedWolf]

Food for thought

 

[RedWolf]

 

[Faithful Fan]

Food for thought

All the talk about AP, DQ, the new coordinators, the RB and TE rooms, the receiving corps, and the revamped defense is secondary to this. Can Jayden Daniels stay healthy?

We’ve been worried about that since before we drafted him, and so far our fears about him being injury prone have proven true. In two seasons, he has suffered a broken rib, a sprained knee, a strained hamstring, and a dislocated elbow. Last year, he could barely finish a game, and on the rare occasions he took the field, many fans and pundits complained about him being taken out of bubble wrap. Maybe we have better luck this year, but I expect we will continue having this same conversation for the foreseeable future. It’s just so frustrating because we knew all of this in advance but passed on the sturdier option.

Will Jayden finish 17 games this year? Don’t bet on it. That said, I do think we have a real shot at being good if he does—he’s the type of player who gives you a chance in every game. He is what gamers call a glass cannon, elite offensive firepower but very little durability. I hate to say it, and I really hope to eat these words, but that’s just how it looks.

 

[NoCalSkins]

Looking at the WR situation coupled with the fact that there some names out there that could likely contribute if signed (yeah I know there cons to signing them as well)I am beginning to wonder if the front office & coaching staff are actually happy with the WR room or if they haven't signed any FA's because they still truly feel Aiyuk as a free agent would be the best option to target and are waiting on the situation to materialize. I know a lot of the local media seems to want to turn the page on that possibility but if the front office has soured on that option entirely, then I don't see why they wouldn't have signed Deebo, or Hill, or Diggs because I assume all three, if they prove to still be physically viable will end up on rosters once training camp opens. I'd be open to Deebo coming back, personally, but that also depends how Blough feels his skill set would fit into his offense I assume.

 

[NickyJ]

All the talk about AP, DQ, the new coordinators, the RB and TE rooms, the receiving corps, and the revamped defense is secondary to this. Can Jayden Daniels stay healthy?

We’ve been worried about that since before we drafted him, and so far our fears about him being injury prone have proven true. In two seasons, he has suffered a broken rib, a sprained knee, a strained hamstring, and a dislocated elbow. Last year, he could barely finish a game, and on the rare occasions he took the field, many fans and pundits complained about him being taken out of bubble wrap. Maybe we have better luck this year, but I expect we will continue having this same conversation for the foreseeable future. It’s just so frustrating because we knew all of this in advance but passed on the sturdier option.

Will Jayden finish 17 games this year? Don’t bet on it. That said, I do think we have a real shot at being good if he does—he’s the type of player who gives you a chance in every game. He is what gamers call a glass cannon, elite offensive firepower but very little durability. I hate to say it, and I really hope to eat these words, but that’s just how it looks.

I think you're premature to declare him a glass cannon. Jayden had never missed a game due to injury until last year. Not in college, seemingly not in high school either unless I've missed some articles about it.

Were the first 23 years of his life a fluke and last year was him coming back to reality? Possibly. This year should give a clear answer.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Food for thought

IT's food for thought, I guess, but it's also "no duh."

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Were the first 23 years of his life a fluke and last year was him coming back to reality? Possibly. This year should give a clear answer.

It might or might not give a clear answer.

Even if he stays healthy, it might not be the long term answer. Nor if he gets hurt.

Just looking at Lamar, from 2021 (Which was his 4th season) this is his games played:
2021: 12
2022: 12
2023: 16 (NFL MVP)
2024: 17 (NFL MVP Runner Up)
2025: 13

He hadn't missed a meaningful game before that in 2 full seasons starting, and won the NFL MVP in 2019.

What does this say? It says that a top 5 QB misses games. Sometimes a lot of games. And sometimes in back to back seasons, and then comes back and wins the NFL MVP.

I think we're all really tainted in some way because of the way Griffin turned out. He got hurt, and then stunk, and then was gone all so fast, the more normal cadence of QB plays, gets hurt from time to time, comes back and is fine has sortof existed our minds.

I'd be perfectly fine if Daniels' availability matched Lamars assuming the results when he's playing are the same.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I know Riggins was complaining about the rebrand, I wonder if this means he has changed his mind now that the brand is improving.

 

[Ashburn Dave]

Enjoy!