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Welcome to the award and analysis part of the Next Day Thread. It's been an... interesting season. The Commanders are permanent, much to the chagrin of many who had help hope that the Redskin name would come back. ES shut down after 20+ years of service unceremoniously, the team that plays in Washington was actually good and we had the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
What a time to be alive.
We'll start with the awards portion of the post (this is where I look at the star totals and pretend like these awards have real prestige):
Overall MVP: Jayden Daniels
Offensive MVP: Jayden Daniels
Defensive MVP: Jeremy Chinn
Offensive Rookie Of the Year: Jayden Daniels
Defensive Rookie Of the Year: Mike Sainristil
Best Quarterback: Jayden Daniels
Best Receiver: Terry McLaurin
Best Runningback: Tie: BRob and Ekeler
Best Tight End: Zach Ertz
Best OL: Tyler Biadasz
Best DL: Dante Fowler
Best LB: Frankie Luvu
Best DB: Jeremy Chinn
Best Punter: Tress Way
Best Kicker: Zane Gonzalez
Now, let's get to the season breakdown
Well, we're good at quarterback. And... that is about it. Our lack of talent has been masked all season long by sound strategy, aggressive decision making and team camaraderie. And there is something to be said for that. So wholesale changes, again, may not be the play here. We want to keep the base. We want to keep the selflessness. We want to keep the team as gelled as we can.
But we need changes.
At running back we have several decent pieces. Brian Robinson went cold during the year but he showed he has a little burst, he's a hard runner and a decent option out of the backfield. He doesn't have home run speed or power and he, at times, lacks vision. Ekeler is a top notch playmaker still, but he spent a lot of time on the injured reserve. McNichols is a solid rotational piece and back up option, but simply isn't a guy you can put the entirety of the workload on. Chris Rodriguez is a fan favorite, powerful runner but ultimately a similar version of back to Brian Robinson.
We need significant help at the running back position. Not just another rotational piece. That isn't needed. And if that is what we can get it may be wise to run it back with what we had this year if we can make that happen. But we need a back that can carry the ball 20+ times a game if needed and be a playmaking threat in both the run and the pass game. Our version of Jahmyr Gibbs or even James Cook. There are a few backs in the deep runningback draft class that are intriguing: Judkins (Ohio State), Hampton (UNC), Jeanty (Not going to be an option), etc. I think the draft is the place that a RB upgrade is possible. We could find one in FA as well, but I think initial target is the draft.
Wide receiver we were up and down. Our receivers overperformed their stock, and that's great. Dyami Brown may have even helped solidify a roster spot next year. But we have a bunch of 3 and 4 receivers. We need help here. McLaurin is great, and will go down as an all time receiver for this franchise. Everything else is replaceable. I'd like to see us attempt to spend large bucks on a receiver upgrade (whether or not they sign here is unimportant... we need to try our best). But ultimately we can make it work with guys that have been here. So if no clear upgrades are in FA or the draft (Emeka Egbuka is a guy I think would fit well and COULD be around at our first choice) that we can make it work... but that is far from ideal.
Tight End - if Ertz returns, and it seems like he will, then we may be set here. But we need Sinnott to step up and we need to get Bates back. If we can't bring all of them back, a slight upgrade is possible in FA and likely what we'll do, in my opinion.
Offensive Line and Defensive Line need almost full out overhauls. Our offensive line has one quality player in Tyler Biadasz. Cosmi will be out most of the year and I don't think he's as good as many do around here but he was definitely our second best offensive line this year and a guy we could continue to surround with talent. But we need two guard upgrades for sure and at least a left tackle. If they believe Coleman can develop, I trust that. But I'd like to see him develop on the right side of the line. So let's assume those two are set, we need three starters on the offensive line.
I could listen to, reluctantly, that Wylie could be an upgrade to anything else we can bring in at RG. And I'd be much more comfortable with him there vs. at right tackle. But at minimum we need a LT and a LG.
That's where I'd be hoping we can spend our first rounder. But with us picking so late, that is going to be tough to find a quality tackle. There are actually quite a few good players in the draft, but it's hard to think they'll slide to us.
As far as the DL goes... our run defense has been poor for years. During the Rivera era, that was in part due to the linebackers being poor to really bad. But our linebackers this year played pretty well. Wagner had over 100 tackles and showed he can still play tackle to tackle with the best of them. The one constant in our run defense in the last several seasons has been Payne and Allen. Is it their fault? Probably not. But we need to get larger bodies to clog run lanes and ends who can set an edge. I actually think Dorance Armstrong may have been our best overall DL this year, but Fowler stood out more for his pass rushing. Fowler is a FA, but we bring Armstrong back... which is great news.
Johnny Newton showed some ability, but he's a smaller DT who is an effort guy. He can play the run for sure, but he can get out manned by larger bodies and over four quarters that could be an issue.
I think it may be time to move on from Payne and Allen. And that isn't something I say lightly or with any animosity towards either of them. Allen was last regime's leader. I think both would benefit from a change in scenery. We need to add large bodies with draft picks and FA. Not necessarily statues, but guys who are okay with holding ground. If Payne or Allen stay (one, but not both in my opinion can) then we need big bodies to mix and match with one of them + Newton.
The other spot I'd like to spend our one, if not at LT, is edge. But again, I'm just not sure the best edges will be there.
Linebacker I like, and I'd keep it the same as it has been if possible. We can upgrade in some ways, but Luvu is a playmaker and Wagner is the leader. Need both. Let's see what Magee has (but the team already knows, so we'll see.)
DB is another code red. Sainristil is a stud and can play outside or slot. Set there. I still like Lattimore. I know many cooled off on him but I thought he played well. But he is injury prone. And after these two we have essentially nothing. Noah I played okay, but he's not a guy we want to depend on as a starter. BSJ and Davis are cut candidates. This is where a significant portion of our resources needs to go. Another starter type as insurance/provide the ability to move Sainristil around and depth pieces are necessary. This may be a sneaky spot where the BPA for our first may align with a big time need.
Ultimately, I think we need to upgrade personnel in the following positions, in order:
1. OL
2. DL
3. DB
4. WR
5. RB
But it's not as clear as that ranking makes it.
I also think we got a little bit away from what we know in the NFCCG. We went away from our aggressive nature and took the points. And I'm not mad at Quinn for it. I disagree with the decision, but I absolutely know why we did what we did and it's hard for me to find fault in his logic and strategy. It's not what I would have done. But then again, I've made decisions in games and had people respectfully disagree, too. It's easy to do from here.
But I think this team can only improve as long as we continue to keep the core together, respect our role players and improve in key areas with real NFL talent.
We made the NFCCG with a roster that, quite honestly, wasn't great on paper. Each player (even Wylie) deserves a lot of credit for helping make that happen. Their selflessness, attitudes and effort helped alleviate a lot of the talent issues and their camaraderie made this team scary to defend and play against.
Our defense, and Coach Whitt, deserve a ton of praise, too. That unit looked pretty bad in week one. And at times we saw the talent disparity. But they overachieved as well on that side of the ball. I can only imagine what he can do with upgraded DL and DB corps.
With our improved facilities, a new stadium on the horizon, a positive reputation, a strong front office and a good and likeable owner, this is only the start. I am excited for our future.
Hail.
What a time to be alive.
We'll start with the awards portion of the post (this is where I look at the star totals and pretend like these awards have real prestige):
Overall MVP: Jayden Daniels
Offensive MVP: Jayden Daniels
Defensive MVP: Jeremy Chinn
Offensive Rookie Of the Year: Jayden Daniels
Defensive Rookie Of the Year: Mike Sainristil
Best Quarterback: Jayden Daniels
Best Receiver: Terry McLaurin
Best Runningback: Tie: BRob and Ekeler
Best Tight End: Zach Ertz
Best OL: Tyler Biadasz
Best DL: Dante Fowler
Best LB: Frankie Luvu
Best DB: Jeremy Chinn
Best Punter: Tress Way
Best Kicker: Zane Gonzalez
Now, let's get to the season breakdown
Well, we're good at quarterback. And... that is about it. Our lack of talent has been masked all season long by sound strategy, aggressive decision making and team camaraderie. And there is something to be said for that. So wholesale changes, again, may not be the play here. We want to keep the base. We want to keep the selflessness. We want to keep the team as gelled as we can.
But we need changes.
At running back we have several decent pieces. Brian Robinson went cold during the year but he showed he has a little burst, he's a hard runner and a decent option out of the backfield. He doesn't have home run speed or power and he, at times, lacks vision. Ekeler is a top notch playmaker still, but he spent a lot of time on the injured reserve. McNichols is a solid rotational piece and back up option, but simply isn't a guy you can put the entirety of the workload on. Chris Rodriguez is a fan favorite, powerful runner but ultimately a similar version of back to Brian Robinson.
We need significant help at the running back position. Not just another rotational piece. That isn't needed. And if that is what we can get it may be wise to run it back with what we had this year if we can make that happen. But we need a back that can carry the ball 20+ times a game if needed and be a playmaking threat in both the run and the pass game. Our version of Jahmyr Gibbs or even James Cook. There are a few backs in the deep runningback draft class that are intriguing: Judkins (Ohio State), Hampton (UNC), Jeanty (Not going to be an option), etc. I think the draft is the place that a RB upgrade is possible. We could find one in FA as well, but I think initial target is the draft.
Wide receiver we were up and down. Our receivers overperformed their stock, and that's great. Dyami Brown may have even helped solidify a roster spot next year. But we have a bunch of 3 and 4 receivers. We need help here. McLaurin is great, and will go down as an all time receiver for this franchise. Everything else is replaceable. I'd like to see us attempt to spend large bucks on a receiver upgrade (whether or not they sign here is unimportant... we need to try our best). But ultimately we can make it work with guys that have been here. So if no clear upgrades are in FA or the draft (Emeka Egbuka is a guy I think would fit well and COULD be around at our first choice) that we can make it work... but that is far from ideal.
Tight End - if Ertz returns, and it seems like he will, then we may be set here. But we need Sinnott to step up and we need to get Bates back. If we can't bring all of them back, a slight upgrade is possible in FA and likely what we'll do, in my opinion.
Offensive Line and Defensive Line need almost full out overhauls. Our offensive line has one quality player in Tyler Biadasz. Cosmi will be out most of the year and I don't think he's as good as many do around here but he was definitely our second best offensive line this year and a guy we could continue to surround with talent. But we need two guard upgrades for sure and at least a left tackle. If they believe Coleman can develop, I trust that. But I'd like to see him develop on the right side of the line. So let's assume those two are set, we need three starters on the offensive line.
I could listen to, reluctantly, that Wylie could be an upgrade to anything else we can bring in at RG. And I'd be much more comfortable with him there vs. at right tackle. But at minimum we need a LT and a LG.
That's where I'd be hoping we can spend our first rounder. But with us picking so late, that is going to be tough to find a quality tackle. There are actually quite a few good players in the draft, but it's hard to think they'll slide to us.
As far as the DL goes... our run defense has been poor for years. During the Rivera era, that was in part due to the linebackers being poor to really bad. But our linebackers this year played pretty well. Wagner had over 100 tackles and showed he can still play tackle to tackle with the best of them. The one constant in our run defense in the last several seasons has been Payne and Allen. Is it their fault? Probably not. But we need to get larger bodies to clog run lanes and ends who can set an edge. I actually think Dorance Armstrong may have been our best overall DL this year, but Fowler stood out more for his pass rushing. Fowler is a FA, but we bring Armstrong back... which is great news.
Johnny Newton showed some ability, but he's a smaller DT who is an effort guy. He can play the run for sure, but he can get out manned by larger bodies and over four quarters that could be an issue.
I think it may be time to move on from Payne and Allen. And that isn't something I say lightly or with any animosity towards either of them. Allen was last regime's leader. I think both would benefit from a change in scenery. We need to add large bodies with draft picks and FA. Not necessarily statues, but guys who are okay with holding ground. If Payne or Allen stay (one, but not both in my opinion can) then we need big bodies to mix and match with one of them + Newton.
The other spot I'd like to spend our one, if not at LT, is edge. But again, I'm just not sure the best edges will be there.
Linebacker I like, and I'd keep it the same as it has been if possible. We can upgrade in some ways, but Luvu is a playmaker and Wagner is the leader. Need both. Let's see what Magee has (but the team already knows, so we'll see.)
DB is another code red. Sainristil is a stud and can play outside or slot. Set there. I still like Lattimore. I know many cooled off on him but I thought he played well. But he is injury prone. And after these two we have essentially nothing. Noah I played okay, but he's not a guy we want to depend on as a starter. BSJ and Davis are cut candidates. This is where a significant portion of our resources needs to go. Another starter type as insurance/provide the ability to move Sainristil around and depth pieces are necessary. This may be a sneaky spot where the BPA for our first may align with a big time need.
Ultimately, I think we need to upgrade personnel in the following positions, in order:
1. OL
2. DL
3. DB
4. WR
5. RB
But it's not as clear as that ranking makes it.
I also think we got a little bit away from what we know in the NFCCG. We went away from our aggressive nature and took the points. And I'm not mad at Quinn for it. I disagree with the decision, but I absolutely know why we did what we did and it's hard for me to find fault in his logic and strategy. It's not what I would have done. But then again, I've made decisions in games and had people respectfully disagree, too. It's easy to do from here.
But I think this team can only improve as long as we continue to keep the core together, respect our role players and improve in key areas with real NFL talent.
We made the NFCCG with a roster that, quite honestly, wasn't great on paper. Each player (even Wylie) deserves a lot of credit for helping make that happen. Their selflessness, attitudes and effort helped alleviate a lot of the talent issues and their camaraderie made this team scary to defend and play against.
Our defense, and Coach Whitt, deserve a ton of praise, too. That unit looked pretty bad in week one. And at times we saw the talent disparity. But they overachieved as well on that side of the ball. I can only imagine what he can do with upgraded DL and DB corps.
With our improved facilities, a new stadium on the horizon, a positive reputation, a strong front office and a good and likeable owner, this is only the start. I am excited for our future.
Hail.
