2025 Washington Commanders- All Things Defense

[HailYeah]

My $.02 is the secondary has been entirely inconsistent. So sometimes it is great, and sometimes it's terrible, and depending on the week you ask him, he says whatever his last impression is.

And I have no idea if he's the right guy or not. I do think he's better than Hazlett, Joe Barry (who I think is STILL statistically the worst DC in the history of football who Jay Gruden somehow hired), Manusky and Jack Del Rio.

I would like to learn more about the DBs coach. I don't know much about him, he wasn't with Quinn/Whitt/Peters before that I can tell, so I don't know what the connection is, but I wonder if that might be a spot where what he's putting down is not being picked up.

The coordinator does not teach the position groups technique or communication. That's the position coach's job. The coordinator puts together the scheme, and tells the position coaches to teach the scheme. DBs communication has been a problem for both seasons this staff has been here (and long before that), so I wonder if it's not just Whitt, but also position coach related.

I’m not entirely sure, but I think a lot of that inconsistency is due to our DL pressure. It seems that the games our DL goes against a weak OL our secondary magically looks good. Giants, chargers, raiders. Our DL was getting a lot of pressure and forcing throws. Coincidentally our secondary looked good/better in those games. I don’t remember much pressure against the packers or falcons and it just so happens our secondary got shredded. Not giving a pass for the secondary, but I do think going forward we are going to struggle defensively against good offensive lines.

 

[method man]

Bram is a less offensive repackaged Larry Michael. I got a chuckle listening to Bram saying Payne is having an excellent year on Keim’s podcast and an actual football expert like Steve Suter breaking down the tape and saying Payne was horrible against the Falcons and then average at best against the Chargers.

I’m hoping he makes enough splash plays this year where we can trade him for a 5th or 6th

 

[Chris]

There are far too many that are termed ‘football experts’ on various platforms that have no actual notable coaching or playing experience at the professional level. A radio gig, a YouTube channel, or a subscription to All 22 film does not an expert make.

 

[method man]

There are far too many that are termed ‘football experts’ on various platforms that have no actual notable coaching or playing experience at the professional level. A radio gig, a YouTube channel, or a subscription to All 22 film does not an expert make.

Suter is a former college football All American and the current color analyst for UMD football.

 

[Chris]

Suter is a former college football All American and the current color analyst for UMD football.

I’m aware. Played for UMD two decades ago and had a cup of coffee in the CFL. Though I’m not dismissing his bona fides, Quinn and Whitt have both praised him this season and they know exactly what he is being asked to do. So…

 

[Darrell Green Fan]

I'd be surprised if coaches feel Payne has not played well. I think that is obvious, we can all see it.

I've always been an Armstrong guy, thought he played better than his numbers last year. But the guy I'm the most excited about, and it speaks to the quality of our organization, is Kinlaw. He has been a force, this organization saw it and this team got him to produce when 2 others failed.

Still waiting on Luvu to make more of an impact.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Bram is a less offensive repackaged Larry Michael. I got a chuckle listening to Bram saying Payne is having an excellent year on Keim’s podcast and an actual football expert like Steve Suter breaking down the tape and saying Payne was horrible against the Falcons and then average at best against the Chargers.

I’m hoping he makes enough splash plays this year where we can trade him for a 5th or 6th

Bram is absolutely nothing like Larry Michael. Bram actually worked for ESPN for over a decade, and was a beat reporter here before that. He owns his own business (ampire media), is an investor in several other businesses, and doesn't do any of the stupid "skintagible" stuff Michael did.

As far as Payne is concerned, it's pretty universally accepted by the folks who cover the team that Payne is having a good season overall. Literally the entire defense had a bad game against the Falcons.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I’m aware. Played for UMD two decades ago and had a cup of coffee in the CFL. Though I’m not dismissing his bona fides, Quinn and Whitt have both praised him this season and they know exactly what he is being asked to do. So…

I think we should go to the definitive source of all grading: skinsinparadise (or anybody else who wants to look it up), what does PFF have to say about Payne?

 

[method man]

Bram is absolutely nothing like Larry Michael. Bram actually worked for ESPN for over a decade, and was a beat reporter here before that. He owns his own business (ampire media), is an investor in several other businesses, and doesn't do any of the stupid "skintagible" stuff Michael did.

As far as Payne is concerned, it's pretty universally accepted by the folks who cover the team that Payne is having a good season overall. Literally the entire defense had a bad game against the Falcons.

It’s great that Bram is an entrepreneur but that has nothing to do with his ability to be fully objective. Every time I hear him on Keim’s podcast, nearly every player is crushing it and there a bunch of excuses for the ones who are struggling.

While I really like Logan, he very rarely straight up has sharp negative takes on players.

That’s why I like listening to Suter. He has zero connection to the team, is not really a fan of the team and can say whatever he wants without any repercussions.

 

[Anselmheifer]

Armstrong has really been amazing. He’s not getting clean up sacks. He is winning his one on one matchups and often doing it quickly. I’ve been really impressed

 

[method man]

I’m aware. Played for UMD two decades ago and had a cup of coffee in the CFL. Though I’m not dismissing his bona fides, Quinn and Whitt have both praised him this season and they know exactly what he is being asked to do. So…

Coaches lie all the time to the media. The ony worthwhile nuggets that come out of these press conferences are if a coach bashes a player (must really be in the doghouse) or hints at an emerging player to watch out for

 

[method man]

Armstrong has really been amazing. He’s not getting clean up sacks. He is winning his one on one matchups and often doing it quickly. I’ve been really impressed

I’ve noticed some of his wins have been beating tackles outside. I think he was more dependent last year on winning inside/stunts

 

[skinsinparadise]

I think we should go to the definitive source of all grading: skinsinparadise (or anybody else who wants to look it up), what does PFF have to say about Payne?

 

[Chris]

Coaches lie all the time to the media. The ony worthwhile nuggets that come out of these press conferences are if a coach bashes a player (must really be in the doghouse) or hints at an emerging player to watch out for

There is a pretty wide gulf between praising and lying.

 

[Chris]

View attachment 13085

I guess PFF is lying, too.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Bram is absolutely nothing like Larry Michael. Bram actually worked for ESPN for over a decade, and was a beat reporter here before that. He owns his own business (ampire media), is an investor in several other businesses, and doesn't do any of the stupid "skintagible" stuff Michael did.

As far as Payne is concerned, it's pretty universally accepted by the folks who cover the team that Payne is having a good season overall. Literally the entire defense had a bad game against the Falcons.

Yeah Bram could certainly be negative at times. Heck some of my concern about how things were going to go early this season was based on Bram's shows where he lamented about the lack of energy in the camp compared to the past. He talked about Terry's contract being part of it. I talked about it back then in real time.

Bram and Larry ironically used to have a show together called Redskins Lunch. I used to call in to it from time to time. A big premise of that show was Larry the homer, Mr. positive versus Bram the cynic.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Yeah Bram could certainly be negative at times. Heck some of my concern about how things were going to go early this season was based on Bram's shows where he lamented about the lack of energy in the camp compared to the past. He talked about Terry's contract being part of it. I talked about it back then in real time.

Bram and Larry ironically used to have a show together called Redskins Lunch. I used to call in to it from time to time. A big premise of that show was Larry the homer, Mr. positive versus Bram the cynic.

i emailed into that show from time to time. Bram read a few of my emails on the air.

In his current role, he can’t be super critical about specific players, but he consistently said the offense didn’t look good this summer and receiver was a problem.

And he didn’t try and put lipstick on a pig after either loss like Michael tried to do.

Michael was in a different category of media hate for me because I didn’t see him as media, I just saw him as a shill for Snyder. I loathed his existence. Not just his reporting.

 

[skinsinparadise]

i emailed into that show from time to time. Bram read a few of my emails on the air.

In his current role, he can’t be super critical about specific players, but he consistently said the offense didn’t look good this summer and receiver was a problem.

And he didn’t try and put lipstick on a pig after either loss like Michael tried to do.

Michael was in a different category of media hate for me because I didn’t see him as media, I just saw him as a shill for Snyder. I loathed his existence. Not just his reporting.

The cool thing about that show was they'd do call ins with Joe Gibbs. I talked to Gibbs on air multiple times.

Bringing this back to Keim, lol, I recall one time sending an article to them written by John Keim from at the time the Washington Examiner -- Bram read it on air and said something like if its from Keim its legit. That was before Keim became super famous with fans.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Michael was in a different category of media hate for me because I didn’t see him as media, I just saw him as a shill for Snyder. I loathed his existence. Not just his reporting.

Michael was cool to me, responded to my emails among other things. But yeah hated the tie to Dan and all that went down in the end.

Having said that, Bryan Colbert who is the defacto new Larry Michael -- but he goes below the radar because its now purely on youtube, etc -- is just as much a cheerleader IMO, probably more so than Larry, yet seems to know very little about football. Larry IMO beats Colbert. But others make up for Colbert on that show -- Logan is really good when he appears, Santana is good, etc.

I'd say though as for the media directly tied to the team. Logan Paulsen IMO is killer good. Santana is pretty good -- he's a bit too much of a homer, not charasmatic but likeable. Brian Mitchell who I've met before, cool guy, isn't an X's and O's guy so for me he adds very little IMO, he's not as critical as he used to be.

On the broadcast, I like Bram. Sometimes his excitable calls come off a bit canned but overall he's good IMO. He also does his homework on the opponent. i loved London Fletcher the player. The broadcaster is a bit boring for me. I miss Cooley in the both.

 

[method man]

I guess PFF is lying, too.

Payne’s PFF grade in his 2022 Pro Bowl season was 59.2. There are clear issues with their grading system from the grading system to the graders themselves.

I know for a fact that the team doesn’t put much weight in their grades. Where teams get value from them is a platform that does the job that a QC assistant would’ve done cutting the tape after the game