2025 Washington Commanders Camp / Preseason

[Enforcer]

 

[burgold]

There is a lot of reporting that we look bad at WR, but somebody also said Luke had a toe-tap TD catch, Deebo was featured and caught a TD, Gallup was involved, etc., so I don’t know what to think. Maybe it’s just a story about Terry’s absence? I was looking to see Lane’s name called but didn’t, so that’s a little disappointing, but really it’s before very early. I’m interested to see how this WR group does this preseason, especially the young guys. Time will tell.

Sounds like Ertz picked up right where he left off, he may be JD’s favorite target.

I also heard several reporters say that Washington's offense was by far the best unit on the field yesterday. So yeah, while the wide receiver narrative did get a lot of play, it also sounds like the offense was humming despite that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Digesting the DC reporters some more on this.

A. O line up and down. Except JP Finlay who thinks they were consistently good. Tunsill everyone agreed was really good.

B. Washington corners really struggled, the exception being Amos.

C. Inside passing game really good -- Ertz. Deebo

D. Outside passing game really struggled.

E. NE Wrs seperared well. Washington Wrs didn't seperate well.

F. Mixed opinions on the Washington D line, but more good. Good in red zone drills.

G. Jayden was really good. Maye was really good.

Keim and Nicki have harped of late the X and Z receivers whomever is playing here haven't emerged in camp or yesterday.

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Follow our daily updates from Commanders training camp, including intel on the QBs, tight position battles and potential breakouts.

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Washington's passing attack in camp has largely been about Ertz and WR Deebo Samuel. The Commanders need one of the other receivers to elevate, whether that's rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane, second-year Luke McCaffrey or veterans Michael Gallup and K.J. Osborn. With McLaurin still out and Noah Brown in and out while recovering from a spring knee injury, the Commanders need to assess their depth.

Overall camp takes so far from digesting what I've read and what I watched in one camp myself.

The Good:

Amos looks like the real deal
D line might be better than advertised
Noah I and Sainristill with good camps albiet Sainstrill struggled yesterday.
Lattimore is healthier albiet have heard mixed things about his camp though more good than bad
Tunsill is monster level good
Deebo looks excellent
Medrano with a good camp
Croskey-Merritt looks great albiet tough to judge RBs in camp
Ertz looks really good
Vigers for an UDFA looks like a good find, good camp
Yankoff has had a good camp
Kinlaw has fiashed
Von Miller looks good -- spry, doesn't look washed up

The Mixed-Bad

The Magee is going to be a star narrative hasn't materalized yet, and is banged up again
Mccaffrey -- has has flashes, Kliff has talked him up but those in camp (including the one day I was there) have been mostly underwhelmed
O line overall has been beat enough where there are some early concerns -- Keim who is usually conservative and super nice in his assessments, said recently he expects the O line to be better in Nov than now -- when Cosmi is back and they have time to gel. Makes sense to me, a lot of new guys on the O line.
Looks like Wylie has a good shot to beat Conerly. Conerly has been beat in camp some and it taking some time to adjust.
The vetran new WRs haven't played hot - Chris Moore had a good minicamp but not a hot camp. Ditto it sounds like KJ Osborne. Sounds like Gallup hasn't done a heck of a lot.
Sinnott, touted in minicap, but been banged up in training camp, not much cooking yet

 

[Chris]

I have reached the point where any real production from either Sinnott or McCaffrey will be a pleasant surprise.

 

[DWinzit]

WRs- I was expecting an earlier than 4th round WR draft pick, to compete with Terry and Deebo. I really wanted Jayden Higgins who I thought would be a dynamic game changer. Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic they grabbed Lane but he doesn't bring the same game to the table. Hopefully they will keep an eye out for receivers cut later in the summer

Even with Terry in the lineup, our WR group has a fall off and don't have high hopes for the other vets brought in, all meh outside of Deebo. McCaffrey needs to start showing up, it's kind of a shit or get off the pot time for him.

DB's - Their struggles yesterday are truly disappointing. We have a lot invested in the corners especially

I don't worry about the other areas as they should gel with more time together.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Digested just now another reporter who was there on 106.7. It doesn't sounds like one team dominated another. As he was saying NE showed up and hung well with Washingrton and they (NE) should feel good about it.

Just listened to the full Keim podcast from yesterday. I trust Keim over the others on this, for this reason. As he talked about, he doesn't like to tweet much while watching because when you do that you miss the next play. i know from my own watching that's absolutely true.

He thinks NE on the line of scrimmage was better on both sides -- their O line did better against our D line. And their D line did better against our O line. It doesn't sound like by a mile but he thought NE had the edge on both sides of the lines. So I gather the NE reporters who thought NE played better aren't crazy.

Having said that, I don't think its a big deal. Doesn't sound like NE was better by a mile. But considering as one NE reporter said, the Eagles embarassed NE in the joint practice last year -- NE this time being slightly better than a team that went to the championship game last year is something they likely feel good about. So i get the giddiness of the NE reporters who felt NE had the better day.

Not a lot new as to the tidbits in the mix. As to the O line, Conerly was solid but beat multiple times by Landry. He mentioned Nick Allegretti was overpowered at times.

He was a little less high on Maye, though liked what he saw, mentioned that it could have been worse for the secondary if Maye completed some passes that he should have.

He piled on the theme about the outside WRs struggled.

 

[skinsinparadise]

WRs- I was expecting an earlier than 4th round WR draft pick, to compete with Terry and Deebo. I really wanted Jayden Higgins who I thought would be a dynamic game changer. Don't get me wrong, I was ecstatic they grabbed Lane but he doesn't bring the same game to the table. Hopefully they will keep an eye out for receivers cut later in the summer

Even with Terry in the lineup, our WR group has a fall off and don't have high hopes for the other vets brought in, all meh outside of Deebo. McCaffrey needs to start showing up, it's kind of a shit or get off the pot time for him.

DB's - Their struggles yesterday are truly disappointing. We have a lot invested in the corners especially

I don't worry about the other areas as they should gel with more time together.

I didn't mention Lane because its hard for me to get a feel for his camp. I am wondering if he's playing slot mostly. Because I've heard some good things about him in camp. He had one good play in the practice I watched. Love what Kliff has said. So am leaning positive.

I get the impression, he's right now -- PR, backup slot, gadget backfield player. I don't think he's playing much Z, but am not 100% sure. it seems like they are trying McCaffrey at Z.

Sounds like McCaffrey, C. Brown, Gallup, Osborne (though wonder if Osborne is also slot?), Strachan, hasn't done much.

As for CB, digesting Keim's podcasts, I get the impression he's been a mixed bag -- hard read. Sainstrill has had a good camp albiet struggled yesterday some. Amos has had a great camp. noah i, too. I think their secondary is likely going to be fine.

Sounds like without Terry and Noah Brown -- Z and X feels code red level bad. Jayden is forced to more dump offs and using the middle of the field, hitting Ertz and whomever is playing in the slot

 

[DWinzit]

I didn't mention Lane because its hard for me to get a feel for his camp. I am wondering if he's playing slot mostly. Because I've heard some good things about him in camp. He had one good play in the practice I watched. Love what Kliff has said. So am leaning positive.

I get the impression, he's right now -- PR, backup slot, gadget backfield player. I don't think he's playing much Z, but am not 100% sure. it seems like they are trying McCaffrey at Z.

Sounds like McCaffrey, C. Brown, Gallup, Osborne (though wonder if Osborne is also slot?), Strachan, hasn't done much.

As for CB, digesting Keim's podcasts, I get the impression he's been a mixed bag -- hard read. Sainstrill has had a good camp albiet struggled yesterday some. Amos has had a great camp. noah i, too. I think their secondary is likely going to be fine.

Sounds like without Terry and Noah Brown -- Z and X feels code red level bad. Jayden is forced to more dump offs and using the middle of the field, hitting Ertz and whomever is playing in the slot

Your comments on Lane feel right and what I hoped for. My gut is down the line he will move to some Z but all in time. He has lots to digest with all he must have going on in his first camp.

I have a hard time seeing McCaffrey being able to cover Z but maybe they move him all around. I think that's what Kliff is going to need to do with them all, lots of interchanging of positions and movements.

I keep my fingers crossed on the DB's

 

[skinsinparadise]

Your comments on Lane feel right and what I hoped for. My gut is down the line he will move to some Z but all in time. He has lots to digest with all he must have going on in his first camp.

I have a hard time seeing McCaffrey being able to cover Z but maybe they move him all around. I think that's what Kliff is going to need to do with them all, lots of interchanging of positions and movements.

I keep my fingers crossed on the DB's

At a minimum feels like they hit it out of the park with Amos. Going purely by camp reports this years draft class looks stronger player to pkayer than last years of course aside from Jayden and Sainristill and Coleman.

Feels like everyone from this class has flashed.

 

[Iraolaball]

@Boone…meme needed, stat!

 

[DWinzit]

At a minimum feels like they hit it out of the park with Amos. Going purely by camp reports this years draft class looks stronger player to pkayer than last years of course aside from Jayden and Sainristill and Coleman.

Feels like everyone from this class has flashed.

Yes! Even Medrano has received some positive mentions and he is definitely the weakest of the selections.

We all have worries about a number of last years picks who really need to stay healthy and contribute much more or some will start to fall into the bust category. Certainly still too early to really discuss that though

 

[Chris]

I do remember how we felt about the team’s performance vs the Ravens in joint practices 2 years ago. Seems similar to the NE takeaways yesterday. Just sayin’.

 

[heisenberg]

---

So what is today a day off for the players to explore boston or something?

 

[WCommandersfan25]

We need McCaffrey or Lane to step up honestly. I was firmly in the camp to draft Bradyn Swinson over Lane in the 4th rd. Lane is supposed to have issues with press. This will make or break his nfl career for the most part as a receiver. Only 1 practice but both of these guys need to show something. I don't care if Lane is a rookie. A 3rd rd (McCaffrey) and 4th rd (Lane) can be a pretty valuable pick, and wrs need to be a hit in the draft with these rounds. Both guys need to show something at receiver this preseason.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I have reached the point where any real production from either Sinnott or McCaffrey will be a pleasant surprise.

I don't know why, but I think we're going to see production from both this year. Maybe it's just eternal optimism, however I just think one of the two, if not both, is going to have a good step forward in year 2.

Part of this might be my general take that you don't know anything in camp or preseason, and really until the first 4 weeks of the season. I took a lot of heat saying I wanted to hold judgement on EB until we'd seen more than practices, and then when it was abundantly clear he was in over his head, I was willing to say that he was in over his head and turned out to be a horrible hire.

We're still so early in camp, it's tough to know what is going on.

 

[Chris]

I don't know why, but I think we're going to see production from both this year. Maybe it's just eternal optimism, however I just think one of the two, if not both, is going to have a good step forward in year 2.

Or it could just be gas. 😉

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Digested just now another reporter who was there on 106.7. It doesn't sounds like one team dominated another. As he was saying NE showed up and hung well with Washingrton and they (NE) should feel good about it.

Just listened to the full Keim podcast from yesterday. I trust Keim over the others on this, for this reason. As he talked about, he doesn't like to tweet much while watching because when you do that you miss the next play. i know from my own watching that's absolutely true.

He thinks NE on the line of scrimmage was better on both sides -- their O line did better against our D line. And their D line did better against our O line. It doesn't sound like by a mile but he thought NE had the edge on both sides of the lines. So I gather the NE reporters who thought NE played better aren't crazy.

Having said that, I don't think its a big deal. Doesn't sound like NE was better by a mile. But considering as one NE reporter said, the Eagles embarassed NE in the joint practice last year -- NE this time being slightly better than a team that went to the championship game last year is something they likely feel good about. So i get the giddiness of the NE reporters who felt NE had the better day.

Not a lot new as to the tidbits in the mix. As to the O line, Conerly was solid but beat multiple times by Landry. He mentioned Nick Allegretti was overpowered at times.

He was a little less high on Maye, though liked what he saw, mentioned that it could have been worse for the secondary if Maye completed some passes that he should have.

He piled on the theme about the outside WRs struggled.

On the OL, I do agree with Keim, however, that the OL is going to be better in November than in September. You put that tidbit into a different post, but I'll use this one as the jumping off point. However, I thought that going into camp, I don't think that's new news or should shock anybody. The OL last year really was mostly productive because they played together well as a unit, not because of their individual talent. But look at the changes:

LT: Tunsil in for Coleman
LG: Coleman in for Allegretti
C: Biadasz stays put
RG: Allegretti in for Cosmi (for now)
RT: Conerly Jr. in for Wylie (maybe, might be Wylie.

Just think about the scenarios:
- Only one of the 5 starting OL will be playing in the same spot as last year (Biadasz).
- At MOST they will have 2 players in their same spot from last year if Conerly Jr. doesn't beat out Wylie. But they WANT Conerly Jr. to beat out Wylie, so having Wylie play is clearly not ideal. Hail Raiser would be happy to comment on what he thinks of Wylie.
- Conerly is shifting from the left side to the right side from college. I think people discount how hard this is to do. Somebody, might have been Logan Paulsen, said everything is backwards, you have to learn new footwork, kick steps, etc. I think somebody else, it might have been JP, said it was like somebody who has learned to write with their right hand learning to write with their left hand. So, it's going to take a hot minute.
- Coleman is moving from tackle to guard, which is an adjustment.
- Allegretti is also going from left to right

There is just no stability at all on the OL. This was one of my overall concerns with the approach going into the season, however I fully endorse the approach because I think it's going to bode well for the future.

But to the point the line will be better later in the season (injuries aside), I completely agree.

I actually doubt Conerly is going to start the season as the starting RT. I think it's going to be Wylie, and I wouldn't be even remotely shocked if they implemented the same plan they used with Coleman last year at LT: rotate him in for a few series here and there early in the season as they get him up to speed. Then he slowly takes over for Wylie by Halloween.

Long term, I think they've made huge improvements to the OL. Short term, I think it's going to be a work in progress.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

being honest
I trust Keim over the others on this

Come on, if we're being honest with ourselves, you trust Keim over others for everything. You're his #1 fan. I'd be surprised if you didn't have a Redskins Keim jersey you wear around the house.

(Please don't take offense, just a little gentle ribbing. I agree that Keim is the best of the beat reporters.)

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Your comments on Lane feel right and what I hoped for. My gut is down the line he will move to some Z but all in time. He has lots to digest with all he must have going on in his first camp.

I have a hard time seeing McCaffrey being able to cover Z but maybe they move him all around. I think that's what Kliff is going to need to do with them all, lots of interchanging of positions and movements.

I keep my fingers crossed on the DB's

I'll use this as a jumping off point for WR discussion:
- The team is going to miss Terry until he comes back, because he is their best receiver. All further Terry thoughts are in the Terry thread.
- I think at this point in camp last year nobody knew how they were going to piece together a receiving corps, and while I could be wrong about it, I think we had the same questions about outside receivers last year. But they figured out how to scheme guys open, and JD5 makes everybody better.
- If they keep moving McCaffery around, that's going to be detrimental to his development. They need to pick a spot and let him work there.
- They made do with Terry and a bunch of guys last year. When Terry comes back, it will be Terry + Deebo + a bunch of guys.
- For outside WRs, I think maybe more than any other position, game planning matters. In practice, there is no game plan to work guys open based on pulling coverage, etc. Some special receivers, that doesn't matter. But for our group, I think it matters a lot.
- I'm really excited to see what they do with Lane down the road. But to me he's at best the 4th option, maybe 5th. (This assumes Terry gets back into the lineup.) Because it's almost certainly going to be Terry, Deebo, Noah Brown as the first, second and third options. Then the rest of the guys are fighting for the 4th option. In the event Terry doesn't return (unlikely), then it will essentially be the same as last year, Deebo + a bunch of guys, and they will have to rely more heavily on JD5 and the run game.
- From reports from camp, none of the WRs have been "great" though the JD5 to Deebo connection has been getting a lot of praise.
- The one thing which will become clear over the course of the next 2 weeks is how concerned Quinn/Peters are about the WRs. If you start seeing them bringing in more guys, then they're concerned. Either with the fact Terry is going to hold out, or over the fact the players they have can't be trusted.

 

[burgold]

I do remember how we felt about the team’s performance vs the Ravens in joint practices 2 years ago. Seems similar to the NE takeaways yesterday. Just sayin’.

Remember Osaka.

Actually... it's better to forget it.