Official Game Thread - Preseason Week 3 - Ravens @ Commanders - EARLY DAY GAME

[Voice_of_Reason]

can I at least complain about the kicker and be envious of Baltimore for their kicker?

Kicker absolutely. Because he will kick in regular season games.

Note I said "kick” and not “play.”

As Bill Parcells famously said, “he doesn’t have to play. He has to kick.”

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Poor throw from Johnson there. Have to lead the receiver into the middle of the endzone. I have no clue what we are gonna do at QB3?

Hopefully not ever need to use one….

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I hear you. Although Johnson, when called upon in the past, did a good job. We are still early in this rebuild, and even at backup level you can't build a world class roster overnight. I have a lot of confidence that this roster will be stronger than last year's and I think in the short-term that's really all we can ask for.

And I think it’s important to remember, they immediately addressed backup QB last year with Mariota. So you’re exactly right, you can’t build a deep team over night. But at one of the most important backup positions, they signed a vet immediately. And then resigned him this off season.

QB three is almost a luxury backup position.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

There’s no real way to gauge what all this means for the regular season. But man, you hate to see the team get taken to the woodshed like they have. Hartman might have broken the record for the amount of preseason snaps for a god awful QB. But it was hard to find positives out there across the board.

 

[Boone]

And I think it’s important to remember, they immediately addressed backup QB last year with Mariota. So you’re exactly right, you can’t build a deep team over night. But at one of the most important backup positions, they signed a vet immediately. And then resigned him this off season.

QB three is almost a luxury backup position.

I'm a firm believer that a 3rd QB is a luxury most teams can't afford to have. I would much rather use that spot on additional insurance in case of an unexpected spate of OL/DL or other positions group injuries than on a 3rd string QB.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

There’s no real way to gauge what all this means for the regular season. But man, you hate to see the team get taken to the woodshed like they have. Hartman might have broken the record for the amount of preseason snaps for a god awful QB. But it was hard to find positives out there across the board.

I agree.

If we come out flat in week 1, Quinn is going to have some ‘splaining to do.

I do think if there had been a modicum of better QB play things would look different though. We’ve had atrocious QB play. Most teams have their backup QB play a good bit. We had 1 drive from our starter. And the rest of the preseason has been either an unqualified player or a 39 year old journeyman.

Good QB play solves a lot of problems across the board.

Doesn’t solve kicking problems though.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm a firm believer that a 3rd QB is a luxury most teams can't afford to have. I would much rather use that spot on additional insurance in case of an unexpected spate of OL/DL or other positions group injuries than on a 3rd string QB.

And this entire preseason has been played by either a third string or PS or out of the league QB absent JD5’s one drive.

I do think it is important to have a capable 3rd string QB somewhere on the roster only because it allows for better overall practice situations.

Hartman is probably out of the league if he’s not on our PS. Good thing for him he can transition immediately into a male underwear model or a hair model.

 

[Conn]

I hear you. Although Johnson, when called upon in the past, did a good job. We are still early in this rebuild, and even at backup level you can't build a world class roster overnight. I have a lot of confidence that this roster will be stronger than last year's and I think in the short-term that's really all we can ask for.

People are forgetting we just brought in Johnson not long ago, too (probably after seeing how bad Hartman was in practice). If he, as a million year vet, were to get starter’s reps all week and a game plan and 1-on-1 attention from Kliff, and Jayden and Mariota in his ear, he’d be a lot better off in a worst case scenario where he has to play.

Hopefully that doesn’t happen and I’d absolutely be watching the cut lists of other teams, of course

 

[DieselPwr44]

I have no idea how the staff will be able to evaluate any depth at WR/TE with the way Fabio aka Hartman played Qb.
And how Gay is still on this roster at this moment is baffling.

 

[Conn]

 

[Conn]

 

[Chris 44]

Keep hearing good things about Paul this camp.

 

[SkinsLife]

If Hartman is taking up a practice squad spot... I'll be pissed.

 

[RedWolf]

I really hope they come out breathing fire against the Giants

 

[Commander PK]

If they come out flat against the Giants and lose, people are going to point to a lack of intensity in pre-season as a cause. Not saying they would be right necessarily…but if the team looks bad for the first few weeks it’s harder to argue for this type of an approach to the pre-season.

For now I will trust the experts and hope to see our true Commanders team kick some ass in a few weeks.

 

[DieselPwr44]

Matt Gay will cost them games. Remember: they beat the Giants in a game last season largely on field goals alone.

 

[Ghost of Sarge]

I have a feeling it's going to be a long season.

 

[Faithful Fan]

If they come out flat against the Giants and lose, people are going to point to a lack of intensity in pre-season as a cause. Not saying they would be right necessarily…but if the team looks bad for the first few weeks it’s harder to argue for this type of an approach to the pre-season.

This is my worry, hope I’m wrong. It happened to us last year and happened to Atlanta in DQ’s last few seasons there, lose out the preseason and fall flat in the opener.

 

[Commander PK]

Matt Gay will cost them games. Remember: they beat the Giants in a game last season largely on field goals alone.

It is utterly mind-boggling how we cannot find someone who can kick well on a consistent basis.

 

[Faithful Fan]

I have a feeling it's going to be a long season.

Yeah, I’m worried too. We overachieved and lucked out so much last year, it seems a regression to the mean is likely. Add to that a tougher schedule, the usual sophomore slump for QBs, Terry’s holdout, our poor showing in preseason, a strengthened division, the pressure of the spotlight, players believing the hype, etc., and I expect a letdown this year.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Harris, Peters, DQ, and Jayden have us positioned for long term success, I’m just pessimistic about our prospects this year compared to last year.