Random Commanders Thoughts

[Neophyte]

While true that this was a bad defense with Sweat and Young on the field, it's also fair to be frustrated by what we are seeing with Sweat in Chicago.

If you throw out the first game he played there (and I think that is fair as he had been in Chicago for like 3 days), he has 6 Sacks, 17 total tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, and 1 pass defensed - in 4 games. You can see why this staff wanted to keep him. It also leaves me scratching my head over our scheme because Montez is suddenly putting up numbers that just might lead the league if he can do it all season.

Chase, on the other hand, in what is obviously a better position on a much more talented team, is proving why Washington was willing to let him go for what so many consider a cheap return.

Not that I am upset with either trade - I am not.

 

[Boone]

Yep. I get it.

I listened to Sheehan a couple weeks ago and he said something very interesting. For some reason, when it comes to NFL offenses, there is not a ton of movement up/down the rankings list from season to season. Barring a major change, like OC or QB or top skill position players, offenses tend to be pretty stable. If you were a top 10 offense last season, you tend to continue being a top 10 offense until changes like the ones I mentioned occur.

On the other hand, according to the stats Sheehan was citing, defensive rankings tend to be much more variable and volatile. A team might have a top 10 defense for a season and then inexplicably with essentially the same coaching and personnel, drop to bottom 10 in rankings.

There wasn't a lot of explanation as to why that might be the case, just that the quality of defenses from season to season is much more volatile than how offenses rank from season to season.

 

[Neophyte]

Well, that IS interesting.

Wonder what Eugene Shen would make of that.

 

[MikefromOH]

Whether intended or not, the stupidity of pulling Howell has started QB controversy/failure talks. Talk creates gossip, and gossip creates drama

 

[Boone]

I agree. There have been other games where they could easily have pulled him after he took a beating and did not. I’m not sure what this accomplished? I don’t think you have to handle him with kid gloves by any means, but the whole offense was bad, Howell was just one aspect.

I can’t wait for this season to be over.

 

[burgold]

I agree. There have been other games where they could easily have pulled him after he took a beating and did not. I’m not sure what this accomplished? I don’t think you have to handle him with kid gloves by any means, but the whole offense was bad, Howell was just one aspect.

I can’t wait for this season to be over.

I wonder if he had that shell-shocked, I'm seeing ghosts look and Bienemy realized he wasn't going to be able to shake himself out of it. It feels like Howell took fewer hits, but he was under constant duress and there were a few plays where he escaped instead of standing tall awful quick.

 

[tomwvr]

While true that this was a bad defense with Sweat and Young on the field, it's also fair to be frustrated by what we are seeing with Sweat in Chicago.

If you throw out the first game he played there (and I think that is fair as he had been in Chicago for like 3 days), he has 6 Sacks, 17 total tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, and 1 pass defensed - in 4 games. You can see why this staff wanted to keep him. It also leaves me scratching my head over our scheme because Montez is suddenly putting up numbers that just might lead the league if he can do it all season.

Chase, on the other hand, in what is obviously a better position on a much more talented team, is proving why Washington was willing to let him go for what so many consider a cheap return.

Not that I am upset with either trade - I am not.

Chase wont be on the 49s next year, He may not be in the league if he wont play for a low dollar amount

 

[tomwvr]

I wonder if he had that shell-shocked, I'm seeing ghosts look and Bienemy realized he wasn't going to be able to shake himself out of it. It feels like Howell took fewer hits, but he was under constant duress and there were a few plays where he escaped instead of standing tall awful quick.

The Rams didn't get a lot of sacks in the game but there was constant pressure almost every passing play. The oline had its worst game of the year run and pass blocking. I don't have access to PFF numbers but I heard some of them and they were awful

 

[Boone]

Yeah, I felt like he had very little time to look downfield and get a pass off. They started rolling him out on almost every play. He’s good at that but I think completion rates suffer when you do it constantly.

 

[tomwvr]

Year Year	Team Team	CMP% Completions percentage	YDS Passing yards	TD Passing touchdowns	INT Interceptions thrown	Rating Passer rating
2023 2023	Commanders	64.7 64.7	3,568 3,568	19 19	15 15	83.9

 

[Boone]

I think Sam’s completion % on the season doesn’t get talked about enough. He’s been pretty accurate given the protection he’s gotten and with some of the poor WR/TE play.

 

[tomwvr]

His numbers are not awful. I think it would be a mistake to bench him and draft a qb with our first pick next year. Build the team around him and with his cap hit numbers he saves a ton of money for the team. And with those numbers he wont get top QB starter money unless he get the team deep in the playoffs next year. And if he does not improve a lot with a better line then you get a qb next year because we will have a high draft pick again

 

[Neophyte]

Agreed, Boone.

It is significantly better than a lot of the greats had at similar points in their careers.

 

[Chris]

Since his last ‘good’ game vs Seattle-

 

[Chris]

Big reverse-playoffs weekend upcoming-

 

[Neophyte]

I don't think there is any doubt that Sam has fallen off a cliff over the last couple of weeks.

Couple of thoughts about that:

1. We are playing much better defenses now than we were earlier in the year (the 'Fins and 'Boys are Top 6 in yards allowed per game).
2. I think other players on the offense are giving less effort now than they were before (I keep thinking about Sweat's comments about this team just waiting for the season to end).
3. I wonder if the league has largely figured out EB and he isn't refreshing the offense fast enough (remember Gibbs comments about the NFL evolving every 4 weeks or so).

 

[Chris]

I’d fully buy in to #1&3. Not so sure about #2.

The fact that Sam has faced better defenses lead me to think that it’s not so much that Sam has really regressed, but more that he is showing (understandably) less confidence and comfort in the style of EB’s scheme and the playcalling.

The oline has been largely shit since game 1. Any semblance of a pro running game has been MIA since game 1. TE play has been lackluster since game 1. NFL DCs have EB figured out. The NYJ defense is as good as any they have faced to date. I wish Sam well this week and the following 2 games. He’s going to need it.

 

[Chris]

Yet another NFL shocker. 😉

 

[tomwvr]

so if we beat the jets we drop to 6?

 

[Chris]

so if we beat the jets we drop to 6?

There are currently 5 teams with 5 wins. If none of those 5 teams win this week, Washington would make it 6 teams. So picks 4-9 would be in play and I don’t know each teams SOS, which is the 1st tiebreaker.