Random Commanders Thoughts

[tshile]

Bulldog
Our defense sucks. This is a really fun year and you can see there’s something starting here. And maybe week 15 we feel different. But the ravens showed us that as much fun as we’re having, we can’t compete at the top tier level without improving the defense.

So for right now, if there’s any question, if he’s even 95%, roll with marriotta. There’s a bigger picture to worry about. Plus I value giving backups playtime whenever it makes sense to, for a variety of reasons.

 

[Bulldog]

I don’t want to derail other threads. I’m sure plenty disagree.

If I’m Dan Quin I walk around all week with a pool noodle. Whenever I find myself within pool noodle distance of Kingsbury, I smack him in the head.

If it’s the playoffs, or the Super Bowl, and you need Daniels to run to win the game - I get it.

But you had all week to script your first 10 plays, your opening drive sequence. And you picked a design qb run as play #1 to play the 1-5 panthers. And now he’s hurt.

Need a better understanding of risk vs reward. We got a guy that can pick defenses apart. There was no reason to call designed QB runs against what is one of, if not the, worst teams in the league. Our backup was able to destroy them. Just totally unnecessary.

Two thoughts.

I was glad to see that Kingsbury and Quinn took the Panthers game seriously and came out aggressively, looking to roll over a 1-5 team.

At the same time I agree that Daniels at this point of his career at 24 is still a bit reckless and unlike a Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes, who both had long runs this week, doesn't sense when the gain on the particular play is enough and its time to get towards the sidelines and out of bounds.

So, if I were Quinn and Co. I would limit the inside runs because between the numbers is where the linebackers are and if possible we want to see Jayden on the outside in space vs. defensive backs that are about his size or smaller.

Quarterbacks do play with bruised ribs as often as they sit, though. So, it's not an automatic disqualifier for next week. But again, we don't see how much pain he is in or what the doctor is telling him yet.

I do think however that Jayden is respectful enough of management (unlike RG3) that if the coaches and GM tell him he's going to sit for a week, he will accept that decision.

 

[burgold]

Also, thank goodness we weren't another team's "Get Right" team again.

Pounded them from the start and didn't let up 'til they screamed "Uncle"

 

[Boone]

Bulldog
Our defense sucks. This is a really fun year and you can see there’s something starting here. And maybe week 15 we feel different. But the ravens showed us that as much fun as we’re having, we can’t compete at the top tier level without improving the defense.

So for right now, if there’s any question, if he’s even 95%, roll with marriotta. There’s a bigger picture to worry about. Plus I value giving backups playtime whenever it makes sense to, for a variety of reasons.

The defense doesn't 'suck'. Not faring well against the #2 offense in the league does not equate to 'sucking'. We are now top half of the league among defenses for yards and points given up.

 

[Neophyte]

Part of this offense's success is due to the threat of Daniels running, both designed and off-script. If we want defenses to continue to respect Daniels' dual-threat capabilities, we have to continue to show those abilities. We have to keep hurting teams with those talents.

 

[tshile]

burgold

That’s why I blame coaching. You must factor in Daniels competitiveness - it’s clear he’s never afraid to run, he’ll rarely slide and prefers to tuck and roll forward. You can’t, and don’t want to, try to coach that level of competitiveness out of him.

So, and my next part also is in response to Boone, you have to be smarter at coaching and make quality decisions.

The panthers are likely the worst team in the league. We’re sitting pretty record wise and our remaining schedule sets up about as favorable as one could hope for. And this is the first year of the new org.

You get to the 4th quarter and it’s close and you have to go that route to win? Ok. I get it. I still think there’s a bigger picture to consider but at least I get it. Or maybe it’s the 2nd quarter and things are starting to get out of hand - ok, I get it.

But that play call was decided last Tuesday. And practiced all week. It was the first play. To me that is organizational malpractice.

Football is the inherently dangerous. And many QB’s get injured in the pocket. I get that and I’m not trying to be naive.

That doesn’t mean you suspend thinking through these things, and don’t bother to look to avoid unnecessary risk. What Kingsbury did yesterday is the equivalent of letting Daniels play all of every preseason game - he has to play some, and each year how much depends on a number of factors, and any time he’s out there he could get hurt. But that doesn’t excuse deciding to let him play 100% of every preseason game and then he gets hurt at the end of the 4th quarter in the last one.

To me context dictated it was totally unnecessary to do that. I wish the coaches felt the same way I do.

 

[Boone]

 

[tshile]

Boone

Just my opinion: not gonna read into stats on a defense that’s played some pretty bad teams so far.

The eye test says our defense sucks. My hope is they get better under the luxury of an offense that can put up 40 points a game. That certainly changes the context. It happens and could happen this year.

presently I would not be confident going into a playoff game with this defense. but, just how I see things.

 

[Bulldog]

Our only two losses were to the Ravens, a preseason Super Bowl pick, and the Bucs, a division winner and now a likely top 3 seed in 2024 as well.

Both games were on the road.

I don't think anyone believed that a younger team that had not played together before was going to come out in Week 1 and be a finished product.

If anything this team was going to IMPROVE over the course of 17 games. And that is what we are seeing.

Whereas you look at some teams like Dallas and Cincinnati and you see clubs that may very well have hit their plateau of how far they can go as a group and it may be time to retool.

BTW, outside of KC and the Ravens, I don't see a lot of dominant defenses out there.

The Lions are winning by outscoring teams. Ditto for Buffalo and Houston.

Washington is not a 13-4 caliber team, there are holes. But again, outside of those top 3-4 clubs, everyone else is in the barrel of crabs together.

Injuries as we have seen with teams like SF and Miami continue to change the landscape during the season.

 

[Boone]

Boone

Just my opinion: not gonna read into stats on a defense that’s played some pretty bad teams so far.

The eye test says our defense sucks. My hope is they get better under the luxury of an offense that can put up 40 points a game. That certainly changes the context. It happens and could happen this year.

presently I would not be confident going into a playoff game with this defense. but, just how I see things.

The defense lacks horses at some key positions. It's also making crucial stops even against the best opponents we have played. These guys swarm, they hit and tackle hard, it is a much tougher defense than anything Rivera and Del Rio could muster. And they have literally moved from the bottom of the league to top half statistically over 7 weeks. I think while we can all see the areas of need/concern, it's okay to acknowledge they are playing much better.

 

[Bulldog]

Again, though, outside of KC and Baltimore and perhaps the Steelers, who is playing lights out defense?

Most teams over .500 have stong offenses that are driving them.

Buffalo and Houston as well as Detroit don't have defensive backfields that stop top quarterbacks.

I think one has to see the season that is playing out in front of us and with some teams suffering some early injuries there is an opening for a team like Washington to have a better season than perhaps we thought we were going to have back in August.

Look at the Giants. They drafted Malik Nabors but now realize they need to build an entire offense around him including QB, OL, RB, TE, etc.

 

[burgold]

I suspect our defense has improved to below average. That is miles better than it was the first three games of the season and light years improved from last year. Yesterday and against Cleveland, it was very good, but those games are outliers in the same way that Baltimore is an outlier.

Bottomline, I don't think our defense is an embarrassment any more even if it is capable of being embarrassed by good teams. It is coming together, but I don't think it is possible for it to be top tier or even top ten this year. That's okay. It's actually pretty damn good. It means we are on schedule and the coaches are getting something out of not a lot.

 

[Boone]

If Washington wins the next couple of games and splits the next 4 prior to the bye week - that would make 9-4 with 4 games to go. If they were able to achieve that, I think at that point you dispense with the 'this season is better than we thought it would be' and move towards 'this is a playoff team that is capable of a significant playoff run'.

There are a thousand things that can happen, good and bad, between now and the bye week. But I guarantee you inside that locker room and in the coaches offices, they aren't looking at this season as some kind of bonus 'no one will judge us one way or the other' season. They want to win. They think they can win. And they are winning.

 

[Enforcer]

Just my opinion, but I didn't have a problem with that play call. Jayden got what, like 50yards? If he kept closer to the boundary, he just runs out of bounds, or gets shoved out of bounds.

2 other things I'm confident in. Jayden is smart and has an intense work ethic. I think he will learn from this going forward. Secondly, I think we are in safe hands in that I do NOT think the owners, Peters, and Quinn would "rush" Jayden back. They are professional and see the bigger picture. For example, B-Rob. Hey maybe could have gutted it out against the Ravens, but he was kept out, even though he wanted to give it a go.

 

[Bulldog]

What this defense is starting to do is get turnovers.

The first couple of weeks, Washington couldn't stop the inevitable 60-70 yard drives by the opposition.

It was death by a thousand cuts.

Quinn's defenses traditionally get turnovers. I think the evolution of this unit in 2024 is about becoming more of a playmaking and opportunistic group.

That doesn't mean we aren't going to get exposed against top quarterbacks at times or the great WRs out there.

But it will keep us competitive for Daniels and Co. in more games.

 

[burgold]

Just my opinion, but I didn't have a problem with that play call. Jayden got what, like 50yards? If he kept closer to the boundary, he just runs out of bounds, or gets shoved out of bounds.

2 other things I'm confident in. Jayden is smart and has an intense work ethic. I think he will learn from this going forward. Secondly, I think we are in safe hands in that I do NOT think the owners, Peters, and Quinn would "rush" Jayden back. They are professional and see the bigger picture. For example, B-Rob. Hey maybe could have gutted it out against the Ravens, but he was kept out, even though he wanted to give it a go.

I was thinking about this, too.

This may have been an education for Jayden in the difference between college speed and pro speed. I remember a game in 1985, Riggins breaks free and is streaking towards the endzone. Fifty yards later, he is caught and fumbles. Ole Riggo didn't think he could be caught and didn't realize his legs didn't run as fast as they used to. Similarly, young Jayden probably didn't think he could get run down because it hadn't really happened before.

 

[Bulldog]

I was thinking about this, too.

This may have been an education for Jayden in the difference between college speed and pro speed. I remember a game in 1985, Riggins breaks free and is streaking towards the endzone. Fifty yards later, he is caught and fumbles. Ole Riggo didn't think he could be caught and didn't realize his legs didn't run as fast as they used to. Similarly, young Jayden probably didn't think he could get run down because it hadn't really happened before.

I prefer to recall that Riggins had a lot more speed to the outside than the Dolphins thought in Super Bowl XVII

 

[burgold]

I prefer to recall that Riggins had a lot more speed to the outside than the Dolphins thought in Super Bowl XVII

Yep. He was a few years younger, but it is never wrong to recall that run.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Just my opinion, but I didn't have a problem with that play call. Jayden got what, like 50yards? If he kept closer to the boundary, he just runs out of bounds, or gets shoved out of bounds.

2 other things I'm confident in. Jayden is smart and has an intense work ethic. I think he will learn from this going forward. Secondly, I think we are in safe hands in that I do NOT think the owners, Peters, and Quinn would "rush" Jayden back. They are professional and see the bigger picture. For example, B-Rob. Hey maybe could have gutted it out against the Ravens, but he was kept out, even though he wanted to give it a go.

Completely agree. That first play was fantastic and a great read by Daniels. If he gives the ball to the RB, it’s a no gain. The DE crashed hard and it left the entire right side of the field with 1 DB and 1 WR. Brilliant play and brilliant read by Daniels. He may not ever have that much open field in the NFL ever again. I’m not a fan of designed QB runs, but that was 100% the right decision by Daniels and is the type of play he should be put in charge of making that decision.

What he needs to learn is that he can’t outrun every NFL player. I think thats why he didn’t go more towards the sideline. He thought he could outrun those guys. He didn’t and the tackle was kind of odd, so no surprise he got hurt. That’s what he needs to learn is that when the D is around you, they will catch you eventually so prepare to avoid a hit before that happens.

 

[tshile]

Interestingly, I thought Marriota ran the ball too much, too

My wife and I were laughing that our backup qb was out there on designed qb runs when Daniels was already injured by doing that.

All of this against a team that would struggle to fight its way out of a wet paper bag.

Just mind blowing to me.