Daily Slop – 12 Aug 24: Promising start for Dan Quinn’s Commanders, but they still have more to prove

A collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East and the NFL in general

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Bullock’s Film Room

Breaking down Jayden Daniels 42-yard pass to Dyami Brown

Taking a closer look at Daniels deep shot to Brown in the Commanders preseason opener

Daniels ended up firing a perfect pass down the sideline to Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain. However, the play called by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the play we saw Daniels run weren’t the same. Let’s break it down.

Here on third and six, we see the Commanders work to an empty formation out of 11 personnel (one tight end, one running back, three wide receivers). Running back Austin Ekeler aligns in the slot to the right with receiver Dyami Brown outside of him. Tight end John Bates aligns inside to the left with Jahan Dotson in the slot and Terry McLaurin outside. After the game, Daniels explained that the original play that was called was a screen, but he checked out of the play when he got to the line of scrimmage.

“It was a screen, but everybody was within five yards of the line of scrimmage, so it was going to pretty much be a dead play. So I just checked it and gave my guy a chance to make a play.” Daniels explained in his press conference after the game. “It’s just something that throughout practice, throughout my time being here that Kliff [Kingsbury] was like ‘If you don’t like this look, check it’. So they came out in a certain look and we were in a play, I didn’t like it, so I just checked it.”

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Washington Post (paywall)

The Commanders might have found their QB, but it’s too early to tell

Jayden Daniels performed well in his first preseason game. But Washington has seen this before, and the franchise’s quarterbacks often end up struggling.

For the pessimists, it was one drive against backups. His big throw came against depth cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who has played four career defensive snaps, not all-pro Sauce Gardner. He didn’t have to take any hits. The joint practice with the Jets — when most starters played and the offense struggled — was more telling.

For the optimists, the drive was 11 glorious plays that looked repeatable regardless of opponent because Daniels relied on quick passing, vertical shots and zone-read runs, the same concepts with which he won the Heisman Trophy.

“Everybody should be very excited just from that little sneak peek,” right guard Sam Cosmi said. “I know I am. I know the guys are fired up. I think we got a dude back there.”

It’s hard to hear those words and not think back to votes of confidence the Commanders gave other quarterbacks. Cosmi once called Howell “really, really special.” And in November, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen said: “Sam Howell is our future. … I feel like we found our quarterback for the next five to 10 years, and I truly believe that.”

It will be impossible to know for weeks, maybe even months or years, whether Daniels is the guy. But it’s clear, in words and body language, that Daniels is giving this team something it hasn’t had much of for years.

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Riggo’s Rag

Dyami Brown’s highlight catch confirms his Commanders roster status

The wide receiver endured a rough ride over his first three seasons in the league. Flashing during the summer came with almost no consistent involvement when the real action commenced. There was a distinct lack of trust from Ron Rivera’s staff to get him targets. Lapses in concentration didn’t help Brown’s cause, but the jury was still out heading into Washington’s 2024 preparations.

Kliff Kingsbury’s built up Brown’s confidence gradually this offseason. The Commanders believe he offers something different – a physical, vertical threat who can be an asset to the scheme. It’s been encouraging to see his growth, but getting it done in a more typical game-day environment was the biggest hurdle to overcome.

Brown got the opportunity to do just that during Washington’s preseason opener at the New York Jets. The former North Carolina star took full advantage, coming up with the game’s most notable highlight to all but confirm his status on the 53-man roster in 2024.

Jayden Daniels is an exceptional deep thrower. When the quarterback spotted a potential weakness in the Jets’ schematic alignment, the No. 2 overall pick called an audible. This resulted in a perfect throw downfield that was expertly brought in by Brown to the gasps of those in attendance.

Fans are approaching this renaissance with cautious optimism. They’ve seen Brown flash promise over the summer with no substance attached when things matter more. Seeing is believing, but with Kingsbury’s improved concepts and his growing chemistry with Daniels, things might be different this time around.

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Commanders Wire

Some Commanders’ bright spots against the Jets

Jeff Driskel

Third quarterback Jeff Driskel made some nice plays, passing and running. He completed 7 of 15 passes for 87 yards, with a 16-yard run. Was Driskel the second-best quarterback for Washington on Saturday?

Jamin Davis

Jamin Davis knew he needed to make some plays. When he first entered the game, he made two stops on running plays, with the runs totaling only three yards. He displayed quickness and energy on the edge. There was one play where he decided to battle OT (Fashanu) and did not seal the edge, resulting in a 24-yard run.

Cole Turner/John Bates

Did you see tight end Cole Turner on Daniels’ touchdown run? Turner lined up on the right side and drove his man to the back of the end zone. Tight end John Bates also took care of his man. Daniels was able to jog in for the score because these two did such a good job on the play.

Tyler Owens

Punt return coverage is a place where players can make an impression with their hustle and or a tackle. Such was the case today for undrafted safety Tyler Owens (Texas Tech). He is 6-foot-2, 213 pounds.

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Sports Illustrated

3 Stars of Washington Commanders Preseason Opener at New York Jets

There were some standouts in the Washington Commanders’ first loss of the preseason.

STAR 2: Michael Wiley, Running Back

Undrafted out of Arizona, Wiley took eight carries 34 yards and scored one touchdown while averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

He also brought in one pass for five yards.

The top two running back spots are secured in Washington and the fight for No. 3 appears to be between Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr.

However, a strong performance by Wiley may earn him some more opportunities to prove himself in the near future.

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Podcasts & videos

Washington Commanders’ Top Plays vs. Jets | Preseason Week 1

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NFC East links

Pro Football Talk

Stetson Bennett overcomes four interceptions to throw game-winning touchdown pass against the Cowboys

The second-year Rams quarterback overcame four interceptions to throw a game-winning touchdown pass, propelling the Rams to a 13-12 preseason win over the Cowboys.

Sure, the 18-play drive should have ended with what would have been a fifth pick, but it was nullified by a defensive holding penalty on Dallas.

Bennett capped the effort with a five-yard pass to tight end Miller Forristall. For the game, Bennett completed 24 of 38 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown, and the four interceptions.

Bennett went wire to wire at the position; neither starter Matthew Stafford nor backup Jimmy Garoppolo played. Garoppolo is the presumed No. 2; however, he will miss the first two games of the regular season due to a PED suspension.

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The Athletic (paywall)

Giants WR Malik Nabers suffers ankle injury; OL Evan Neal returns from PUP

Standout New York Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers left Sunday’s practice early with what the team believes to be a minor ankle sprain.

It’s not initially clear what happened to cause the injury, but during an 11-on-11 session, team trainers started examining Nabers’ left foot/ankle before removing his cleat. After some time, he limped off the field before receiving more attention from trainers on the sideline. He watched the rest of practice, occasionally sitting down or stretching out his foot with a band.

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Bleeding Green Nation

Eagles sign safety Caden Sterns

The veteran defensive back joins his third team in a week after clearing waivers.

Hopefully “seeing the country” was one of Caden Stern’s dreams while growing up because the veteran safety was signed to a one-year deal by the Philadelphia Eagles, his third team of the week, on Sunday. The Birds announced the signing on social media, while also releasing linebacker Shaq Quarterman in a corresponding move.

Sterns’ cross-country journey began back on Aug. 5 when he was released by the Denver Broncos. The following day he was picked up by the Carolina Panthers, who employ his old defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero. On Aug. 8, he was released by the Panthers after failing a physical and now he finds himself in the City of Brotherly Love, ready to compete for a spot on the Eagles’ depth chart. Notably, new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio held the same position in Denver when Sterns was drafted.

While Carolina’s doctors didn’t clear him, Sterns did pass a physical with Denver before being let go. He suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon in the first game of last season and has been on the mend since, returning to limited practice with the Broncos at the end of July.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 207 pounds, Sterns will turn 25 in November. For his career he has recorded 49 tackles (36 solo), two tackles for loss, nine passes defended, and four interceptions. While the sample size is admittedly quite small, Sterns’ advanced stats improved greatly between his rookie year (32% of available defensive snaps in 15 games) and second season (84% in five games). In his first campaign he was targeted 22 times and gave up 17 completions but in year two he only allowed five completions on 17 targets.

The Eagles have C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Avonte Maddox, Reed Blankenship, and Tristin McCollum in their two-deep at safety, per BLG’s most recent 53-man roster projection. That leaves a player like James Bradberry on the outside looking in and also presupposes that Sydney Brown will start the season the PUP list, meaning he’ll miss the first four games.

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Blogging the Boys

Dallas Cowboys injuries: Tackle Chuma Edoga in boot following preseason loss against Rams

Cowboys tackle Chuma Edoga was reportedly in a boot following Sunday’s preseason loss.

Chuma Edoga left the contest with what was reported to be a foot injury, more specifically his toe. According to reports immediately after the game he is in a walking boot.

Edoga is potentially the Week 1 starting left tackle and if not then he is the team’s primary swing tackle (this is in a world where rookie Tyler Guyton supplants him by then). That kind of depth is extremely valuable. The Cowboys depth on the offensive line looked a little suspect against the Rams as Trey Lance saw plenty of pressure. Getting Edoga back will be important for the overall offensive line picture.

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Pro Football Talk

49ers, Saints cancel joint practices

Saints coach Dennis Allen told reporters that 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan raised the issue on Saturday.

“Kyle reached out to me yesterday, making me aware that they have some things going on in terms of having enough able bodies to have some good practices,” Allen said, via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group.

Via Matt Barrows of TheAthletic.com, Shanahan told reporters after Saturday’s preseason game that 23 players missed the team’s most recent practice, for various reasons.

One of those, of course, is receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who counts against the 90-man roster but who isn’t practicing. It’s all the more reason for Shanahan to be irritated by Aiyuk’s situation — and maybe this will be the catalyst for finally resolving it.

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