Preview of the Commanders’ Training Camp – Montgomery Community Media

Posted on by Vaseline

Lynnell Willingham will cover the Washington Commanders for MCM during the 2024 season, beginning with a training camp in Ashburn, Virginia.

Nell’s Super 6 Pack: Commanders Top Training Camp Storylines:

#6 ā€“ Who will be the team’s best edge rusher?

This offseason, the Commanders rebuilt their roster by signing a huge number of free agents, including three pass rushers, two of which come from Dallas in Dorrance Armstrong and Dante Fowler, and former No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell from San Francisco, where he had his best year as a pro. Armstrong is expected to play at defensive end after recording 16 sacks over the past two seasons. How will he handle being a primary starter for the first time in his career? That remains to be seen. The most interesting part of Washington’s edge rushing situation is how often the team lets new free agent linebacker Frankie Luvu and former first-round pick linebacker Jamin Davis rush the quarterback. For Luvu, rushing the QB has become a real strength of his game over the past two seasons, with 12.5 sacks and 236 tackles. How will that production translate to Dan Quinn’s defense? As for Davis, getting opportunities to rush the quarterback is something he hasnā€™t gotten the past three seasons, as heā€™s primarily played linebacker. This offseason, heā€™s worked exclusively with the edge rushers. If he canā€™t create a roll on the edge, the former first-round pickā€™s roster spot could be in jeopardy. Another name to watch on the edge: sophomore defensive end KJ Henry, who flashed during the second half of the season after the team moved on from Montez Sweat and Chase Young.

#5 ā€“ How will the battle for the outer corner defense go?

In 2023, the Commanders ranked as the worst pass defense in the National Football League, allowing 232 yards through the air per game. Not good enough. The team returns third-year cornerback Benjamin St. Juste and 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel Forbes on the outside, both of whom struggled mightily last season. One new face in the mix expected to compete for one of the two outside corner positions is veteran corner Michael Davis, formally of the LA Chargers. This is a position battle I donā€™t expect to get an answer on until closer to the first game of the regular season. This coaching staff has high expectations for second-year corner Emmanuel Forbes, who had a rough rookie year but appears poised to bounce back in this defensive scheme that relies on forcing turnovers, a strength of Forbesā€™ at Mississippi State.

#4 ā€“ Can Jon Allen and Daron Payne return to their 2022 form?

The Commanders defense was a top-five unit in 2022, led by their dominant interior pass rushing duo of Jon Allen and Daron Payne. Payne set a career high in sacks and tackles for loss, while Jon Allen was voted to his second straight Pro Bowl. In 2023, both players took a big step back as the defense as a whole struggled. Allen had a 59.7 grade and Payne a 61.2 grade per Pro Football Focus (PFF), both of which were among the lowest of their careers. If this defense wants to return to its 2022 form, Allen and Payne will need to be the driving force behind it. One reason to be optimistic: With Joe Whitt Jr. taking over this defense, expect a lot more creativity on the defensive front as they attempt to get to the QB. Payne and Allen will be moved around more than they have been in their entire careers. Will it benefit them?

#3 ā€“ Who will be the team’s third option at the wide receiver position?

The 2024 training camp for the Washington Commanders is expected to be a competitive one. One position that is expected to be filled with competition is wide receiver, specifically the third receiver position. The Commanders return Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, both of whom are looking to improve upon their 2023 campaigns. McLaurin was the fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season since joining Washington, and McLaurin has been the most consistent member of the offense. After a promising rookie season, second-year wide receiver Jahan Dotson took a step back in 2023 after dealing with some key drops and generally inconsistent play. There is a lot of optimism internally that he can bounce back this season with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and new quarterback Jayden Daniels. The missing ingredient in Washington’s receiving corps? A reliable third option. The Commanders selected Luke McCaffrey in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft, and he has drawn plenty of praise from the coaching staff over the offseason. Will he be able to nail down the wide receiver three job? Heā€™ll be someone to watch closely during training camp, another man expected to be in the mix for that job is third-year wide receiver Dyami Brown. Brown has been a major disappointment in three seasons with just 29 catches and three touchdowns, while you could argue that the instability at quarterback has hurt his production. Itā€™s a make or break year for him heading into training camp. If he doesnā€™t nail down the wide receiver three job, his roster spot could be in jeopardy. One thing to keep an eye on: The Commanders have had rumored interest in disgruntled 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. If a wide receiver three doesnā€™t materialize soon, expect Washington to once again include San Francisco in trade talks

#2 ā€“ Will this offensive line allow Washington to reach its offensive ceiling?

In 2023, the Commandersā€™ offensive line gave up the second-most sacks in the NFL, allowing the quarterback to take the field 65 times. The offensive line was a big part of the problem, but you could argue that the quarterback play didnā€™t help. Washington added some much-needed reinforcements up front this offseason, including the addition of Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz, who has been one of the best at his position over the past few years since 2022. Bish has over 1,200 pass-blocking snaps in that span, has given up just four sacks, and has allowed just 50 QB pressures. His spot on the line appears secure. Washington also returns right guard Sam Cosmi, who is emerging as one of the best young guards in the NFL. Unfortunately, those are the only two positions up front that are locked in for Washington in my opinion. The team drafted tackle Brandon Coleman out of TCU in April and he is expected to compete at left tackle. The Commanders also signed free agent Nick Allegretti from the Kansas City Chiefs. He is expected to play left guard, but he is not a sure bet. Washingtonā€™s other open spot on the offensive line for me is right tackle, where Andrew Wiley returns as the starter. His play was inconsistent last year and with a new coaching staff, his job could be on the line. The offensive line battle will continue until the first game of the season. This is the position group that I think will have the most competition during training camp. The success of this unit will make or break 2024 for the Commanders

#1 ā€“ Will Jayden Daniels prove he is the quarterback of the future?

Since 2002, Washington has started 25 – 25!! – different quarterbacks, only three of whom have had a winning record. In April, Washington selected Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jaden Daniels out of LSU with the No. 2 overall pick. During this offseason, he has done everything right and given this organization and fan base the confidence that he is the man moving forward. From arriving at the facility at 5:45 in the morning to correcting his veteran teammates when needed, Daniels has displayed all the key qualities needed to be a franchise quarterback. The big question is how will he fare when the real bullets start flying? And the even bigger question, when will he officially be named the starting quarterback? During his pre-camp press conference on Tuesday, head coach Dan Quinn offered some insight into when we might see Daniels as a starter. “When he’s ready, we’ll know, and when he’s ready, he’ll know,” Quinn said. Despite Quinn not naming Daniels as a starter, there is a strong expectation that he will be the starter for week one against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Until then, the young signal caller will continue to learn.

Avatar for Vaseline
Vaseline https://newspowergreen.biz.id

You May Also Like

More From Author