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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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Commanders.com

Commanders get significant boost with strong attendance at OTAs

Everyone seems willing to put in the hard yards this offseason.

The excitement is palpable within the Washington Commanders and across their long-suffering fanbase. There’s a newfound level of expectancy about what this franchise might be able to accomplish under the new regime. Getting off to a strong start is crucial, but the foundations for a profitable future have been laid during a monumental offseason of alterations.

We are in the voluntary stages of organized team activities. Players are free to come and go as they please before attendance is compulsory later in the summer. However, seeing everyone decide to show up represents a major statement of intent as the Commanders look to become one of the league’s surprise packages in 2024.

Everyone from prolific veterans such as Bobby Wagner to undrafted free agent hopefuls are present for voluntary OTAs. Nobody wants to get left behind and everyone wants to leave a positive first impression. Quinn is also eager to get each player prominent reps as part of Washington’s ongoing assessment surrounding what they have and what more might be needed.

This is the biggest sign yet that the players have embraced Quinn and are fully buying in. Urgency has increased exponentially with growing competition for places, so anyone not pulling their weight and deciding to get some extra time away from the facility would be playing catch-up in no uncertain terms.

Commanders Wire

Are the Commanders offensively or defensively geared?

CBS Sports recently reviewed all 32 NFL rosters to see which teams relied more on offense or defense or were more balanced. The Commanders were one of nine teams in the “evenly balanced” category.

They’ve got a lot of splashy new faces on offense (e.g. Jayden Daniels, Austin Ekeler), but Dan Quinn may put even more focus on tightening up the revamped “D.”

Let’s be clear, CBS isn’t saying the Commanders will be a playoff team because they’re more balanced in terms of resources. It is more about showing that Peters focused on upgrading both sides of the ball evenly this offseason.

As for the rest of the NFL, only six terms were defensively geared, while 11 teams were offensively geared and five were the “total package.” The Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens, Texans and Jets were in the latter category. Yes — the Jets.

Sports Illustrated

Washington Commanders Rookie LB Jordan Magee a ‘Do-It-All’ Player for New Defense

The Washington Commanders makeover is going to be very evident on defense and rookie linebacker Jordan Magee could be a big part of it.

“He’s not unlike (Frankie) Luvu, who has become one of the NFL’s best linebackers…”

– USA Today’s Doug Farrar on Jordan Magee

Jamin Davis, a first round linebacker selection just three years ago, looks now to be relegated to a third linebacker role and has even been spotted getting some work in on the edge as the Commanders’ new coaching staff looks to find ways to use him that may elevate his play over what we’ve seen thus far. And that’s where Magee comes in.

Because the team declined to exercise Davis’ fifth-year option this offseason Davis currently has no future in Washington beyond this season, and if Magee shows he can carry a significant role then that future may not exist locally at all.

“A do-it-all player, Magee had six sacks and 20 total pressures for the Owls last season, as well as 54 solo tackles, 41 stops, and 12 catches allowed on 16 targets for 85 yards, 41 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, no interceptions, two pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 86.7,” USA Today’s Doug Farrar wrote about Magee, identifying him as the team’s best draft sleeper pick. “He’s not unlike Luvu, who has become one of the NFL’s best linebackers in three years with the Jets and three more with the Panthers. Luvu was a “too small” guy who went undrafted out of Washington State back in 2018, so maybe he can tell the 6’ 1⅜”, 228-pound Magee that it’s not how you start, it’s where you finish.”

Sports Illustrated

The Commanders Player Due For ‘Bounce-Back’ 2024 Campaign According to PFF

Who has the opportunity to bounce back and improve their contributions for the Commanders this season?

PFF’s Brady Locker included Payne on his list of players due for a “bounce-back” season in 2024, as he listed one player for each of the 32 NFL teams.

“Payne has established himself as one of the more solid interior defenders across the NFL, but his past season wasn’t his finest,” Locker wrote. “He tallied 14 fewer pressures despite having 32 additional opportunities to rush the passer.”

After making the Pro Bowl in 2022, Payne posted 7.5 fewer sacks during the 2023 NFL season. His numbers were down all around. He’s got a chance to turn things around heading into next season, though.

The 6-foot-2, 311-pound defensive tackle was a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s been durable and available during his tenure in Washington D.C., alongside another Alabama defensive tackle in Allen.

“With Washington drafting Illinois’Jer’Zhan Newton in the second round, new head coach Dan Quinn could turn to more of a rotation along the Commanders’ defensive line, which might reduce Payne’s pressure numbers even further,” Locker said. “Then again, as Payne enters the second year of his $90 million extension, he’s unlikely to go anywhere. A more motivated Payne — who also happens to clean up his tackling — could return to being an amazing pass rusher in 2024.”

NFL.com

Biggest remaining offseason priority for each NFC team: Payday for Justin Jefferson, Cowboys stars?

Washington Commanders

Top priority: Protect Jayden Daniels at all costs.

Luckily, Daniels showed in the SEC that he’s good at escaping pressure in the pocket. He’ll likely have to do plenty of that in the NFC East. The Commanders imported center Tyler Biadasz from Dallas and former Chiefs reserve Nick Allegretti to play guard. The moves were upgrades but aren’t surefire roadblocks. Outside of Sam Cosmi at right guard, there are questions up and down the Commanders O-line, along with depth issues. The biggest question comes at left tackle, where soon-to-be 33-year-old Cornelius Lucas is penciled in to start over third-round rookie Brandon Coleman. Regardless, left tackle will be a spot opponents target incessantly during Daniels’ rookie campaign. The hope is the whole is greater than the sum of its parts along the D.C. O-line in 2024. Otherwise, the rookie QB could be scrambling for his life.

Podcasts & videos

Washington Commanders Linebacker Jamin Davis Finding a New Role? | Coach Kliff Kingsbury’s Offense

Beltway Football: What kind of difference can Bobby Wagner, Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels make?

NFC East links

Blogging the Boys

How the new NFL kickoff rule affects more than just the kick returner

As the new rule brings the opportunity for game-changing plays on kickoffs, teams will need to be well prepared when the season starts. It will be a race to see which teams can adjust to the new rule the fastest and the Cowboys are wasting no time getting to work crafting their kickoff strategy. Fassel mentioned that the team is hitting the ground running with kickoffs and kickoff returns at OTA’s, where previously the initial focus would usually be on punts. It will also be a major focus during training camp and the preseason increasing from only around 10% of their practice time in previous seasons. The practice will be crucial to experiment with different personnel and fine-tune the kickoff/kick return playbook.

One of the more interesting aspects about the new rule is how it will affect the different special teams positions. It is anticipated that returners like KaVontae Turpin and possibly Deuce Vaughn will have more chances to return kickoffs and ultimately add more value to the team, but what does this new rule mean for the rest of the players?

As there is no longer a need to run the length of the field in order to tackle the kick returner, the strategy may be less about speed and more about power, strength and blocking. This may open up opportunities for players to contribute to ST that otherwise wouldn’t have had that chance. While defensive end Sam Williams played a role on special teams last season due to his speed, it looks as though other defensive line players may get that chance due to their strength as tacklers.

[An NFL kicker] will have to focus more on placement instead of just kicking it as far as he possibly can. It takes a lot of control and skill to ensure the ball only goes a specific distance. Fassel mentioned that this might also mean that kicking teams will take advantage of different types of kicks to make it harder to return, almost like a pitcher in baseball.

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