Last Sunday’s win was a Rorschach Test of sorts for the WFT fanbase. What you saw depended on your frame of reference. Even those wearing the most rose-colored glasses could not help but notice gaffes and deficiencies aplenty. Then again, a win is still a win. There is no column in the NFL standings for “Style Points.” Both teams were in a spot where a loss meant a quick relegation to insignificance. Nothing was expected of the Washington squad this year except a vague notion of “improvement.” Patience will be an important staple. Forget that notion for a New York team…any New York team. Between the media in general, the back page cover of the New York Post, and the fans there exists nary a bit of patience. This was a good week to be anyone else but Giants’ Head Coach Brian Daboll.
Glass Half-Empty
Let’s get the negatives out of the way. The team failed to get into the End Zone despite six trips inside the Red Zone (20-yards and in.) An Offensive Lineman has a lot of responsibilities. None are more important than getting off of the ball on time. If he’s late he’s going to get abused by the Defensive player opposite him. If he’s early, the play is blown dead and five more yards are added to the task at hand. Every trip into the Red Zone was marred by a “False Start.” You can bet your bippy that the O-Line film review featured the position coach speaking in tongues. It’s just not professional-quality football to make those mistakes consistently. If one has watched this franchise for the last 25-years this looks horribly familiar. The faint silver lining is that these mistakes are correctable. The overriding question is; will they be?
To be charitable the Washington Cornerbacks are really, really poor. Last year’s #1 pick, Emmanuel Forbes was on the sideline. That may be addition by subtraction. However, the injury put Michael Davis on the field. There was a reason he didn’t play a single snap in Tampa. It was on full display on Sunday. Benjamin St-Juste had a relatively decent game. His problem was that he was forced into single coverage against Malik Nabers, the Giants’ #1 pick. New York went to a 12-personnel alignment (1 RB, 2 TEs). That left only two receivers. But, it sucked the Safeties tighter to the line leaving less help for the Corners. Daniel Jones was lasered onto Nabers who caught 10 balls on 18 targets. Jones was booed off his own field last week. But, he threw 2 TD passes and orchestrated another scoring drive. He was probably on his way to a fourth when he threw a perfect ball to a wide-open Nabers on fourth down. The rookie dropped it.
Ordinarily the way to help a struggling secondary is to provide pass rush. This group has yet to do that in two games. Jones was sacked once. He was sacked five times the week before by Brian Flores‘ excellent Defense. The gulf between the WFT and Minnesota’s Defense is expansive.
Glass Half Full
It will be a constant ritual all season to compare the three First-Round QBs; Williams, Daniels, and Nix. After two full games, the smallest of small sample sizes, the numbers are somewhat encouraging for Washington’s entrant. Jayden Daniels does not have a turnover, has completed 75.5% of his passes, and has done the one thing most desired in a QB: He led a game-winning drive with two-minutes remaining.
Daniels throws at or behind the line some 42% of the time. It’s the high-water mark for the League. He’s in good company. Derek Carr is at 39%, Patrick Mahomes is at 38%, Aaron Rodgers is at 37%, and Josh Allen is at 31%. It’s a thing. Defenses are smaller than even five years ago. Two-Deep Safeties has roared back to life after the Single-high “Cover-3” Defense (orchestrated by Dan Quinn in Seattle) has diminished. But, Daniels’ forte is the deep ball based upon his college days and what one can cipher from Training Camp. His 34-yard gem to Noah Brown on the second play of the drive was absolutely gorgeous, and timely. It put the Giants in a hole they couldn’t from which they could not escape. More of that type of pocket pass will come IF the line and the RBs can block.
Dan Quinn, speaking on Tuesday said that getting Daniels to slide was an “…ongoing conversation.” Jayden took a helmet to the ribs in the first half that may slightly revise the old saw, “One time getting the wind knocked out of you is worth a thousand words.” But, Quinn’s open message to his young QB was also noteworthy: “When leaving the pocket and getting outside I want him to keep focus downfield and rip a throw if it’s there.” Dan was in Seattle with Russell Wilson in his prime. Russ is case study for a QB that can run, if needed, while staying safe. But, also Wilson would burn a team downfield by “…ripping a throw…” while running towards the line. Hopefully, young Jayden is watching some of that film
Finally, the Offense took the ball eight times. One was a kneel-down. The other seven times resulted in scores. They were at 50% for third-down conversions. No punts. Last year the team averaged 4.29 punt/game. Seven scoring drives may have all been Field Goals. But, the fact remains it was still seven scoring drives.
Running Backs looked terrific. Brian Robinson is the Old School guy that drops his shoulder and runs over people. Then he smiles. Austin Eckeler is a real pro. He had a kickoff return nullified by penalty when starting the game. He can pick up a blitzer, as he did on the Noah Brown play. And, he can catch the ball. The tandem, and Daniels picked up 225 yards rushing. That plays every time.
Something Special
Austin Seibert was out of football, but not out of ambition. His wife would hold for him as he practiced kicks towards a pine tree in the back yard. When GM Adam Peters called he came to Washington for the tryout. These are usually a rough game of Survivor as only one of multiple candidates survives. Austin won the job, joined the Locker Room on Tuesday, and then kicked seven-for-seven right down the middle where the pine tree stood only days before. He ended up being hoisted on his teammates shoulders (some of whom didn’t know his name.) That, getting the game ball, and being named Special Teams Player of the Week capped his eventful week. Perhaps they’ll plant a pine tree at Ashburn.
The Bengals
The good news is that WAS is going to play the Bengals early in the season. The bad news is that it isn’t early enough. For their first game the squad played as if they hadn’t gone to Training Camp. Against the reigning World Champions they looked every bit the Super Bowl contender. This is their MO: Start sluggish, then accelerate. We are at the accelerate stage. They have a top-shelf QB in Joe Burrow, great receivers, and very good Defensive Ends. All of those dovetail to Washington’s weaknesses. This is not a good matchup for the WFT. Add to it that it’s a Monday Night game and all the attendant hoopla for young Daniels to navigate.
This one is going to be tough.
Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals
Date: Monday, Sept. 23
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Channel: ABC
Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters
