Commanders 2023 Off-Season Thread

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

You're probably right. It's not likely. And FWIW, I'd rather see a healthy CS ballin' out in 2023 anyway. Maybe he can remain healthy and take another step forward - build some rapport with Sam, while K Allen brings something to the return game that we haven't had in a while...

I'm all in for that! If Allen can bring more to the table GREAT!

[mooby]

Le'Veon Bell says he liked to get high before games.

I think the real takeaway here is the fact that head coaches make a big difference. Lotta people shit on Tomlin because they haven't been contenders in years but the reality is when your head coach is a guy like Adam Gase he makes Tomlin look like Belichick. If a player went from an All-Pro under Tomlin to a JAG under Gase safe to take him at his word that head coaches matter.

[Chief X_Phackter]

I'm not sure I would say I'm getting carried away. I did say it's still early and that it would depend on how he progresses.

I don't think it's out of the question though. If K Allen shows enough to where they think he can offer the same production (or more) than what they have been able to squeeze out of the oft-injured Curtis Samuel, he could definitely become a cap casualty. That's a lot of dough that could be used for extending someone else (Young, Sweat, Curl, Fuller, Gibson, Reaves...).

[FrenchSkin]

Looked at Nick Gates' snaps during last year's week 14 game against the Eagles.
He looked rather small, won't out physical anybody, but seems to have good vision, decent hand placement and footwork.
None of his movement look really sharp nor fast, but he seems to fit the "hat on a hat" philosophy, most of the time he'll be in front of his guy and do just enough.

LG #65
Couple of bad plays:
Completely beaten by a swim move


And here a slow to spot the blitzing safety, still does enough to avoid the sack, Jones runs back to the LoS



Couple of good plays:
Handles a stunt well, he did for most of the game, often looking to stay active and help the LT


Kinda of his most physical play of the game, and a good show of what he is, a decent guy that'll do enough



Still would have loved a couple of clear cut updates to feel more confortable about our OL, but depending on how the rookies perform, maybe they did do enough to have a functioning unit.

[KI Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

Looked at Nick Gates' snaps during last year's week 14 game against the Eagles.
He looked rather small, won't out physical anybody, but seems to have good vision, decent hand placement and footwork.
None of his movement look really sharp nor fast, but he seems to fit the "hat on a hat" philosophy, most of the time he'll be in front of his guy and do just enough.

LG #65
Couple of bad plays:
Completely beaten by a swim move


And here a slow to spot the blitzing safety, still does enough to avoid the sack, Jones runs back to the LoS



Couple of good plays:
Handles a stunt well, he did for most of the game, often looking to stay active and help the LT


Kinda of his most physical play of the game, and a good show of what he is, a decent guy that'll do enough



Still would have loved a couple of clear cut updates to feel more confortable about our OL, but depending on how the rookies perform, maybe they did do enough to have a functioning unit.

Gates wasn't completely recovered from his broken leg last season. He claims that he is fully recovered and fit now. So, if you were to look at his film of him before his severe injury, as I did, I think you would see a much better player. If he can come all the way back from his injury, we may have a very good starting center. That is, maybe... it's possible...hopefully, if we get lucky...keep your fingers crossed..say a little prayer...order a vial of miracle spring water from a T.V. evangelist.

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Gates wasn't completely recovered from his broken leg last season. He claims that he is fully recovered and fit now. So, if you were to look at his film of him before his severe injury, as I did, I think you would see a much better player. If he can come all the way back from his injury, we may have a very good starting center. That is, maybe... it's possible...hopefully, if we get lucky...keep your fingers crossed..say a little prayer...order a vial of miracle spring water from a T.V. evangelist.

Yeah I actually hesitated between looking at his before injury film or the most recent one. I opted for the later but thanks for the insight, I'll check a before injury game too.

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by KI Skins Fan

Gates wasn't completely recovered from his broken leg last season. He claims that he is fully recovered and fit now. So, if you were to look at his film of him before his severe injury, as I did, I think you would see a much better player. If he can come all the way back from his injury, we may have a very good starting center. That is, maybe... it's possible...hopefully, if we get lucky...keep your fingers crossed..say a little prayer...order a vial of miracle spring water from a T.V. evangelist.

Just wanted to highlight how right you are about Nick Gates.
Watched 2020 week 14's game against the Cards.
All his movements looked wayyyy sharper than post injury. Quicker, more physical. He also looked way more at ease as center than at LG if you ask me.
If he's back to his 2020 self, we have an upgrade at C... but still a huge question mark at LG. Are we just hoping Chris Paul takes a huge step forward ?

3 plays that stood out to me:

Just active and physical on both level in the run game


How good hand technique can make you look tougher than you actually are


Interesting one, showing his football IQ/film study ability IMHO. One of very very few plays where a DL lines up right in front of him (0 technique), he doesn't initiate contact, and turns his head to his right very early, seeing the stunting DE and handling him with ease. Did he see that formation on tape ? Did he just felt that alignement was weird ? Either way, that shows me a smart player.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

Just wanted to highlight how right you are about Nick Gates.
Watched 2020 week 14's game against the Cards.
All his movements looked wayyyy sharper than post injury. Quicker, more physical. He also looked way more at ease as center than at LG if you ask me.
If he's back to his 2020 self, we have an upgrade at C... but still a huge question mark at LG. Are we just hoping Chris Paul takes a huge step forward ?

3 plays that stood out to me:

Just active and physical on both level in the run game


How good hand technique can make you look tougher than you actually are


Interesting one, showing his football IQ/film study ability IMHO. One of very very few plays where a DL lines up right in front of him (0 technique), he doesn't initiate contact, and turns his head to his right very early, seeing the stunting DE and handling him with ease. Did he see that formation on tape ? Did he just felt that alignement was weird ? Either way, that shows me a smart player.

Loved Gates. Wish he could have stayed but glad he got paid.

[punch it in]

The oline is the X factor. Every depth chart I look at is different. I am definitely worried about it, but unlike Wentz and Heineken … Howell uses his wheels. Plus we have an NFL caliber OC. So those two things take the edge off.

Our D should be good/very good/great? But even good is good enough.

Our weapons on offense should scare everyone.

Slye is just a kicker, and a kicker can make or break more than a few games. Hopefully he has his nose to the grindstone and is ready to go.

Rivera still worries me because until the guy wins more games than he loses (a pattern in Carolina and here) he will worry me.

My optimism is higher than last offseason though.

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by punch it in

The oline is the X factor. Every depth chart I look at is different. I am definitely worried about it, but unlike Wentz and Heineken … Howell uses his wheels. Plus we have an NFL caliber OC. So those two things take the edge off.

Our D should be good/very good/great? But even good is good enough.

Our weapons on offense should scare everyone.

Slye is just a kicker, and a kicker can make or break more than a few games. Hopefully he has his nose to the grindstone and is ready to go.

Rivera still worries me because until the guy wins more games than he loses (a pattern in Carolina and here) he will worry me.

My optimism is higher than last offseason though.

The O-line is every team's X-Phackter. With this team, we have to figure out how to keep the Center healthy.

I think the D will be very good. I want to say great, but the schedule is tough...we'll see.

Offensive weapons - we have plenty, and defenses will struggle against us - especially if the O-line can hold its own.

I'm still a fan of Rivera. It's easy to look at his W/L record and come to some conclusion (and that matters), but his leadership, his ability to get players ready to play - and fight to the end, is telling. Right now, I can't think of a better combo for this team than Ron and Eric. I hope it works.

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

The O-line is every team's X-Phackter. With this team, we have to figure out how to keep the Center healthy.

I think the D will be very good. I want to say great, but the schedule is tough...we'll see.

Offensive weapons - we have plenty, and defenses will struggle against us - especially if the O-line can hold its own.

I'm still a fan of Rivera. It's easy to look at his W/L record and come to some conclusion (and that matters), but his leadership, his ability to get players ready to play - and fight to the end, is telling. Right now, I can't think of a better combo for this team than Ron and Eric. I hope it works.

Seems like we agree on everything except Rivera. You lost me at his ability to get players ready to play. Too many slow starts to games and second halfs. This is a make it or break it year for him. We finish .500 or below and he is gone.

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by punch it in

Seems like we agree on everything except Rivera. You lost me at his ability to get players ready to play. Too many slow starts to games and second halfs. This is a make it or break it year for him. We finish .500 or below and he is gone.

Valid point, however, I attribute the slow starts to games and second halfs to the lack of a good QB, the lack of a good offensive game plan, and the lack of making adjustments (or the inability to due to personnel). Hopefully some or all of that changes this year.

I don't think there's any question though, that his players play hard for him.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

Valid point, however, I attribute the slow starts to games and second halfs to the lack of a good QB, the lack of a good offensive game plan, and the lack of making adjustments (or the inability to due to personnel). Hopefully some or all of that changes this year.

I don't think there's any question though, that his players play hard for him.

I think the biggest issue this team has had on the offensive side of the ball, aside from not having a good QB, is having offensive coordinators that refuse to adjust their gameplan to the available talent.

If EB is able to adjust to the talent available, that's going to be a big win already.

As an aside note, I am not going to drink the Kool Aid and say that this team is playoff bound or anything. BUT, I don't understand the notion that this team is going to be worst as the media is portraying it. Are they really saying that Heinecke/Wentz was a better option than Howell/Brissett? I get Howell's inexperience, but I just don't see how you can say, "yup, they had better QBs last year."

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

Valid point, however, I attribute the slow starts to games and second halfs to the lack of a good QB, the lack of a good offensive game plan, and the lack of making adjustments (or the inability to due to personnel). Hopefully some or all of that changes this year.

I don't think there's any question though, that his players play hard for him.

No doubt QB and Turner were huge parts of the problem. I don’t see hoe it can’t change for the better.
Everyone wondering if Sam is going to pan out, and if EB was a product of Reid and Mahommes. But
I am setting my expectations lower. Sam only has to be better than Wentz and Taylor, and EB only has to be better than Turner. There is no way in hell they are not.

[AnonEmouse]

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...es-a-physical/

No surprise here, but how does this affect cap etc? If he fails a physical I'd presume he goes with an injury settlement. If he's released, how much do we free up for fresh signings?