Preparing for Philadelphia | Episode 41

I mean, that's a receipt. That's a quarterback stream to have all those guys, um, I think on our side, I'm gonna take us because we you know, we gotta take the brigand in and go. But it'd be great, man, just to you know, see those guys squad and then do that thing. I'm hoping that our receiver corps come out on top. If you're a dB, what are you thinking knowing that there's so many different playmakers on both sides,

it's gonna be it's gonna be tough. You guys. They drew the short end of the stick, so to speak, in especially on our end because of Philadelphi's ability to run the boss well You're gonna have to be in a lot of man and man coverage where you're not gonna have you know, safeties over the top all the time, and you're gonna have to hold up. And they have the big, big play guys Smith, you can take the

top off the defense. But then you had the big physical receiver and um, you know the guy they traded for from Tennessee, A J. Brown. So that's gonna be a challenge for for us defensively because we're gonna be focused on stopping that run. And you mentioned stopping the run. They have the league's second best rushing attack, averaging one hundred and eighty nine and one hundred and eighty nine and a half rushing yards one night. You just call

it one night in this um. But according to the way that they run the ball, they I mean, they can get what they want. The challenge you are trying to stop that, it's it's a it's gonna be a great challenge just in stopping mile sounders first and foremost, we especially the way we despend defended the run in

these first two ball games. We're gonna have to be better in our run fits bettering, you know, coming up non you know where your gap is, and that gap can move if they're pulling line in and pulling tight ends. They like that. I understanding where you fitted, where your extra defender is. And then you throw in the mix the Jalen Hurst and his ability to run the ball. Now you have to account for him as a defense

and that's where the problem lies. And that's why Philadelphia is so difficult to defend when you're stopping to run against them. Towner, Yeah, that's one of the things that I asked you when I came in, Like, you know how difficult is to be a linebacker in this situation, knowing that you have a running back that can be so elusive in the backfield and the quarterback to have to worry about. I remember having those days when we had guys who can do it. But um, I think

our team's up for the challenge. You no gotta bring some guys in that box. So those guys aren't going to be on the Allen on the outside chase. Rually, it goes to the ir the challenge of replacing him. It's gonna be a big challenge because the center, he's responsible for getting all your protection together, your lives side He's typically the smartest guy on the offense. So that's not just a little situation where you lose a left guard losing the tackle, I mean losing your center. That's big.

Wellus I had the chance to sit down with wide receiver Curtis Samuel will chat about his strong start to the season. Curtis Samuel, let me ask you, how are you feeling? Because we were calling that game and we go to celebrate the touchdown and all of a sudden, I'm like going, oh no, he's not getting up, are you? I mean, are you physically Okay? Yeah, I'm physically good. Um, I mean the scoreboard probably had allowed to do with it. There's no need for me to dance with the scorebore

looking where it was. Um, I was a little bit of time. I was a little bit tired and I got hit my lip a little bit, so I had to lay down on the floor. Flow let me get myself back together. Okay, Well, it's great to see you in the end zone. It's not the second game in a row we've seen that. You haven't been able to do that since twenty twenty. It's been a hot minute for you. How does it feel to kind of to be back doing what you know you're capable of and what this team brought you in too do. Um, it

feels it feels amazing. You know, I'm thankful to be able to score the touchdown, so you know, when about get the opportunities to get the chance. But pretty much, it's all about scoring the ball, you know, um, just winning the game. So whether I do it, I block for somebody else to do it, that's all it's about. I'm definitely grateful, you know, to be able to keep scoring touchdowns two weeks in a row after everything I've

been through last year. But I'm just grateful for the opportunities that coach give me, you know, in trusting me to make those types of plays, opportunities you said you were retired as well. I mean they're using you a lot. This is a second straight game as well that you've had at least seven receptions in a game. Are you physically feeling that or is it like, is there a different approach, a mindset you have to go into the game knowing that they're going to rely on you often

in a lot. It's just though, it's one of the things where I felt like, um, I know, I'm gonna touched the ball a lot, you know what I'm saying. That's something that I want, you know, and the trusting me to make plays when I do touch the ball. My mind said, every time I touch the ball, I gotta make something happen, you know. And I feel like I'm doing that, and it's just about keeping it up.

Last season, you were saying, when you're getting out there, you physically thought you could do it, but it's the mindset that's saying, Okay, I can make these cuts. We're seeing you make some crazy cuts that we're feeling like you're breaking angles and maybe even playing some hoops out there. Yeah. Is that more physically or is it that just the mindset to say I can sit here and jerk the defenders back around physically. I just I feel real good.

I feel real confident and what I'm able to go out there and do make make guys miss make those quick fast cuts. You know, last shot I didn't. I didn't have the confidence and I know I couldn't do it. You know, this year is a little different because I have the confidence and I know I could do it because I've showed myself throughout the whole off season. I did it in OTAs and I'm continue to do it now. It's exciting to watch. Oh, it's amazing. I mean you're

in that room with Terry mccorda and Johan Dodson. They do some outstanding, amazing catches as well. But like, do you guys kind of talk a little about that. No, it's just one of the things. We got three guys in our room. I can't even say three. We got a whole room, guys. You know a lot of guys. Everybody got the impact. Everybody make plays all over throughout

the field. But you know, when we're out there, it's just one of those things where we're just relying on each other, you know, when somebody making players like all right, good player, you know what I'm saying. And then when I get my chance, I'm gonna do the same thing because we know we've got the skill set and we got the talent, you know, to be able to do

things like that. What if you've seen from Dodson, because there's sometimes he brings that ball down and we're not sure how even Santana Moss at times will say I'm dropping that. No that he hands, Yeah, he got hands and He's done it throughout training camp OTAs and he's continued to do it. Now. You know, you put the ball anywhere around, you know he's gonna make the play, and you know to have that type of skill set as a rookie especial, would you say you're the best

dancer on the team by far? Of course, if he'd say the same thing exactly, they got a dance battle me, we could do it. What about between Terry or Jehad as well? Yeah, they dying a lie. I haven't seen Jehan, but I know Terry could dance a little bit. He might not pull it out with Terry got some moves, yeah, yeah, from you right, I'm tell him a little bit of college Curtis. Thank you, Thank you so much. You can

listen to the full interview on Commanders dot com. Tune into command Since You weeknights five thirty ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can stream the full episode on YouTube and Commanders dot com.