Previewing the Vikings | Episode 52

seasons here. It's his first time coming back. We haven't seen him since twenty seventeen. But both of you Kyle passes from him. Yeah, Santana, what are you seeing from him this season? Very productive. One of the things that stands out to me the most is they have the right kind of players around them and the play calling has been exceptionally well. I think one of the things that stands out more than anything that he don't have

to get up there and think too much. So he's going out there, he's seeing what he has to do and whether it's pre stopton read or throughout the course of the play, he's finding the open guy. But Kurt has always been that the passer. He just had to get around the right system and he's back to something that he's familiar with. Yeah. Absolutely, it's gat to see him back comfortable because like we you know, we care

about kirkham do well, but obviously not this weekend. I will say the thing that sticks out to me, he's been much better in the fourth quarter. He's been much more consistent in terms of making plays when the team needs to make those high levelge situations. He started slow the past couple of games, but finished very, very strong and let his team to victories. And I think that's shows a nice maturity by him over the last couple years. And for the most part, he's been taking care of

the ball. He has eleven touchdowns, five interceptions, three of them though game against the Philadelphia Eagles alone, and so for the most part, he hasn't been giving you major opportunities. People. We know the defensive line is going to be getting all over him in this one, and he's familiar with those guys up there as well. Now, one of his top white receivers is Justin Jefferson. How is he going

to do against the secondary logan? I mean, I think Justin Jefferson, to my eye, is one of the most kind of skillful receivers in the NFL. He's very, very talented at the catchpoints as he plays bigger than he's listed out of the he's six one, one one hundred ninety pounds. He plays bigger than that great physicality, can line up inside, line up outside. So it's going to be a team effort in terms of aggregating resources to stop him. And I think in those band demand situations and think you

got to put our best cover corner on him. And I think that's Benjamin Saint us. You don't want to do that too too much because that's a tough matchup, but that's what I would I think you have to do. Yeah, And you know, one of the things that's down to me is that he's not only just one of those guys that you have to worry about on the outside. He's dominant in the inside. So I'm glad that we have that kind of you know, we have that player that we can probably match up or see him, you know,

have that kind of coverage. But you can't let him get get get you know, getting wild on us, because I've seen him take advantage of teams. One of the things I want to say on the last thing you asked me about, we have to take a page out of Philadelphia's But they was they played him better than anybody, and it wasn't because they played great coverage on him.

It was because those great rush great rush. Yeah. Well, I mean, look, if the quarterback doesn't have any time to be able to throw the ball, didn't forget it. Jefferson can't do too much on that side. On the other side of Taylor heineke Um, he's gonna be go ingup with for It's a really stout defensive front as well. Logan, Yeah, I think that. You know, Zarius Smith is one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. I think he's

tied for the league lead in sacks right now. And it's not like he's running from from the defense end. He lines up at nose guard. He lights up a three technique. They find ways to put him in advantageous situations to rush the passer, and he has been excellent that. That's where he was most productive in Green Bay. When

he was in Baltimore, same thing. They're starting to adopt that package and he has been performing up the top building which has been which is fun to see as a fan of football, but as a Washington fan makes it a little nervous. Yeah, Bike's defense is tied with us in sacks. I believe we have twenty one. They have twenty one, and they have thirteen takeaways, which is ninth in the league. So when you see that coming from a defense, heinik. He has to be very efficient.

He has to make sure that he's doing some of the things we've seen in the past a few weeks. He's been efficient with the ball, but he's also been making a right decision. So if it's not there, take what you can with your legs. When it's there, get the guy to the ball in the timely fashion and he should be okay. Yeah, they love that he's not afraid to step in the pocket to make the play, but hopefully smartly as well. That's such a thing. Yeah,

probably not smartly. Washington's wide receivers have consistently delivered throughout the Commander's three game one streak. London Fletcher chat with Curtis Samuel to discuss the Commander's offense and the versatility he brings. Curtis after the one and fourth start We're coming here riding a three game winning streak. How are you guys able to get things turned around this season? We're a tough team. I mean, we understand that we was out there making plays, but it just wasn't enough.

You know. I felt like the problem was we just wasn't putting together four quarters of football. Um. I know this past week, you know, I feel like we slacked off a little bit, but we picked it up at the end. And you know, most important is finishing one guy who didn't slacked off and who hasn't been slacking off as you You know, over the three out of last four games, you've had at least five catch at

five touches over sixty yards from scrimmage. You lead us and receptions, made a couple of huge catches on fourth down and that ball game against the Coats? What has been the key for you being able to you know, operate in space the way you've operated and have the ball in your hands so much really just understanding the like the receiver position. You just never understand when the ball is coming to you, you know what I mean, so much stuff gotta go on for to get the ball,

you know, so my mindset each and every time. It's just like, just be prepared, be ready. You know what I'm saying, Garth them when your matchup, whenever the ball come your way, just makes something happen because you know how many times you can get the ball right. There's been a change at the quarterback position, you know, going to Taylor Heineke. Over the last two ball games, offense you mentioned has had some transition with Taylor under center.

What has the what has been the change with with Taylor being an under center? Um? I mean as far as us as a serious we know we got got them make plays. You know, as long as we're doing what we gotta do, getting open, catching the ball and making a big plays, we feel like the offense gonna do a good job. Um. You know, I really think us as an offense, I feel like we were all

just playing better. You know, Taylor able to you know, get out the podcat and make extra things happen, and um, you know, I feel like we're doing a great job as you as you look at the situation with the receivers you got Terry McLaurin, Terry went home, had a big game. How has Dad playing with Terry kind of opened things up for you in this offense. Um, we know Terry on garthm and make make things happen. You know, he don't think two back to back to two great games,

you know, doing doing what he does. You know, every time the ball is in the era, every time you got a chance, he gonna make something big happen. You know. Um, teams may start, you know, try to double you know what I'm saying. But that's the good thing about our room. Were so deep. We got a lot of guys you know that could come in and make big things happen. We got a little bit injuries, but I feel like every guy that steps in is gonna make something happen

out there. We got the six to one minutes. So the Vikings coming in here gonna be a tall task. What do you think is gonna be the key when we're going against this this Vikings defense? Toughness, It's just starting up front. You know, we gotta dominate the line of scrimmish. You know, we gotta protect our protect our quarterback and just make things happening. Just try to put together four quarters of good football, you know, and no slacking off, staying on the field, converting third downs, and

I feel like that will help us. Hey last, but not at least. We haven't seen you dancing a while, man, can't we expect to see you dancing this U this Sunday. I gotta get in that end. I got, I got some moves, man, I just waited to get that end. That's that's what my point is. Hopefully we'll get you in the end on this uh this Sunday and say you out there doing your dance more. Absolutely appreciate it.

All right. For all of your news and analysis, be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights if five thirty and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on YouTube and commanders dot com