Season Review | Episode 70

they had anticipated or planned. And now that we're kind of like a couple of days removed from this, we should be preparing for a postseason game, but instead we're kind of digesting what happened this year? Fred, what did we learn about this team? We learned that we didn't finish what we started. Coaches said it we control down destiny and we still slipped through our fingers. We figured

out a way to lose these games. It's no one position group you could point to in these lands four games and say we got better play from this group, we would be okay. It was a live bit of everybody. Special teams wasn't special offensiting school any points. Defense started to lag. They didn't make the impact play that they made earlier in the year. So I think it is a group we let the fan base down. But guess what,

Like you see, it's so many bright points. You look here, and you look here, you say, oh, we with these clothes, we with these clothes, but yet we did far away. And I think there's the scary report about it. Yeah, I think obviously. I think Fred brings up a fantastic point because you're a smart guy, friend. Thank you. The idea that like this, this team fell short of expectations and we had so many high expectations at the beginning of the year, and you look at the quarterback position

and we're still looking for a quarterback. All those issues are still apparent. But I do think that there are some really bright spots on the roster to be excited about. I think you look at the young pieces that are growing and developing. Jamon davis Man, he could be a really special football player. You get the young safeties, Cam curl Forrest, all these guys, Brian Robinson, Johan Dotson. These pieces are things you can build around. Now you kind of say, what do we need to get really really

improved on offensive line, banking, the secondary piece. Find some of those pieces and maybe it's there for you if you get the right coordinator here. Yeah, you really had to find the quarterback to Coronover has been saying that what he went through eight different starting quarterbacks in his three seasons here, So still unable to find that to build. They tried to bring in a veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick injury,

Carson Wentz injury. That route didn't necessarily work, although we understand what the philosophy was going in with that with a very young team. Now you saw what you got to get out of potentially Sam holl and what he could grow into. So what do we do going forward? Logan just said it. He just said he I say office lad, like at the end of the day, we just introduced Tuddy is one Bacon. Last time we was great on his officive lad. We had the hogs, we

had guys to smell like Bacon. We see what happens on the defensive, lad, when you dominate the lad of scrimmage. If we can get that way on office, I believe you could take an average quarterback and he can play great behind a great officeive lad. Yeah, I mean I think that's kind of I think that's what we're getting to here, right is maybe you can build around Sam how I think he showed you some things to get You're really excited about his ability, his skill set, his moxie,

all those different things. Maybe bringing a veteran to kind of mentor maybe compete with him if it doesn't if the progression doesn't happen the way you wanted to. But I think when talking to people around the bed, talking with people that I have a lot of respect for Sam, Sam Hall showed them a lot. I think they're excited about what he brings. I mean to the point we're talking about earlier as well as if you want to take advantage of Terry McLaurin, John Dots and Curtis Samuel.

The line has to be able to hold up, to give the quarterback time to let the play develop, to be able to go downfield. And that's something that they were a bit of a disadvantage of this year. So they did want that kind of run first mentality. They did find success with that. If we go defensively, though, there's a lot of bright spots. We don't know if they can really keep everybody together. I think that's a big question this offseason two, Fred, what gives you hope

for next year with that unit. The defensive line makes me smile. The defensive I sleep easy at night knowing them guys out there can The fool is still a young guy. Twenty seven, twenty eight, Saint Ju showed us a lot. Defolk came up full circle to show us the player he is. Cam Curroll is still they consistent guy back there. But Julie, we need linebackers. We need guys that run sideline, the sideline, the swamp paint this way. If any place on their defense you could say need

to be addressed, is linebacker. Yeah? For me, I think Cam Curl the most suciting piece. And the fact that Percy Butler has developed and as a guy that can kind of supplement what Campro does, I'm really excited about that. A big question for the Commanders' off season is the quarterback position. Rookie quarterback Sam Howell had an impressive outing in his regular season debut, recording over one hundred and sixty passing yards and two touchdowns against a tough Dallas defense.

I sawt Dalla Howell to get his thoughts on his rookie year and how he will attack the off season. Okay, Sam, you got that first start. Was it everything you imagined? Yeah? It was awesome, Just truly a dream come true. And I'm just super grateful for the opportunity to get out there and play football again. So it was awesome everything I thought it would be. A lot of guys will

tell me they kind of visualize the games. Could you have visualized it going the way that it did and getting that win over I mean, of all things and all teams, the Dallas Cowboys, and know that they were playing for a lot. They were, and we knew that'd be playing for a lot, and you know that kind

of gave us a chip on our shoulder. You know, even though we weren't we're playing for anything, you know, we still have a lot of pride and every time we step on that field, you know, we were playing for the name on the front of our jersey, the name on the back, um. And so we weren't gonna let them come in here and let it be easy for him, um and so and so that's what we did. Did anything surprise you about the game? Um? I mean honestly,

not really. I Mean I knew, I know how good this team is, and I know, you know, when we're playing good football. We can beat anybody in this league. UM and and Dallas is a really good football team and they'll they'll probably make a good run of the playoffs. UM. But you know, we played our best last night and it showed. Everybody was curious to kind of see how you would have chemistry with the guys and what kind of rhythm you would take. UM, how do you feel

that went for you? Yeah? I think it went pretty pretty good. UM. You know, there's obviously a couple of players i'd i'd like to have back. UM, but you know, we we connected when we needed to and put points on the board when we needed to. UM. And it was just really credit to our defense. UM. They I mean they played great all night long and gave us a good field position, which made my job easy. Um and and special teams made um two big players as well, UM,

which we made it really easy for US boys. They weren't letting up and they're considered a top defense in the NFL. How much was it going up against and kind of just being around the defense that Washington has pretty darned stoup themselves that kind of maybe helped prepare

you for that. What did you learn from from our defense. Yeah, I mean I was doing a lot of scout team stuff throughout the year, and so going against our starting defense, and you know, I really just learned a lot, you know, just how good they are and how how fast on those guys are, and how how good of a job they do of closing windows and so being able to

do scout team stuff. I took it very seriously and I learned a lot from our defense, and I was glad to get out there against a really good defense in Dallas. You know, there are some talks that they might be rushing some guys or whatever the situation might be. But I wanted I wanted their best um and I wanted their best out there. So I was other side of that that we got it. There's a lot of

question marks at this position. We hear um, you know, going into the off season, where is your mind and what you know you're capable of doing and what you want to be able to do going forward here with Washington. Yeah, I mean I don't want to get ahead of myself. You know, it's just one game and I just want to go to work this offseason and you know, just come back ready to go. You know, I don't. I

don't know what the situation will be. I'm sure they have a lot of decisions that they need to make, but whatever it is, I'll be ready to go um and this team will get my best, all right. Congrat Sam, see you around. Thank you for all your news and analysis. Be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights at five and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on YouTube and commanders dot com.