Daily Slop - 24 Jul 24: Tuesday’s focus was on Adams & Quinn and expectations for the ‘24 Commanders; Wednesday it’s on the field (2024)

Commanders links

Articles

Commanders.com

Five takeaways from Dan Quinn and Adam Peters’ joint press conference

Develop an identity

As much excitement as there has been around the Commanders since the 2023 season ended, it is worth noting that the franchise is entering the first year of a new regime with a rookie quarterback and a rebuilt roster that went 4-13 a year ago. Going from fourth to first is possible, of course, but doing so in one of the best divisions in football will be tricky.

So, what would qualify the 2024 season as a success for Quinn and Peters? Obviously, they want to win as many games as possible, but finding their identity is just as important to them.

“Who we are and how we play, that has to come along strong,” Quinn said. “If you get that first and get that right, that’s when a lot of the success will follow.”

Quinn and Peters had a clear vision for how they wanted to structure the roster in their first season together. They entered the draft looking for players they believed had the “Commander tag” — a term they used for players who had certain desired characteristics. In free agency, they signed a mix of experienced veterans and those still looking to prove themselves on “prove it” deals. More than half the roster is different from what it was in 2023, and most of them have never played together before.

Peters and Quinn will now get to see how much that effort will pay off, but they have some idea of what they’re going to see from their players this season.

“You’re gonna see a great effort team, a competitive team, playing fast and physical,” Peters said. “We’ve seen that out there all spring, and we’re excited to see it here in camp.”

Washington Times

LOVERRO: If it looks like a rebuild, walks like a rebuild and quacks like a rebuild …

Nearly half of the players who finished last year’s 4-13 Ron Rivera “send me my Super Bowl ring” season are gone. Training camp will be filled with many new faces. According to vocabulary.com, to recalibrate is to adjust the settings on a device that precisely measures, senses, or moves. Wiping out half the football team isn’t an adjustment. It’s a teardown.

Why would Quinn deny the existence of the word? He didn’t wreck the place. He’s taking over a rehab project. Everybody knows that.

I think Washington football fans have been starving for a teardown and new faces — especially on the sideline with a new coaching staff led by Quinn, along with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt.

Then there’s the changes in the front office. New general manager Adam Peters has cleaned house since he arrived in January — except for the two Martys, Mayhew and Hurney. They remain from Rivera’s clown show. I figure they must have too many bowling shirts in the building with the name “Marty” embroidered on them to get rid of them.

But when fans show up for the five sessions of training camp open to the public (the Baltimore Ravens have 20 open training camp sessions; you would think if Commanders new owner Josh Harris was trying to reconnect from the Dan Snyder-damaged fan base, they would have more than five open sessions), they’ll be excited to see the new faces on the field — among them linebacker Bobby Wagner, running back Austin Ekeler, tight end Zack Ertz and Peters’ first draft class, led by the foundation of the rebuild, quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Athletic (paywall)

Dan Quinn and Adam Peters set tone for Commanders camp, preach patience with Jayden Daniels

Newton slipped out of the first round, said the team isn’t rushing the Illinois alum back to practice but expects a return “sooner than later.”

Washington otherwise enters camp healthy, though some veterans may land on the injured list following Tuesday’s pre-camp physicals. Defensive lineman Efe Obada has not practiced since suffering a significant leg injury last season.

Quinn kept any roster or lineup battles he’s watching out of the public discourse. One constant talking point from Washington’s new head coach is seeking information across the roster about what players can and perhaps can’t do. “We’re not going to miss one step of their development.” Two important growth dates will come when Washington travels for joint practices at the New York Jets (Aug. 8) and Miami Dolphins (Aug. 15).

Whatever is happening on the field, expect most eyes to focus on Daniels, whether facing those opposing defenses or the daily matchups on the home turf. The starter announcement delay isn’t a carrot-and-stick situation for Quinn, who called Daniels “an extremely motivated player. Some days will feature one passer over the other — backups at the sport’s most crucial position also need reps with the first team — but expect the rookie to garner much more.

Commanders.com

From Division III to the NFL, Dan Quinn has stayed true to his identity

Long before Quinn was an NFL head coach, he was a Division III defensive lineman playing at Salisbury University. While several aspects of Quinn’s identity have changed over the years, the core parts of his personality have stayed the same.

Getting a second chance, even for someone with as stellar of a reputation as Quinn, is more of a hope than a guarantee in the NFL. Quinn turning the Seattle Seahawks’ defense into an all-time great unit led to him being hired as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, but once he was relieved of those duties in 2020, he had to wait another four years for that opportunity to come knocking again, despite his successes as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.

Quinn, however, never gave up on the possibility that he would get another shot to lead a franchise. It’s why he took a full “360” perspective to find “potential blind spots” on why things turned sour in Atlanta. Because being a coach is all he’s ever wanted to do.

“I’ve loved football my whole life coming up,” Quinn said during his introductory press conference. “I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Quinn doesn’t plan on wasting his second chance at being a head coach. His approach is not going to be a carbon copy of what transpired with the Falcons. He wants to take the lessons he learned, apply them with the Commanders and show that he’s “a much stronger coach today than when I took over years back in Atlanta.”

The core principles of Quinn’s identity — leading by example, encouraging competition and guiding players along the right path — are not going to change. They were part of who he was as a player, and they will be integral pieces of his vision in Washington.

Riggo’s Rag

Jonathan Allen injury history: Every ailment that has kept him out of a game since he joined the NFL

The veteran defensive tackle’s been highly durable more often than not.

One could have forgiven Jonathan Allen for letting his frustrations get the better of him last season. It was another campaign that promised much and delivered almost nothing for the Washington Commanders. Another losing year saw the veteran defensive tackle’s attitude shift tremendously.

Allen’s been a model of consistency since Washington selected him at No. 17 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s widely regarded as one of the league’s best interior disruptors despite his down year last time around. More importantly, the player has been relatively durable considering the violent nature of his position.

Having this stability quickly saw Allen become an integral piece of the puzzle. That’s not going to change under the new regime. They also have no intention of trading the Alabama product despite speculation to the contrary around the media.

Everything’s changed in the nation’s capital. Allen noticed the atmosphere completely altered for the better and was re-energized throughout early offseason workouts as a result. If the lineman continues with his Iron Man image, the production should improve. Anything less will only increase rumors regarding his departure in 2025.

Let’s look at Allen’s injury history since entering the league and during his collegiate days. Hopefully, there will be no more added to this list next season.

Podcasts & videos

NFC East links

Bleeding Green Nation

Report: Cooper DeJean will begin Eagles training camp on active/NFI list

Unexpected injury news.

The Philadelphia Eagles will place second-round rookie defensive back Cooper DeJean on the active/non-football injury list (NFI) prior to the team’s first training camp practice this Wednesday, July 24, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

More details:

[DeJean] will be sidelined sidelined three weeks with a hamstring injury suffered when he was caught in an awkward position during offseason training, per league source. It is unrelated to any prior injury. The Eagles are confident in a quick recovery and that he will contribute as expected this season.

That’s some unfortunate and unexpected bad news on the eve of camp.

DeJean being out for three weeks certainly isn’t ideal; he’s on track to miss about 11 practices and at least one preseason game. His absence certainly won’t help his case when it comes to, say, potentially earning the starting nickel cornerback job.

For those wondering, the active/NFI list works just like the active/PUP list that Sydney Brown is reportedly going to be placed on prior to Wednesday’s first practice. And so DeJean will still count towards the Eagles’ 90-player roster limit. Should his recovery linger into the regular season, the Eagles have the option to put him on reserve/NFI to preserve a roster spot while he misses the first four games of the season (at least).

Big Blue View

Evan Neal placed on PUP by New York Giants

Neal’s third season does not begin well

In a blow to his chances of justifying the New York Giants selection of him No. 7 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Evan Neal has been placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list by the Giants.

That was one of four roster moves announced by the Giants on Tuesday afternoon, less than a full day before the team’s first practice of training camp.

Cornerback Aaron Robinson, who has not played since early 2022 after a major knee injury, was also placed on PUP. The Giants placed defensive backs Jalen Mills (calf) and Stantley Thomas-Oliver (groin) on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List.

Neal, a right tackle, has had an injury-plagued two seasons. He missed time with a knee injury in his rookie year, and dealt with injuries throughout the season. Last season, a training camp concussion and then an ankle injury hampered him. He has played in just 20 of 34 regular-season games, and when he has played his performance has been poor.

A player can only be placed on the active/PUP list before the start of training camp. The player counts against the 90-man roster limit and can come off the PUP list at any point during camp and practice immediately. He can participate in team meetings and use the team facilities during the preseason while on active/PUP. They can also work out on the side during practices, but they cannot participate in any portion of practice (walkthroughs, individual drills, seven-on-sevens, team drills, etc.). Players cannot return to the PUP list if they sustain a setback or another injury during training camp.

Players on the active/PUP list could be moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns. If placed on the reserve/PUP list, a player wouldn’t count against the active roster and must sit out the first four games.

Blogging the Boys

Report: CeeDee Lamb not expected to report to training camp

It was reported on Tuesday morning by The Dallas Morning News that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb will not be a part of the team charter to Oxnard. Apparently Prescott is already in the area, but Lamb has been in the middle of contract negotiations (so has Prescott to be clear) with the team all offseason. Most of BTB didn’t think he would show up and here we are.

The Cowboys charter for Southern California will leave Tuesday. The team will bus from there to Oxnard and are scheduled to arrive at their training site later in the afternoon.

Prescott won’t be on the flight. He’s been in the area working out ahead of the team’s arrival.

Lamb will also be missing from the flight. Club officials don’t anticipate he’ll join the team until an extension is reached.

It’s difficult to put a timetable on when the impasse will be resolved. Lamb wasn’t part of the Cowboys offseason program. The receiver’s absence, along with a bleeding of veteran talent in free agency, fed into the frustration and anger that seemed to fester in the Cowboys fan base after a stunning playoff defeat to Green Bay.

Please also file this in the “not at all shocking” folder, but it is specifically noted that Lamb will not show up until a deal is in place. According to the DMN’s discussion with team officials, at least.

The Athletic (paywall)

Pre-training camp NFL Power Rankings

7. Dallas Cowboys

Last season: 12-5, lost in NFC wild-card round

In the last three seasons, the Cowboys have won 36 regular-season games and one playoff game. Owner Jerry Jones is so fed up that he … did basically nothing this offseason to improve the team. Head coach Mike McCarthy is back (with a new defensive coordinator — Mike Zimmer, who replaced Dan Quinn). Linebacker Eric Kendricks and running back Royce Freeman were Dallas’ only free-agency additions. Plus, quarterback Dak Prescott will be playing with a $55 million cap hit and in the final year of his contract this season because the Cowboys don’t seem concerned about getting an extension done.

10. Philadelphia Eagles

Last season: 11-6, lost in NFC wild-card round

Questions abound in Philly. Will new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s system suit quarterback Jalen Hurts? How will the offensive line hold up without “the other Kelce,” center Jason who, like his brother Travis, is a future Hall of Famer but, unlike his brother, is not dating Taylor Swift and is now retired? But the biggest question is: What the heck happened last season? The Eagles lost six of their last seven games, and their point differential (minus-59) was the fourth worst in the league during that stretch, suggesting something more than personnel fits was amiss with the one-time juggernaut.

27. Washington Commanders

Last season: 4-13, missed playoffs

The Commanders signed a host of second-tier free agents in March, but the big move came in April when they drafted Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 pick. It looks to be a long build behind Daniels. The Commanders were 25th in scoring (19.35 ppg) and last in points allowed (30.5 per game) last season. Former Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was hired in the offseason to fix things after a long courtship with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson proved unfruitful.

28. New York Giants

Last season: 6-11, missed playoffs

Giants fans should keep Oct. 19 clear on their calendar. That’s when the Georgia Bulldogs will be playing the Texas Longhorns, and chances are at least fair the Giants’ next quarterback will be on the field. With Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, the 2025 quarterback draft class should have plenty of options. Of course, maybe Daniel Jones (and his $41 million, soon-to-be $58 million cap hit) will be the answer. His career 22-36-1 record and career 6.6 yards-per-attempt average, which ranks 39th in the NFL in the last five years, would suggest otherwise, though.

Pro Football Talk

Saquon Barkley on saying goodbye to Giants fans: I don’t think I handled it right

Barkley told Dianna Russini on the Scoop City podcast that he wanted to bid a fond farewell to Giants fans, but after seeing some of them respond negatively on social media to the news that he was leaving for the Eagles, he didn’t give them the full goodbye he had planned on.

“I had a goodbye video to Giants fans — I don’t think I handled that situation right at all,” Barkley said. “I said a quick thank you to the Giants fans, but I actually had a legit response like a goodbye, and I let the hate on Twitter take me away from that, and that was really immature of me, and that’s the one thing about that whole process that I kind of regret. Because Giants fans, still — I know a lot of them hate me or whatever — since the day I got drafted I got a lot of love, I’d see a lot of people in my jersey, I tried to spend as much time as I can with them, show respect because they showed me a lot of respect. So I think I could have definitely said goodbye in a better way. Just being naive and immature, not even thinking that it really mattered that much.”

Barstool Sports

Good Times For Daniel Jones: Every Hard Knocks Clip Coming Out Is Basically Showing The Giants Desperately Trying To Trade Up For A Quarterback

So tonight is the next episode of Hard Knocks. Again, I don’t know if it’s because it’s the Giants or I can nerd out to draft stuff, this has been an awesome first season of this offseason version of it. At the same time it’s a dark reminder that we’re stuck watching Daniel Jones this year. Every episode basically has been Joe Schoen trying to find a way to trade up for Drake Maye and now Jayden Daniels. Look at Daboll’s face when he mentions Daniel!

I just don’t trust Daniel Jones. Don’t get me wrong, I want him to win every game, but how can I have any confidence in him? Not to mention every clip is Schoen and Daboll trying to trade up. They are stuck in the relationship that no one wants to be in and staying together for the kids (draft picks). At least for another year.

NFL league links

Articles

Washington Post

NFL, NFLPA have begun discussions on a potential 18-game season

The NFLPA’s Lloyd Howell left open the possibility that an 18-game season could go into effect before the expiration of the current labor deal.

The NFL Players Association has engaged in high-level discussions with the NFL about the potential implementation of an 18-game regular season, the NFLPA’s executive director said.

Lloyd Howell said during a meeting Monday with Washington Post reporters and editors at the NFLPA’s headquarters in D.C. that the talks between the union and the league have not yet progressed to formal negotiations. But the discussions between the two sides, which have not been previously reported, indicate that the latest pursuit by the league and team owners of an 18-game season has moved beyond the hypothetical stage.

“We have talked at a very, very, very high level superficially, with a recognition … about, ‘Yeah, this is something that we should be talking about. And we should really kick the tires and understand what else goes into that decision-making process,’ ” Howell said. “Where does the 18th game come from? I think the foregone conclusion is well, you just grab it, like, in what would otherwise be [preseason games] in August. You play it forward. But these are details that really need to be fleshed out. But, again, there are other economic, health and safety matters that also need to be clear to our members before there’s ever an agreement about an 18th game.”

Tweets