With just 24 days until the regular season opener vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders traveled to Miami for their second game of the preseason. Overall, there were a lot of encouraging signs on both offense and defense, but still, plenty of work still to be done before week one.
That’s a wrap for preseason game number 2 for @Commanders
Here are a view of my observations
•Jayden Daniels 📈
•Dyami Brown 📈
•Run game/offensive line📈
•BSJ 📉
•Pass rush 📉
•Jamin Davis 📈
•Quan Martin 📈
•Mike Sainristill 📈@mymcmedia pic.twitter.com/p8cVIoc7Z8
— Lynnell Willingham (@Nell_BTP) August 18, 2024
Here are my six biggest takeaways from the Commanders’ 13-6 loss to the Dolphins:
Nell’s Super Six Pack
6. Kicker still a MAJOR PROBLEM for Commanders
The Commanders offense got off to a good start on their opening drive of the game. A 10-play drive that gained 46 yards and ate up three minutes and 53 seconds of clock, is the kind of drive that gives your first team offense confidence and sets you up for points. Unfortunately for Washington, kicker Riley Patterson missed the kick wide left. Miami proceeded to go on an 11-play touchdown drive. Missed kick, momentum swing. Patterson got a chance for redemption on a 46-yard attempt and nailed it. On Patterson’s third field goal attempt of the night, this one from 43 yards out, he was wide right. Safe to say, through two preseason games, there is a Help Wanted sign in Ashburn, and it’s for a starting kicker.
5. At outside cornerback, Washington may need help
In 2023, Washington gave up the second most passing touchdowns in NFL history (39). The team returns its two starting outside corners from 2023 in Benjamin St. Juste and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. Through two games, both guys have given up red zone touchdowns to backup wide receivers. Not good. If this defense is going to be better in 2024, finding an upgrade at the outside corner is paramount. Rookie CB Mike Sainristill has shined in the slot, maybe he needs a crack on the outside because the current options aren’t cutting it.
4. Penalties must disappear if offense is going to reach its potential
Through two preseason games, the Commanders offense looked much improved after being one of the worst units in the NFL in 2023. QB Jayden Daniels looked poised, there is balance with the run game being utilized often, and the play-caller Kliff Kingsbury has shown creativity with a bevy of different personnel groupings and using pre snap motion and tempo to keep the opposing defense off balance. What has hurt Washington the most? Penalties. The first team offense tonight had a 3rd and 1 situation turn into a 3rd and 11 situation due to a holding call at the Miami 22 yard line forcing a field goal attempt. May seem small, but those mistakes are often times the difference between wins and losses. Touchdowns win games, field goals don’t.
3. Success of running game will tell story offensively
In 2023, the Commanders offense was dead last in running yards per game, but 7th in yards per rush attempt, meaning, they did not run the football enough. In order for this offense to thrive in 2024, the run game must be effective and used early and often. Tonight, for the second straight game, we saw the Commanders first team offense have major success in the run game. Brian Robinson ran extremely hard, and the right side of Washington’s offensive line did a really nice job creating lanes for the back. We saw Jayden Daniels get in on the running as well with a run of 13 yards in the first quarter. Robinson and Daniels combined for 35 yards on 5 carries. That balance will be key during the regular season. If this group can stay ahead of the chains offensively with the run game, play calling becomes a lot more fun for Kliff Kingsbury.
2. Through two preseason games, Jayden Daniels looks like answer the DMV has been looking for at quarterback
All training camp long Jayden Daniels has drawn rave reviews. Well deserved I might add. Tonight, he continued to breathe life into a fan base that is starved for a long term answer at the game’s most important position. Daniels was 10-12 (83.3%), 78 yds, 93.8 QB rating plus 2 carries for 13 rush yds. Through two games he is 12-15 (80%), 123 yds + 3 carries, 16 rush yds, 1 rush TD. The numbers stand out obviously, but don’t tell the full story of how impressive he has been. Daniels is playing THE HECK out of the QB position.The ball is CONSISTENTLY coming out ON TIME WITH ACCURACY giving his wideouts run after the catch opportunities. The command and poise he has shown has made everyone around him better, most importantly this Commanders offensive line. Since day one, Daniels’ work ethic has been constantly praised, you can see the benefits of that extra work beginning to pay off as Daniels seems like he always knows where he’s going with the football making quick decisions time and time again. I know it’s only two preseason games, but Jayden Daniels looks like he has all the right ingredients to be the next great Washington QB.
1, Stock Report
Stock Up: QB Jayden Daniels, WR Dyami Brown, CB Mike Sainristill, S Quan Martin and LB Jamin Davis
Stock Down: K Riley Patterson, CB Benjamin St. Juste and OT Andrew Wylie
