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Film Review: Kain Medrano vs Patriots
Kain Medrano was one of the Commanders more intriguing draft picks this year. He’s ultra athletic with fantastic upside as a coverage defender, which is highly valued in the modern NFL. However he struggled with tackling in college, which is why he fell to the sixth round despite his athleticism and coverage ability. So I was eager heading into the Commanders preseason opener against the Patriots to see how
Medrano would get on, particularly in the run game, which is the weaker part of his game.
Medrano played more snaps than anybody and almost played the entire game. I’m only going to focus on his first half performance because that’s when he faced the Patriots first and second team offenses. The defense as a unit obviously struggled, but how did Medrano do on a personal level? Let’s take a closer look.
Early on in the game, you could see a little tentativeness from Medrano in the run game. He was a little hesitant at times when diagnosing the play, which put him on the backfoot and enabled blockers to work up to him. The Patriots ran two draw plays in the first quarter, where the quarterback receives the snap and looks like he’s going to throw, before suddenly handing the ball off to the running back on a delayed hand off. Medrano struggled on both of those plays.
However, while it was a bit of a rough start for Medrano, he started to settle in a bit as the game progressed and there were some positive signs from him. In college, he wasn’t really a super physical player that took on offensive lineman and landed strong, explosive punches to shed blocks and make tackles. He was more of a finesse player that used his athleticism to avoid blocks and beat blockers that way. But in a Dan Quinn defense, the linebacker has to be physical, and Medrano showed he was not only willing, but also capable of being physical and holding his own against offensive lineman that are much bigger than him.
Here we have a trap scheme from the Patriots. It’s another good test for Medrano because it gives him some false read keys and he has to be able to process and react quickly to not get eaten up on the play like he did on the two draw schemes earlier. On this trap play, the Patriots fake blocking the nose tackle with both the center and left tackle, who step towards the defender before then changing direction and climbing up to the linebackers on the second level. The left guard pulls to the edge to block the defensive end, while the tight end to the right sifts all the way back across to trap the defensive tackle.
From Medrano’s point of view, you can see at the snap he looks at the tight end and spots him immediately working down the line on a sift block. Typically on these sift blocks, the tight end works all the way back across the line and kicks out the back side defensive end, allowing the running back to cut his run all the way back. Having read the tight end, Medrano starts to work his way towards the left side of the offensive line. However, this is exactly what the Patriots want him to do. That false key for Medrano actually takes him straight towards the center’s block, making the center’s job easier.
However, this is where playing physical helps Medrano out. While he is going the wrong way, he actually uses his momentum really well. As the center approaches him, Medrano lands a strong punch to his chest at the perfect time to knock him off balance. He quickly tosses the center to the ground and sheds the block, putting him in a great position to fill the lane that the running back is running into. Medrano comes off that block and immediately works to assist the tackle on the running back, keeping the gain to a minimum.
So while he might have got caught out a bit by the scheme, and it is another tricky one for a young linebacker to get to grips with, Medrano’s physicality bailed him out and he was able to make a nice play in the end. Medrano’s physicality in the run game continued to improve as the game progressed.
ESPN
2025 Washington Commanders training camp: Latest intel, updates
Tuesday, Aug. 12
Washington’s Gold team defeated the Burgundy squad 14-0 in a two-quarter scrimmage Tuesday. The Burgundy team, featuring quarterback Jayden Daniels and the first-team offense, was largely ineffective. The Gold team — with the No. 1 defense — harassed Daniels multiple times, especially through the middle.
The winners received white All-Ashburn T-shirts — and bragging rights. There was a lot of chirping going on during the practice.
But the point of the day, for coach Dan Quinn, was to interject something different during a week in which they have six practices. He also said it was about developing coaches. He named Kliff Kingsbury as the Burgundy coach and Joe Whitt Jr. coached the Gold. Quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard and pass game coordinator Brian Johnson served as the playcallers. The “head coaches” even had to watch film with someone from the front office afterward — just as Quinn does with general manager Adam Peters.
On Monday and Tuesday the respective teams warmed up on different sides of the field and, Tuesday, they went through separate pregame warmups.
More:
- Receiver Terry McLaurin stood on the sideline, wearing a burgundy hoodie. It’s the first time he has been seen on the sidelines during practice this summer. McLaurin is on the physically unable to perform list, though he’s also considered a hold-in as he negotiates a contract extension. McLaurin talked briefly with general manager Adam Peters before practice started.
- Defensive lineman Dorance Armstrong‘s role will look different than last season when he primarily played end. Armstrong has been rushing from a stand-up position at times and did so again Tuesday with success up the middle.
Washington Post (paywall)
With Terry McLaurin watching, Commanders’ offense struggles in scrimmage
Coach Dan Quinn experiments with an intrasquad game, and Jayden Daniels has perhaps his worst day of the summer.
At least in public view, the acrimony between disgruntled wide receiver Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders briefly dissipated Tuesday morning.
McLaurin stood on the sideline during the Commanders’ Burgundy and Gold intrasquad game, wearing a hood over his head and chatting with teammates and team officials, including General Manager Adam Peters. McLaurin had not previously attended a practice on the field during his contractual standoff, only working out in Washington’s facility and coming out to sign autographs for fans.
“I don’t have any big updates for you as far as timelines go,” he said.
McLaurin’s absence has exposed the Commanders’ lack of depth at wideout, which was underscored again as Washington’s first-team defense shut out Daniels and Washington’s first-team offense over two “quarters” in Tuesday’s scrimmage. Quinn has tried to find a silver lining in McLaurin not playing, viewing it as a chance for other wideouts to gain experience. But no consistent options have emerged behind Deebo Samuel, with potential No. 3 option Noah Brown sidelined for most of training camp with an injury.
On the field, the Commanders’ defense was far ahead of their offense. It was a significant day of practice, probably the most gamelike snaps Daniels will take before Week 1. It was also Daniels’s worst day of practice this summer. The Commanders’ first-team offense scored no points in two quarters against their first-team defense and gained just a couple of first downs.
At times, the physicality tipped over the edge. Early in the scrimmage, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey caught a short pass from Daniels. As he sprinted upfield, cornerback Mike Sainristil leveled him with a hard shoulder to the midsection. McCaffrey stayed down for a minute but returned later. Quinn admonished Sainristil, but McCaffrey welcomed the contact.
ESPN
Why Commanders, WR Terry McLaurin are at an impasse
Since that day at the Commanders’ facility two weeks ago, however, the mood has changed as McLaurin — entering the final season of a three-year deal he signed in 2022 — and Washington remain at an impasse on a possible contract extension for Daniels’ No. 1 target. McLaurin has voiced his frustration, held out, held in (technically, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury) and, finally — on July 31 — requested a trade. Nothing has boosted momentum toward a deal, and with the season approaching and Washington hoping to build on a breakout 2024, the question is why.
One league source said he could see the Commanders eventually agreeing to pay $28 million per year — but would that be enough? According to various reports and multiple sources, DK Metcalf‘s contract has served as a guide for McLaurin — though whether that’s in terms of average per year ($33 million) or total guarantees ($60 million) remains uncertain. McLaurin and Metcalf were in the same draft class and have comparable NFL statistics.
Washington…doesn’t want to pay McLaurin for past performance, according to league sources. Instead, the franchise is trying to pay him based on how it thinks he’ll produce at ages 31, 32 and 33.
The Commanders also have several key players up for extensions next offseason, and Daniels, potentially, after that. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil and linebacker Frankie Luvu headline the 2026 group. Both could be in line for big raises.
If cornerback Marshon Lattimore rebounds from an injury-plagued season, he could be in line for an extension as well. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel would be a free agent after this season, but if he produces, he could be another veteran the team wants to re-sign.
As those potential deals loom, Washington doesn’t want to set a precedent with McLaurin of paying what it perceives to be too much.
The last time McLaurin was up for an extension, in 2022, multiple team sources involved in the negotiation said Snyder stepped into the process and told executives to work out a deal because, as one of the sources put it, the owner “needed a win in the headlines.” Snyder and the organization were being investigated by Congress and multiple state attorneys general over workplace culture and financial issues.
Harris does not operate like Snyder. Numerous people who have worked for Harris say he’s involved but will not meddle or make demands to complete a deal to win a headline, nor will he cave to public pressure.
Instead, Peters and the front office will prepare a report for him, giving him what they view as comps for a player and explain their reasoning behind an offer. Harris will ask a lot of questions, and if he’s not sold, request more information. He can be demanding in that regard, say multiple people who work for him, but it allows him to understand the decision-making. He’ll then leave the work to those he hired — while staying aligned with them.
The Athletic (paywall)
Commanders’ Deebo Samuel has a plan to recapture what made him great
[H]is arrival in Washington has seemed to rejuvenate Samuel after a season riddled with injury, illness and interminable discourse about his weight. The fresh start, along with the added motivation of a soon-to-be expiring contract, created a new challenge that the six-year veteran has embraced.
“The one thing that probably every player that comes here (learns), when we play in our offense, it’s fast,” said Peters, the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, when they drafted Samuel in 2019. “… He’s taken that challenge on.”
For the previous couple of years, Samuel opted out of voluntary organized team activities, choosing instead to train in Phoenix. However, as Samuel prepared for a new quarterback, a new system and potentially a new role, Hill had to pivot, too.
Samuel attended the Commanders’ OTAs to get up to speed with the playbook and begin to build a connection with Daniels, a player he had discussed plenty with Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers receiver who is one of Daniels’ closest friends.
Washington’s vision for Samuel…has no bounds. In camp, he’s been targeted from just about everywhere — outside, in the slot, coming out of the backfield, off a screen and deep.
“Been back on kickoff return as well,” coach Dan Quinn noted at the start of camp. “Trying to find and learn about him as it goes through this month’s process. We did it in the OTAs — different locations, different spots, different plays — but that’s the secret sauce of it.
“For years, you’ve seen him on a deep cross and catch and run because of the speed. … A guy like Deebo, you can really do whatever you want with him as a chess piece.”
Deadspin
Joe Burrow Plays Career-High Preseason Snaps in Bengals vs. Eagles; will play more vs Commanders
In recent years, the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled to get out of the starting gate.
Cincinnati opened 0-3 last season on its way to a 9-8 record. The Bengals missed the playoffs for a second consecutive year despite finishing with five straight wins.
So head coach Zac Taylor is trying a different approach this season.
Quarterback Joe Burrow, who had played a total of 15 preseason snaps in the first five seasons of his career, matched that total Thursday night in a 34-27 loss to the host Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champions.
“We got 15 reps tonight,” Burrow said. “We’re 15 reps better.”
Burrow completed 9 of 10 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns — a 12-yarder to Tanner Hudson and a 36-yarder to Ja’Marr Chase.
Taylor said the starters likely would play even more in the next preseason game Aug. 18 at Washington before throttling back in the exhibition finale.
Commanders.com
Johnny Newton is primed for explosive 2nd season
The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team unless specified by a direct quote.
Although he’s not a starter — that role has been taken by Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw — he is playing like the first-round pick the Commanders thought he would be before he slipped into the second round. You can really tell that he’s gotten more comfortable in the system. He’s quicker, more physical and even better with his hands. You saw him shed off his blocker in the preseason game against the Patriots and get to Drake Maye for the sack-fumble. Those are the things Newton has always been capable of but didn’t do on a consistent basis as a rookie.
[Offensively], Daniels and the rest of the Commanders’ starters are expected to get some action in their second preseason game, although I wouldn’t expect many snaps from them. I believe there are two main reasons for this:
1) there’s the obvious injury concern that the team is acutely aware of. I hate to even think about it, but it would be a travesty if a key player were to go down with an injury in a game that doesn’t matter, especially if you consider how high the expectations are for this team in 2025.
2) I think this offense is trying to take the next step in its evolution this season. They obviously haven’t shown us everything in practice, but there is clearly serious potential with the unit. Considering how this staff likes to keep everything they do under wraps (and rightfully so) I don’t think they want this year’s opponents to get much film on them. I expect they will be on the field for one, maybe two series, and they will run a bunch of vanilla concepts.
Riggo’s Rag
5 Commanders plummeting down the depth chart as final cuts loom large
Chris Rodriguez Jr. – Commanders RB
Things are becoming clearer in the Washington Commanders’ running back room. Although there is still time to turn things around for some, it seems like Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler, and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt will lead the charge in 2025.
Rodriguez has been solid if not spectacular this summer. The Kentucky product gained 22 rushing yards from six carries against the New England Patriots. Not exactly terrible, but the likes of veteran Jeremy McNichols and Demetric Felton arguably showed a lot more when called upon.
Colson Yankoff – Commanders TE
It was no surprise to see Colson Yankoff buried down the unofficial depth chart. The Commanders listed him as the fourth tight end behind Pro Bowl renaissance man Zach Ertz, blocking specialist John Bates, and 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott. That raises the stakes considerably in pursuit of booking his place on the team once again.
There have been some decent flashes from Yankoff over practices. He brought in one reception from two targets for nine receiving yards versus the Patriots, but there’s no doubt that the second-year pro was outshone by Lawrence Cager.
Cager is a physically dominant figure who is seizing every opportunity. Yankoff must match fire with fire in the coming weeks to bolster his chances.
ESPN
Who’s in, who’s out? Best bets to make and miss the NFL playoffs
Commanders to MISS playoffs (+130)
Seth Walder: As promising as the Commanders appear, there’s a lot of ways this can go wrong. What worries me with Jayden Daniels is that, as good as he was on third and fourth down last year, he ranked only 15th in QBR on early downs. The later downs are where all the leverage is, which is why Washington was as successful as it was last year, but early downs actually provide a much larger sample size. That isn’t the only out, however. The defense could fail. On paper, the Commanders have almost no pass rush, and there were times last year when Bobby Wagner and Marshon Lattimore looked a fair ways off from their peak. Plus, while I think Terry McLaurin’s contract dispute will resolve itself, should the star wideout ever get hurt or miss time, the receiving group is awfully shaky after him.
Podcasts & videos
C Tyler Biadasz, Logan Paulsen on the Preseason & Rookie Rankings | Get Loud | Washington Commanders
Commanders Scrimmage Recap: Player Interviews + Analysis
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation (from The Athletic)
Eagles News: “Jalen Hurts has the lowest average tier vote for any quarterback coming off a Super Bowl victory since Nick Foles”
Hurts’ standing in Tiers barely changed after his Eagles won the Super Bowl with a run-oriented offense, a stacked roster and high-level production from Hurts on the biggest stage.
“Jalen does everything the right way for how they have been built,” an offensive coordinator said. “I see him as a really good player on a team with a bunch of really good players.”
This is Hurts’ third consecutive season in Tier 2.
“He has improved from the pocket, but when you play him, you still want him to beat you from there — that is the whole plan,” a head coach said. “If he can get out of the pocket in two-minute, he is effective as hell, and he has done it. But he has to do it with his legs in crunch time. The guys you want can do it with the arm and legs in crunch time.”
Hurts has the lowest average tier vote for any quarterback coming off a Super Bowl victory since Eagles alum Nick Foles won as a backup after the 2017 season.
“This is going to sound like I don’t like him, but I do,” a GM said. “Just by the definition, I feel he is more of a 3. Am I on an island with that?”
Nope: Eleven other voters also placed Hurts in Tier 3.
“Hurts is always a tough one for me,” a former GM said. “I think he is a 3. They are very talented around him, and he is not as consistent as a passer. They have a strong defense, great playmakers, great offensive line. He is able to function that way. But I don’t know that he is the one that elevates them. That is not a slight.
“He is a good player. But putting him in that 2 category, I don’t see that.”
Hurts attempted 30 or more passes in each of the Eagles’ first four games last season, but only once thereafter as Philadelphia leaned into its run game.
“They tried to throw it more early in the year,” a defensive coordinator said. “He could not do that, so they said, ‘Screw it, run the ball 40 times a game.’ I still gave Hurts a 2. He is a winner, and he can do it sometimes.”
Blogging the Boys
DaRon Bland just showed how ridiculous the Cowboys are being with Micah Parsons
Each and every time (because there are several instances) a contract situation becomes a thing for the Cowboys, they find a sticking point to use in their defense. At the moment Jerry Jones is leaning hard on a conversation that he and Parsons allegedly had where a deal/contract was allegedly worked out. Parsons has contested, even publicly within his trade request that is now almost two weeks old, that he felt those conversations were somewhat casual and that he will not be negotiating a deal without his agent, David Mulugheta, involved as a part of them.
Jerry Jones has acted pretty offended at the idea that Parsons’ agent needs to be a part of this process. Back in the offseason Jerry even claimed to not know Mulugheta’s name. It isn’t hyperbole to say that Mulugheta is the most powerful individual agent working within the National Football League. The move was silly at best from Jones.
ESPN
Barnwell: How Jerry Jones’ bungled contract negotiations cost the Cowboys $100m
I don’t think Parsons is heading anywhere. Dallas fans have every right to be terrified of their local team trading away a star player after the Luka Doncic fiasco, but this is hardly the first time the Cowboys have pushed a negotiation to its breaking point before getting a contract done with a star player. In fact, it seems difficult for them to conduct their business in any other way in terms of recent negotiations.
Instead, what has been missing from this conversation is one very important and impossibly frustrating fact. It would be one thing if the Cowboys were toeing an incredibly hard line on contract negotiations and getting players to take team-friendly compromises on contracts in the process. Bill Belichick’s Patriots teams were known for their aggressive stances on contracts, in terms of both forcing stars such as Corey Dillon and Randy Moss to take pay cuts to get their foot in the door and then moving on from stalwarts such as Moss, Logan Mankins and Lawyer Milloy when their contracts outstripped their level of play, but Belichick was able to extract meaningful concessions and build better rosters as part of those negotiating tactics.
The Cowboys aren’t saving any money with their negotiating process. In fact, the delays and inability to get these deals done on time have cost them millions of dollars, significant negotiating leverage and untold amounts of goodwill with both their players and fans. Success, as the Patriots dynasty showed, can overshadow a lot of sudden breakups, tough negotiations and fan favorites leaving town. The Cowboys haven’t been able to fall back on their on-field performance as proof they’re making the right decisions.
NFL league links
Articles
M Sports
LB Brian Asamoah ousted from Vikings after fiery clash with $88M guard Will Fries in shocking turn of events
Brian Asamoah released by Vikings after altercation with Will Fries
In a surprising move, the Minnesota Vikings have parted ways with linebacker Brian Asamoah, a decision that reverberated through the franchise just days after a heated confrontation with newly acquired guard Will Fries. Initially, Asamoah appeared to be a stable component of the team as he entered the final year of his rookie deal, primarily contributing on special teams.
The Incident
The tension came to a head on August 12, when Asamoah was involved in a physical altercation with Fries, who recently signed a lucrative five-year contract worth $88 million. The altercation reportedly escalated to the point where Asamoah threw a punch, prompting the Vikings to take immediate action. The team is known for its strict zero-tolerance policy regarding fighting, which ultimately led to Asamoah’s release.
Discussion topics
ESPN
Win-loss record ceilings, floors for all NFL teams in 2025
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Ceiling: 11-6 | Floor: 5-12
Biggest X factor: Brian Schottenheimer
How ready is Schottenheimer for his first head coaching job? He saw his father, Marty, coach four teams, and has been an assistant coach in the NFL for more than 20 years. Players like the culture he has built so far in the spring and summer, but he will be counted on to make split-second decisions that will impact winning and losing, which ultimately will be how he is judged. The Cowboys aren’t a typical team, given the attention they receive on an hourly basis. — Todd Archer
New York Giants
Ceiling: 9-8 | Floor: 4-13
Biggest X factor: Left tackle Andrew Thomas
We’ve seen it the past two seasons — the Giants without Thomas are in trouble, having gone 3-14 without him. Thomas is currently on the physically unable to perform list after Lisfranc surgery on his foot last year. Fortunately for the Giants, he’s on pace to return for their Week 1 game at Washington, according to a league source. New York also has more depth on its offensive line this season. — Jordan Raanan
Philadelphia Eagles
Ceiling: 13-4 | Floor: 8-9
Biggest X factor: Running back Saquon Barkley
What can Barkley do for an encore? The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year became the ninth player to rush for 2,000-plus yards during the regular season, fueling Philadelphia’s Super Bowl charge. None of the previous eight players to reach 2,000 yards was able to accomplish the feat the following season — all finished with 1,500 yards or less the next year. The Eagles can’t afford too sharp of a drop-off. “It’s so hard to do it twice,” Barkley said, “because it’s hard to do it the first time.” — Tim McManus
Washington Commanders
Ceiling: 12-5 | Floor: 7-10
Biggest X factor: The improved defense
Washington’s offense will face more challenges playing 11 games against teams ranked in the top 13 scoring defenses last season. The Commanders need more from their defense, specifically in the fourth quarter. They ranked 18th in scoring and 13th in yards (though 30th in rushing yards per game), but in the fourth quarter they ranked 28th or worse in nine key categories. Their secondary should be much improved with the addition of rookie corner Trey Amos and a healthy Marshon Lattimore — but the latter needs to be durable, something he hasn’t been the past three years. A beefed-up defensive line, with multiple key additions including pass rusher Von Miller, needs to produce. — John Keim
