The Daily Slop
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
Commanders links
Articles
Sports Illustrated
Commanders Still Searching for Starting Center as Preseason Opener Arrives
You can frame it any way you want to, but at the end of the day, it will always be a problem. Nick Allegretti’s calf injury removed the early favorite from the competition;
what initially looked like temporary replacement work has now become a much broader evaluation. Julian Good-Jones handled the primary duties in Wednesday’s joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, but did very little to give any impression that Washington had found its answer.
Against Miami, Good-Jones had some difficult reps against the Dolphins’ defensive tackles and was driven backward on multiple occasions.
The Contenders: Brunskill and Hill Add Veteran Experience
Good-Jones and Matt Gulbin initially absorbed the opportunities created by Allegretti’s injury before Washington subsequently added Trey Hill and veteran Daniel Brunskill.Brunskill has appeared in 108 NFL games and adds 71 career starts to a group that otherwise lacks significant starting experience behind Allegretti. Seeing Good-Jones still handling the lion’s share of the snaps tells me that Brunskill hasn’t displaced him yet, but it is nice to have that experience in the room when needed now.
With Allegretti being out, several of the team’s center options will be on display against the Dolphins. The most useful detail the staff can get from that game-time situation is how well each option communicates with his fellow linemen and the quarterback.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders Roundtable
Three storylines to watch in the first preseason game on Friday night
The WR/RB Depth Chart Shuffle
With Stefon Diggs now in the fold, the top of the wide receiver depth chart is solidified, but the back end of the room is wide open. I anticipate the Commanders keeping seven receivers, but will a versatile weapon like tight end Colson Yankoff force the coaches’ hand and steal a spot?
What to Watch: The running back rotation will be a fun watch. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has added significant mass this offseason and offers legitimate home-run upside, while Rachaad White remains the most reliable option for passing downs. However, keep your eyes on Kaytron “Fatman” Allen. This will be our first look at him in live pads, and I have a sneaky suspicion he will shoulder the bulk of the carries and quickly endear himself to the home crowd.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Last Man Standig (paywall)
One of the Commanders’ surprise standouts is becoming hard to ignore
Colson Yankoff’s athleticism got him into the NFL. His development as a pass-catching tight end could earn him a much larger role.
Now a tight end, Yankoff went from an unknown 2024 UDFA to making the Week 1 roster as a core special teams contributor.
Former Commanders tight end Zach Ertz declared Yankoff “one of, if not the fastest guy on the team, which is crazy for being as big as he is.”
A more tight end-friendly offensive scheme featuring frequent two- and three-TE sets creates additional opportunities. The Commanders have flexed Yankoff away from the formation, giving him chances to operate in space.
“He’s got good speed. We’ve split him out some to say, ‘Can he use space?’” Head coach Dan Quinn said. “So, it’s in the passing game that we featured him more.”
For more from Ben Standig, click here
Commanders.com
Mailbag: Reviewing the joint practice with the Dolphins
Whose stock are you buying more of and whose stock are you holding onto based on camp and the joint practice?
This is fun because I get to participate in something the boys on the “Command Center” podcast do a lot. For buying stock, there are a lot of players to choose from, but I have to go with Odafe Oweh. The dude was in the backfield a lot during 11-on-11 drills and causing all kinds of havoc for Malik Willis and the rest of the Dolphins’ quarterbacks. He’s proving to be worth the investment the Commanders made in him. And for holding on, I’m going to go with Mike Sainristil. He reminded people yesterday that he has a nose for the ball, which continues to be his best strength.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
Efe Obada retires after trailblazing an unlikely path to the NFL
In 2002, Obada and his sister were smuggled into London via the Netherlands by a stranger. Their mother was supposed to join them shortly afterwards. The goal was a happier, better life, but that failed to materialize. After reaching London, the siblings were abandoned and, due to visa issues, their mother never came.
Initially, they lived on the streets before being taken into care, moving between multiple foster homes.
“What a lot of people don’t see about my journey is that the Disney version’s out there. And it’s great because I can use it as a tool, as a means to inspire and motivate, and shed some hope in my community,” Obada tells The Athletic.
“Everyone’s like, cool story, cool story. But these are lived experiences and some of these things that I’ve had to overcome involve a long-lasting effect. It’s not something that just goes away overnight. Therapy did help. But because I have lots of trust issues, it was very hard for me to find someone I could trust and to let my guard down and be open and communicate with.
“I fell through a lot of the cracks. I know the system tries to help and uplift, but I’ve lived it. I feel like I can try and find ways to plug them.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Photos
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Best of Washington’s joint practice with Miami
The Washington Commanders hosted the Miami Dolphins for a joint practice ahead of their matchup on Friday. Check out the best photos from the day.
Podcasts & videos
Commanders vs. Dolphins Joint Practice Recap & Preseason Game Preview | Take Command
NFC East links
Athlon Sports
DeVonta Smith Trending Toward Return as Makai Lemon Remains in Limbo
Early during training camp, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver room has been riddled with injuries, headlined by DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon, both sidelined with hamstring issues. It appears Smith is closer to a return than Lemon.
The rookie has missed every session during mandatory minicamp because of a hamstring injury before returning healthy to begin training camp. Now, he hasn’t been able to participate while the team is practicing in pads.
The missed time means Lemon is losing valuable opportunities to build chemistry with Jalen Hurts. Hurts has been able to develop chemistry with Dontayvion Wicks and Darius Cooper, both of whom have received a larger target share and more reps because of the injuries. The connection between Hurts and Smith has been established since college, while Lemon will have to earn Hurts’ trust and develop that same connection to make plays in crucial moments.
Still, Lemon was listed as a starter on the initial depth chart, suggesting Philadelphia believes not only that last year’s Fred Biletnikoff Award winner’s injury isn’t a long-term concern, but that he can make an immediate impact.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles Training Camp Notes: Practice ends after a fight breaks out
FIGHT!
- After a rep where the Eagles ran the ball, Fred Johnson and Moro Ojomo were jawing at each other before the latter took a swing at the former. Ojomo’s punch did not connect and the two were quickly broken up. The Eagles had another running play rep and Johnson flattened Ojomo into the ground by basically tackling him. The two had words for each other and Ojomo swung again as Johnson walked away. While Johnson was walking away, Ty Robinson and some other Eagles defenders came up to Johnson to express their displeasure and stick up for Ojomo. While a group of bodies formed around Johnson, Ojomo ran over and dove into Johnson’s legs to take the big man down to the ground. This prompted some more shoving and shouting from other players before everything was eventually broken up. Nick Sirianni then decided to call practice for the day (there probably wasn’t too much time left anyway). We’re clearly at the point in camp where guys are tired of going up against each other and probably looking forward to being able to hit players on another team.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
Pro Football Talk
Klint Kubiak: Raiders QB1 is Kirk Cousins’ job to lose
Kubiak did not officially declare Cousins the starter, but he pointed out that Cousins has been working as the starting quarterback and hasn’t done anything to lose that job.
“Kirk’s been getting the reps with the ones. I think he’s had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose,” Kubiak said.
First overall pick Fernando Mendoza also threw a touchdown pass while completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, but he had some bad plays, including a sack he shouldn’t have taken, and Kubiak said Mendoza still has work to do.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
The Athletic (paywall)
Colts special teams coordinator suffers knee injury on final play of preseason opener
Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason suffered a knee injury on the last play of Thursday’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots, coach Shane Steichen announced after the 13-13 tie at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
“He got rolled up right on the sideline on that last play,” Steichen said. “So, we’ll see.”
Mason was standing on the sideline in the final seconds of the game when Colts quarterback Riley Leonard attempted a Hail Mary that fell incomplete but would have given Indy the walk-off win. But as Mason was watching the play unfold, the TV broadcast showed a Colts player and a Patriots player shoving each other on the field before they spilled over to the Indianapolis sideline and knocked down Mason. The coach immediately appeared to scream out in pain and rolled around on the ground as Indianapolis’ medical staff gathered around him.
