The Daily Slop – 21 July 2026
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
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
Will Commanders implement a three safety package?
Looking at how the Vikings used a three safety package and how Washington could look to use one
One of the key parts of the Vikings defense under Flores and Jones last year was the use of a three safety package. The Vikings were one of the few
teams that stayed in their base defense most of the time, but when they did go to a sub-package, they typically went for a big nickel, three safety package rather than a typical slot corner. There’s a few reasons for doing that. The first is personnel. The Vikings had three safeties that they wanted on the field, so it makes sense to build a package around that personnel.
But the Vikings had other reasons too. Going with a third safety over a slot corner is a way of matching up against the modern trend of offense. Many NFL offenses are looking to run the ball a lot more often and one of the best ways to run the ball right now is to get the defense into a nickel package and force the slot corner into the run fit as a linebacker. We’ve seen this with the Commanders in recent years when a smaller corner like Mike Sainristil goes into the slot and then the offense lines up their slot receiver tight to the formation, forcing Sainristil to play almost as a linebacker, where his size is attacked.
To counteract that trend, the Vikings use a bigger body instead of a typical slot corner. They put one of their bigger safeties in the slot, giving them the flexibility to fit the run better than a slot corner, but still drop into coverage better than a typical linebacker. The Vikings also protect that third safety by using a lot of zone coverage. So instead of having a third safety have to match up against some of the league’s best receivers in the slot, they drop into zone coverage instead.
So what exactly does this look like and how might Jones look to implement it in Washington? Let’s dive into it.
One of the unique things the Vikings did with their three safety package was change up who was being substituted off the field for the third safety. The Vikings ran a base 3-4, which we’re expecting Jones to run in Washington too. In a 3-4, typically the defense would take off one of their three interior defensive lineman when they switch to a nickel sub-package, but not the Vikings. The Vikings liked to keep all three interior defensive lineman on the field as much as possible to help them control the run game. So instead of taking off an interior defensive lineman, the Vikings had to substitute one of the four linebackers.
The Vikings would often switch up which of the four linebackers they would substitute for the third safety. They had two main variations; a 4-2-5 package and a 5-1-5 package. They often looked very similar, as you’ll soon see, but there are some subtle differences.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
PHOTOS | Nick Cross distributes backpacks to Washington youth
Commanders safety Nick Cross spent the day at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington where he played games with kids and distributed backpacks
Heavy.com
Commanders new blitzing defense made the decision to sign with Washington a ‘no brainer’ for Leo Chenal
Daronte Jones comes from Minnesota, where he spent five seasons with the Vikings. He has worked under their defensive coordinator Brian Flores since 2023 and is expected to implement a similar system in Washington.
As Chenal alluded to, Jones’ defense will rely on the linebacker position much like Flores’ defense does. The Vikings defense blitzed more than any other team last season, a league-high 44.3%.
Chenal appears up to the task as he labeled his decision to join Washington, “A no-brainer.”
Chenal revealed in an interview on NFL Network’s The Insiders that he chose the Commanders over other potential suitors because of their scheme under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
“It really involves the linebackers,” Chenal said last Thursday. “It involves guys playing to their skill set. It’s really cool being able to walk through different things with coaches and having feedback, feedback to the coaches, them talking to us, they really want to have us take advantage of what we’re really good at. We kind of developed the scheme more and more, and we’re going to continue to mold that around the guys that we have. It’s really cool how personalized it is. As a Mike linebacker, being in the middle, you go each way, come downhill, you’ve got so much flexibility as a linebacker in this defense.”
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
WUSA9
Should the Commanders trade for Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte?
I don’t believe the Commanders would be asking Boutte to become a featured part of the offense. They would be asking him to become a complementary veteran vertical receiver.
He could play a high number of snaps without commanding a particularly high number of targets. Terry McLaurin would remain the No. 1 option. Chig Okonkwo could frequently function as the second option, with Boutte and rookie receiver Antonio Williams potentially rotating behind them in the progression. And don’t forget the presence of running back Rachaad White as a receiver and others like Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane who would also like to have a say in target distribution this season.
Looking at his three years with the Patriots so far, Boutte plays as a field-stretching X receiver, not a traditional boundary X. As long as Washington defines the job that way, the fit could work.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Commanders.com
Commanders 2026 opponent breakdown | Minnesota Vikings
Can the Kyler Murray experiment work in Minnesota?
Murray didn’t have to wait long to find a new home after the Arizona Cardinals released him. It was widely believed that the Vikings were interested in the former No. 1 overall pick, and all it took was one visit for Murray to sign a one-year deal with them. Now comes the big question: is this marriage going to work? The pieces are certainly there for it to be a successful partnership. The Vikings had one of the best defenses in the league last year, and they already have an offense with solid foundational pieces like Jefferson. Additionally, head coach Kevin O’Connell has shown that when he has competent quarterback play, like he did with Sam Darnold in 2024, that his scheme can be a potent one. But can Murray be competent?
There are arguments to be made for and against him in that regard. Although he himself has been mostly efficient with a completion rate of 67.1%, the Cardinals have not been as successful, which could be more on the Cardinals than Murray. He’s also struggled with injuries over the last four seasons, which has caused him to miss 27 games in that span. Still, there’s no doubt that this is the best team Murray has been on in several years, so assuming he wins the job over McCarthy, which he is expected to do, then he’ll have a good opportunity to succeed.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Podcasts & videos
NFC East links
Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles schedule preview: Cowboys
The Cowboys were entertainingly mediocre last year. They scored 37 or more points four times. Only the Rams gained more yards, and only 43 more, which is a Brandon Aubrey chip shot. Half their games were one score games; and their prime time games were either close, high scoring, or both.
The 2025 Cowboys were built to do one thing: move down the field almost at will and score a bunch of points. They did that. Actually they were built to do something else too: let the other team move the ball at will and score a bunch of points. And that they did. The Cowboys also gave up 37 or more points four times. They had the 3rd most yards given up. This meant that half their games were either close, high scoring, or both.
Are you not entertained? That’s what Jerry Jones cares about. And the 2025 Cowboys were entertaining. They didn’t keep the excitement to the field, the Micah Parsons trade was a treat for the haters.
What they were not was good. 7-9-1 wouldn’t have even won the NFC South, and the worst scoring defense in 2025 meant they did things like lose to the Cardinals, give up 3 TDs to Russell Wilson, and let JJ McCarthy look like a somewhat functioning QB.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Blogging the Boys
How much Cowboys failure belongs to Dak Prescott
While you can scrutinize these playoff performances and come up with a laundry list of offenders, one of the most notable culprits has been quarterback Dak Prescott. Fans come at him routinely, and recently, Emmanuel Acho claimed that it is Prescott, and not Jerry Jones, who has held this team back when the postseason rolls around.
The hard truth is that Acho does have a leg to stand on with this argument. This is not to suggest that everything is Prescott’s fault, but there is a mountain of evidence showing that when it is time to be great, Dak has fallen a bit short. We owe it to ourselves to be transparent about those shortcomings. So, what exactly can we say about Prescott’s performance that supports his critics?
When elite defenses are coming right at you, it is hard to stay composed and deliver perfect throws. The mental element is just one part of the equation. There have been many instances where you can see Prescott get a little rattled and succumb to internal pressure. Sometimes he can be a little too amped up and be off target.
Whether it is panicked footwork or just poor mechanics reacting out of haste, it has led to some wildly errant throws in the playoffs. There have been several instances where Dak has sailed the ball over the head of his intended receiver or thrown behind them. These things happen, but when they happen on crucial third downs when continuing the drive is paramount to keeping his team in the game, it stings. But those moments pale in comparison to this next one.
Blatant Misreads
Interceptions happen, but when they happen in the playoffs, they can be detrimental to the season. Sadly, the picks Dak has thrown over the team’s last three playoff exits have had a catastrophic effect on the outcome of the games. He has thrown five interceptions across those three matchups. Four of those picks were thrown deep in Dallas territory, turning into immediate points for the opposition. The one interception that wasn’t in their own territory happened when the offense was on the verge of scoring in a nail-biter of a game where points were scarce.
It is not just that these throws hurt their chances. It is the manner in which they happened that is tough to stomach. All five of these picks were balls that never should have been thrown. We are not talking about tipped passes or bad-luck deflections off a receiver’s hands. These were moments where the defense had him completely figured out, watched his eyes, and smothered his intended target. Throwing into heavy coverage will crush your team’s chances, and unfortunately, Dak has just done this too many times in recent playoff games.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
ESPN
Five injuries to monitor
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
No injury has made more offseason headlines than Nabers’. The Giants’ star receiver tore his right ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season and underwent surgery to repair the ligament, as well as the damage to his meniscus, a month later. But this past spring, Nabers had to undergo a second procedure on the same knee — a sign that his recovery was likely not going well.
During mandatory minicamp, new coach John Harbaugh called the injury “not a simple knee” and said the goal was for Nabers to “get out there sometime in training camp.” But any sort of delay in training camp could indicate a more complicated recovery than anticipated.
Nabers was a highly impactful rookie: 109 catches on 170 targets for 1,204 yards in only 15 games. His evident ascent to the Giants’ No. 1 receiver role was a contributing factor in the team’s willingness to let Wan’Dale Robinson leave in free agency after a strong 2025 season. For depth, the Giants have added tons of veteran dart throws — Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios and even Odell Beckham Jr. — in the hope that someone will be able to fill Robinson’s snaps. If Nabers has to miss regular-season time, the Giants’ receiving core might be one of the oldest and least effective in the league.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
NFL league links
Articles
Sharp Football Analysis
NFL Offensive Trends: How Offenses Are Changing in 2026
Coming out of the 2020 season, NFL defenses gained an upper hand by playing more shell coverage, fielding more defensive backs, and playing lighter fronts.
The premise was to prevent big plays and force offenses to run more plays.
Defensive Personnel Trends Over the Past Decade
Last season saw a return to more two-high coverages and the middle of the field open pre-snap.
That came in the form of quarters coverage, which was run at a 14.4% rate, the highest recorded in our sample seasons.
Quarters allows the defense to max-fit the run game by involving both safeties, something relevant since we are seeing a lower rate of sub packages on defense.
Defenses dialed back man coverage.
Cover 1 saw a 17.4% rate, the lowest in the sample seasons.
The biggest changes we saw last year were that offenses continued to manipulate defenses out of sub-packages.
Nickel coverage had the lowest play rate since 2020, while dime coverage was played at the lowest rate over our sample, the third straight year in single digits.
Offenses were able to do this by continuing to run heavier sets as a counter.
Offenses continued to get under center after an uptick in 2024.
Playing under center facilitates two core components of the current offensive engine: more play-action passing and pre-snap motion.
To read more of this article, CLICK HERE
Pro Football Talk
NFL should study the World Cup championship ceremony for ideas
The NFL’s post-Super Bowl ceremony is typically an exercise in loosely-controlled chaos. The World Cup, on the other hand, has a more organized and entertaining process for handing out the hardware.
After Sunday’s World Cup final game between Spain and Argentina, both teams remained on the pitch to be recognized. All players received medals. The winning team gathered on a stage for a photo op (which required one specific edit). That’s something that isn’t part of Super Bowl tradition.
It could be. The league controls everything about the process. There could be a much more orderly ceremony in which, at a minimum, the players gather on a stage at midfield where they hoist the Lombardi Trophy while cameras immortalize the moment. (After everyone gets out of the shot.)
There’s another benefit to savoring the moment. It extends the broadcast and secures a significant chunk of the TV audience longer than it currently would.
Discussion topics
