Before the advent of media devices, football coaches at all levels used simple whiteboards to outline plays, map out player positions and explain schemes in real time. Nowadays digital playbooks and tablets have taken over, but coaches still use whiteboards on occasion to impart information quickly and effectively. The following are some quick notes and observations from the Washington Commanders’ disastrous 20-37 loss to the Cowboys in Arlington, Texas
.Coaching has been substandard
It is not just on head coach Dan Quinn. Defensive
coordinator Daronte Jones did not have his squad ready to go for this one. Quarterback Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense completed numerous uncontested completions in the first half, including easy touchdowns to CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson.
Washington can not continue to spot teams multiple early touchdowns before starting to play competitive football and expect to win.
There is also still plenty of blame to place on Quinn. While the decision to go for it from the 1-yard line with three seconds left on the road versus a division opponent may be debated, hispoor clock management leading up to the call cannot be. Washington’s head coach had all three timeouts heading into the last minute of the first half, and didn’t use the first one until there was 29 seconds left. The net result of Quinn’s attempt to manage the clock meant that, instead of using Kaytron Allen to pound the ball into the end zone, the team opted to have Jayden Daniels pass at the goal line.
Overall, the team has failed to execute. While assistants have should shoulder some blame, that lies with the head coach.
Roster evaluation has been substandard
Concerns regarding the secondary and the offensive line called out by fans before the season have become key weaknesses in the first two games and have contributed to the 0-2 start.Mike Sainristilhas been a complete disaster and general manager Adam Peters and the coaching staff appear to have no viable backup plan for one of last season’s worst cornerbacks. They are also trying to shoehorn Jeremy Reaves into a coverage role that does not fit his skill set. Again, the team appears to have few other options available.
The loss of Laremy Tunsil was clearly a blow to one of the most important units on the team, but with over a month to adapt to the loss, Peters brought in no significant additions. In fact, one of his few depth signings in D.J. Humphries was released shortly before the opener with no replacement added for the oft-injured Brandon Coleman. The result was Andrew Wylie taking snaps at a position he has clearly shown in the past he is not capable of handling. Also, the team has failed to provide an answer for Chris Paul starting at left guard after Coleman shifted to tackle. Paul made third-round rookie Jaishawn Barham look like an All-Pro on Sunday.
The team also continues to carry seven wide receivers, designating Luke McCaffrey inactive two straight weeks in a row. Dyami Brown has played a significant number of snaps over the first two games, and saw more time on the field than both Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams on Sunday.
Has the team mismanaged Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury?
Full elbow dislocations stretch the tendons and make the joint unstable, but for first time displacement with no evidence of tears or fractures, as was the case in Daniels’ first injury, surgery is usually not indicated. Jayden did aggravate the injury when he returned later that same season versus the Vikings. There was some question if he should have returned all, and the decision was ultimately made after that game to shut him down for the year. At the time, Quinn said that he could havereturned to the game and Daniels was wearing a brace.
He was not wearing one on Sunday and while, in hindsight, he should have been, Dan Quinn said there wasn’t a discussionregarding one by the coaching staff. Fans and the team will wait for specialists to examine imaging taken on Monday, but ultimately it might be best for Daniels to have surgery due to the repetitive instability in the joint, but that could also possibly wait until after the season. We’re still uncertain what the team and Daniels will decided to do in this case.
Is the Washington Commanders’ season over?
While the loss of Daniels for any length of time and an 0-2 start should have Commanders fans resetting their record predictions for the season, a poor start was expected by many. The team finally returns home this Sunday, and quarterback Marcus Mariota looked good in the second half of Sunday’s game, going 11-of-16 for 111 passing yards and a touchdown while taking zero sacks. It is only Week 3 and Seattle is expected to come to town with a backup quarterback of their own in Drew Lock. Mariota has proven capable of winning in the past, but as Brian Mitchell pointed out in the clip below, the entire team needs to get better for him to have any chance.
Quinn may very well be coaching his last season for the Commanders but is still a professional head coach in the NFL and will do everything in his power to keep this team competitive. A rebound performance from Daronte Jones and the defense, some positive news on Daniels,and a few wins between now and a return for No. 5 could keep the Washington Commanders relevant later in the season.
