The Commanders lost their regular season opener, but there were bright spots within the final 24-22 result. This initial salvo also showed how many of the new faces brought in via free agency and the draft fit in with Washington’s grand plan.
There were also some major issues that led to the loss, with some obvious weak spots in the lineup. Making mistakes in one game shouldn’t cause a player to lose a starting spot or cause a coaching staff to overreact, but it’s valid to wonder if some personnel
swaps might lead to better results.
Now, be wary of such swaps. Let’s call it the backup quarterback theory. The No. 2 signal caller is everyone’s favorite when the starter struggles despite never playing a significant role.
A starter becomes a starter over time. A backup earns his role, too.
In sum, different isn’t always better.
That said, the Commanders could make some alterations with the depth available that could prove beneficial. Here are a few Commanders players who should play a bigger role on Sunday afternoon versus the Cowboys:
CB Rasul Douglas
Rasul Douglas played 17 defensive snaps at cornerback against the Eagles, while Mike Saintisril and Amik Robertson played all but one combined. Douglas was the third cornerback in that instance, but there are reasons why it might be smart to move him to No. 2 against the Cowboys.
First, there’s Douglas’ 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame. Then there’s his adept play in zone and his penchant for taking the ball away. That may be beneficial against Dallas, a team featuring larger receivers in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Then we’ve got the Sainristil problem, after the far shorter cornerback inexplicably allowed an explosive play down the sideline and an easy touchdown for Philadelphia. Both plays have drawn heavy criticism and simply can’t happen again. Starting Douglas while using Sainristil almost exclusively in the slot might help the secondary overall. The Commanders could use a third safety in those instances if Sainristil makes another big mistake.
WR Antonio Williams
This falls under the “well, duh” category. Third-round rookie receiver Antonio Williams had four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdowns on 10 routes run. Yeah, you read that right.
Williams earned rookie of the week honors for his exploits and will certainly get more opportunities and targets against the Cowboys, as a third receiver, both aligned wide and in the slot. He has earned more snaps and targets. Expect them to be built into the game plan.
TE Ben Sinnott
This one will happen naturally with Chig Okonkwo out with a groin injury. John Bates will be the top tight end on Sunday, and is always the best blocking tight end on the field. Sinnott’s a player who has talent and upside in there somewhere. While the instinct may be to play fewer multiple tight end sets or use more receivers, giving Sinnott some targets could prove beneficial to him and the offensive unpredictability when do-it-all tight ends are involved.
NOTE: So I wrote everything above about Sinnott before I read a whole comment thread about how much you don’t think he’s very good. I’m not talking 40 snaps here. I’m talking 30 productive snaps and 10 as an in-line route runner. Let’s see what he can do.
S Quan Martin
This one scares me, even though Jeremy Reaves wasn’t superlative against the Eagles. Also, listening to Dan Quinn talk about Reaves and his communication and leadership, it sure seems like his defensive role is secure right now. Martin was simply not good last year but had a good camp. Maybe he finds time in the slot or can be an option playing deep next to Nick Cross. Still, though, it’s an option in a pinch.
