10 random thoughts about the Commanders’ 2022 season

While it appears like at occasions that coaching camp simply started, the fact is that the Commanders’ 2022 season is over. 

So, after following the crew on a day-to-day foundation, Pete Hailey desires to share his ideas — some well timed, some random — concerning the yr as a complete. He is received plenty of them, too, all of which may be discovered beneath…

• I am pledging to do my finest within the coming months to do not forget that Sam Howell has accomplished simply 11 passes in his profession, as a result of I worry that as his debut drifts increasingly into the previous, his affect in opposition to the Cowboys will solely be exaggerated. Nonetheless. HOWEVER. HOWEVER. The perfect path ahead, at the very least instantly, may be for Washington to attempt to turn into a Niners Lite type of membership, the place the remainder of the roster is so robust {that a} less-heralded signal-caller can ably paved the way. With Carson Wentz absolutely completed and Taylor Heinicke maybe searching for new employment, the cash that’ll be dedicated to quarterback with Howell and a few new faces (and with out a main veteran acquisition) can be reasonably scant, which might enable Ron Rivera and the entrance workplace to spend in every single place else. A Howell-led unit with a fortified group of blockers and extra assist at tight finish would pair properly with a protection that could possibly be rounded out with one other linebacker and a few secondary depth. Rivera, whose seat is scorching and who could also be answering to a brand new proprietor quickly, may desire to discover a extra confirmed possibility as an alternative of Howell, but to me, copying San Fran’s current mannequin is extra interesting than sinking extra assets right into a plan that basically boils right down to, “Let’s cross our fingers and toes that this vet will get his act collectively.” In that situation, Howell can present whether or not he is price constructing round or a brand new regime will get to start out over in 2024.
• Daron Payne was very curt in his end-of-year media scrum about his future with the franchise. “I simply need what I earned,” the defensive deal with mentioned. Nicely, after registering 11.5 sacks, he is earned a ton. Will the lone NFL squad he is ever recognized be prepared to provide him that? Is the franchise tag in play? Or will Payne be pursuing quarterbacks elsewhere in 2023? It is one of many main selections going through the Commanders this offseason, and my lean is that, until the tag is deployed, Payne will depart. The 25-year-old appears fairly focused on cashing out (there is no fault in that, both) and the group already paid Jonathan Allen and likewise has potential offers with Montez Sweat and Chase Younger to think about. Plus, here is one (presumably foolish) factor I maintain coming again to: Payne’s locker this season was separated from the remainder of the D-line and he hardly ever, if ever, moseyed on over to hitch his fellow members of the entrance to talk or hang around. That and the 2021 punch that was thrown by Allen in Payne’s route leads me to imagine that Payne is not essentially tremendous tight together with his friends and due to this fact not determined to make it work right here like a extra dialed-in participant can be. If he is not compelled to stay round by way of the tag, I guess he would not stick round in any respect. 
• Whereas discussing cross rushers, Younger’s temporary contributions in his three outings have been promising. He did not log any splashy stats or create any exceptional highlights and that clearly would’ve been a welcome sight. Regardless, he appeared a lot robust — particularly when battling with Trent Williams — and extra prepared to hurry with self-discipline. Him getting that have was invaluable and can hopefully set him as much as come bursting out of the gates in 2023. It is not overdoing it to counsel that he has an opportunity to be the crew’s most important “addition” between now and their opener within the fall.
• Earlier than Tua Tagovailoa’s concussions, Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle represented the league’s most indefensible pair of receivers. Now, I am not saying Washington can replicate Hill and Waddle’s manufacturing as a result of Hill is extra explosive than a Michael Bay film and Waddle is barely a tier beneath him, however I do imagine Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson have an opportunity to be a dominant duo in their very own proper. McLaurin’s expertise are well-known at this juncture and Dotson’s rookie numbers fail to totally converse to how superior he was in his preliminary marketing campaign. What I admire concerning the Dolphins is that they knew what they’d in Hill and Waddle and focused them again and again and over… and over. Why unfold the ball round to others when the ball is at its most harmful within the palms of two wideouts? I would like this outfit to develop that perspective in relation to McLaurin and Dotson (whereas protecting Curtis Samuel concerned, after all). I am not precisely holding my breath that this run-first crew will choose to hearken to this concept, however I do know that, in my thoughts, there is no restrict to what number of passes McLaurin and Dotson ought to see. 
• The way in which Sam Cosmi was utilized in 2022 was flat-out weird and it appeared to take a little bit of a toll on Cosmi himself. When his ping-ponging from proper deal with to proper guard/rotation at proper deal with with Cornelius Lucas was introduced up throughout locker clean-out day, Cosmi mentioned he had no concept for the reasoning behind it “to be fully trustworthy”. The ex-second-rounder must be extra accessible as accidents have considerably restricted his participation as far as a professional, however nonetheless, he is one of many few potential constructing blocks the Commanders have on the O-line and his place should be found out as soon as and for all by September. 
• In the end, it seems that the protection has discovered itself two safeties which are — this can be a technical phrase, so put together your self — good at soccer. Kam Curl and Darrick Forrest are a incredible combo on the again finish thanks at the beginning to their versatility. On high of that overlapping high quality, the 2 complement one another in different areas; Curl is adept close to the road of scrimmage and might lock up tight ends in cross protection, whereas Forrest can fly round within the deeper components of the sector and displayed a proclivity for creating turnovers in his breakout effort in 2022. Probably the most encouraging a part of all this? Curl and Forrest will every solely be 24 by Week 1 of 2023. Watching them develop additional individually and collectively goes to be a pleasure. 

• The Dax Milne experiment at punt returner frankly ought to’ve by no means began and positively should not proceed. Milne is a quiet and unassuming man within the locker room and, sadly, that is how he’s on particular groups as effectively. His finest return in 2022 — on 40 tries, thoughts you — spanned 19 yards, whereas his common runback didn’t exceed eight yards. Discover somebody higher. Please. 
• The extraordinarily disappointing end to the season understandably overshadowed many smaller storylines, and although this one is extremely small, I do need to spotlight what Danny Johnson did at nook down the stretch. The nook tallied a number of cross breakups in 4 of Washington’s remaining 5 contests, which is downright spectacular. There are holes behind Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste and Johnson, who’s a pending free agent, is price protecting. The person merely performed his ass off when pushed into common obligation on the skin. 
• It’s on me as a journalist to repeatedly remind you that Tress Method, who’s a wonderful particular person as well (haha, get it?), is a professional asset for the Commanders. The specialist’s second Professional Bowl berth is deserved: 44.6% of his punts got here down within his opponent’s 20-yard line, a mark that represents the second-best of his profession, and he (quasi-) brought about three muffed catches. Highlighting a punter within the NFL can at occasions tackle an ironic tone, although there’s nothing goofy about Method’s achievements. 
• To shut, after I look again on this yr, my thoughts will first journey to the guests’ locker room in Philadelphia on the Monday evening that Washington upset the once-undefeated Eagles. The power in that place — Jeremy Reaves was rapping on a stool, Jon Bostic was quickly flicking the lights on and off and a handful of Instagram Lives have been being recorded concurrently — was outrageous and undoubtedly the height of the schedule. In that second, complaints about Dan Snyder, FedEx Discipline, Rivera and each different situation referring to the crew weren’t on anybody’s thoughts. As a substitute, the main focus was merely on absorbing the euphoria of an unexpected victory, as it’s with the sport’s premier operations. Finally, that win did not act as a launching level for the Commanders. Even so, it confirmed what’s potential after they do discover success, and that sparkle of hope is why so many stay so invested on this exhausting bunch.