On his first full day because the Washington Commanders line of defense coach, Jeff Zgonina bounced round throughout drills, barking out snap calls as a mock heart, throwing volleyballs so gamers may observe batting passes on the line of scrimmage and dropping right into a three-point stance to indicate gamers precisely how he wished it carried out.
Washington
Commanders’ new D-line coach Jeff Zgonina makes energetic impression
The one time he appeared deterred was in the course of the batting-passes drill, when retired defensive deal with and unofficial adviser Warren Sapp unintentionally tossed Zgonina a volleyball when he wasn’t trying. The ball hit Zgonina on the top and knocked off his glasses. Zgonina put them again on rapidly, shimmied like a boxer and stayed in rhythm.
“Come on, Growth,” he yelled to defensive deal with Bunmi Rotimi.
New DL coach Jeff Zgonina operating particular person drills. The vitality stood out.
Properly, that and the time Warren Sapp unintentionally knocked off his sun shades with a volleyball. pic.twitter.com/Yx0lkUOzTa
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) August 10, 2022
Coach Ron Rivera preferred the vitality and engagement, which he referred to as a “totally different type, totally different vibe” from former line coach Sam Mills III, whom he fired Tuesday morning.
“What I am in search of is that fixed push, strain and progress,” Rivera mentioned. “I would like [the coaching] to be extra demonstrative. I would like it to be extra of their face, at them, stuff like that. And that is just about what we have achieved.”
The extra interactive method could resonate with Washington’s line. In Carolina, Mills coached veteran rooms led by older gamers, corresponding to Mario Addison and Julius Peppers. However in Washington, his group was a lot youthful.
“They’ve accepted and understood that that is one thing that I did … in our greatest curiosity,” Rivera mentioned of how gamers have taken the change. “They’ve tailored and dealt with it very nicely.”
Roquan Smith commerce appears unlikely
Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith lately requested a commerce by releasing a prolonged assertion that learn, partly, “The brand new entrance workplace regime doesn’t worth me right here.” The Commanders are nonetheless skinny at linebacker. May they pursue the disgruntled star?
It’s impossible. If Chicago trades Smith — and it has plenty of leverage, due to the collective bargaining settlement — Washington would in all probability be unwilling to pay the steep worth.
Up to now decade, the one first rate commerce comparability for Smith (who’s 25 and an all-pro) is the 2018 deal that despatched Khalil Mack (who was 27 and a two-time all-pro on the time) and two picks from Oakland to Chicago for 4 picks, together with two first-rounders. Even when this commerce finally ends up being barely cheaper, it’d doubtless nonetheless be too costly.
If Washington did commerce for Smith, it might additionally then must pay him. The NFL’s two highest-paid ’backers — Indianapolis’s Shaquille Leonard and San Francisco’s Fred Warner — every earn barely greater than $19 million on common per yr. Washington solely has about $13 million in cap house, in keeping with Over the Cap, and although it may create room if it wished to, it might doubtless all simply price an excessive amount of.
Gamers who didn’t take part in some or all of observe included tight ends John Bates (calf) and Cole Turner (hamstring), nook Benjamin St-Juste, offensive linemen Saahdiq Charles and Nolan Laufenberg, defensive again Troy Apke and linebacker De’Jon Harris.
Proper guard Trai Turner (quad) has been out since July 28. Rivera mentioned the workforce has not pushed Turner, 29, as a result of he’s a veteran who understands the system. The workforce will attempt to get him again on the sphere “throughout the subsequent 10 days,” Rivera mentioned.
“We’d prefer to get him in no less than one [preseason game],” Rivera added. “Get a pleasant sequence, get himself prepared, as a result of conditioning’s essential.”
Defensive finish Chase Younger (ACL), tight finish Logan Thomas (knee) and heart Tyler Larsen (Achilles) stay on the bodily unable to carry out checklist, and offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas stays on the non-football sickness checklist.
Receiver Curtis Samuel (conditioning) and cornerback William Jackson III returned to workforce drills Wednesday.
In the course of the ultimate observe interval, defensive finish Shaka Toney took exception to the blocking of tight finish Curtis Hodges and began jawing at him. Hodges didn’t again down. Toney punched Hodges within the helmet together with his left hand after which eliminated it together with his proper.
Instantly, a number of gamers bumped into the scrum, together with tight finish Sammis Reyes and defensive finish Montez Sweat. The scuffle died down rapidly. Toney ran to the sideline, and Zgonina pulled him apart.
Younger gamers to observe on offense Saturday
4 depth gamers on offense — operating again Jonathan Williams, receiver Kyric McGowan, tight finish Armani Rogers and Hodges — have impressed in camp and are price watching within the workforce’s preseason opener Saturday towards Carolina. They are going to doubtless get loads of snaps after the primary workforce.
Theoretically, these 4 may very well be competing for a similar spot. Washington could have to decide on in its ultimate cuts between conserving a fourth operating again, a fourth tight finish or a sixth receiver, and all 4 gamers have hinted at promise worthy of a spot.
Specifically, Washington appears to love Williams’s arms out of the backfield, and McGowan, a undrafted rookie from Georgia Tech, has made a number of splashy catches. Rogers (6-foot-5) and Hodges (6-foot-8) are massive, athletic targets who’ve flashed in first-team reps whereas different tight ends have been damage.