The importance of Friday’s climate appeared exhausting to keep away from: Friday ended 1 / 4, introduced us to the doorstep of April, and led us right into a weekend. However grey skies, and close to common heat, challenged wishes to learn our future in its options.
Washington
On April’s Eve breeze seemed to leave many blossoms intact
At sure occasions, gusts arose, much more forceful than the background breeze. They steered that the curtain was about to rise on some main atmospheric drama. However not less than by Friday night, they didn’t appear to ship on their menace or promise.
As of 5 p.m., the Nationwide Climate Service reported a peak wind of 23 mph, and a peak gust of 36.
However these bursts, though they appeared overtures, or accompaniment to meteorological doings worthy of the conclusion of 1 / 4, didn’t appear to be orchestrated into any vital climate drama. Not in Washington on Friday afternoon.
In and across the metropolis, the cherry blossoms have begun to seem a bit drained and tattered. They now not beautify every twig and limb within the astonishing profusion of the primary gaudy days of full bloom.
Gusts of wind, comparable to Fridays, shake petals from them; some fall as historical past expects them to, however many stay. Presumably that may be a means by which on such days as Friday, they convey vividly their combination of messages, of magnificence, fragility, delicacy and impermanence.
“The cherry blossoms are previous peak bloom,” the Nationwide Park Service stated in a tweet, “however the pretty stays will carry extra crowds to the Nationwide Mall this weekend.”
Beneath Friday’s grey skies, Washington went about life on a big day, in a heat that approximated what we would anticipate at the moment of yr. The afternoon excessive temperature of 66 levels exceeded the common for the date, however solely by 4 levels.
The morning’s low studying of 42 dipped under common by a single diploma. Friday didn’t appear the type of day to impress involved dialog about the way it departed from our picture of the day earlier than the First of April.
It appeared grey all through our daylight, bringing little rain, however seeming to foster and conform to a way of vagueness, uncertainty and indistinctness that made it troublesome to grab on as an indication of what’s in retailer for us.
What had been noticed by 5 p.m., the Nationwide Climate Service reported, was solely a hint of rain. Not sufficient to measure.
A way of moisture appeared pervasive at sure hours, maybe harking back to spring and its preparation for horticultural efflorescence. However the grey skies above appeared primarily benign, a backdrop to the day, relatively than a vital part to the March 31 story.
They appeared flat, uniform in texture, and with out the darkish brooding billows that always threaten or promise imminent deluge.
Let April carry its showers, they may have been making an attempt to inform us. The final day of March, the tip of a chilly climate quarter, would maintain any raindrops in readiness and reserve.
Washington
Al Washington Says He “Had A Great Time” at Ohio State, Believes “Culture of Toughness and Hard Work” Has Led to OSU and Notre Dame’s Success
Al Washington was a member of Ryan Day’s inaugural staff at Ohio State. Now, he’ll be looking to prevent Day from winning his first national championship on Monday night.
Ohio State’s linebackers coach from 2019-21, Washington is now in his third season as Notre Dame’s defensive line coach. Washington joined Marcus Freeman’s inaugural staff in 2022 when he and Ohio State parted ways following the hiring of Jim Knowles as defensive coordinator.
Despite their split three years ago, Washington still has nothing but good things to say about Day and Ohio State.
“A ton of respect for Ryan. I’ve known him for a long time,” Washington said of Day, who Washington previously worked with at Boston College. “I had a great time at Ohio State. Unbelievable experiences with the kids. … My time at Ohio State has been valuable to me professionally and personally.”
Asked if he had a favorite memory from his time at Ohio State, Washington said “there’s too many to name” but said most of them center around his relationships with the players.
Washington’s lasting bonds with Ohio State go beyond his relationship with Day, as Ohio State’s linebacker unit still includes multiple players he either coached or recruited to Ohio State, namely Cody Simon in the former category and C.J. Hicks in the latter. He also knows the coach who currently holds the position he used to hold on Ryan Day’s staff, as current Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis was a graduate assistant at Notre Dame in 2022 before joining the Buckeyes’ staff in 2023.
“James is the best,” Washington told Eleven Warriors at Saturday’s national championship game media day. “Obviously, he’s knowledgeable, well-versed in linebacker play and just football, but just a great person, man. Ton of respect for him and the job he’s done over there. I know a lot of those guys that he’s working with – not all of them, some of them – and I know they’re in the best of hands, man. He’s doing a great job.”
With Washington coaching up its defensive linemen, Notre Dame’s defense has been one of the best in the country this season just like Ohio State’s, ranking just behind OSU as the No. 2 scoring defense in the country with only 14.3 points allowed per game. He believes the Fighting Irish’s success this season has stemmed from its togetherness and competitiveness, and Washington says that starts with the leadership of Freeman, an Ohio State alumnus who Washington had also previously worked with when both were on the defensive staff at Cincinnati in 2017.
“High-character person, great leader of people and cares for people,” Washington said of Freeman. “Those things really impacted my decision (to join Notre Dame’s staff).”
As his current team prepares to face his former team in the national championship game, Washington sees a lot of common threads between them that have allowed both Ohio State and Notre Dame to get to this point.
“I think they’re both led by good people, and I think there’s a culture of toughness and hard work that’s common throughout both teams,” Washington said. “A lot of pride.”
Washington
RECAP: Lions vs. Commanders
The Detroit Lions’ historic season has come to a heartbreaking end.
The top-seeded Lions were upset by the No. 6 seed Washington Commanders, 45-31, Saturday night at Ford Field in the Divisional Round of the playoffs as their season ends in disappointment after a record-setting 15-win regular season and their second straight NFC North title.
“They earned that win and we didn’t,” an emotional Lions head coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “We just didn’t play good enough. Really, we never complemented each other. I felt that way going into halftime and it really never got better.”
The Lions’ defense knew they had a tough task coming in trying to limit Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will likely be the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Lions had few answers defensively for Daniels and the Commanders’ fifth-ranked scoring offense all evening.
Daniels led three first-half touchdown drives as Washington racked up over 300 yards of offense in the first 30 minutes and led 31-21 at halftime. The Commanders also got a 40-yard pick-six by safety Quan Martin on a ball overthrown by quarterback Jared Goff intended for wide receiver Tim Patrick in the second quarter that helped push the halftime lead to double digits.
The Lions gained 521 yards of offense but ultimately couldn’t overcome five turnovers with three Goff interceptions, one Goff fumble and a Jameson Williams interception on a trick play end-around pass.
“We turn the ball over five times, the (last) one is whatever, so call it four, it’s just too much,” Campbell said. “Too hard against a team like that to come back. We tried, but couldn’t quite get over the hump.”
After Detroit trimmed the lead to 31-28 midway through the third quarter, Daniels led a 15-play, 70-yard scoring drive that took up eight and a half minutes off the clock and culminated with a 1-yard Brian Robinson Jr. touchdown to push the lead back up to 10 to begin the fourth quarter.
Washington essentially sealed the win after the Williams interception on Detroit’s next possession by turning it into a Jeremy McNichols 1-yard touchdown run and a 45-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Washington converted a 4th & 2 at the Detroit 13-yard line down to the 1-yard line that proved to be the dagger on the scoring drive.
Daniels finished the game 22-for-31 passing for 299 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 122.9 passer rating. He also added 51 rushing yards.
Detroit’s injuries on defense finally seemed to catch up with them. Cornerback Amik Robertson left the game with an elbow injury on the second play of the game and didn’t return. The Lions came into the game with 13 defensive players on IR, including six starters. Washington ended the game with 481 yards of total offense and were 3-for-4 converting on fourth down.
Goff ended the game completing 23 of his 40 pass attempts for 313 yards with one touchdown. His three interceptions and one fumble were costly turnovers for the Lions as he finished with just a 59.7 passer rating. Goff fumbled at the Washington 25-yard line that killed a scoring chance. He had the pick-six and also threw an interception in the Washington end zone late in the first half and one at the Washington 2-yard line late in the fourth quarter.
“It sucks. Worst part of this job,” Goff said after the game. “You hate when you feel like you let guys down. It’s hard to put into words. It just sucks.
“I wish I could have played a little bit better. Wish I could have taken care of the ball a little better. The pick six is really the one I’d like back. That was just a poor decision by me. It’s on me. I have to take care of it better.”
Detroit got touchdowns on a 1-yard run by Jahmyr Gibbs, a 2-yard catch by tight end Sam LaPorta, a 61-yard run by Williams and an 8-yard Gibbs run.
Gibbs finished the game with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns with six receptions for 70 yards. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had eight receptions for 137 yards.
Washington
Washington Commanders Roster Moves: Colson Yankoff is back!
The Washington Commanders are in Detroit to play the Lions tonight at 8pm. It’s been a pretty quiet, and healthy, week for the Commanders as they prepared for their first divisional playoff game since 2006. They only ruled one player out for tonight’s game, and just announced their practice squad elevations and roster moves.
Rookie LB Jordan Magee was ruled out after aggravating his hamstring injury. He was placed on injured reserve today. That gives Washington an open roster spot which was used to activate TE Colson Yankoff from IR. His 21-day practice window was opened last Wednesday, and he was a full participant in every practice over the last two weeks.
Washington also elevated CB Kevon Seymour and DE Andre Jones Jr from the practice squad for tonight’s playoff game. Seymour has been used exclusively on special teams this season. Andre Jones Jr was elevated twice during the season, and played 17 snaps on defense.
We have made the following roster moves:
— Placed LB Jordan Magee on the Reserve/Injured List
— Activated TE Colson Yankoff from the Reserve/Injured List and removed him from the injury report
— Elevated DE Andre Jones Jr. and CB Kevon Seymour from the practice squad pic.twitter.com/1z96W9N2Xb— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 18, 2025
-
Science1 week ago
Metro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
-
Technology1 week ago
Amazon Prime will shut down its clothing try-on program
-
News1 week ago
Mapping the Damage From the Palisades Fire
-
Technology1 week ago
L’Oréal’s new skincare gadget told me I should try retinol
-
Technology4 days ago
Super Bowl LIX will stream for free on Tubi
-
Business5 days ago
Why TikTok Users Are Downloading ‘Red Note,’ the Chinese App
-
Technology2 days ago
Nintendo omits original Donkey Kong Country Returns team from the remaster’s credits
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump to be sentenced in New York criminal trial