Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Bring on. Liam Griffin is with the Washington Times covers
the Commanders. Liam, you're on with Nick Ferguson and Ryan Edwards.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
How are you. I'm doing well, How are you guys doing.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
We're doing fantastic, very excited about this game. Tell me,
I guess from your perspective, and I know injuries certainly
played a factor. What what has gone wrong? In your opinion
this season for Washington?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd have much shorter less to talk about what's gone
right because of those injuries have absolutely ravaged the team.
They're still missing their top two quarterbacks, they're missing their
top two edge rushers, but they're finally getting a little
bit healthier with Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown coming back
this week, maybe Ja Daniels. But it's just so little
continuity throughout the roster that has really made them easy
(00:44):
to game plan against. And they have shown in inability
to really adapt to those injuries.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Man, when you think about these the struggles that the
Commanders have had, and I know the biggest question, they're
three and eighteen and everyone's wondering, okay, well, well dan
Quinn if cleared and if he wants to play Jane
Daniels like, does he allow him to play. I'm a
fan of protecting players from themselves, but I'll ask you
(01:12):
for someone who covers the team, would you be all
in favor of Jane Daniels starting against this valted Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So I was out of practice. Today was their first
open practice of the week for media, and Jamie was
back out there and he was throwing. But it seems
unlikely that he'll be able to play on Sunday. He's
still holding that left elbow a little bit gingerly, but
they seem really unlikely to want to start him or
want to sit in for the rest of the season.
(01:42):
He is someone who is a really high level competitor.
It's some likeing. They talk about a lot in the
building and he is going to be scratching and calling
to get back on the field. And Dan Quinn is
someone who wants Javed Daniels to get those repts. He
had a great first season, but he's still a young quarterback.
He's have a lot more tape on him, and so
they want to have him back on the field to
(02:03):
continue to adapt the speed of NFL actions. You really
don't want to sit a guy who's looking like the
franchise quarterback on the bench for the rest of the season,
have a whole offseason. So the fan base here is
really concerned about Jade Dale's' injury history and essentral injury
is going forward, but that's not a huge concern that
is shared in the building. So as soon as he
(02:25):
is back healthy andcluded by the medical staff, he is
going to be back on the field and back starting.
But we can't match up against the Denver Broncos is tough,
and then the schedules doesn't get much easier going forward
because after that they'll have Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings,
who loved to blitz opposing quarterbacks, and then a kind
of vaulted defensive line of the New York Giants. So
(02:45):
there's no easy way to get him back in, but
they're going to get him back on there at some point.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I want to ask you about the running game because
it is something that Washington is o very well this
year at number six in League one hundred and thirty
eight point five rushing yards per game. And I was
such a big fan of Crossky merrit and I sort
of thought that that would be kind of the bell
cow guy, but for some reason, I don't know, has
he fallen out of favor. I know that we saw
a lot of more Chris Rodriguez last week. What's your
(03:13):
opinion on the running back rotation right now?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So they like everybody that they have in that group,
even Jeremy mcnakols is a bit of a journeyman as
someone who gets a lot of work in that third
down situation catnic passes out of the backfield, but they
are very comfortable cycling running backs in and out almost
on a drive by drive basis. They feel like both
of those guys, Chris Rodriguez and Bill Krofsky Merritt do
a lot of things very well. Bill has slashed a
(03:40):
bit more explosiveness or as Rodriguez can be that kind
of downfilled between the sackles runner. But it's been a
really uphill battle for them to get that running attack
going over the last few weeks because they've had so
many injuries to the receiver group and with Daniels out
as well Mariota taking stamps, it's really hard for them
(04:01):
to earn the respective opposing defense. It's still being able
to stack the box and really target that running group.
And then also they're getting behind so early in games
that it's kind of shifting that game script. So Bill
is someone who is still a young player. He's still
getting used to speed of NFL action. You'll see him
try to make a cut that isn't quite there. He
has great vision, great celeration on that one cut ability,
(04:23):
but they are still working on turning him into every
down back.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So what is the worth coming out of Washington as
far as Sarah McLaurin, nor Brown and Deebo Samuels. Is
there possibility that these guys could play? Because I was
reading something that said that they all participated in practice.
If they are all or two of them are able
to play, how does that change things offensively for Marcus
(04:50):
Mariota and the run game that you were just speaking about.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, so all three of those guys practice today and
in a limited capacity, both Terry and no Or we're
limited as their carent back off injury. But I would
expect to see all three of them on the field
together on Sunday, which hasn't happened a whole lot of season.
I think the last time that all three of them
are together in Week two. But that really opens up
what they can do as an offense, because where they've
(05:16):
really shrugged is they've had no one on the outside
who can help stretch the field so they can push
the ball downfield. Terry McLaurin is someone who can take
the top off the defense and really threaten posting secondaries,
and that opens up so much underneath for guys like Devo,
who's a great run after tast guy. He's someone who
is explosive. He can take something like a screen or
a splant and makes that something that you have to
(05:39):
game plan for. And No' Brown is a great possession receiver.
He is kind of one of the best in the
league and trong and got to pass their peers salties downfield,
So that gives you another option when you're looking to
stretch that secondary, and it's giving them explosiveness that has
really been lacking. Nothing has come easy for that offense
or for that passing attack, and having an all pro
(06:01):
like Terry McLaurin really gives you an opportunity to at
least stay in the game and you're not you know,
you're not having to get everything the hard way.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Last one I have for you and Liam Griffin joining
us here so coming off of whatever ends up happening
next year, I mean, certainly last year going to the
NFC Championship game. This year has not been quite to
that level obviously, So what will be sort of the
I guess not s spin off of this season? What
will be the discussion of how this team can sort
of bounce back and what kind of moves do you
(06:31):
expect them to make in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So there, it's a really good question because there's a
lot that has to be fixed for this team if
they want to compete at the same level as they
ble last year. Excuse me, because they are the oldest
roster in the league, they get a lot of this
idea of them being this young upstarts. They've got Jay
dam up under center and some of these young weapons,
but throughout the roster they've got like Bobby Wagner, who
(06:56):
is sports the later part of his career. Hurts is
one of their key targets. That's tight end. He's going
on thirty five, thirty six. You're going to have to
filter those guys out and be able to do that
without a Steeds drop off. And also because of the
moves they've made the off season, trading for Laramie Tunsel,
trading for Deebo Samuel. They're entering this off season with
(07:18):
a decrease in draft capital, so they're going to have
to be active in free agency and bring in fresh
blood without trying to keep it at that same ultimately
level that they've really had. So it's going to be
a challenge for Adam Peters and Dan Quinn to really
establish an identity in the off season with this limited
resources in the draft.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Really appreciate the time tonight, Liam, Thank you so much
for your insight, prob Thanks for having me all right,
Thank you, Liam Griffin.
Bring on. Liam Griffin is with the Washington Times covers
the Commanders. Liam, you're on with Nick Ferguson and Ryan Edwards.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
How are you. I'm doing well, How are you guys doing.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
We're doing fantastic, very excited about this game. Tell me,
I guess from your perspective, and I know injuries certainly
played a factor. What what has gone wrong? In your opinion
this season for Washington?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It'd have much shorter less to talk about what's gone
right because of those injuries have absolutely ravaged the team.
They're still missing their top two quarterbacks, they're missing their
top two edge rushers, but they're finally getting a little
bit healthier with Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown coming back
this week, maybe Ja Daniels. But it's just so little
continuity throughout the roster that has really made them easy
(00:44):
to game plan against. And they have shown in inability
to really adapt to those injuries.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Man, when you think about these the struggles that the
Commanders have had, and I know the biggest question, they're
three and eighteen and everyone's wondering, okay, well, well dan
Quinn if cleared and if he wants to play Jane
Daniels like, does he allow him to play. I'm a
fan of protecting players from themselves, but I'll ask you
(01:12):
for someone who covers the team, would you be all
in favor of Jane Daniels starting against this valted Broncos defense.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So I was out of practice. Today was their first
open practice of the week for media, and Jamie was
back out there and he was throwing. But it seems
unlikely that he'll be able to play on Sunday. He's
still holding that left elbow a little bit gingerly, but
they seem really unlikely to want to start him or
want to sit in for the rest of the season.
(01:42):
He is someone who is a really high level competitor.
It's some likeing. They talk about a lot in the
building and he is going to be scratching and calling
to get back on the field. And Dan Quinn is
someone who wants Javed Daniels to get those repts. He
had a great first season, but he's still a young quarterback.
He's have a lot more tape on him, and so
they want to have him back on the field to
(02:03):
continue to adapt the speed of NFL actions. You really
don't want to sit a guy who's looking like the
franchise quarterback on the bench for the rest of the season,
have a whole offseason. So the fan base here is
really concerned about Jade Dale's' injury history and essentral injury
is going forward, but that's not a huge concern that
is shared in the building. So as soon as he
(02:25):
is back healthy andcluded by the medical staff, he is
going to be back on the field and back starting.
But we can't match up against the Denver Broncos is tough,
and then the schedules doesn't get much easier going forward
because after that they'll have Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings,
who loved to blitz opposing quarterbacks, and then a kind
of vaulted defensive line of the New York Giants. So
(02:45):
there's no easy way to get him back in, but
they're going to get him back on there at some point.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
I want to ask you about the running game because
it is something that Washington is o very well this
year at number six in League one hundred and thirty
eight point five rushing yards per game. And I was
such a big fan of Crossky merrit and I sort
of thought that that would be kind of the bell
cow guy, but for some reason, I don't know, has
he fallen out of favor. I know that we saw
a lot of more Chris Rodriguez last week. What's your
(03:13):
opinion on the running back rotation right now?
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So they like everybody that they have in that group,
even Jeremy mcnakols is a bit of a journeyman as
someone who gets a lot of work in that third
down situation catnic passes out of the backfield, but they
are very comfortable cycling running backs in and out almost
on a drive by drive basis. They feel like both
of those guys, Chris Rodriguez and Bill Krofsky Merritt do
a lot of things very well. Bill has slashed a
(03:40):
bit more explosiveness or as Rodriguez can be that kind
of downfilled between the sackles runner. But it's been a
really uphill battle for them to get that running attack
going over the last few weeks because they've had so
many injuries to the receiver group and with Daniels out
as well Mariota taking stamps, it's really hard for them
(04:01):
to earn the respective opposing defense. It's still being able
to stack the box and really target that running group.
And then also they're getting behind so early in games
that it's kind of shifting that game script. So Bill
is someone who is still a young player. He's still
getting used to speed of NFL action. You'll see him
try to make a cut that isn't quite there. He
has great vision, great celeration on that one cut ability,
(04:23):
but they are still working on turning him into every
down back.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So what is the worth coming out of Washington as
far as Sarah McLaurin, nor Brown and Deebo Samuels. Is
there possibility that these guys could play? Because I was
reading something that said that they all participated in practice.
If they are all or two of them are able
to play, how does that change things offensively for Marcus
(04:50):
Mariota and the run game that you were just speaking about.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Yeah, so all three of those guys practice today and
in a limited capacity, both Terry and no Or we're
limited as their carent back off injury. But I would
expect to see all three of them on the field
together on Sunday, which hasn't happened a whole lot of season.
I think the last time that all three of them
are together in Week two. But that really opens up
what they can do as an offense, because where they've
(05:16):
really shrugged is they've had no one on the outside
who can help stretch the field so they can push
the ball downfield. Terry McLaurin is someone who can take
the top off the defense and really threaten posting secondaries,
and that opens up so much underneath for guys like Devo,
who's a great run after tast guy. He's someone who
is explosive. He can take something like a screen or
a splant and makes that something that you have to
(05:39):
game plan for. And No' Brown is a great possession receiver.
He is kind of one of the best in the
league and trong and got to pass their peers salties downfield,
So that gives you another option when you're looking to
stretch that secondary, and it's giving them explosiveness that has
really been lacking. Nothing has come easy for that offense
or for that passing attack, and having an all pro
(06:01):
like Terry McLaurin really gives you an opportunity to at
least stay in the game and you're not you know,
you're not having to get everything the hard way.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Last one I have for you and Liam Griffin joining
us here so coming off of whatever ends up happening
next year, I mean, certainly last year going to the
NFC Championship game. This year has not been quite to
that level obviously, So what will be sort of the
I guess not s spin off of this season? What
will be the discussion of how this team can sort
of bounce back and what kind of moves do you
(06:31):
expect them to make in the offseason.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
So there, it's a really good question because there's a
lot that has to be fixed for this team if
they want to compete at the same level as they
ble last year. Excuse me, because they are the oldest
roster in the league, they get a lot of this
idea of them being this young upstarts. They've got Jay
dam up under center and some of these young weapons,
but throughout the roster they've got like Bobby Wagner, who
(06:56):
is sports the later part of his career. Hurts is
one of their key targets. That's tight end. He's going
on thirty five, thirty six. You're going to have to
filter those guys out and be able to do that
without a Steeds drop off. And also because of the
moves they've made the off season, trading for Laramie Tunsel,
trading for Deebo Samuel. They're entering this off season with
(07:18):
a decrease in draft capital, so they're going to have
to be active in free agency and bring in fresh
blood without trying to keep it at that same ultimately
level that they've really had. So it's going to be
a challenge for Adam Peters and Dan Quinn to really
establish an identity in the off season with this limited
resources in the draft.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Really appreciate the time tonight, Liam, Thank you so much
for your insight, prob Thanks for having me all right,
Thank you, Liam Griffin.
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