October 30, 2025 • 32 mins
The Commanders are coming back home for another primetime matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Terry McLaurin won't be on the field, but will Jayden Daniels? Senior Writer Zach Selby is joined by ABC 7's Scott Abraham and WUSA9' Chick Hernandez to talk the Commanders' run game, defensive adjustments and...deli meat.
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
All right, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
What's up y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
This is another episode of the Beatdown Podcast. I am
your host senior writer for they walk and think Commanders
that Selby and unfortunately we have to talk about another loss.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Twenty eight to seven was the score on Monday night
football in Kansas City. Had a rousing first half there,
seven to seven, tying up with against Patrick Holmes.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
But there we go.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I hear you, okay, As you can tell, Chick is
gonna be one of our guests here. But either way,
it was rousing first half, but twenty one unanswered points
scored by the Chiefs, a couple of turnovers there by
the Commanders MARIOA played well, but not well enough to
pull out a win. Now they have to lick their
wounds and come back to play the Seattle Seahawks on
(00:55):
Sunday Night football with our Monks Jersey retirement. Pretty cool,
how about that? But hopefully they will carry that momentum
from arts Jersey retirement into having a better performs with
maybe Jade and Daniels coming in and playing. We'll see,
but either way, we have two guests come on to
discuss and debate to the game with me First, we
(01:15):
have Scott Abraham, sports director from ABC seven. Scott, how
you doing, man?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Good?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Great to be out with you in Chick.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Absolutely, And we have Chicken and Is from WUSA nine, Chick,
How are you a man?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
First off? How do you go with Scott? First?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
That's what I want to know. I don't understand that.
I mean, I mean, let's let's age beauty, all of
it and then boom Scott first.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Okay, sure whatever.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
Well, I'm just so glad he understands the best friends
have to be together.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know. Well, not not for nothing, chick, but you
know Scott was here early.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, yeah, just say it.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
He was.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
He was pre punctual and you were right on schedule.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
So has Scott's young Scott has young kids, so you
mine are all grown. So Scott's up early. I do
the school thing. I'm sure Scott makes lunches for the
for the for the oh yeah, what's the going lunch
right now?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I'm just gonna Journey's a big just she likes her ham,
no bread, and she likes mandarin oranges and cut up cucumbers.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No bread, yeah, no bread, just the sliced ham.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
YEP.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I guess I can kind of respect that. I mean,
just was she picky with the bread? Like?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Is she just like she just likes her deli meat? No,
no bread?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Okay, who doesn't like deli meat by the.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Way, especially me?
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Like two in the morning, you know in the morning
is the best?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Absolutely absolutely well.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Wrong with people? All right? Sorry, sorry, that's back on course.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
After talking about not gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
With me already got your headline for the podcast act
U Commander's Deli Meat and I don't know you finished
the rest, but deli Meat's got to be part of
the headline.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, no bread, let's go.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yes, I think so well, everyone listening knows the deal here.
I'm gonna be asking these guys three questions about the
matchup with the Seahawks and will be giving points out
to these guys. One of these people will emerge as
a winner from this week.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
We'll see who it is.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
And with that being said, we'll jump right into it
and we will go with the Commander's run game, which
has really struggled over the last three weeks. During this
in this losing streak, they at one point they were
leading the league in rushing yards per game, but over
the last three weeks. They are twentieth in rushing yards
per game, had sixty yards against the Chiefs, including eighteen
(03:38):
in the second half. One of many problems for the
Commanders that in that second half of that matchup with
Kansas City. But DQ said he wants to get get
it back on track. It has to be an important
part of their game going forward if they're going to
have any measure of success for the rest of the
year and hopefully make a push for the playoff. We'll see,
But how exactly do the DOA is going to be
(03:58):
the main question, main top do this question here? So,
so Chick, we shall start with you. Now, wow, yeah
about that. I want to know what do you think
the cause of this, this lull in the run game
is and how do you think they're going to correct
this against the Seahawks defense that is allowing the fewest
yards per game on the ground in the NFL so
(04:19):
far of the season.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Well, let's be let's be honest.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
You know, if you don't have Jad and Daniels back there,
the threat is not quite as much. Now, Marcus Mariotto
is really really good and he will put his body
in harm's way, But Jayden just runs like a downhill skier,
and he creates so many different problems for a defense
because they have to watch out for him. The last
(04:41):
three weeks, I think Cliffers has gone away from it
with the mixed mash of the two quarterbacks. I personally
would would like to see more Jeremy McNichols. I like Bill,
he's a rookie, He's going to learn his way. But
McNichols has had some big chunk plays almost every time
he touches the ball. So this whole running back by committee,
(05:03):
it's fine, but use all of them, and they haven't
done that, and I think that's part of the reason.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
But it just comes back to me to number five.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
He creates such havoc that when you know, opposing defensive
coordinators have told me throughout the season, we worry about
where he is at all times. I'm talking about Jaden
and he's impossible to defend unless they call plays that
make it easier. And I think cliff has done that
(05:31):
in recent times. That's why it's gone down. So I say,
you go, you get Jimmy McNichols the ball more, because
every time he touches the ball something really positive has happened.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Simple, so you test on a lot of really good
things there. I like this stuff about Jayden. I think
that Nichol stuff is also interesting, and while they're gone
away from it, I think is something with that.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
I'm going to have you expand on.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
A little bit in the Layer, but I'm allow Scott
to answer next year with the same question, what do
you think is the cause of this? And I mean,
is there a simple solution to fix it? Or is
this thing a little more convoluted than that.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
I think what dan Quinn kind of touchdown earlier in
the week of the pass in the run working in concert,
and I think there's too much of the horizontal pass
game going on right now.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Wide receiver screens, quick throws.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
I would love to see Washington try to push the
ball down the field a little bit more, a little
bit more explosive plays in the pass game, which hopefully
would open up the running game. Right now, I don't
think the pass game is a big threat for opposing defenses,
so they can really kind of key in on these
these wide receiver screens or the run game because the
(06:43):
downfield threat really isn't there. Remember, they haven't had Terry
McLaurin and Deebo, Samuel Obviously they came back for Kansas City,
but they're they're back in the lineup now. And to
add on to chicks point, I think you need to
kind of sit. I wouldn't say sit, but take a
little out of the starting lineup. He's been, Uh, he
hasn't been hasn't been great since the Chargers game. The
(07:04):
last three games, Bills kind of struggled. I don't see
the explosiveness. I would love to see maybe a little
bit more from McNichols, Chris Rodriguez.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Let them maybe get the starting nod.
Speaker 6 (07:15):
Maybe they can generate some more uh kind of buzz
with this running game.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So uh to to push.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
The ball down the field a little bit more, maybe
give Bill a little bit of a break or kind
of my two things too, maybe help this run game going.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
And the receiver issue is part of it, right, because
it's an issue, yeah, because it's while we all would
love Luke and I like Jalen, I think we can
all agree that the plan was not to have them
as you're starting wide receivers, right because when you got
Terry and Deebo and Noah Brown who's still on IR
like that was that was the original plan. But uh,
(07:50):
you know, to go over back to you and you
mentioned Jayde, you mentioned McNichols, and I want to touch
on Jayden here a little bit because obviously he has
the hamstering injury, which he's a expected to practice this week.
We'll see how he does. You know, they're they're going
to be very careful about his availability. But if if
he that as we know, hamstring injuries are very like
(08:10):
they're very tricky because they're soft titsu injuries like and
you want to get more involved, like how how how
can they do that? Whenever you also want to protect
this guy and hopefully keep him, you know, off the
sideline for you know, an extending amount of weeks. Then
now it's his third game missed. I mean, you don't
want to miss anymore. So how do you how do
you balance the fact of keeping him involved in the
(08:32):
run game with also protecting him.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
Well, that's the problem, because the athlete is is the issue.
And as we've all seen, Jaydon Daniels is his own
man and not afraid to go anywhere, and he knows
that he is faster than any lineman, any linebacker, and
a lot of dbs and so your brain goes, oh.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I've got an avenue. I got to go.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And the difficult part for him is going to be,
all right, maybe I can't go full bore, and so
he's going to become more of a pocket guy, which
we all know is a little bit different. He's a
great thrower, he's a great passer. Ken Cliff designed an
offense that does that. And and to the point about Scott,
you know, wanting to go less vertical, Well, Terry was
(09:15):
really nice and Terry is the best, the best contention
catcher in the league. There is not a question about it.
But what did you say after the game? Yeah, I
got tweaked a little bit on the quad. So how
does he feel this week? And that's going to be
I think that's a bigger issue for this offense. If
Terry's not there again, then they're going back to what
they've been what they've been doing with Luke and Jalen I.
(09:39):
For for for Jaden, I just it's gonna be very
difficult for a stud horse to not run at full gallop.
And that's so then you have to design an offense
that kind of opens up passing lanes, which is exactly
what we're talking about here do they have those?
Speaker 4 (09:56):
If you don't have Terry, it's gonna be an issue.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
And I'm in the court, and i'm court if you know,
if Jayden's you know, seventy, he's probably gonna be better
than most. So do you take that risk and roll
him out there and you know, cross your fingers that
he doesn't reinjure that hamstring because as we all know,
hamstrings are really, really tricky and can be reaggravated and
(10:20):
reinjured very fast. So they got to be smart with this.
They got to be very calculated. I know it's kind
of a make or break time here with two NFC
games coming up here, and you love to have Jayden
out there, But if he's not one hundred percent and
he can't go full gallop, I don't know how effective
he can be.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
All right, By the way, I pulled a hammy getting
in my chair for this, just so you know, And Scott,
you said the R word, not the R word.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Redsk oh, I just said almost risk. Risk, Yeah, big risk.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
And you know, those guys want to be very careful
with number five, and we all like to see him
play for.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
The bulk of the season.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
It's just you know it's it is going to be
an issue, and do you take the time to rest
him as much as possible.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
To have perfect example, Chick and Zach just go up
the road on I ninety five in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson.
He was out a month. He's finally coming back this week.
So he he missed three games, So I I will
be I will be surprised. I'm honestly, I will be surprised.
If Jayden plays uh this week, we'll see them.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah, So Scott.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
I also, before we move on to the next question,
I want to ask you because you mentioned the receivers
and all that stuff, and as Chick mentioned Terry, Terry
didn't seem as confident about his about his availability this weekend.
So say, and you say you don't want to see
all the horizontal passing game, but say Terry is aly,
what what is your solution there for that?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Listen, j Jalen Lane, Luke McCaffrey.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
They're growing, they're learning, but they're not Terry McLaurin, they're
not Deebo Samuel. So where is the threat? If I'm
a defense I'm not scared of Jalen Lane or Luke McCaffrey.
I'm sorry, no offense to them, but they're there. They
have not arrived yet at the level of a Terry
McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. So from a schematic aspect, it
(12:15):
makes it much more challenging to run the football because
they're gonna be pushing up towards the box and there's
just no threat of the downfield pass game. So Cliff
Kingsbury is gonna have to get creative and try to
figure out ways to get more explosive down the field
passes because, uh, these defenses understand what they're trying to do,
this horizontal pass game. So it's up to Cliff Kingsbury
(12:38):
and this offensive staff to figure out a way to
kind of push this ball down the field a little
bit more.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes, they definitely will, and I mean to just kind
of put a bow on this here, just ja Cory
Krossky marat facing I think the ninth most eight man
boxes in the league according to the Next Gen stats.
So the defenses clearly know that this is what the
commanders are gona how to do, and there's they're basically
able to over commit to it because of the of
(13:04):
the weaknesses and lack of lack of personnel receivers. So
we'll move on, but before we do that, I'll give you,
guys both points. Really great discussion there. Both good points
made on Jayden, Jaylen, lou Terry all that other stuff.
Really good discussion there. So we'll go on here and
going to the other side of the ball here.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
I'm gonna I'm gonna deduct one point from you, though, Zach,
because you call him to Cory move on now.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Oh of course, excuse me, Cory A ka Bill.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Rayone.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Who doesn't who doesn't, who is just now listening to
this podcast.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I think I think.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
Bullying the host deserves a negate negation of a point.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I'm all for bullying of a host.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I also love it your land. That's fair. I can
appreciate that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
All right, So onto the defense, and I think we
can probably say that the defense is performance. In the
first half, what's arguably maybe the best that they've they've
looked all season. Some of the changes that they made
seemed to be really working.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
They were playing with a little.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Bit more energy, which I can say personally that I
had not really seen that much from them in previous games.
And they forced two turnovers, which is what they equaled
their number of turnovers that they had referred in just
one half. But the Sea Hawks are tired for the
second most giveaways this season. And Scott will start with
(14:24):
you and I want to know what is the best
way for this Commander's defense to continue that success they
had in the first half against the Chiefs before getting
away from it and also hopefully generating more takeaways against
a team that is kind of willing in a way
to just give it away.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Boy, I loved what I saw from the first half
from that Washington defense. That was what I imagined from
week one, the expectation of the intensity, the purpose flying around,
you know, Jeremy Reeves blowing up screens. It was awesome
to see the intensity that defense played in the first half.
(15:03):
Second half, they got Patrick Mahomes. I mean that as
simple as that. He proved to be why he's one
of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. So
I want them to bottle that up in that first half.
I think it's a mindset, right, I mean, you just
saw it. The defense flashed on the screen. I wasn't
there in person, but what I was watching on that
(15:25):
television kick like that one they just popped off the screen,
So I think they have to, you know. So what
happened in that first half. They made Mahomes uncomfortable, They
got a lot of pressures on him. Jacob Martin was
fantastic coming off the edge, so they rattled them and
(15:45):
that forced theme a force throw to Marshawn Lattimore making
a great play. Then it kind of snowballs where you
play with that energy, you play with that high intensity,
and balls get tipped, you get another takeaway. So I
just think it's a mindset guys, I really do, and
they can do it. They proved that in the first
half against Kansas City. If they stick to that kind
(16:07):
of the mindset and just playing with that energy and
that intensity, I think that goes a long way.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
It definitely I think, and this is kind of just
an old classic phrase, but I think defense is more
of a mindset mentality as opposed to an offense, just
in my personal opinion, because yeah, absolutely so, Chick, same question, like,
what did you think about the first half of the
matters defense?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
How do they maintain that against the Seahawks?
Speaker 5 (16:31):
Well, how do they maintain this is really the major
question for Joe wid junior. And you know, they I
use the term dumb it down, which is kind of
what they said. They took out a lot of the
complications from it, and you saw athletes reacting more so,
not being stuck in a oh where am I supposed
to be? They kind of reacted and that's what took
place in that first half. Listen, Sam Darnold ain't Patrick Mahomes,
(16:55):
and Mahomes is a different cat.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
He creates so many more.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Problems for especially a secondary because he no lineman's going
to get him on the first you know. I mean,
although Jacob got to him, but for the most part,
Liman aren't going to get to him. So now, I
mean the one play he made in the second half
where he backpedaled.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
He knew where his guy was going to be.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
He just sucked in the entire defense and said, oh
look there's a little soft underbelly fifteen yards down the field.
Bam bam. Sam Darnold doesn't have that. So I mean
to do it all game long? That is the question.
That is the question for this defense. Can they maintain
for four quarters? They have not done that. That is
a that is an issue for this defense. But they're
(17:36):
facing an offense that won't be quite as dynamic as
they saw on Monday night. I want to see. The
energy was great. The energy was great the second half
as well.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
By the way, yes, oh yeah, but they got home.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Yeah yeah, but they had my homes and so I
think that that changes the equation, uh for sure.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Yeah. And they got the turnovers.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
One was caused by the you know, by the by
the offense with the tip pass. But I think they're
feeling better about themselves and they're gaining a confidence and
that's a lot of what takes place for a defense
is when you get that and you get a push.
They got to push last week. Jacob Martin was dude,
I was there. Scott wasn't. I was there, and I
(18:16):
was I was you know, in the pregame, Jacob Martin
was right behind me doing drills with Ryan Kerrigan and
and we could feel it, like like, man, he is
explosive just just in a warm up and then it
comes out and just does the same thing in the game.
He was a captain, one of the captains obviously, and so.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
They have to be.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Look that we're in that part of the season right
now where if they don't start making an impact and
a big impact with an offense that, as we've already documented,
could be without some players again, then then they're gonna
be in trouble.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, And I think that the part of the putting
the other four quarters can be symbolic of the entire team, right,
no doubt defense, because they definitely have they have I
think maybe maybe Las Vegas, I think that was one
be one of the only time they put together full
four quarters, and even then that was a little spotty
at times. But Scott, I want to go over you
and talk about that second half specifically because one of
(19:16):
the biggest problems with the defense has been allowing explosive plays.
It's been a lingering issue, not just this year but
last year, and there were a lot of them against
the against the Chiefs in that second half. So I
don't want to simplify it and debit out to say, like,
all right, what's the problem with the how you solve
these exposive plays? But is there anything they can do
with these changes, because according to Deku, it wasn't a miscommunication.
(19:38):
They just got to get the plays right. Like what
do they do to to get some of these these
exposive plays down to maybe even not as explosive, maybe
a twenty yard game is more like a seventeen yard game,
or just kind of get limited, like stop the bleeding
a little bit.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
Well, I think if I look back and remember this
second half, there are a lot of self inflict wounds
by this Washington defense. I remember that first opening drive
out of the second half for Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Two costly penalties penalties.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Kwan Martin had the high hit fifteen yarder extended a drive.
They had a Jeremy Reeves holding penalty in the end zone.
I think it was a third down play that that
gave Kansas City new life and they they ended up
converting a touchdown. They could not get off the field
on fourth downs in this in the second half, So
a lot of it has to do with kind of
self inflicted wounds of getting off the field on third
(20:30):
down and these these silly penalties that are really kind
of costing them in certain situations.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And in terms of just limiting the explosive plays.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
That we talked about, that buzzword communication, communication, communication, and
that's what Joe what Junior harps on, that's what dan
Quinn harps on, and I asked Darnell Savage a couple
of weeks ago, what does that mean for listeners and viewers?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
What does that mean communication?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Getting that down from a defensive standpoint, he's, like Darnell said,
to kind of understand the play and what's coming at
you before it happens. So in kind of letting your
teammates knowing the guys on the back end, the linebacker,
the defensive line of what's about to happen, knowing what
play is coming, know the formation, in communicating pre snaps.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
So we'll see if they do a better job of that.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Again, the Chiefs offense is one of the most dynamic
offenses in the league, so it was a big challenge
for them to kind of limit those explosives. For the
most part, I thought they did a pretty good job.
I think they gave up three or four explosives, but again,
in a close game like that, they add up and
it eventually costs in the game.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Let me let me let me add to that with
the miscommunication stuff. First of all, it was telling that
d Q said no, no, not a miscommunication, which means, okay,
that was player error, simple as that wasn't a miscommunication.
And to Scott's point the if there's confusion, then Darnell
talking about, you know, being aware of.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
What's what's coming.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
If we're in the press box and you can see
that the defense is confused, guess who else can see that?
That quarterback who has been drilled and drilled and drilled
on the opposing defense, and when he steps up in
that shotgun, it looks and sees a cornerback waving his
hand at the safety. There's confusion. Well, that quarterback now knows,
all right, this might be my area right here because
(22:18):
they don't know what they're doing. So all I got
to do is watch that first right footstep going the
other way, and it's done. And that's where the explosives come.
Because now that quarterback knows, all right, there's an area
here that's going to be wide open because they didn't
know what they were doing, and you can't have that,
especially eight nine weeks into a season.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Chick, we'll kind of switch over here before we move
on to the final question, and I want to talk
about the pastors because they did get to get to
Mahomes a little bit there. Jacob Martin obviously had two
sacks and they're going against a Seattle quarterback, who, as
we mentioned, is not Patrick Mahomes in a lot of ways,
he's not able to escape in the way is that
that Patrick Mahomes is able to escape? So you know,
(22:57):
obviously Jacob Martin came up and stepped up here. But
with Dorren's Armstrong out for the year, and they have
to switch up a little bit, like how is Jacob Martin? Like,
obviously he's a bigger piece here, but what do you
think is going to be the answer in term to
bring more pressure, because in order to help with the secondary,
you're gonna have to get something else out of this
(23:17):
group that to be fair, it has been down three
pass rushers that's gonna be gone for a significant port
more portunate time at the earliest.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Yeah, it's stunning.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
You know, looked, everything went right last year for the Commanders,
everything went right, and this year you lose three defensive ends.
It just it doesn't make any sense. But that's that's
what this NFL is. And And the next time I
see Johnny Newton, which will be today, I might slap
him and I might get killed. But to toss Patrick
(23:47):
down just made absolutely So they're making serse penalty y
uh yeah, yeah, I mean Jacob Johnny all those guys,
and I'd like to see a young line you know,
uh be sent uh you know, to to go after
Sam Darnald King, Midrano, somebody like that, to put him
(24:08):
in there, McGee, get him, get them and go.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Just go and do it early. By the way, do
it early.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Try to confuse him and fluster him, even though he's
a veteran quarterback.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Fluster him.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
We shall move on to the final question here. Both
of you guys, he points again, tied into the final round.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
And you mentioned came Agrono check and I think that's
one of the other players who have gotten more opportunities here.
Taller Owen and Jordan McGee were two of the most
notable players last week against the Chiefs that really got
more like a significant bump and playing time as the
Stevens kind of tries to refigure itself out for the
second half of the season. But of the other defensive
(24:50):
players out there, who do you think is going to
be another guy that you would like to see get
more opportunities? Is Madrono for you or is it going
to be someone else?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Turp Savage, Yeah, he stole mine. Now now, I have
no idea who else I'm gonna pick.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
You can pick. It's okay, we picked the same one.
We just want to bet a tie and we can
kiss our sisters. A very good looking uh, I think
you look savage.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Has played. I mean for coming in later in the season.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
He's played, He's made some plays and some flash plays.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I like him a lot. He's obviously he knows what
he's doing because he's a turp.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
And uh, I think Darnell's the guy for me.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
That's the guy for.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Me to to He's going to make a play here,
whether it's this week or the next week, that's going
to uh create Uh, it's gonna be a big, big
play in a in a a game changing play. So
that's that's the guy I am looking at because he's
been solid even in the short time he's been here
(25:51):
to come in and do what he's supposed to do.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I love that, love that answer a lot, Scott, But
go ahead, go.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Go for it.
Speaker 6 (26:01):
You guys don't understand like Darnell and I go way back.
I covered this dude in high school during my Delaware
Delaware days before he went to DC, and the dude
was an athlete in high school, he was a running back,
All state running back. Such a great, great young man
outside the football field as well. And I want to
bring something up, guys that I don't think has talked
about enough. You know, we go about all these injuries,
(26:23):
so many injuries, you know, go back to Austin Eckler,
Dietrich Wise. I think one of the most underrated, not
talked about injuries this team has had this year Will Harris.
Will Harris was a blue guy in that secondary. He
was the communicator. I think they really really missed Will
Harris because remember Will Harris was supposed to sub in
(26:44):
for Jeremy Chin who's now with the Vegas Raiders. So
Will Harris had a huge role with this defense and
he's kind of the forgotten man about of all these injuries.
So I think he's been a huge loss for this team.
So that brings me back to a Darnell Savage, who's
snap count has steadily increased every single game. Against Kansas City,
(27:04):
it dipped back down again. But remember go back to
that Kansas City game.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
What happened.
Speaker 6 (27:09):
Darnell Savage punched the football out in the second half
and unfortunately Marshawn Lattimore tried to pick it up instead
of fall on it. That could have been another takeaway.
So Darnell Savage in a short sample size has made
some impact plays and he's been there and done that.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
He has a really good track record.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
I was actually surprised Jacksonville released him because he did
a lot of good things with Green Bay back in
the day. So I think getting him more incorporated in
this defense, getting a little bit more snaffs. And it
certainly doesn't hurt that he's a he's a terp as chicks.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Never, it never hurts, by the way, so will Harris
on defense and Eckler on offense. The reason that there's
not getting the big chunk plays and the reason that
the receivers, even if it's not Terry McLaurin, is because
Austin Eckler was such a problem composing defenses, whether he
got it out of the backfield or caught a swing pass,
(28:04):
he created such havoc for that linebacking corps. But now
they can sit back and wait, and that's what's what's
it's an issue there.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So anyway, yes, man, both you guys have made it
really tough for me this week because both of you
guys really brought up a lot of very excellent points here,
and man, I'm excited to see what Darnold Savage does.
I think he was a guy who created a lot
of buzz when he first got signed. Here again, Scott said,
really surprised that he was released by the Jackeville Jaguars.
(28:38):
As for the winner, I.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Know, listen before you do your spiel, I understand you
guys are team partners w s A nine, Washington. It's okay,
It's okay, I get it. It's okay.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
And you know what I understand Scott. Your two guys
with hair, so I know where this is going.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
I mean, I'm I wish this was on camera because
she was gonna wear a wig because Zach's hair is
unbelievable and and the coth that that Abraham has is insane.
And I'm like, I'm over here and just I got
chick lits.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Are you with the best hair between you and I? Scott?
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Best hair on the sideline among the media, I would say, uh,
just humble brag for ourselves.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Did you say the chick?
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Didn't you say your your your baldness was voluntary?
Speaker 4 (29:24):
Didn't you voluntary. It is voluntary.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I have won a major amount of cash by growing
on the full head of hair, and when I retire
in thirteen years, I will grow the whole whole head back.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
An Wait, all right, so winners here, Chick, remember where.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
You went to school University of Maryland.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Scott, Remember where you went to school the Syracuse University.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Well, that's all well and good, but terp stick together.
I also went to the University of Maryland for grad school.
And Chick, you are the winner of this week's episode
of the Beatdown podcast.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
I can go, I can live, if I can breathe.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Well learned, well deserved.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yes, I will say if I did believe in ties,
which I don't, Okay, I would give both.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Of you the win.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But since I can't, on principal, Chick, I gotta go
with you. There was a great, well faught round. Scott
also excellent guests. Really appreciate you coming on, guys. It's
been great, fantastic. I will go ahead and say this
definitely the best episode of the Wow you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Talked about deli meat, I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
You can't beat that, all right, quick, before we leave,
best deli meat that you guys have ever had.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
Go, I'm a honey turkey guy. So I'm a basic
boards head honey turkey.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Oh love that.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Yeah. So there's a salami.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
When I went to Italy this past a couple of
months ago, and we got the salami and uh when
I when we tasted it, me and the wife looked
at each other and went, holy moldy. And then we
can back to the States. I went to a deli
and I said, do you have this particular salami? And
the guy behind the counter said, how do you know
about that? And then he went into the back and
(31:10):
came back ten minutes later and we got two pounds
of it, and for the life for me. And the
name of it is such a weird name, I can't
recall it, but it is phenomenal. So I'm a salami
guy through and through. By the way, Scott knows I'm
big on nicknames and stuff. I used to call his
shooter with two k.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Yeah, yeah, yes, yes, So I'm gonna call now, I'm
calling Scott now forevermore this He'll be the HNB What
is hn B?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
H n B?
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yep him?
Speaker 2 (31:42):
No bread, oh no bread.
Speaker 6 (31:46):
Poor journey journeys in the journeys in the crosshairs.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Oh that's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Well, on that note, this has been a great episode. Guys,
everyone Lisening, you've been treated with just an absolute after
this week, and hopefully next week we'll be talking about
a commander's win. But until next week, this has been
the beatdown and we'll see you next week.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
I'll share the triple shot
All right, what's going on?
Speaker 2 (00:09):
What's up y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:10):
This is another episode of the Beatdown Podcast. I am
your host senior writer for they walk and think Commanders
that Selby and unfortunately we have to talk about another loss.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Right.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Twenty eight to seven was the score on Monday night
football in Kansas City. Had a rousing first half there,
seven to seven, tying up with against Patrick Holmes.
Speaker 4 (00:31):
But there we go.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
I hear you, okay, As you can tell, Chick is
gonna be one of our guests here. But either way,
it was rousing first half, but twenty one unanswered points
scored by the Chiefs, a couple of turnovers there by
the Commanders MARIOA played well, but not well enough to
pull out a win. Now they have to lick their
wounds and come back to play the Seattle Seahawks on
(00:55):
Sunday Night football with our Monks Jersey retirement. Pretty cool,
how about that? But hopefully they will carry that momentum
from arts Jersey retirement into having a better performs with
maybe Jade and Daniels coming in and playing. We'll see,
but either way, we have two guests come on to
discuss and debate to the game with me First, we
(01:15):
have Scott Abraham, sports director from ABC seven. Scott, how
you doing, man?
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Good?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Great to be out with you in Chick.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Absolutely, And we have Chicken and Is from WUSA nine, Chick,
How are you a man?
Speaker 4 (01:28):
First off? How do you go with Scott? First?
Speaker 5 (01:29):
That's what I want to know. I don't understand that.
I mean, I mean, let's let's age beauty, all of
it and then boom Scott first.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
Okay, sure whatever.
Speaker 6 (01:37):
Well, I'm just so glad he understands the best friends
have to be together.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
You know. Well, not not for nothing, chick, but you
know Scott was here early.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, yeah, just say it.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
He was.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
He was pre punctual and you were right on schedule.
Speaker 5 (01:53):
So has Scott's young Scott has young kids, so you
mine are all grown. So Scott's up early. I do
the school thing. I'm sure Scott makes lunches for the
for the for the oh yeah, what's the going lunch
right now?
Speaker 6 (02:06):
I'm just gonna Journey's a big just she likes her ham,
no bread, and she likes mandarin oranges and cut up cucumbers.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
No bread, yeah, no bread, just the sliced ham.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
YEP.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
I guess I can kind of respect that. I mean,
just was she picky with the bread? Like?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Is she just like she just likes her deli meat? No,
no bread?
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Okay, who doesn't like deli meat by the.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Way, especially me?
Speaker 6 (02:31):
Like two in the morning, you know in the morning
is the best?
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Absolutely absolutely well.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Wrong with people? All right? Sorry, sorry, that's back on course.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
After talking about not gonna happen.
Speaker 6 (02:49):
With me already got your headline for the podcast act
U Commander's Deli Meat and I don't know you finished
the rest, but deli Meat's got to be part of
the headline.
Speaker 4 (02:59):
Yeah, no bread, let's go.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yes, I think so well, everyone listening knows the deal here.
I'm gonna be asking these guys three questions about the
matchup with the Seahawks and will be giving points out
to these guys. One of these people will emerge as
a winner from this week.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
We'll see who it is.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
And with that being said, we'll jump right into it
and we will go with the Commander's run game, which
has really struggled over the last three weeks. During this
in this losing streak, they at one point they were
leading the league in rushing yards per game, but over
the last three weeks. They are twentieth in rushing yards
per game, had sixty yards against the Chiefs, including eighteen
(03:38):
in the second half. One of many problems for the
Commanders that in that second half of that matchup with
Kansas City. But DQ said he wants to get get
it back on track. It has to be an important
part of their game going forward if they're going to
have any measure of success for the rest of the
year and hopefully make a push for the playoff. We'll see,
But how exactly do the DOA is going to be
(03:58):
the main question, main top do this question here? So,
so Chick, we shall start with you. Now, wow, yeah
about that. I want to know what do you think
the cause of this, this lull in the run game
is and how do you think they're going to correct
this against the Seahawks defense that is allowing the fewest
yards per game on the ground in the NFL so
(04:19):
far of the season.
Speaker 4 (04:20):
Well, let's be let's be honest.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
You know, if you don't have Jad and Daniels back there,
the threat is not quite as much. Now, Marcus Mariotto
is really really good and he will put his body
in harm's way, But Jayden just runs like a downhill skier,
and he creates so many different problems for a defense
because they have to watch out for him. The last
(04:41):
three weeks, I think Cliffers has gone away from it
with the mixed mash of the two quarterbacks. I personally
would would like to see more Jeremy McNichols. I like Bill,
he's a rookie, He's going to learn his way. But
McNichols has had some big chunk plays almost every time
he touches the ball. So this whole running back by committee,
(05:03):
it's fine, but use all of them, and they haven't
done that, and I think that's part of the reason.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
But it just comes back to me to number five.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
He creates such havoc that when you know, opposing defensive
coordinators have told me throughout the season, we worry about
where he is at all times. I'm talking about Jaden
and he's impossible to defend unless they call plays that
make it easier. And I think cliff has done that
(05:31):
in recent times. That's why it's gone down. So I say,
you go, you get Jimmy McNichols the ball more, because
every time he touches the ball something really positive has happened.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Simple, so you test on a lot of really good
things there. I like this stuff about Jayden. I think
that Nichol stuff is also interesting, and while they're gone
away from it, I think is something with that.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
I'm going to have you expand on.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
A little bit in the Layer, but I'm allow Scott
to answer next year with the same question, what do
you think is the cause of this? And I mean,
is there a simple solution to fix it? Or is
this thing a little more convoluted than that.
Speaker 6 (06:06):
I think what dan Quinn kind of touchdown earlier in
the week of the pass in the run working in concert,
and I think there's too much of the horizontal pass
game going on right now.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Wide receiver screens, quick throws.
Speaker 6 (06:20):
I would love to see Washington try to push the
ball down the field a little bit more, a little
bit more explosive plays in the pass game, which hopefully
would open up the running game. Right now, I don't
think the pass game is a big threat for opposing defenses,
so they can really kind of key in on these
these wide receiver screens or the run game because the
(06:43):
downfield threat really isn't there. Remember, they haven't had Terry
McLaurin and Deebo, Samuel Obviously they came back for Kansas City,
but they're they're back in the lineup now. And to
add on to chicks point, I think you need to
kind of sit. I wouldn't say sit, but take a
little out of the starting lineup. He's been, Uh, he
hasn't been hasn't been great since the Chargers game. The
(07:04):
last three games, Bills kind of struggled. I don't see
the explosiveness. I would love to see maybe a little
bit more from McNichols, Chris Rodriguez.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Let them maybe get the starting nod.
Speaker 6 (07:15):
Maybe they can generate some more uh kind of buzz
with this running game.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
So uh to to push.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
The ball down the field a little bit more, maybe
give Bill a little bit of a break or kind
of my two things too, maybe help this run game going.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
And the receiver issue is part of it, right, because
it's an issue, yeah, because it's while we all would
love Luke and I like Jalen, I think we can
all agree that the plan was not to have them
as you're starting wide receivers, right because when you got
Terry and Deebo and Noah Brown who's still on IR
like that was that was the original plan. But uh,
(07:50):
you know, to go over back to you and you
mentioned Jayde, you mentioned McNichols, and I want to touch
on Jayden here a little bit because obviously he has
the hamstering injury, which he's a expected to practice this week.
We'll see how he does. You know, they're they're going
to be very careful about his availability. But if if
he that as we know, hamstring injuries are very like
(08:10):
they're very tricky because they're soft titsu injuries like and
you want to get more involved, like how how how
can they do that? Whenever you also want to protect
this guy and hopefully keep him, you know, off the
sideline for you know, an extending amount of weeks. Then
now it's his third game missed. I mean, you don't
want to miss anymore. So how do you how do
you balance the fact of keeping him involved in the
(08:32):
run game with also protecting him.
Speaker 5 (08:33):
Well, that's the problem, because the athlete is is the issue.
And as we've all seen, Jaydon Daniels is his own
man and not afraid to go anywhere, and he knows
that he is faster than any lineman, any linebacker, and
a lot of dbs and so your brain goes, oh.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
I've got an avenue. I got to go.
Speaker 5 (08:53):
And the difficult part for him is going to be,
all right, maybe I can't go full bore, and so
he's going to become more of a pocket guy, which
we all know is a little bit different. He's a
great thrower, he's a great passer. Ken Cliff designed an
offense that does that. And and to the point about Scott,
you know, wanting to go less vertical, Well, Terry was
(09:15):
really nice and Terry is the best, the best contention
catcher in the league. There is not a question about it.
But what did you say after the game? Yeah, I
got tweaked a little bit on the quad. So how
does he feel this week? And that's going to be
I think that's a bigger issue for this offense. If
Terry's not there again, then they're going back to what
they've been what they've been doing with Luke and Jalen I.
(09:39):
For for for Jaden, I just it's gonna be very
difficult for a stud horse to not run at full gallop.
And that's so then you have to design an offense
that kind of opens up passing lanes, which is exactly
what we're talking about here do they have those?
Speaker 4 (09:56):
If you don't have Terry, it's gonna be an issue.
Speaker 6 (09:58):
And I'm in the court, and i'm court if you know,
if Jayden's you know, seventy, he's probably gonna be better
than most. So do you take that risk and roll
him out there and you know, cross your fingers that
he doesn't reinjure that hamstring because as we all know,
hamstrings are really, really tricky and can be reaggravated and
(10:20):
reinjured very fast. So they got to be smart with this.
They got to be very calculated. I know it's kind
of a make or break time here with two NFC
games coming up here, and you love to have Jayden
out there, But if he's not one hundred percent and
he can't go full gallop, I don't know how effective
he can be.
Speaker 5 (10:39):
All right, By the way, I pulled a hammy getting
in my chair for this, just so you know, And Scott,
you said the R word, not the R word.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
Redsk oh, I just said almost risk. Risk, Yeah, big risk.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
And you know, those guys want to be very careful
with number five, and we all like to see him
play for.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
The bulk of the season.
Speaker 5 (11:00):
It's just you know it's it is going to be
an issue, and do you take the time to rest
him as much as possible.
Speaker 6 (11:05):
To have perfect example, Chick and Zach just go up
the road on I ninety five in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson.
He was out a month. He's finally coming back this week.
So he he missed three games, So I I will
be I will be surprised. I'm honestly, I will be surprised.
If Jayden plays uh this week, we'll see them.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
Yeah, So Scott.
Speaker 3 (11:29):
I also, before we move on to the next question,
I want to ask you because you mentioned the receivers
and all that stuff, and as Chick mentioned Terry, Terry
didn't seem as confident about his about his availability this weekend.
So say, and you say you don't want to see
all the horizontal passing game, but say Terry is aly,
what what is your solution there for that?
Speaker 2 (11:50):
Listen, j Jalen Lane, Luke McCaffrey.
Speaker 6 (11:53):
They're growing, they're learning, but they're not Terry McLaurin, they're
not Deebo Samuel. So where is the threat? If I'm
a defense I'm not scared of Jalen Lane or Luke McCaffrey.
I'm sorry, no offense to them, but they're there. They
have not arrived yet at the level of a Terry
McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. So from a schematic aspect, it
(12:15):
makes it much more challenging to run the football because
they're gonna be pushing up towards the box and there's
just no threat of the downfield pass game. So Cliff
Kingsbury is gonna have to get creative and try to
figure out ways to get more explosive down the field
passes because, uh, these defenses understand what they're trying to do,
this horizontal pass game. So it's up to Cliff Kingsbury
(12:38):
and this offensive staff to figure out a way to
kind of push this ball down the field a little
bit more.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yes, they definitely will, and I mean to just kind
of put a bow on this here, just ja Cory
Krossky marat facing I think the ninth most eight man
boxes in the league according to the Next Gen stats.
So the defenses clearly know that this is what the
commanders are gona how to do, and there's they're basically
able to over commit to it because of the of
(13:04):
the weaknesses and lack of lack of personnel receivers. So
we'll move on, but before we do that, I'll give you,
guys both points. Really great discussion there. Both good points
made on Jayden, Jaylen, lou Terry all that other stuff.
Really good discussion there. So we'll go on here and
going to the other side of the ball here.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
I'm gonna I'm gonna deduct one point from you, though, Zach,
because you call him to Cory move on now.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Oh of course, excuse me, Cory A ka Bill.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
Rayone.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Who doesn't who doesn't, who is just now listening to
this podcast.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
I think I think.
Speaker 6 (13:38):
Bullying the host deserves a negate negation of a point.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I'm all for bullying of a host.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
I also love it your land. That's fair. I can
appreciate that absolutely.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
All right, So onto the defense, and I think we
can probably say that the defense is performance. In the
first half, what's arguably maybe the best that they've they've
looked all season. Some of the changes that they made
seemed to be really working.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
They were playing with a little.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
Bit more energy, which I can say personally that I
had not really seen that much from them in previous games.
And they forced two turnovers, which is what they equaled
their number of turnovers that they had referred in just
one half. But the Sea Hawks are tired for the
second most giveaways this season. And Scott will start with
(14:24):
you and I want to know what is the best
way for this Commander's defense to continue that success they
had in the first half against the Chiefs before getting
away from it and also hopefully generating more takeaways against
a team that is kind of willing in a way
to just give it away.
Speaker 6 (14:40):
Boy, I loved what I saw from the first half
from that Washington defense. That was what I imagined from
week one, the expectation of the intensity, the purpose flying around,
you know, Jeremy Reeves blowing up screens. It was awesome
to see the intensity that defense played in the first half.
(15:03):
Second half, they got Patrick Mahomes. I mean that as
simple as that. He proved to be why he's one
of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game. So
I want them to bottle that up in that first half.
I think it's a mindset, right, I mean, you just
saw it. The defense flashed on the screen. I wasn't
there in person, but what I was watching on that
(15:25):
television kick like that one they just popped off the screen,
So I think they have to, you know. So what
happened in that first half. They made Mahomes uncomfortable, They
got a lot of pressures on him. Jacob Martin was
fantastic coming off the edge, so they rattled them and
(15:45):
that forced theme a force throw to Marshawn Lattimore making
a great play. Then it kind of snowballs where you
play with that energy, you play with that high intensity,
and balls get tipped, you get another takeaway. So I
just think it's a mindset guys, I really do, and
they can do it. They proved that in the first
half against Kansas City. If they stick to that kind
(16:07):
of the mindset and just playing with that energy and
that intensity, I think that goes a long way.
Speaker 3 (16:13):
It definitely I think, and this is kind of just
an old classic phrase, but I think defense is more
of a mindset mentality as opposed to an offense, just
in my personal opinion, because yeah, absolutely so, Chick, same question, like,
what did you think about the first half of the
matters defense?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
How do they maintain that against the Seahawks?
Speaker 5 (16:31):
Well, how do they maintain this is really the major
question for Joe wid junior. And you know, they I
use the term dumb it down, which is kind of
what they said. They took out a lot of the
complications from it, and you saw athletes reacting more so,
not being stuck in a oh where am I supposed
to be? They kind of reacted and that's what took
place in that first half. Listen, Sam Darnold ain't Patrick Mahomes,
(16:55):
and Mahomes is a different cat.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
He creates so many more.
Speaker 5 (17:00):
Problems for especially a secondary because he no lineman's going
to get him on the first you know. I mean,
although Jacob got to him, but for the most part,
Liman aren't going to get to him. So now, I
mean the one play he made in the second half
where he backpedaled.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
He knew where his guy was going to be.
Speaker 5 (17:15):
He just sucked in the entire defense and said, oh
look there's a little soft underbelly fifteen yards down the field.
Bam bam. Sam Darnold doesn't have that. So I mean
to do it all game long? That is the question.
That is the question for this defense. Can they maintain
for four quarters? They have not done that. That is
a that is an issue for this defense. But they're
(17:36):
facing an offense that won't be quite as dynamic as
they saw on Monday night. I want to see. The
energy was great. The energy was great the second half
as well.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
By the way, yes, oh yeah, but they got home.
Speaker 5 (17:48):
Yeah yeah, but they had my homes and so I
think that that changes the equation, uh for sure.
Speaker 4 (17:54):
Yeah. And they got the turnovers.
Speaker 5 (17:56):
One was caused by the you know, by the by
the offense with the tip pass. But I think they're
feeling better about themselves and they're gaining a confidence and
that's a lot of what takes place for a defense
is when you get that and you get a push.
They got to push last week. Jacob Martin was dude,
I was there. Scott wasn't. I was there, and I
(18:16):
was I was you know, in the pregame, Jacob Martin
was right behind me doing drills with Ryan Kerrigan and
and we could feel it, like like, man, he is
explosive just just in a warm up and then it
comes out and just does the same thing in the game.
He was a captain, one of the captains obviously, and so.
Speaker 4 (18:36):
They have to be.
Speaker 5 (18:38):
Look that we're in that part of the season right
now where if they don't start making an impact and
a big impact with an offense that, as we've already documented,
could be without some players again, then then they're gonna
be in trouble.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
Yeah, And I think that the part of the putting
the other four quarters can be symbolic of the entire team, right,
no doubt defense, because they definitely have they have I
think maybe maybe Las Vegas, I think that was one
be one of the only time they put together full
four quarters, and even then that was a little spotty
at times. But Scott, I want to go over you
and talk about that second half specifically because one of
(19:16):
the biggest problems with the defense has been allowing explosive plays.
It's been a lingering issue, not just this year but
last year, and there were a lot of them against
the against the Chiefs in that second half. So I
don't want to simplify it and debit out to say, like,
all right, what's the problem with the how you solve
these exposive plays? But is there anything they can do
with these changes, because according to Deku, it wasn't a miscommunication.
(19:38):
They just got to get the plays right. Like what
do they do to to get some of these these
exposive plays down to maybe even not as explosive, maybe
a twenty yard game is more like a seventeen yard game,
or just kind of get limited, like stop the bleeding
a little bit.
Speaker 6 (19:54):
Well, I think if I look back and remember this
second half, there are a lot of self inflict wounds
by this Washington defense. I remember that first opening drive
out of the second half for Kansas City.
Speaker 2 (20:06):
Two costly penalties penalties.
Speaker 6 (20:07):
Kwan Martin had the high hit fifteen yarder extended a drive.
They had a Jeremy Reeves holding penalty in the end zone.
I think it was a third down play that that
gave Kansas City new life and they they ended up
converting a touchdown. They could not get off the field
on fourth downs in this in the second half, So
a lot of it has to do with kind of
self inflicted wounds of getting off the field on third
(20:30):
down and these these silly penalties that are really kind
of costing them in certain situations.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
And in terms of just limiting the explosive plays.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
That we talked about, that buzzword communication, communication, communication, and
that's what Joe what Junior harps on, that's what dan
Quinn harps on, and I asked Darnell Savage a couple
of weeks ago, what does that mean for listeners and viewers?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
What does that mean communication?
Speaker 6 (20:58):
Getting that down from a defensive standpoint, he's, like Darnell said,
to kind of understand the play and what's coming at
you before it happens. So in kind of letting your
teammates knowing the guys on the back end, the linebacker,
the defensive line of what's about to happen, knowing what
play is coming, know the formation, in communicating pre snaps.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
So we'll see if they do a better job of that.
Speaker 6 (21:22):
Again, the Chiefs offense is one of the most dynamic
offenses in the league, so it was a big challenge
for them to kind of limit those explosives. For the
most part, I thought they did a pretty good job.
I think they gave up three or four explosives, but again,
in a close game like that, they add up and
it eventually costs in the game.
Speaker 5 (21:39):
Let me let me let me add to that with
the miscommunication stuff. First of all, it was telling that
d Q said no, no, not a miscommunication, which means, okay,
that was player error, simple as that wasn't a miscommunication.
And to Scott's point the if there's confusion, then Darnell
talking about, you know, being aware of.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
What's what's coming.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
If we're in the press box and you can see
that the defense is confused, guess who else can see that?
That quarterback who has been drilled and drilled and drilled
on the opposing defense, and when he steps up in
that shotgun, it looks and sees a cornerback waving his
hand at the safety. There's confusion. Well, that quarterback now knows,
all right, this might be my area right here because
(22:18):
they don't know what they're doing. So all I got
to do is watch that first right footstep going the
other way, and it's done. And that's where the explosives come.
Because now that quarterback knows, all right, there's an area
here that's going to be wide open because they didn't
know what they were doing, and you can't have that,
especially eight nine weeks into a season.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
Chick, we'll kind of switch over here before we move
on to the final question, and I want to talk
about the pastors because they did get to get to
Mahomes a little bit there. Jacob Martin obviously had two
sacks and they're going against a Seattle quarterback, who, as
we mentioned, is not Patrick Mahomes in a lot of ways,
he's not able to escape in the way is that
that Patrick Mahomes is able to escape? So you know,
(22:57):
obviously Jacob Martin came up and stepped up here. But
with Dorren's Armstrong out for the year, and they have
to switch up a little bit, like how is Jacob Martin? Like,
obviously he's a bigger piece here, but what do you
think is going to be the answer in term to
bring more pressure, because in order to help with the secondary,
you're gonna have to get something else out of this
(23:17):
group that to be fair, it has been down three
pass rushers that's gonna be gone for a significant port
more portunate time at the earliest.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
Yeah, it's stunning.
Speaker 5 (23:27):
You know, looked, everything went right last year for the Commanders,
everything went right, and this year you lose three defensive ends.
It just it doesn't make any sense. But that's that's
what this NFL is. And And the next time I
see Johnny Newton, which will be today, I might slap
him and I might get killed. But to toss Patrick
(23:47):
down just made absolutely So they're making serse penalty y
uh yeah, yeah, I mean Jacob Johnny all those guys,
and I'd like to see a young line you know,
uh be sent uh you know, to to go after
Sam Darnald King, Midrano, somebody like that, to put him
(24:08):
in there, McGee, get him, get them and go.
Speaker 4 (24:12):
Just go and do it early. By the way, do
it early.
Speaker 5 (24:14):
Try to confuse him and fluster him, even though he's
a veteran quarterback.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Fluster him.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
We shall move on to the final question here. Both
of you guys, he points again, tied into the final round.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
How about that?
Speaker 3 (24:26):
And you mentioned came Agrono check and I think that's
one of the other players who have gotten more opportunities here.
Taller Owen and Jordan McGee were two of the most
notable players last week against the Chiefs that really got
more like a significant bump and playing time as the
Stevens kind of tries to refigure itself out for the
second half of the season. But of the other defensive
(24:50):
players out there, who do you think is going to
be another guy that you would like to see get
more opportunities? Is Madrono for you or is it going
to be someone else?
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Turp Savage, Yeah, he stole mine. Now now, I have
no idea who else I'm gonna pick.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
You can pick. It's okay, we picked the same one.
We just want to bet a tie and we can
kiss our sisters. A very good looking uh, I think
you look savage.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Has played. I mean for coming in later in the season.
Speaker 5 (25:18):
He's played, He's made some plays and some flash plays.
Speaker 4 (25:22):
I like him a lot. He's obviously he knows what
he's doing because he's a turp.
Speaker 5 (25:27):
And uh, I think Darnell's the guy for me.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
That's the guy for.
Speaker 5 (25:31):
Me to to He's going to make a play here,
whether it's this week or the next week, that's going
to uh create Uh, it's gonna be a big, big
play in a in a a game changing play. So
that's that's the guy I am looking at because he's
been solid even in the short time he's been here
(25:51):
to come in and do what he's supposed to do.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I love that, love that answer a lot, Scott, But
go ahead, go.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Go for it.
Speaker 6 (26:01):
You guys don't understand like Darnell and I go way back.
I covered this dude in high school during my Delaware
Delaware days before he went to DC, and the dude
was an athlete in high school, he was a running back,
All state running back. Such a great, great young man
outside the football field as well. And I want to
bring something up, guys that I don't think has talked
about enough. You know, we go about all these injuries,
(26:23):
so many injuries, you know, go back to Austin Eckler,
Dietrich Wise. I think one of the most underrated, not
talked about injuries this team has had this year Will Harris.
Will Harris was a blue guy in that secondary. He
was the communicator. I think they really really missed Will
Harris because remember Will Harris was supposed to sub in
(26:44):
for Jeremy Chin who's now with the Vegas Raiders. So
Will Harris had a huge role with this defense and
he's kind of the forgotten man about of all these injuries.
So I think he's been a huge loss for this team.
So that brings me back to a Darnell Savage, who's
snap count has steadily increased every single game. Against Kansas City,
(27:04):
it dipped back down again. But remember go back to
that Kansas City game.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
What happened.
Speaker 6 (27:09):
Darnell Savage punched the football out in the second half
and unfortunately Marshawn Lattimore tried to pick it up instead
of fall on it. That could have been another takeaway.
So Darnell Savage in a short sample size has made
some impact plays and he's been there and done that.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
He has a really good track record.
Speaker 6 (27:29):
I was actually surprised Jacksonville released him because he did
a lot of good things with Green Bay back in
the day. So I think getting him more incorporated in
this defense, getting a little bit more snaffs. And it
certainly doesn't hurt that he's a he's a terp as chicks.
Speaker 5 (27:44):
Never, it never hurts, by the way, so will Harris
on defense and Eckler on offense. The reason that there's
not getting the big chunk plays and the reason that
the receivers, even if it's not Terry McLaurin, is because
Austin Eckler was such a problem composing defenses, whether he
got it out of the backfield or caught a swing pass,
(28:04):
he created such havoc for that linebacking corps. But now
they can sit back and wait, and that's what's what's
it's an issue there.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So anyway, yes, man, both you guys have made it
really tough for me this week because both of you
guys really brought up a lot of very excellent points here,
and man, I'm excited to see what Darnold Savage does.
I think he was a guy who created a lot
of buzz when he first got signed. Here again, Scott said,
really surprised that he was released by the Jackeville Jaguars.
(28:38):
As for the winner, I.
Speaker 6 (28:40):
Know, listen before you do your spiel, I understand you
guys are team partners w s A nine, Washington. It's okay,
It's okay, I get it. It's okay.
Speaker 4 (28:51):
And you know what I understand Scott. Your two guys
with hair, so I know where this is going.
Speaker 5 (28:57):
I mean, I'm I wish this was on camera because
she was gonna wear a wig because Zach's hair is
unbelievable and and the coth that that Abraham has is insane.
And I'm like, I'm over here and just I got
chick lits.
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Thanks a lot.
Speaker 1 (29:10):
Are you with the best hair between you and I? Scott?
Speaker 3 (29:14):
Best hair on the sideline among the media, I would say, uh,
just humble brag for ourselves.
Speaker 1 (29:21):
Did you say the chick?
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Didn't you say your your your baldness was voluntary?
Speaker 4 (29:24):
Didn't you voluntary. It is voluntary.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
I have won a major amount of cash by growing
on the full head of hair, and when I retire
in thirteen years, I will grow the whole whole head back.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
An Wait, all right, so winners here, Chick, remember where.
Speaker 4 (29:39):
You went to school University of Maryland.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Scott, Remember where you went to school the Syracuse University.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
Well, that's all well and good, but terp stick together.
I also went to the University of Maryland for grad school.
And Chick, you are the winner of this week's episode
of the Beatdown podcast.
Speaker 4 (29:58):
I can go, I can live, if I can breathe.
Speaker 2 (30:02):
Well learned, well deserved.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
Yes, I will say if I did believe in ties,
which I don't, Okay, I would give both.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Of you the win.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But since I can't, on principal, Chick, I gotta go
with you. There was a great, well faught round. Scott
also excellent guests. Really appreciate you coming on, guys. It's
been great, fantastic. I will go ahead and say this
definitely the best episode of the Wow you.
Speaker 2 (30:32):
Talked about deli meat, I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
You can't beat that, all right, quick, before we leave,
best deli meat that you guys have ever had.
Speaker 6 (30:41):
Go, I'm a honey turkey guy. So I'm a basic
boards head honey turkey.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Oh love that.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Yeah. So there's a salami.
Speaker 5 (30:47):
When I went to Italy this past a couple of
months ago, and we got the salami and uh when
I when we tasted it, me and the wife looked
at each other and went, holy moldy. And then we
can back to the States. I went to a deli
and I said, do you have this particular salami? And
the guy behind the counter said, how do you know
about that? And then he went into the back and
(31:10):
came back ten minutes later and we got two pounds
of it, and for the life for me. And the
name of it is such a weird name, I can't
recall it, but it is phenomenal. So I'm a salami
guy through and through. By the way, Scott knows I'm
big on nicknames and stuff. I used to call his
shooter with two k.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Yeah, yeah, yes, yes, So I'm gonna call now, I'm
calling Scott now forevermore this He'll be the HNB What
is hn B?
Speaker 2 (31:38):
H n B?
Speaker 4 (31:39):
Yep him?
Speaker 2 (31:42):
No bread, oh no bread.
Speaker 6 (31:46):
Poor journey journeys in the journeys in the crosshairs.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Oh that's fantastic.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
Well, on that note, this has been a great episode. Guys,
everyone Lisening, you've been treated with just an absolute after
this week, and hopefully next week we'll be talking about
a commander's win. But until next week, this has been
the beatdown and we'll see you next week.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
I'll share the triple shot
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