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There was a lot of excitement surrounding the Washington Commanders last summer ahead of training camp. It made sense, considering Washington was coming off a 12-5 season and an unexpected appearance in the NFC Championship Game. However, something felt off once the Commanders began training camp.
Part of the issue was wide receiver Terry McLaurin's extended holdout over his contract. But even during practice, something felt off. One criticism often heard last summer was that head coach Dan Quinn ran too soft a training camp. Players would strongly disagree, as Quinn is known for taking care of his players, especially the veterans.
After Washington finished 5-12, Quinn knew changes were needed. He moved on from both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in favor of a more traditional offense and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. David Blough was promoted to replace Kingsbury, while the Commanders hired Daronte Jones away from the Minnesota Vikings to run the defense.
We learned of Washington's schedule last week. It's a difficult start to the season for the Commanders. We also know which three teams Washington will play in the preseason. Washington faces the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens in the preseason. We also know the Commanders will have a joint practice with the Dolphins on Aug. 12 in Ashburn.
That's not the only one.
On Monday, we learned that the Commanders and Baltimore Ravens will schedule a joint practice this summer. The two teams were supposed to have one last summer, but it was canceled due to what was referred to as a scheduling conflict. Now, the teams are scheduled to play on Aug. 28, with the joint practice slated for Aug. 26.
This is a smart decision by the Commanders. They looked unprepared early in the season last year. The starters didn't get enough work in the preseason, and it showed on the field. This time around, Quinn is planning to give his team more work. What does this mean for the preseason? Well, we likely won't know until the summer, but the joint practices are just as important, if not more so, than the preseason games. It gives coaches on both sides a chance to see their players against the starters on another team. That's invaluable.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders add another joint practice to training camp
Continue reading...
Part of the issue was wide receiver Terry McLaurin's extended holdout over his contract. But even during practice, something felt off. One criticism often heard last summer was that head coach Dan Quinn ran too soft a training camp. Players would strongly disagree, as Quinn is known for taking care of his players, especially the veterans.
After Washington finished 5-12, Quinn knew changes were needed. He moved on from both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in favor of a more traditional offense and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. David Blough was promoted to replace Kingsbury, while the Commanders hired Daronte Jones away from the Minnesota Vikings to run the defense.
We learned of Washington's schedule last week. It's a difficult start to the season for the Commanders. We also know which three teams Washington will play in the preseason. Washington faces the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, and Baltimore Ravens in the preseason. We also know the Commanders will have a joint practice with the Dolphins on Aug. 12 in Ashburn.
That's not the only one.
On Monday, we learned that the Commanders and Baltimore Ravens will schedule a joint practice this summer. The two teams were supposed to have one last summer, but it was canceled due to what was referred to as a scheduling conflict. Now, the teams are scheduled to play on Aug. 28, with the joint practice slated for Aug. 26.
This is a smart decision by the Commanders. They looked unprepared early in the season last year. The starters didn't get enough work in the preseason, and it showed on the field. This time around, Quinn is planning to give his team more work. What does this mean for the preseason? Well, we likely won't know until the summer, but the joint practices are just as important, if not more so, than the preseason games. It gives coaches on both sides a chance to see their players against the starters on another team. That's invaluable.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders add another joint practice to training camp
Continue reading...
