Reviewing Commanders player predictions made before 2022 season

You’re so good-looking – Jamin Davis

One of the main reasons Holcomb’s play improved was the simultaneous improvement of his running mate Jamin Davis. I never doubted Davis would get better. In his rookie season, he was woefully mismanaged. He was asked to play middle linebacker – the most difficult position on defense – despite his very limited experience on college.

Once coaches Rivera and Del Rio alleviated some of that pressure, Davis’ natural athleticism and work ethic were bound to emerge. I was always impressed by how Davis handled him rookie-year troubles. To wit – he said almost nothing. He didn’t whine. He didn’t complain about his coaches or the fans. He kept his head down and put in his work. He got better, and I expect that upward climb will continue.

Mea maxima culpa – Trai Turner

I was worried about Trai Turner. Now, it turns out that concerns about his health remain legit. But I have to admit that my concerns went beyond that. I thought that he was largely done at just 28. His fall had been so precipitous. A young multi-time Pro Bowler who no one seemed to want very much. And it did look that way early on, when he was not fully healthy. But when he returned to the starting lineup after healing up, Turner showed that he is still capable of playing at a very high level. For about a three-week run in the middle of this latest hot streak, I thought he was out best offensive lineman – something I never would have believed at the beginning of the season.

Give yourself a hand – Montez Sweat

There are actually people some fans and analysts who thought that Montez Sweat was underperforming early this season because his sack total was low. That just shows you how obsessed we can become with one or two stats, and how much our perceptions can be warped when we do. Sweat was clearly playing a disruptive role from the beginning of the year, and as time wore on, he began to accumulate the sacks, batted balls, and TFLs to show it. I never doubted him, and I can’t wait to see what happens when a fully healthy Chase Young returns to play the other side.

Oops – Saahdiq Charles

The flip side of Trai Turner is Saahdiq Charles. I really thought this was going to be his breakout year. He had gotten some experience playing guard, and he had gotten a few years to mature (Charles was just 20 when he was drafted.) I thought for sure he would emerge as a stalwart on the interior of the line. He got his shot, and he did nothing with it. Turner and Andrew Norwell, Sam Cosmi and Wes Schweitzer – all of them are ahead of Charles now on the interior line depth chart and his future with the Commanders is much in doubt.