A Washington Commanders 2022 Review and Analysis

Defensive Line

If the wide receivers were the best unit on the offense, then the defensive line takes the same honors on the other side of the ball. Daron Payne enjoyed his best season as a pro. Jonathan Allen continues to play at a very high level. Rookie defensive tackle John Ridgeway was acquired early in the season from the waiver wire and became a valued contributor from the moment he stepped on to the field. Montez Sweat had another great season. Various defensive linemen performed at a solid level as well. Grade: A

Linebackers

After an early season public scolding from the head coach, Jamin Davis went on to have a fairly good season. The bad news is that Cole Holcomb went on injured reserve after playing in just seven games. He was on pace for 168 tackles in what would’ve been his best season thus far. His loss was monumental. Other linebackers simply couldn’t fill that void and the unit struggled at times in the second half of the season. Grade: C-

Cornerbacks

The cornerbacks are another unit that endured a tough season, but persevered through injuries and a bust that was traded away before the deadline. Benjamin St-Juste is becoming a solid corner, but he was shut down late in the season with an injury. Kendall Fuller finished the season with a pair of pick-six touchdowns and the former Hokie put forth a determined effort to show that he is still an effective corner. Danny Johnson’s impact in the second half of the season was mixed, but he did have some good plays along the way. Grade: C+

Safeties

At this time last year, only one safety was having an impact – Kamren Curl. He churning out another great season until an injury sidelined him in the latter games of 2022. The free safety position was a concern, but Darrick Forrest stepped forward in a surprisingly positive way. With Bobby McCain and rookie Percy Butler. The safety positions were a weakness in recent years, but it is now a major strength of the team. Grade: A-

Special Teams

This unit is the most difficult to grade. It was such a mixed bag for the Commanders in 2022, but there are plenty of positives to talk about. Punter Tress Way was named to the Pro Bowl a few weeks ago – enough said. Kicker Joey Slye was consistent in 2022, but had a few stumbles on occasion. He also hit on several field goals beyond 50 yards. Kick returning duties were primarily handled by running back Antonio Gibson and he was above average, but not spectacular. Punt reutner Dax Milne really wasn’t impressive at all, but to his credit, the former BYU Cougar didn’t fumble the ball away this season. Grade: B+

Coaches

Early in the 2022 season, the offense was on fire and the defense was struggling mightily. After a few games, the script was flipped as the offense was having major issues and the defense shined. As a result, the Commanders finished their third straight non-winning season under Ron Rivera. Shortly after the season ended, offensive coordinator Scott Turner was fired and the roster is likely to see some changes in the offseason. Grade: D

Final Thoughts on 2022

The first game of the season had fans excited and hopes were as high as they have been in a decade. The excitement quickly faded, but a mid-season rally raised hopes again. Commanders’ fans deserve better.

A new owner and offensive coordinator will raise hopes once again, but fans should take a wait-and-see approach. The Commanders should do what it takes to restore trust in 2023 and beyond.

There are your grades and analysis of the 2022 season. Let’s move forward and put all of our attention on the offseason. See you as we go along.