Nobody associated with the Washington Commanders will be looking back on last season with any great fondness. It was a catastrophe almost from start to finish, but the page has been turned in no uncertain terms.
Head coach Dan Quinn demanded nothing less over Washington's offseason program.
There was urgency. There was renewed belief. There was a collective desire to put things right, with everyone from the franchise cornerstones to the undrafted rookies all displaying the resolve needed to lay better foundations.
Dan Quinn demanded a response from his Commanders players, and they delivered
Quinn and his staff raised the tempo of practices. They let everyone know that last season's poor standards will not be tolerated moving forward. They demanded more connection between the players and a sense of desperation after a five-win campaign that brought almost nothing but misery.
And they got it.
"Last year I felt [we] just weren't as connected. I was looking at desperation and being hungry."
Obviously, it takes much more to win in the NFL. But compared to last offseason's atmosphere, it represents a refreshing change of pace.
Complacency became an issue early on. Beat writers noticed it over the summer, and the Commanders got found out during the regular season. Terry McLaurin's absence during a long contract standoff that went on much longer than expected had a bigger impact than most envisioned, and Washington couldn't recover.
It was unacceptable. It was way below the standards set during a remarkable first year under Quinn's guidance. And the Commanders are working hard to ensure it will not happen again.
The Commanders sent the right message. Quinn wanted a response from his players, and he must like what he's seen so far. There is a long way to go, and things will get a lot tougher over training camp, preseason games, and joint practices, but everything is proceeding as planned so far.
Keeping this up is essential.
There is no time for half-measures with so much at stake next season. Everyone has to keep their foot on the throttle, continue to bond as a band of brothers, and hold each other accountable. If the Commanders can do that, and they get a better run of luck on the injury front, this squad has the talent to be much more competitive.
Quinn's been around the league long enough to know what might come next if he cannot make the strides needed. The pressure is increasing, but he's never lost the locker room. That speaks volumes, and the strong start made in early workouts confirms that the Commanders are not going down without a fight this time around.
It's left a good impression. But the hard work is just getting started.
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