How did Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell look during his first preseason outing at the Cleveland Browns?
All eyes were on Sam Howell as he took the field for his first taste of game-day action since an encouraging Week 18 performance against the Dallas Cowboys to conclude the 2022 campaign. That was enough for the Washington Commanders to move forward with the former fifth-round selection as their starting quarterback this time around, which is a big-time risk with new ownership ready to make landmark changes if things don't go well.
Howell's done well overall at camp against an elite-looking Commanders' defense. It's not been easy and Eric Bieniemy's rode him hard, but it's brought a positive response heading into last night's warmup contest at the Cleveland Browns.
Although Howell was in for only three series' during the clash, there was a lot to like about the way he went about his business. With that in mind, here are three critical observations from the North Carolina product's performance.
Sam Howell looked confident
Much has been made about Sam Howell's lack of experience. That doesn't seem to be bothering the Washington Commanders too much and judging by the quarterback's level of confidence on Friday evening, it's something he's taking in his stride.
Howell looked in command pre-snap, didn't force the issue at any stage, and put his mobility to good use when called upon. He was also largely accurate and came away with a touchdown after connecting with second-year wide receiver Jahan Dotson on a filthy route.
This was a solid foundation from which to build. The Cleveland Browns had their first-string defense out there with Howell aside from stud edge rusher Myles Garrett, so it was encouraging to see the signal-caller more than hold his own.
Commanders OL need to help Sam Howell
Sam Howell's got the talent. The arm is live and he looks poised more often than not under center, which is a far cry from anything the Washington Commanders have trotted out at football's most crucial position in recent years.
If there was one thing that could hold Howell back above all else, it is Washington's offensive line. This was a major weak link last season and despite a significant revamp throughout the spring, the same pattern emerged at the Cleveland Browns to begin their preseason engagements.
Howell had to improvise often as the pressure came. This also resulted in Cleveland securing a safety when the quarterback couldn't get free in the end zone as the protection in front of him crumbled.
The line gave up some penalties when Howell was on the field and the signal-caller was sacked once for a loss of eight yards. There is a lot to like about his athleticism to get out on the move and make things happen, but it's less than ideal and something that must change at the earliest possible opportunity.
Washington ignored some outstanding interior offensive line prospects in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. It's still early and further chemistry will arrive, but this decision could come back to haunt them if things don't progress considerably over the next fortnight.
Howell can make things happen if given time. But that wasn't a luxury afforded to the second-year-pro as often as he would have liked in this one.
Pleasing first outing for Sam Howell
It wasn't perfect. Nobody expected it to be.
But as first preseason games go, this was a pretty decent one for Sam Howell in the grand scheme of things.
Howell was accurate, took advantage of opportunities when they arose, and coped well with collapsing pockets impressively. There's a long way to go before further confidence in his chances of becoming a franchise-changing quarterback emerges, but the Washington Commanders couldn't have asked for anything more.
This was a sentiment echoed by head coach Ron Rivera, who was clearly pleased with Howell's production based on his comments via Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
"Very encouraged. A lot of good things. I thought, again, he threw some really good balls. I thought the decision-making was what you want. He looked to have command of things, and it was good to see him get into a rhythm."Ron Rivera via Washington Post
This is a great opening for Howell and one he can build upon. There are two more preseason games to navigate before the Commanders take the field in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, but the signal-caller did nothing to suggest he isn't more than capable of providing the consistency improvements needed.
One must also take into account adverse weather conditions that descended on the Cleveland Browns Stadium before and during the clash. Something that makes Howell's performance all the more impressive.