What major observations emerged from Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell's preseason performance against the Baltimore Ravens?
After catching the eye during limited involvement against the Cleveland Browns, quarterback Sam Howell took to the field for the first time since head coach Ron Rivera officially named him QB1. This was something many expected based on how things have unfolded throughout the offseason, but the hard work starts now in pursuit of better fortunes in 2023.
Howell got the chance to showcase what he has to offer in front of a national NFL audience on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens. The former fifth-round selection lived up to his billing, producing a fine first-half effort as the Commanders ended the record-breaking unbeaten run of John Harbaugh's men during warmup games.
This was another positive step in the right direction for Howell. Whether he'll play in Washington's preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals remains to be seen, but he'll go into the campaign brimming with confidence nonetheless.
With this in mind, here are three major observations from Howell's preseason performance against the Ravens at FedEx Field.
Sam Howell was composed
There's been a level of calmness to Sam Howell's time under center in recent weeks that's hard to ignore. It was another polished performance from the North Carolina product with ESPN in attendance against the Baltimore Ravens, displaying the composure normally associated with productive NFL quarterbacks throughout his time on the field.
Howell got sacked twice - which was thanks in no small part to holding onto the football for too long. He owned up to these errors after the contest, but it was almost flawless aside from that en route to a fantastic 123.4 passer rating.
Perhaps Howell's laid-back demeanor helps with the composure with which he plays and goes through progressions. It won't be perfect all the time, but this was better than even the brightest Washington Commanders optimist envisaged all things considered.
Sam Howell was ruthless
If there was one thing that held the Washington Commanders back at football's most crucial position, it was a lack of killer instinct. Some were solid if not spectacular, but most just didn't have the credentials needed to get this team where they need to go.
Sam Howell looks different in that regard. His production on Monday night was exactly why head coach Ron Rivera's had so much faith in the second-year-pro despite having one career start under his belt, but he'll be the first to admit it's a team effort.
The conviction with which Howell distributed the football was nothing short of exemplary. He looked confident, got throws into tight windows, and made the most of red-zone opportunities when they arrived.
Howell finished the night with a 76 percent pass completion rate for 188 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also carried the football three times for 17 rushing yards to further enhance his influence.
The longer Howell gets in the pocket, the better he is. That might ring true for almost any quarterback, but it's a stark reminder of how important the Commanders' offensive line is to their hopes for genuine progress on offense under Eric Bieniemy in 2023.
Having this sort of precision, ruthless efficiency. and poise coupled with the X-factor traits Howell brings to the table, it's not hard to see why there's so much excitement. Although it still represents a journey into the proverbial unknown for everyone involved.
Commanders might have something special in Sam Howell
Again, it's only the preseason and this is normally the time of year when overreactions occur frequently for good or bad. However, it's becoming pretty apparent that the Washington Commanders might have something special with Sam Howell.
Howell has gifts that cannot be taught. His level of dynamism is higher than any Washington quarterback since Robert Griffin III and everyone within the organization seems convinced that he is the man to get this once-proud franchise back to prominence.
When discussing Howell's performance following the triumph, head coach Ron Rivera said via NFL.com that his signal-caller did exactly what was required. It's also clear that he has the coach's supreme confidence with Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals now on the immediate horizon.
"I thought Sam did exactly what we were expecting him to do. He went out, executed, took control of the offense, took control of the huddle, and did a good job at the line of scrimmage. There are a couple things I know that he does want to have back, but I thought he executed and handled the situation, circumstances the way he needed to."Ron Rivera via NFL.com
Howell has the arm, can improvise on the move, and seems to be finding different ways to pick teams apart with some outstanding pass-catchers at his disposal. Something that could mean the Commanders have finally found their franchise quarterback at last if everything continues trending upward when competitive games commence.