3 winners (and 4 losers) from the Commanders' loss at the Buccaneers in Week 1
By Dean Jones
Winner No. 1
Brandon Coleman - Commanders OT
Brandon Coleman got a full week of practice in after missing some time over the summer with a shoulder complication. Head coach Dan Quinn stated his third-round rookie was raring to go, but the Washington Commanders still erred on the side of caution in Week 1 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Veteran Cornelius Lucas started at left tackle and was inconsistent at best. Coleman also got some work with the first string throughout the contest. It was briefer than many anticipated, especially considering there was a lot to like about his production when in the lineup.
The former TCU star looked assured in pass protection, mirroring oncoming pass-rushers well and getting some push in the run game for good measure. This was a big confidence boost for the edge presence. With another full week of practice this week, expect Coleman to get the lion's share of work in Week 2 against the New York Giants.
There were very few positives to take from this one. Coleman's flashes during limited involvement were one of them.
Loser No. 2
Mike Sainristil - Commanders CB
Mike Sainristil left an impressive impact over the summer. The Commanders were thrilled with the rookie cornerback's progress and immediately placed him into a starting role. It's very early days for the second-round pick, but this was a baptism of fire in no uncertain terms.
Sainristil found life extremely difficult against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' prolific wide receivers. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin had their way with Washington's secondary en route to 144 receiving yards and three touchdowns from 13 receptions between them. The former Michigan standout wasn't the only one at fault, but his production wasn't anywhere close to the required standard.
This could end up being a good thing for Sainristil. Every young cornerback gets their welcome to the NFL moment. If the first-year pro was under any illusions about the size of his upcoming challenges at the game's pinnacle, this was a rude awakening right out of the gate.
A big response is needed from Sainristil and the entire defense overall. Joe Whitt Jr. is going to lay into them this week. How they bounce back is critical to Washington's hopes of getting their home slate off to a strong start.