4 critical observations from Commanders 2023 OTAs Day 5
By Dean Jones
Commanders adopting different Sam Howell methods
The Washington Commanders are leaving nothing to chance with Sam Howell this offseason. They've placed a significant amount of faith in the quarterback finally providing some much-needed stability under center, so every little detail is constantly examined to ensure maximum production when competitive games begin.
One of the most interesting revelations from head coach Ron Rivera was the fact Howell is being mic'd up by the Commanders in practice. This is providing the coaching staff with a clearer indication of the signal-caller's approach in the huddle, his command of the scheme, and how he's assisting teammates on any given down.
When asked about Howell's presence on the mic, Rivera stated via the team's website that he's been impressed so far. However, there is a long way to go and improvements to be made before further confidence in the North Carolina product arrives.
"We've only done it a couple of times, but you see the growth already and for me, it was pretty good. I was watching it this morning. A couple things that really stood out to me was really his confident level in terms of calling the huddle, breaking the huddle, getting to the line of scrimmage, making his calls, and then operating the offense."
- Ron Rivera via Commanders.com
Howell knows this is going to be a gradual process. What's important for the 2022 fifth-round selection is soaking up every piece of information, gaining more trust from other established Commanders players, and coming up with the goods in big moments.