What were some critical observations from the fifth official day of Washington Commanders' organized team activities ahead of the 2023 season?
With the Washington Commanders preparing to embark on an exciting new era without Dan Snyder, the tempo and energy have been noticeably high throughout organized team activities so far. Something those in power will be hoping continues throughout the preparation period ahead of what promises to be an emotionally-charged Week 1 encounter against the Arizona Cardinals at FedEx Field.
There are always going to be some errors this early in the process. OTAs are designed to find out what works and what doesn't before mandatory minicamp and training camp, but it's been refreshing to see everyone on the same page as attention firmly focuses on football once again.
Of course, there is a chance everything goes wrong, but it won't be for a lack of trying before the campaign. Based on what's transpired over the first few days of OTAs, the Commanders could be among the surprise packages in 2023 if certain position groups improve as expected.
With that being said, here are four critical observations from Day 5 of Washington's organized team activities as preparations continue for the 2023 season.
Commanders inspired by familiar faces
One couldn't ignore two special guests at practice on Wednesday, who lent their support and offered invaluable advice to Washington Commanders players ahead of a critical campaign for the franchise in 2023. Something those on the roster would be wise to take on board.
Ray Brown, who was an offensive lineman in Washington over two spells before turning his attention to coaching, spoke about establishing a winning culture. Former running back Clinton Portis - who needs no introduction after a glittering career - also discussed the importance of putting in the work at this stage of the summer to reap the rewards when competitive games arrive.
Considering the esteem in which both ex-players are held across the Commanders franchise, their thoughts should hold a lot of weight among those following in their footsteps.
Commanders TE Cole Turner's nice day
After the Washington Commanders were dealt a significant blow last week with the torn Achilles suffered by Armani Rogers, it piled further pressure on those within the tight end room to step up and make their presences felt. Otherwise, it will make the team's decision not to bolster the position group this offseason look especially foolish.
Logan Thomas is the No. 1 option and has performed well throughout early off-season workouts. But another option came to the fore on Wednesday with arguably his strongest practice since joining the Commanders as a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
There's a lot to like about Cole Turner from a physical standpoint. It wasn't the easiest rookie campaign due to injuries and a lack of reps, but the former Nevada star clearly senses an opportunity for additional targets next time around and is looking to catch the eye of Eric Bieniemy and others throughout the preparation period.
Turner looks to be developing some impressive chemistry with quarterback Sam Howell, which is the most sure-fire way to guarantee his fair share of passes in 2023. This was especially evident during a 30-yard connection and he also provided Jacoby Brissett with an assured presence thanks to a jaw-dropping sideline catch.
There is a long way to go and health will undoubtedly be a factor. But if Turner keeps this sort of performance level up during the summer when things get more serious, the player could be set for a huge leap forward.
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.
Commanders could have something in Quan Martin
When the Washington Commanders ignored help on the offensive line in favor of taking their second-straight defensive back to begin the 2023 NFL Draft, it left many scratching their heads in proverbial disbelief. However, listening to others outside of the building has never been Ron Rivera's preferred approach to roster building looking at his career to date.
Despite needs elsewhere, the Commanders felt like Quan Martin could offer something a little different from what they already possessed. The former Illinois standout has some outstanding physical traits to call upon, which have been on show throughout Washington's early on-field workouts to further raise expectations.
Martin has been working with the first-team defense plenty throughout OTAs and hasn't disappointed. There is no legal hitting as yet - which is a big part of the player's game - but there seems to be a level of conviction in coverage and sound positional sense that could mean extended reps come his way immediately next season.
The criticism surrounding Washington's decision to take Martin was nothing to do with the player's talent. He showed that in abundance throughout an exceptional spell with the Fighting Illi, so the Commanders will be hoping for a similar output no matter where they line him up from one down to the next.
There will be sterner tests ahead. But for now, it's so far and so good for Martin's transition to the Commanders.