What were some critical observations from the 11th official day of practice for the Washington Commanders at their 2023 training camp?
There seems to be no let-up in preparations for the upcoming campaign after one of the most dramatic offseasons in Washington Commanders franchise history. But as preseason games and joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens come onto the immediate horizon, the smell of real football is officially in the air.
Optimism is higher than ever among the fanbase thanks to Dan Snyder's departure. Whether that can transition to the playing side of things remains to be seen, but Ron Rivera won't get another year to see out his project if significant improvements aren't made.
It's an interesting time that's for sure. With this in mind, here are four critical observations from practice No. 11 at Washington's training camp in 2023.
Commanders still waiting on Logan Thomas
Concerns are growing about Logan Thomas after the veteran tight end missed his third-straight practice with a calf issue. When one considers the Washington Commanders also had a day off on Saturday, it's four days without any football-related activity.
Thomas is an integral part of the team's plans within Eric Bieniemy's offense next season. The Commanders didn't strengthen the tight end spot during the offseason and potential breakout star Armani Rogers is already out for the year, so losing the former quarterback for any lengthy period of time would be disastrous.
Perhaps the Commanders are just erring on the side of caution at this stage of their preparations. But it's something for fans to monitor with Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals a little over one month away.
Commanders LG battle resumed
There was one bit of good news on the injury front on Monday. The Washington Commanders got Saahdiq Charles back into the lineup after missing a few practices with a calf strain, which immediately resumed the ongoing left guard position battle between the former fourth-round selection and Chris Paul.
It was a non-padded practice, but those in attendance did take note of Charles and Paul splitting starting reps throughout. The one-time Tulsa star caught the eye working alongside Charles Leno Jr. in his teammate's absence, although getting the better of Washington's outstanding defensive front consistently is an almost impossible task.
The Commanders haven't named a definitive No. 1 at the position yet, which is the only place up for grabs on the offensive line. Just when Ron Rivera will announce the winner has yet to be determined, but one suspects he'll want to get a closer look at both in preseason games before coming to a final conclusion.
Charles has talent but can barely stay healthy. Paul is one with the upside, but his lack of genuine gameday NFL experience is something that represents a voyage into the unknown in this scenario.
Time will tell and Rivera will play the best man. But this is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating position competitions from a starting capacity remaining at training camp.
Commanders got a lighter workload
The Washington Commanders have done some impressive work in pads during camp. However, it can take a toll on the players at a time of year when everyone is fighting for depth positions or in some cases, their jobs.
Ron Rivera and his staff are finding the right balance between intensity and more relaxed sessions. The NFL rules help, but taking care of the players with injuries piling up is absolutely essential to avoid further complications closer to the campaign.
It was a shorter, less testing workload for the Commanders on Monday. This resembled more of an OTA feeling without the popping of pads, but something that eased the roster into another week that will conclude with their preseason outing at the Cleveland Browns.
These sorts of sessions are a good way to focus on more intricate aspects. Walking through specific plays that are proving complicated, refining techniques, and working things out at a less frantic pace might not be the most exciting to the average fan, but it's all part of the process.
This could be the trend more often than not this week heading into their opening warmup fixture. The Commanders won't want to put too much on their players - especially those further down the depth chart likely to generate the most snaps - plus there is also a day of travel to throw into the equation for good measure.
Commanders could feature screen plays heavily
It might have been a more relaxed session ahead of the upcoming challenges, but Eric Bieniemy still managed to keep the tempo high all things considered. This also featured a heavy dose of screens according to those in attendance, which is something the Washington Commanders will be using a lot as part of their new dynamic offensive system.
Bieniemy deployed this plenty during his time devising the offense alongside Andy Reid with the Kansas City Chiefs. This involves a lot of pre-snap motion, confusing opposing coverage schemes, and getting playmakers the football in space with blockers plowing the road in front.
The Commanders certainly have the weapons available to make a success of the screen game. Antonio Gibson, Brian Robinson Jr., and Curtis Samuel would be prime candidates for touches, with Jahan Dotson another capable of gaining significant yardage if the right situation presents itself.
Of course, this is all dependent on calm distribution from Sam Howell. Throwing screen passes is arguably among the most simple tasks, but that won't be the case if the former fifth-round selection out of North Carolina becomes flustered behind an offensive line that still has more questions than answers.
Having an effective screen game makes everything else easier. And there is nobody better to steer the Commanders through this process than Bieniemy.