4 critical observations from Commanders-Ravens joint practice No. 1

What were some critical observations from the Washington Commanders' first joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens before their preseason game?

There was an enormous sense of excitement in the air as the Washington Commanders clashed against the Baltimore Ravens for the first of two joint practices. This was seen as a decent measuring stick for Ron Rivera's men at an important stage of their preparations versus a team that is expected to challenge for playoff honors if everyone stays clear of injuries.

Whether the Commanders have similar ambitions has yet to be determined. The talent is there aside from one or two position groups, but much will also depend health front and if Washington can depend on quarterback Sam Howell to deliver the goods despite his lack of NFL experience.

Baltimore was a tremendous test as expected of any team led by John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson. With that in mind, here are four critical observations from the Commanders' opening joint practice with the Ravens.

Commanders and Ravens got chippy

The practice was supposed to go on for 2.5 hours. But its physical nature coupled with the searing heat meant aggression spilled over on a few occasions to bring the session to an abrupt halt.

Among those in the thick of things were Emmanuel Forbes and Jamin Davis. A few other skirmishes threatened to break out, which provoked an immediate response from Ron Rivera and John Harbaugh to avoid any further unnecessary issues.

There aren't many joint practices around the league that don't have a scuffle or two. Some harsh words were no doubt said by the coaching staff in their respective locker rooms, but it's definitely something to keep an eye on tomorrow.

Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes will be just fine

Much has been made about how Emmanuel Forbes might cope with the physical aspect of NFL play given his slender frame. However, the Washington Commanders must be thrilled with what they've witnessed from the cornerback throughout the preparation period.

Forbes made an aggressive goal-line stand against the Cleveland Browns in preseason Week 1. He followed this up by standing his ground and more versus a Baltimore Ravens passing attack that was looking to test the defensive back's mettle from start to finish.

As has been the case since the Commanders took Forbes at No. 16 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, he passed the test with flying colors. There were numerous pass breakouts and he stopped wideouts quickly when they did manage to get their hands on the football, so it was another impressive outing where the former Mississippi State standout was concerned.

And based on how Forbes reacted to a cheap shot from Tylan Wallace, he's going to be just fine.

It would be a huge surprise if Forbes didn't emerge as a real difference maker for the Commanders based on his smooth integration into the organization this summer. There might be some teething problems right out of the gate, but his athleticism and feared instincts could mean he's the missing piece of the defensive puzzle.

Commanders DT Daron Payne was dominant

There was absolutely no way the Washington Commanders were going to let Daron Payne leave in free agency. The defensive tackle enjoyed the best campaign of his professional career by a considerable margin in 2022, earning a Pro Bowl honor and securing 11.5 sacks en route to a megabucks contract extension.

Payne signed a four-year, $90 million deal with $59 million guaranteed and immediately set about repaying this faith. The former Alabama star has been one of the offseason standouts at camp, displaying his elite-level explosiveness and brute strength alongside Jonathan Allen on Washington's formidable defensive line.

Washington's first joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens allowed Payne to showcase his supreme athletic gifts to a wider audience. He was nothing short of dominant in one-on-one drills according to those in attendance, which is a positive sign heading into Year 6 of his professional career.

Much will depend on health, obviously. But the Commanders look to have a player in Payne that comes into the new season with All-Pro potential. Becoming more disciplined against the run is the next big challenge, but there's nothing to suggest improvements cannot arrive based on what's transpired since he put pen to paper.

Containing former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson was almost impossible once he left the pocket, but Payne and the defensive front deserve praise for making things extremely difficult throughout their opening joint session.

Commanders WR duo excel

The Washington Commanders are counting on their talented wide receiver room conjuring the magic for quarterback Sam Howell to thrive next season. Eric Bieniemy's dynamic scheme should put them in better positions to make the plays needed, but the onus is still on the top four or five on the depth chart to execute effectively.

While there wasn't anything given away in terms of Washington's scheme deployment during their first joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, the performances of Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel caught the eye in no uncertain terms. Both veterans were polished in terms of route-running, creating separation almost at will and displaying the ball skills needed for some memorable highlights along the way.

When one examines the potential complications for the Commanders' offense, McLaurin and Samuel are way down the list. The former Ohio State duo are dependable and productive, fully aware of their importance to the organization during such a crossroads campaign for many in positions of power.

In Samuel's case, health can become a factor. But there should be extra motivation to remain on the field and put up lofty numbers given his contract is up in 2024.

If McLaurin and Samuel keep up this sort of consistency and others such as Jahan Dotson take leaps forward, it's hard to envisage a scenario where the Commanders don't make significant strides on offense with Bieniemy leading the charge.