4 critical observations from Commanders-Ravens joint practice No. 2

What were some critical observations from the Washington Commanders' second day of joint practices with the Baltimore Ravens?

After a chippy first joint practice between the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, the two sides locked horns once again for what turned out to be another fascinating session on Wednesday. Things threatened to boil over early on, but the atmosphere simmered down and both teams got a tremendous amount out of the experience.

This will have aided Ron Rivera's evaluations considerably ahead of finalizing his 53-man roster. The Commanders now have a couple of days' less strenuous activity before their preseason outing against the Ravens on Monday night, which also has the benefit of being on the bright national lights of ESPN.

There was a lot to unpack, for sure. With that in mind, here are four critical observations from Washington's second joint practice with John Harbaugh's men.

Commanders kept the intensity high

As previously stated, things got out of hand during the first joint practice and the two head coaches brought an abrupt end to proceedings. It didn't look like Wednesday's session would run that long after a few skirmishes early, but everyone focused on the task at hand once they got this extra aggression out of their system.

The Washington Commanders didn't back down an inch and more importantly, kept the intensity high throughout. Ron Rivera's preached the importance of controlled physicality throughout camp, which has clearly been taken on board by his players in their quest to improve before Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals arrives.

Commanders remain cautious with Chase Young

The Washington Commanders are banking on defensive end Chase Young staying healthy and making a lasting contribution during the 2023 campaign. There was once again an erring on the side of caution approach from those in power regarding the stud pass-rusher on Wednesday, who is still feeling the effects of a stinger suffered during the team's preseason win at the Cleveland Browns in Preseason Week 1.

There's absolutely no point putting Young in harm's way and increasing the risk of further complications. This is still the preparation stage and one also must take into account the concerning injury history surrounding the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft as a reason for proceedings with extreme caution.

According to those in attendance, Young participated in individual drills before sitting out the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11. This keeps the edge presence sharp while also avoiding any unnecessary time completely out of the picture.

Whether Young takes the field on Monday night remains to be seen. While it would beneficial to see the one-time Ohio State star out there in some capacity after he missed so much football over the last two years, there's a high chance Ron Rivera doesn't dress the player to keep the bigger picture in mind.

The stakes couldn't be much higher for Young in 2023. If he misses the remainder of the preseason in order to be fully ready for Week 1, nobody should be moaning too much.

Better day for veteran Commanders CBs

While Emmanuel Forbes was the big standout during the first joint practice, it proved to be a difficult day for the more veteran cornerbacks. Thankfully, this changed on Day 2.

Kendall Fuller and Benjamin-St Juste looked much more assured across team scrimmages. There were times when they were beaten during one-on-ones, but this was encouraging overall.

If both corners keep this up throughout the campaign and Forbes also lives up to his own lofty expectations, the Washington Commanders finally have a prolific cornerback trio to call upon. Something that could elevate this already outstanding defense to heights not seen before.

If there was one big knock on the Commanders' defense last season, it was their lack of turnovers. That's why Forbes became their top priority before the draft and it's why hopes are high for a genuine breakout campaign from St-Juste if he manages to stay clear of injuries.

The Baltimore Ravens offense is a difficult proposition to overcome these days. Lamar Jackson's weapons are dangerous and renowned in equal measure, so to see Fuller and St-Juste holding their own with supreme effectiveness was immensely positive.

As for Forbes, it seems like the Commanders might have a genuine superstar on their hands. Whether he can match such an exceptionally-high ceiling is the million-dollar question.

Commanders can benefit from Sam Howell/Jahan Dotson connection

Sam Howell is growing in stature with every passing practice. Ron Rivera might not be ready to officially announce his QB1 for the Washington Commanders' season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, but this supposed contest was over a long time ago looking at how things have unfolded so far.

Howell took another significant leap forward over joint practices against the Baltimore Ravens. He was assured on Day 1 and took full advantage of multiple cornerbacks missing the session today with a polished performance according to those in attendance and watching on the hosts' YouTube channel.

The rapid-fire release, ability to go through progressions, and making plays on the move were there for all to see. It's also becoming clear that his blossoming connection with Jahan Dotson is something that can propel the Commanders to great things next season and beyond.

Both are second-year players with a ton of talent. Both also know exactly how important they are to the team's success in the short and long term.

That's why developing this cohesion early in their careers is going to be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Considering how Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel are also coming along throughout Washington's preparations, this offense could be set for significant strides under Eric Bieniemy's guidance in 2023.

Of course, the offensive line is critical. But the Commanders might be on to something with Howell manning the plate.