4 huge disappointments from the Commanders loss at NY Giants in Week 7

Commanders coaching: Part No. 2

Sam Howell might well break David Carr’s seemingly unbreakable sack record by mid-season. He has been sacked at least four times in every game this year.

For the second consecutive week, the Washington Commanders allowed their opponent to get healthy - equaling or surpassing their season sack total in one game. This is an absolute disgrace whichever way one looks at it.

There has been some debate as to whether this is the fault of the offensive line or the fault of Howell. To be sure, the quarterback needs better pocket awareness, and the Commanders do not have a very good offensive line. But today, let’s look at the coaching.

Travelle Wharton was elevated this off-season from assistant line coach after John Matsko was let go. We do not have much of a track record on which to judge yet. But Sunday was ugly. 

The Giants blitzed relentlessly and Washington’s line was entirely overmatched. Dexter Lawrence ate center Nick Gates alive. Both tackles were cleanly beaten multiple times.

But more alarming was the number of blown assignments. Saahdiq Charles totally whiffed on a stunt pickup on one sack. On another, Andrew Wylie blocked inside leaving no one in the way of the edge rusher.

Washington’s linemen aren’t very good and they will get beaten. But it looked for much of the game that the Commanders had no idea that Wink Martindale was going to blitz them.