Which Washington Commanders news stories are hitting the headlines with just three days remaining until the team's first official training camp practice?
Well, what a weekend that was. The Washington Commanders are finally under new ownership and everyone associated with the franchise begins a new week excited for what's to come rather than looking ahead with trepidation.
The news and rumors continue as the countdown for Washington's opening training camp practice on Thursday continues. Among the stories generating column inches include Chase Young's importance, Josh Harris' promise, the Commanders' defense boasting elite credentials, and Mitchell Rales lays out his own intentions.
Let's delve into each topic in more detail.
Mitchell Rales makes Commanders intentions clear
Although Josh Harris got the plaudits as the new majority partner of his ownership group, it's unlikely the sale goes through without the presence of Mitchell Rales. Another wealthy billionaire with close connections to the region, he grew up watching the Washington Commanders and jumped at the chance to become a part of this ambitious project when approached.
Based on his comments via USA Today Sports, Rales is extremely excited about what the future holds. However, he was also keen to point out that it must be a collective effort in pursuit of getting this once-proud franchise back to relevancy.
"So we’re here to really build this again from the bottom up, the right way, by engaging everybody in a passionate, inspiring way. And we’re going to need help from everybody here. Not just us. We can’t do it on our own. We’re going to work our butts off, but we need everybody to rally to the occasion."Mitchell Rales via USA Today Sports
The sale completion has completely galvanized the fanbase. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but the new owners couldn't have made a better first impression in recent days.
Elite defense can carry Commanders in 2023
Although there are questions about the offense and whether it can make the necessary improvements under Eric Bieniemy's expert guidance, there are no such concerns where the Washington Commanders' defense is concerned. This unit looks primed for another campaign of supreme dominance, which should keep games close and give them a fighting chance at the very least.
This was a sentiment echoed by Kristopher Knox from The Bleacher Report, who stated that the Commanders don't need elite quarterback production to make the playoffs. Instead, they can lean on their formidable defense to carry them into postseason contention.
"If [Sam] Howell can hold off Jacoby Brissett and perform better than last year's tandem of Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz did, Washington might just be a playoff contender. The reason for this—and the reason Washington should feel confident about its chances—is a defense that is among the NFL's best. The Commanders ranked third in yards allowed last season, seventh in points allowed and eighth in defensive red-zone touchdown rate (51.9 percent), according to Pro Football Reference. No team was better defensively on third down (31.9 percent conversion rate). The Commanders don't need elite quarterback play to be a playoff team in 2023. They only need Howell and/or Brissett to be average, and the optimist's view is that at least one of them will."Kristopher Knox, The Bleacher Report
Washington still needs to put points on the board and this league is being driven more towards offenses in recent years. However, the saying 'defense wins championships' exists for a reason.
If the Commanders' secondary creates more turnovers and health doesn't become a factor, Jack Del Rio's defense is going to be a real problem.
Josh Harris' promise to Commanders fans
Josh Harris wasted no time getting to work once his ownership group officially took charge of the Washington Commanders. The $6.05 billion sale was a long time coming, which brought obvious feelings of relief mixed with a sense of humbleness based on the figurehead's demeanor throughout a whirlwind few days in its immediate aftermath.
Harris knows what needs to be done. And in an open letter to fans via The Washington Post that was later featured on the team's website, the billionaire laid out a series of ambitious promises as he looks to restore the Commanders among other NFL powerhouses after more than two decades in the proverbial football wilderness.
"It's no secret that these past years have been tumultuous for our franchise and our fans, but today marks a new era for the Commanders. From day one, it is our top priority to deliver you a championship caliber team. With a proven track record of winning across sports and business, we invest and plan for long term success. We listen, we learn, and we are eager to immerse ourselves in this franchise to guide it with the respect and dignity it deserves. Most importantly, we hope to earn your trust. We look forward to meeting you in the community and soon at FedExField and learning how we can make the maximum positive impact. Our promise is simple: We will do the work, create the culture and make the investment needed to deliver for this team and for Washington."Josh Harris via Commanders.com
These are lofty goals for Harris and his group. But their experience, passion, and connections to the franchise could result in things progressing much quicker than anticipated.
The fact Harris placed this letter in the Washington Post is also telling. There were few things Dan Snyder hated more than the publication owned by Jeff Bezos, so restoring this relationship represents a shrewd early move from the new regime.
Commanders DE Chase Young's importance
As previously stated, the Washington Commanders will be heavily reliant on their defense in 2023 until Eric Bieniemy's offense shows the consistency needed over a prolonged period. This bears more significance for their defensive line, which is loaded with first-round talent and is also getting Chase Young back healthy.
It's been a difficult two seasons thanks to injury complications for Young. The Commanders didn't pick up his fifth-year option as a result, but they are not giving up on their defensive end by any stretch of the imagination.
Young should be highly motivated to silence some increasing doubters and give the Commanders a nice headache next spring. Doug Wasserman from Pro Football Focus even went as far as to name the former Ohio State standout as Washington's most important player outside of quarterback Sam Howell in 2023.
"If the Commanders are going to make a playoff push this season, their talented defense will be the primary reason. Young, the most talented player of the group, needs to bounce back after returning from a knee injury late last season. [Chase] Young has all the tools to be a great pass rusher. He showed as much in his only full season in 2020, parlaying an 87.4 overall grade into a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. His injury derailed his ascent to elite status, but he’s still just 24 years old. He has the talent to get there and turn Washington’s defense into an elite unit. The Commanders have a slew of solid pass rushers. A healthy Chase Young should be better than all of them."Doug Wasserman, Pro Football Focus
Staying on the field is the key component for Young. If he can do this, the numbers should follow working alongside high-level performers such as Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, and Montez Sweat on arguably the best defensive front in football.