As the Commanders' training camp reaches its stride, players are honing their skills with determined focus and a special emphasis on red-zone scenarios. Tuesday's practice, the sixth of the camp, included the third session with fans in attendance and the second one conducted in full pads, providing a simulation of the physicality and intensity of real game situations.
Quarterback Battle Heats Up
The dynamic between Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota continues to be a focal point, as both quarterbacks split first-team reps. Daniels showcased his arm strength and accuracy by hitting Olamide Zaccheaus with a deep ball up the right sideline during 11-on-11 sessions, a play that electrified the watching crowd. Further emphasizing his playmaking ability, Daniels connected with Jahan Dotson along the sideline and later made a solid throw to Terry McLaurin up the opposite sideline. During the final team session, Daniels capped his day by finding Dotson and threading a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz, providing a glimpse of his offensive potential.
While Daniels had several highlights, not every play was flawless. He experienced a bungled handoff with Jeremy McNichols and endured a streak of missed throws. These moments serve as reminders of the learning curve Daniels needs to navigate as he refines his consistency in high-pressure situations.
Offensive Line and D-Line Intensity
On the offensive front, Brandon Coleman played a critical role, rotating between the first and second teams at both left and right tackle. Coleman faced off against veteran defenders Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell, gaining invaluable experience against seasoned players. Reflecting on his performance, Coleman shared, "There's always like three points in my brain that I'm telling myself in the next period if I didn't do it well. Like today, it was my hands were pretty bad in the first period. I was like, 'Work on my hands, work on my balance, keep my chest up.'"
Adding to his insightful comments on the adaptation process, Coleman noted, "D-linemen in the league have a bunch of secondary and third moves. Their knowledge of what o-linemen do is so vast compared to college... That's stuff that I just have to engrain in my brain, like shit’s not over until the whistle blows."
Tremayne delivered a mixed bag, making two downfield catches from Mariota after an early drop, illustrating the resilience and capacity for improvement expected at this level of competition.
Defensive Standouts
On the defensive side, Mike Sainristil has emerged as a linchpin of the starting defense, frequently involved in the return game and showcasing his relentless play style. "Part of it is just my play style. I'm a guy that's gonna go hard until the whistle's blown. And then the second part of it is just getting myself to make that second nature for me, so that when it comes game time, I don’t even have to think about stuff like that," Sainristil commented, underscoring his commitment to ingraining these attributes into his game.
Jer'Zhan Newton also had a notable day, earning his first taste of first-team reps. Newton's impact was immediate, forcing McNichols to cut back during a play, demonstrating his ability to disrupt the offensive flow. In addition, K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste were prominent presences during practice, contributing to a chaotic environment for the offense.
Special Teams and Consistency
Consistency remains a hallmark for some players, none more so than Jahan Dotson. Dotson, one of the camp's standout performers, summed up his approach succinctly: "I feel like I'm just getting more comfortable, and that's enabling me to play faster and faster. That's been a big emphasis for me."
Kicker Ramiz Ahmed displayed flawless precision during the team portion of Tuesday's practice, not missing a single field goal attempt. Ahmed successfully converted kicks from as far as 51 yards with plenty of distance, solidifying his reliability as the team inches closer to the regular season.
As training camp continues, the Commanders are steadily piecing together the elements that will make up their 2023 roster. Each practice session, brimming with both stellar performances and critical learning moments, is carefully shaping the team's readiness for the grueling season ahead. With key battles still unfolding and players like Daniels and Dotson stepping up, the Commanders’ future looks promising as they strive to transform potential into performance on the field.