It’s hard to believe, but the majority of NFL training camps open in less than two months. All 32 NFL teams began Offseason Training Activities earlier this month, or, in some cases, this week. The Washington Commanders were among the teams to kick off OTAs this week, with the first practice on Wednesday.
Everyone was happy in Ashburn on Wednesday. Head coach Dan Quinn spoke ahead of Day 1, expressing excitement for “spring ball.”
Advertisement
“I’m pumped to get rolling with the guys on the field,” Quinn said on Wednesday. “Spring ball is an important part of our ramp-up for training camp, as you can imagine, with two new systems. Looking for excellent communication, all three phases and working really hard on the specific skills that go into these plays. And that’s the movements, that’s the skill, that’s what you have to go through, you know, over these next few weeks on the play design.”
So, what happened on Wednesday?
Here are some takeaways from Day 1 of Commanders‘ OTAs.
You can’t take too much of non-contact drills. But it’s good to see Daniels off and running in offensive coordinator David Blough‘s new offense. Here’s what Zach Selby of commanders.com said about Daniels playing under center.
Daniels looked efficient throwing the ball and moved with fluidity during individual drills. There were several changes for Daniels to adjust to entering his third season, including a new offense that requires him to play more under center.
The real test comes when training camp opens, but for now, this is what we have, and it is encouraging. It’s not like Daniels has never played under center before. However, in his final two seasons at LSU and his first two NFL seasons, he primarily played out of the shotgun or pistol formations. There are many things to consider when playing under center. For one, it’s the snap exchange between the quarterback and center. Remember, Nick Allegretti is expected to be Washington’s center in 2026. There appeared to be no hiccups. The remaining part of the OTAs is an excellent opportunity for Daniels to not only gain more experience under center but also continue building confidence with Allegretti in a new position.
Advertisement
Things are off to a good start. Washington believes Daniels will be even more dangerous in an offense that’s less predictable and uses more play action, which will benefit the young quarterback.
It appears to be a battle at left guard between Brandon Coleman and Chris Paul. Remember, Coleman began last season as the starter at left guard, but was replaced by Paul in Week 3. Paul played well, holding onto the job, while Coleman returned to offensive tackle, spelling Laremy Tunsil late in the season. He played in that role and as an extra blocker in jumbo packages. With the tackle spots locked down between Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr., Coleman has a chance to get back into the starting lineup at left guard, which is where he worked on Wednesday. Paul re-signed with Washington in the offseason, but he’ll have to beat out Coleman to earn the job. Expect this battle to go into training camp and the preseason.
Treylon Burks worked with the starting receivers
We stress again: it’s Day 1 of OTAs, this may mean nothing, but Burks worked with the starters on Wednesday. Many believe Washington will add another veteran starter, such as Stefon Diggs or Brandon Aiyuk. But neither are there yet. We wrote earlier this week about the opportunity that exists for Burks. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Burks is a former first-round pick, entering his fifth NFL season. He’s only 26. Is it true that Burks may never live up to being a first-round pick? Sure, but there’s no pressure in Washington. He was a street free agent, re-signed to a one-year deal. It’s a fresh start for a talented player in a new offense, where he’s clearly liked.
Advertisement
So, while it may mean nothing about the role the Commanders envision for him, it could also mean they like him enough to give him reps with the starters to see how he responds.
Chig Okonkwo could be the team’s No. 2 receiver
We must stress that no contact is allowed, but new tight end Chig Okonkwo just looks different. While everyone is concerned about which receiver the Commanders could add, what if he’s already on the roster? Okonkwo is dangerous after the catch; he’s fast, but he also runs with power. This offense, under Blough, will be more TE-friendly. The Commanders gave Okonkwo a solid three-year deal, so they’re expecting big things. Rookie WR Antonio Williams will be heavily involved in the offense, with Terry McLaurin as the No. 1. However, don’t rule out Okonkwo as being Jayden Daniels’ second-favorite target. Remember how much Daniels loved Zach Ertz? Okonkwo is a different type of player than Ertz, but he should thrive in this offense.
Laremy Tunsil in town is good news for everyone
There was no concern about Tunsil showing up in July, out of shape and not ready to play. That’s not who he is. He’s always worked extremely hard away for the team, often skipping voluntary work. That’s what he did last year, in his first season for the Commanders. However, Tunsil, who took on a leadership role for Washington’s offensive line last season, was present on Wednesday. That’s a big deal for many reasons. Tunsil already has his contract. He could’ve skipped OTAs and showed up next month. Instead, he showed up for the young offensive linemen, like Josh Conerly Jr., who look up to him. He showed up for his young quarterback, Jayden Daniels. And, perhaps, most importantly, he showed up for David Blough. OTAs are critical for new coordinators or head coaches. Blough is installing a different offense, so having his superstar offensive tackle present was huge.
Advertisement
In fact, the Commanders had 100% attendance. A few players did not practice, but they were recovering from injuries or offseason surgeries. A great start to the offseason program for head coach Dan Quinn.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: 5 takeaways from Day 1 of OTAs
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
