As the Commanders' training camp continues into another week, the players' focus has been on refining key aspects of their game, with significant attention given to red-zone efficiency.
On Tuesday, the team marked its sixth practice of the camp, the third session with fans cheering from the sidelines, and the second day in full pads, providing a glimpse into the mounting intensity and excitement surrounding the team.
Quarterback Competition Heats Up
Among the highlights of the practice was the ongoing quarterback competition between Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. Daniels has been splitting reps with the first team, and he's been making the most of his opportunities. He showcased his deep-throw capability, connecting with Olamide Zaccheaus on a remarkable deep ball up the right sideline during an 11-on-11 session. Daniels also demonstrated his precision by finding Jahan Dotson along the sideline and making a solid throw to Terry McLaurin on the opposite side. In the final team session, Daniels capped off a drive by threading a touchdown pass to Zach Ertz, adding another highlight to his day's efforts.
However, the practice wasn't without hiccups for Daniels, who experienced a bungled handoff with Jeremy McNichols and a series of missed throws. These moments will undoubtedly serve as a learning experience as he competes fiercely for the starting role.
Offensive Line Dynamics
On the offensive line, Brandon Coleman has been displaying his versatility, playing with both the first and second teams at both left and right tackle. His matchups against seasoned veterans such as Dorance Armstrong Jr., Dante Fowler Jr., and Clelin Ferrell have been notable. Reflecting on his focus areas, Coleman said, "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.'"
Coleman also highlighted the intricacies of adapting to the professional level, noting, "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."
Receiving Corps and Defensive Standouts
Jahan Dotson has emerged as one of the most consistent performers in camp. His comfort and speed have been evident, and he spoke about this progress: "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."
On the defensive front, Mike Sainristil has been a constant presence in the starting lineup, contributing significantly to the return game as well. Demonstrating his commitment to relentless effort, Sainristil remarked, "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."
Jer'Zhan Newton also made waves by taking his first reps with the first team during this camp, where he forced McNichols to cut back on a play. Additionally, K.J. Henry and Javontae Jean-Baptiste made their presence felt, adding depth and competition to the defensive unit.
Special Teams and Final Highlights
Special teams practice saw kicker Ramiz Ahmed deliver a flawless performance, converting all his field goal attempts during the team portion of Tuesday’s practice. Ahmed made his longest field goal from 51 yards out with plenty of distance to spare, showcasing his reliability and range.
As training camp progresses, each session brings valuable insights into player performances and team dynamics. The fierce competition and development witnessed thus far signal that the Commanders are honing their skills and strategies, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.