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Do not look now, however NFL preseason is barely a month away, and earlier than we all know it, it will be time to spend each Sunday afternoon parked in entrance of the TV cheering on our favourite groups.
For the Washington Commanders, this 12 months is a transitional 12 months with rookie QB Jayden Daniels and first-year head coach Dan Quinn among the many many new faces within the constructing. Let us take a look at 5 daring predictions for a way their season may play out.
1. The offensive line shall be a lot improved
Washington had many weak spots in 2023, however the largest was the offensive line, which allowed 65 sacks in the course of the season. The road barely improved all year long — after giving up 40 sacks within the first seven games, it gave up solely 25 within the remaining 10.
The Commanders’ O-Line was revamped over the offseason. Charles Leno Jr., Nick Gates and Tyler Larsen are not on the crew, whereas Tyler Biadasz, Nick Allegretti and rookie Brandon Coleman are in. Rising star Sam Cosmi stays the group’s chief and will emerge as a Professional Bowl-caliber participant. Between all that and the truth that Daniels’ mobility ought to assist him prolong performs, you may make a good guess that the Commanders will not hand over one other 65 sacks this 12 months.
2. Jeremy Chinn emerges as Washington’s finest free agent signing
The Commanders introduced in a laundry record of free brokers in the course of the 2024 offseason — 22 in total — together with some massive names equivalent to Bobby Wagner, Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz. Many gamers have been introduced in to be veteran presences whereas others are low-risk flyers, but one title stands out as a possible high-impact contributor.
Suppose the title of former Carolina Panthers security Jeremy Chinn rings a bell for Commanders followers. In that case, it is probably as a result of he was thought of one of many main opponents to Washington’s Chase Younger for NFL Defensive Rookie of the 12 months honors in the course of the 2020 season. His numbers have steadily dipped since, with accidents taking part in a task the previous two seasons, however maybe a change of surroundings might reignite him.
3. Brian Robinson is the crew’s prime offensive participant
By two seasons up to now, RB Brian Robinson Jr. has merely lacked alternatives. His rookie 12 months was notably hampered when he was shot in the leg earlier than the season, after which in 2023, when he grew to become the full-time lead again, the Commanders refused to run the ball underneath OC Eric Bieniemy.
That should not be an issue now, and even with the signing of Ekeler, it ought to be Robinson who will get a lot of the run (actually) within the backfield. He’ll expertise a breakout 12 months by eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark and making his first Professional Bowl, and can, at occasions, be carrying Washington’s inexperienced offense on his again.
4. Emmanuel Forbes flips “bust” narrative with main bounce-back 12 months
Of the numerous Commanders gamers who have been oft-criticized in 2023, one of many prime scapegoats needed to be rookie cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, who struggled to make an influence and was benched a number of occasions for poor play. Forbes, the sixteenth general choose within the 2023 draft, recorded just one interception regardless of being drafted as a infamous ball hawk.
Nevertheless, that “bust” narrative will flip in 2024 thanks largely to Washington’s hiring of former Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. as its new defensive coordinator. Whitt was a serious a part of the event of Cowboys gamers equivalent to Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland into interception machines, and he’ll be precisely what Forbes wants to show issues round.
5. The Commanders end above .500
Maybe it is a bit irrationally optimistic, however with the way in which the NFL schedule is constructed to extend parity and the unpredictable nature of the sport, we have seen loads of last-place groups expertise fast turnarounds the next season. The Commanders (then the Washington Soccer Staff) have been one among them in 2020, the final time they employed a brand new head coach. Rivera took them to the playoffs and gained the NFC East that season at 7-9.
Washington will not win the division in 2024, given how robust the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are. Nonetheless, it is not unreasonable to assume they might compete for a playoff spot in a fairly weak NFC outdoors of these two groups, the San Francisco 49ers and the Detroit Lions. So let’s go forward and name it proper right here: the 2024 Washington Commanders will end 9-8, barely lacking out on the postseason.
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