ASHBURN, Va. — Not every training camp practice carries equal weight. Putting on pads changes the standard rhythms.
“It really is the start of football,” tight end Zach Ertz said after the Washington Commanders’ fifth practice day and the first with pads. “The grass basketball is kind of just gone and behind us, and we get to play real football.”
If we’re keeping it real, that notion only goes to a point since “there’s no tackling” and teammate-on-teammate crime is verboten. “But this is going to be the most competitive (work) besides the preseason games that we’re going to get until Game 1,” Ertz continued.
Future Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and world-class tackler Bobby Wagner corroborated this camp mile marker.
“It’s a big deal because it’s you getting closer and closer to what a real game feels like,” Wagner said. “Also, you have to understand that, for most guys, they haven’t put pads on since the season ended last year, and that’s a long time. You’re going to have a little rust, but this is the time to get that rust out and start getting into that game mode.”
FIRST DAY OF PADS 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/H8HnC6AAuk
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) July 29, 2024
Coaches wasted no time emphasizing practice work, focusing on where most hitting occurs.
“The line of scrimmage is where the emphasis is,” coach Dan Quinn said. “I want to make sure we’re doing it correctly. Our leverage of how we’re entering into a block or taking on a block, (or) the pass rush. … (With pad level), you can get into some bad habits and lose leverage if you’re not using your shoulders and your body to be in those spots.”
Watching the bully battles up front from the sideline, the standard perch for media members, is challenging, as there are numerous massive humans involved. The day’s plan did not include one-on-one drills, a staple of previous camps, and a likely future agenda item.
Another observational challenge for those not afforded practice tape is the constant personnel shifting, particularly on the offensive line. Center Tyler Biadasz and right guard Sam Cosmi are the lone offensive line staples.
Former Washington coach Ron Rivera relentlessly mentioned “position flex” over his four seasons. Quinn and general manager Adam Peters are disciples of that approach, but they first want to determine the players for their roster rather than letting versatility be a driver from the start.
“Certainly, at tackle, we had a little bit more movement over the last few days, but we’re putting people at different positions,” Quinn said. “This is the time to explore … who is going to be into those spots, who may be a swing (tackle).”
The shape-shifting line play continued with fans in attendance for a second consecutive day. Right tackle Andrew Wylie sat out Sunday’s 11-on-11 work with what he called general “tightness” but rejoined the action by working with the second unit. Third-round pick Brandon Coleman primarily worked at left tackle, with Cornelius Lucas on the right side.
Next to the left tackle wasn’t projected starting guard Nick Allegretti but Michael Deiter, a free-agent addition who was expected to back up Biadasz at center.
“Most of the guards can play center, and just about all of the centers can play guard,” Quinn said. “It’s not just a one-hole backup. You saw Deiter (in previous practices) playing left guard, right guard and center. You’ve seen that with Nick … Brandon Coleman, (Lucas) and others.
Lucas, the perceived front-runner for left tackle duties, and Coleman flipped sides at times. Coleman, at right tackle, stoned another player tackling a new position. Linebacker Jamin Davis has spent his time as an edge rusher in training camp after the staff observed the 2021 first-round pick at minicamp in his natural role. Davis tried rushing past Coleman’s right shoulder on one sequence.
When that went nowhere, he spun around in hopes of beating the 320-pound tackle inside. Stoned again. The experiments on both sides will continue for now.
“It’s worth it now to do those positions because you’re exploring, you’re finding out more information,” Quinn said, “and then you later get locked into one spot.”
GO DEEPER
Dan Quinn, Commanders focused on defensive identity early in training camp
Along with the pass protection and pass rush, Quinn highlighted the run game as another area receiving more work with the pads. Tackling isn’t allowed, but coaches want to see defenders converge on ball carriers. That happened on several carries into the teeth of the defense.
Wagner’s takeaways began with “how fast we were playing and how much communication we had. I think we’re communicating at a high level, in my opinion, (more) than normal.”
The offense popped some longer runs as well. The narrative with running back Austin Ekeler is how much oomph the 29-year-old has following a down season negatively influenced by a high ankle sprain. Ekeler returning to his 2021-22 form when the ex-Charger led the league in touchdowns each season would be a stunning but welcome boon for the offense.
He looked relatively quick bursting through the line — again, no tackling allowed. Ekeler showed off his receiver chops near the goal line on a man-beater route. The offensive line allowed pass rushers to work up the field. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels patiently backpedaled before finding Ekeler alone near the goal line for a touchdown.
The other element of introducing pads is remaining in control. Quinn views these practice reps like “sparring.” Certain rules of engagement were put in play — straight-on hitting, as opposed to the side, is good. There was no extra pushing and shoving when plays ended.
“The physicality part is a real thing because you want to test yourself and see where you’re at, but also doing it in control,” Quinn said. “So we try to push it from the competition side, but still doing it safely for one another.”
Special teams’ blocking drills were more competitive with pads as Washington continued sorting through potential plans to attack the league’s radical new rules.
“We have to change our thinking a little bit on that specific play,” Quinn said.
The expected rise in traffic now that the kicking team will line up on the receiving team’s 40-yard line increases the value of stockier runners over the traditional diminutive speedster. “Now that returners must find room in tighter windows, similar to an offensive run play,” Quinn said. “There’s a lot to find out about that. Guys who can win in those circumstances, I think, could end up changing field position quite a bit.”
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We’ll see if Quinn allows starters or high-rotation players to handle kick and punt duties and become mainstays in the return game. The coach said he is willing to help if a player “can add value to what we’re doing and make explosive plays. … The guys who can make plays in those 5-yard blocks and windows, there’s a lot to find out about that. And guys who can win in those circumstances could end up changing field position quite a bit.”
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Ekeler flashed when involved as a kick returner. Finding ways to get the playmaker more touches is fair, but overuse cannot be ignored over a 17-game season. Based on practice reps, Brian Robinson Jr., cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Emmanuel Forbes Jr., and wide receiver Jahan Dotson are among the other candidates.
One player surprisingly not part of the kick return reps is running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. Even with standard organizational paranoia about plans leaking, not using a running back with a squatty frame and credible speed is curious.
Pads will remain for Tuesday’s practice before the team rests on Wednesday.
“We gotta maximize these days,” Ertz said. “The rules have changed a lot in my 12 years now, but at the same time, we gotta fly around, whether in pads, shells or just jerseys. Whatever it is, we gotta take advantage of it because the first game’s coming, preseason game No. 1 is coming, and we gotta be the best version of ourselves come Week 1.”
(Photo of Austin Ekeler: Nick Wass / Associated Press)
