Greetings From The Booth!
I’m BAAACK…and I need some venting therapy.
Did it really happen? The magical 2024 Washington Commanders season is now a distant memory. Last year, we were all basking in the glow of a new ownership, a franchise quarterback, and a trip to the NFC Championship game. Man, we couldn’t wait until 2025 to ride this incredible vibe all the way to The Super Bowl.
It has all turned to a smouldering ruin…
As of this post, the Commanders are 3-7, and all but out of the NFC playoff picture (I can hear Jim Mora saying “Playoffs!? Playoffs? We’re just trying to win a game!” Still one of the best coach’s rants of all time.). What went wrong? As with most seasons that turn sour, it’s not just one thing. This season has been the perfect storm of injuries, underperformance, an aging roster, and a very tough schedule. Let’s address each one of these things:
As for the injuries, the Commanders are one of the most banged-up teams in the NFL, starting with franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has suffered 3, count ’em, 3 injuries this year. The list goes on, to the extent that backups to the backups are now playing for the Burgundy and Gold. It’s a veritable MASH unit out in Ashburn. But, as former NFL great Jonathan Vilma said on the national broadcast of Washington’s blowout loss to the Lions on Sunday, “no one cares.” In truth, all NFL teams have their share of injuries, and in the National Football League it’s “next man up.” No one in the league has any sympathy for the Commanners on game day.
That brings us to underperformance, which is especially true on the defensive side of the ball. Washington’s defensive problems were well-hidden last season by the magic of Daniels. This year, a bad defense has gotten worse. The Commanders “D” can’t tackle, can’t cover, can’t stop the run, and can’t force turnovers (they are one of the NFL’s worst in that department). Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play? This week, the team announced that Head Coach Dan Quinn would take over the defensive play-calling duties, while demoting Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt, Jr. Those kind of moves usually have short shelf lives–the players aren’t magically going to get better. As for Whitt, the fans want a scalp, and I’m afraid it will be his, quite possibly after the bye week.
The Commanders have one of the oldest rosters in the NFL, and last year’s experience has given way to this year’s age and lack of speed. You only have to do the “eye test” to see that players like linebacker Bobby Wagner, while a great team leader, cannot keep up with younger, faster backs and receivers on Sunday. The Commanders roster was built last year on bringing in experienced veterans to guide the younger players. But after the surprising playoff run last year, a lot of those players were brought back, and have not been the same. As the old saying goes, better to get rid of a player one year too soon than one year too late.
Finally, we address the schedule, which is loaded with playoff contenders this year. Already this season, Washington has faced Seattle, the Chargers, Lions, and Packers, and is staring down the barrel at the Broncos, Vikings, and Philly (twice). Last year, against a much lighter slate, the Commanders posted a 12-5 regular season. Upon further examination, had just six plays gone the other way, Washington could have very easily been 6-11. So maybe the Commanders weren’t the powerhouse we (or the networks) thought they were. Sometimes, magic just happens.
It’s midnight, Cinderella, at least for 2025. I don’t see Joe Gibbs hanging around, so there will be no 7-game win streak or playoff football this year for the Washington Commanders. However, I swear I see Dan Snyder, Ron Rivera, Bruce Allen, and Jim Zorn lurking around Northwest Stadium…
Until the next visit from The Booth…HTTC/HTTR!
RW
