Views From The Booth: Commanders Takeaways

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Greetings From The Booth!

Can you feel it in the air? Fall is coming, and with it, “for-real” NFL games, not to be confused with the pre-season contests that whet our appetites this time of year. That being said, I have some takeaways from the Washington Commanders’ 17-13 loss to Detroit this past Saturday. No one cares about the score or the result–that will be forgotten by Tuesday, if it isn’t already. These are the things that concern and puzzle me as we get closer to teeing it up on September 13th in Philadelphia:

Why did Jayden Daniels even play? 3 snaps?!? Are you kidding me? I thought Week 2 of the preseason was supposed to be a “dress rehearsal” for the starters. Especially for a team with new coordinators, new systems, and new players. As for Daniels, his 3 plays consisted of a hurried incompletion, a 10-yard sack, and a “give-up” handoff on 3rd and 20. That was his day. I would have liked to see the starters play for at least a quarter. Nothing was accomplished here.

No running game. The Washington running game Saturday consisted of 45 yards. This paltry total is not so much a reflection of the Commanders running backs as it is an indictment of the offensive line. With several starters on the O-line, this was an opportunity for the “next man up,” and as John Lennon might say, they didn’t pass the audition.

The battle for QB3. Hands down, Athan Kaliakmanis is winning (or has already won) this duel with Sam Hartman. The former Illinois and Rutgers quarterback has good pocket presence and is not afraid to throw the ball downfield. On the other hand, Hartman looks for his check down receivers almost immediately after the snap. Look at the stats. Both have a pretty high completion percentage, but the yardage belongs to AK16, who simply looks to be the better option at QB3. With backup Marcus Mariotta injured, this matters.

Sonny Styles. There has been a lot of fan board and social media discussion about the Commanders linebacker and number one draft choice, who has not dazzled in the team’s first two preseason games. Styles at times looks to be out of position, as he was on a 50-yard quarterback read-option that went for a Lions touchdown. And there seems to be some concern about his size. 2 preseason games does not a season or career make, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt. That being said, maybe he would be a better (strong) safety in the pro game. Let’s give him some time.

Defensive takeaways. The Commanders’ defense has been a turnover machine in the preseason. I’m not sure how this will carry over into the regular season, but it’s an encouraging sign for a defense that couldn’t take candy from a baby in 2025. It was also fun to see a defensive touchdown on the game’s first series.

An overall sloppy effort. For a Week 2 dress rehearsal, Dan Quinn could not have been happy. The eye test revealed a sloppy effort, especially when you consider that this game was an opportunity for players who will not make the Commanders roster but are auditioning for other NFL teams.

Overall grade for Week 2: C-minus.

What can we really take away from the above? Probably nothing. Hopefully we will see a prepared and much different team when the Commanders begin a challenging schedule in Philadelphia in a few weeks. I’m ready…I just hope my team is.

Until the next visit from the Booth…HTTC!

RW

 

 

 

What’s In A Number?

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(Posted 8-17-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

As we wait for College and NFL Football, and watch another Nationals season go down in flames, jersey numbers have become a prime topic in the Nation’s Capital.

Let’s start with the wildfire that is the Jayden Daniels controversy. You can read about this–it’s everywhere–but the gist of the story is that the number 5 that Daniels wore during his time as the Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at LSU was recently given to Tiger’s cornerback DJ Pickett, who apparently was promised the number when he was recruited by the school. This move went against Daniels’ wishes, prompting the Washington quarterback to issue a cease and desist order to LSU to refrain from using his name, image, and likeness.

There’s a lot of nuance to the story, as number retirement is a very complicated thing. A statement issued by the Daniels family states that “Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would…be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university.” Meanwhile, the LSU policy states that an athlete must have completed competition for five years before being considered for jersey retirement. Daniels left the school in 2023.

As for the cease and desist, Daniels’ contract with LSU gave the school only 180 days after his final college game to use his name, image, and likeness, so he has every right to issue the order. Yet, he has become the villain in this whole story. Even other sports teams have been trolling the Commanders signal-caller.

(Sidebar: The New York Mets, in the midst of sweeping the Nats this past weekend, posted on social media after one of those wins that they stopped at 4 runs out of respect for Jayden Daniels. The Mets only need to look at themselves, floundering in last place in the NL East, and worry about playing baseball. The Mets can pound sand).

It seems to me that there are a host of other NFL players more deserving of being vilified than Jayden Daniels (One was just arrested this weekend for domestic abuse). He’s a model player, team leader, and by all accounts a solid citizen, whose primary focus is playing football.  And I might add that he’s the only quarterback in the recent Netflix series of the same name that doesn’t drop an f-bomb every 2 seconds.

Yet, in the world of social media, where anonymity and lack of accountability and facts rule, a quality young man is being cast as the bad guy. Facts matter, and the fact is that Daniels is within his rights to order LSU to stop profiting from his past glories, especially if they promised to protect his number (as he claims), then promising another player that he could wear that number. As former Tiger coach Brian Kelly said, we can’t treat one Heisman winner one way (Joe Burrow, whose number 9 is protected) and another Heisman winner (Daniels) differently.

I have a feeling that once NFL play starts for real, this story will fade from the news cycle and will be much ado about nothing. As for me, all I care about is number 5 raising a number 1 as he hoists a Lombardi Trophy.

Until the next visit from The Booth…HTTC!

RW

 

 

The Bloom selects Former NFL WR and firefighter as Firefighters’ Marshal

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival announced Rashard Higgins, former NFL WR and firefighter, as the Firefighters’ Marshal on Wednesday.

During the announcement, Festival President Jeremy Luttrell said, “Rashard’s journey is a powerful example of purpose beyond the game. His commitment to service and community makes him an outstanding choice to serve as Firefighters’ Marshall during our 99th Festival.”

Higgins is a native of Dallas, Texas and played collegiately at Colorado State where he earned All American honors and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff award.

During his 2014 season, he led all of college football in receiving yards and touchdowns.

Higgins was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns where he spent the next six seasons.

His best season came during the Browns 2020 playoff run where he connected with Baker Mayfield for nearly 600 yards and four touchdowns.

During the offseason, he began to pursue firefighter training and in September of 2025 he announced that he had officially joined the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department.

Visitors to the festival will see Higgins leading the Firefighters Parade and appear at events like the Fire Truck Rodeo, Coronation of Queen Shenandoah, the First Responders Recognition Reception, Sports Breakfast, and Grand Feature parade.

For more information on Rashard Higgins Apple Blossom appearance, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Sports Dogs Podcast: NFL, CFP, and debut of “The Three Pointer”

The Dogs have a full bowl in this edition, with NFL coaching firings and hirings, a great Wild Card Weekend, and a new feature, “The Three-Pointer,” as we discuss some local high school hoops happenings.

Brought to you by Energy Windows LLC, your go-to team for those projects outside the home: windows, roofing, gutters, doors, even attic insulation.

Visit them at https://energywindowsllc.com

To listen to the latest Sports Dogs Podcast, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

A Season Off The Rails

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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

 

SCPS alum competes in Netflix cooking show

ryan lingle

Stonewall Jackson High School and Triplett Tech graduate Sid Rubenstein is a contestant on the new Netflix culinary competition show Next Gen Chef.

Sid, 21 years old, currently resides in New Jersey and is a private chef for professional athletes in New York like the Jets of the NFL and Red Bulls of the MLS.

He has worked locally at locations like The Woodstock Cafe and The Monument in Winchester and across the country including Jackie Reys Ohana Grill in Hawaii.

The series takes place at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City and showcases up-and-coming chefs all 30 years or younger competing for a $500,000 grand prize.

The show, hosted by Olivia Culpo, features acclaimed chefs as guest judges including Michelin Star recipients, Top Chef Winners, and Food Network stars.

The finale will air Wednesday night.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sports Dogs Podcast: Commander’s Draft Preview ft. ESPN’s John Keim

The Duke talks Clarke County’s upcoming Earth Day celebration and the Commander’s draft with John Keim of ESPN and the Clarke County Litter Committee.

All Is Not Lost

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Greetings from The Booth!

It’s been a tough week for the Washington Commanders. Going into last Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Commanders were the talk of the pro football world, leading the NFC East at 7-2, and already exceeding the over-under win total of many “experts.” Rookie franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels was not only being mentioned in Rookie of the Year conversations, but the word M-V-P was being uttered by some. Everything was going right for Washington in a 180-degree culture change in the Nation’s Capital.

Cue the The Twilight Zone theme. Against the Steelers, we were suddenly taken back to the previous regime, as a number of Dan Snyder-esque things began to materialize. First, a large portion of Northwest Stadium (I still have a hard time with the name of the venue–how about Joe Gibbs Field at NW Stadium?) was filled with Terrible Towel-waving Pittsburgh fans. It’s great to see the home stadium filled again, but too many times in the Snyder years, most of the fans at Fed-Ex were wearing the other team’s jerseys. There were times Sunday if you closed your eyes, you would think the game was being played in the Steel City.

Then, there were mistakes like 2 muffed punts, blown coverages by the secondary, and watching a 10-point 4th quarter lead melt away. Still, the game was not over until an unforced error–a penalty on a play where the Steelers were simply trying to draw the Commanders offside–gave Pittsburgh the hard-earned 28-27 victory. Disappointing for sure, but not the end of the world. A one-point loss against a potential Super Bowl contender was not a reason to drive into the Anacostia. A big opportunity was just four days away in Philadelphia.

Under the harsh glare of the Thursday Night Football lights, the Commanders traveled to the City of Brotherly Love and Lincoln Financial Field, one of the most hostile venues in the NFL, to take on rival Philadelphia. With first place in the division on the line, Washington hung in there, again taking a 10-6 lead into the final period. Then, it all unraveled. The Eagles took a 12-10 lead as momentum shifted its fickle allegiance to the Dirty Birds. With a chance to take a 13-12 lead, Head Coach Dan Quinn decided to pass on a makeable field goal and go for a 4th and 2. The gamble failed on a busted play, and 2 touchdowns later the Eagles put the game out of reach.

A palpable cloud of gloom hung over the DMV on Friday as we all felt like Cinderella at 12:01. Would we all wake up and discover that 7-2 had been a wonderful dream, and that Dan Snyder still owned the team? You could almost hear the maniacal laughter of the ghosts of Washington Football past–Bruce Allen, Larry Michael, Vinny Cerrato, Ron Rivera, and Snyder–mocking our newfound success. We were crashing back to earth.

OK, let’s take a breath. Yes, there is cause for some concern. Daniels has not been himself in the 2-game skid, as he battles an ongoing rib injury. The long break could not have come at a better time. And, on the other side are two winnable games at home against the now lowly Cowboys and the Titans, followed by a bye-week and the crucial 4-game stretch to end the regular season. As it stands now, the Commanders have a 76% chance of making the playoffs, and a record of 11-6 is entirely possible. Would you have taken that in March? You bet your burgundy and gold you would!

Until the next visit from The Booth…HTTC, HTTR!

RW

 

 

 

Sports Dogs Podcast: NFC East Preview

It’s that time again! NFL Training Camps are underway, and optimism abounds in DC, fans in Dallas are scratching their heads, the Giants are in disarray, and the Eagles look to reclaim their perch in the NFC East. The Sports Dogs preview the NFC East in our latest podcast…

 

Sports Dogs Podcast: A Chat With Archie Manning

In this week’s SDPC, Ryan Rutherford (aka, The Duke) caught up with NFL great Archie Manning (and the father of 2 famous football sons) at this year’s Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival. Archie talks about his annual passing camp, the state of youth football, and has some nice things to say about The Bloom!