1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. The 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: Commanders host the Dallas Cowboys for their season finale on Sunday. 3 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:15,960 Speaker 1: With quarterbacks Sam Howell and the younger players expected to play, 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: Santana Moss and Logan Paulson shared what they expect to see. Okay, 5 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:22,599 Speaker 1: So Ron there expects to play a lot of the 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: younger guys, kind of a good chance to see what 7 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: he has. And it starts right there with Sam Howell. 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: What are the realistic expectations though, Logan, I want to 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 1: start with you on this because you talk about Okay, 10 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: you want to put him in a situation where he 11 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: will be able to succeed, and it's the situation now 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: where he gets the first team reps with the team 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: coming into it. But you're also going up against a 14 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: team that will come after you. Yeah, And I think 15 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:45,160 Speaker 1: that's the main thing for me is that this Dallas 16 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: defense is very, very dynamic. They rushed the passer extremely well. 17 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: Their first and second down philosophy is rushed the passer 18 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,480 Speaker 1: to stop the run like they want to get after 19 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: the quarterback. You're getting a new left guard starting with 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Chris Paul which I'm super excited to see, but how 21 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: does he handle the communication? They play multiple fronts, they 22 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: bring multiple pressures, they disguise their coverages really well. This 23 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: is gonna be a big, big testament to Scott and 24 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: how he puts this guy in the best position to 25 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: be successful. You know, it's funny watching practice days had 26 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: I forgot how wal he throws the football. Got a 27 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: live arm, live release, is very very physically gifted, but 28 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: that only gets your show far mentally how closely they 29 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: get him to be ready against his dynamic Dallas defense. 30 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,040 Speaker 1: And he's talking about a dynamic Dallas defense. That's what 31 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: I said. You know, his athleticism is going to be key, 32 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: you know him, how can he handle that pressure, you 33 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: know duty get the ball? Yeah, he has a live 34 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: m also, but he's gonna have to probably escape some 35 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 1: of those rushes here and there and then you know, 36 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, you know, regain that that passing you know 37 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: lane where he can get that ball out. So that's 38 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,039 Speaker 1: one of the things that I'm gonna be looking for. 39 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 1: But it's gonna be a task that we're all gonna 40 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: be looking forward to see and see how he passed. 41 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: And you've played with do you remember how many rookie quarterbacks. 42 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: You played with quite a few, right, Yeah, there's a 43 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 1: certain amount of patients than you have to have, and 44 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: this staff understands that. That's one of the things head 45 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: coach Ron Rivera said, like, if you bring in a rookie, 46 00:01:56,240 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: you have to give time for them to grow develop. 47 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: But you want to see what that decision making is 48 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: going to be. And they're going to get a good 49 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: look at that to close out the season here to 50 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: decide what do they need to do moving forward? Can 51 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: Sam potentially be that guy? What about some other guys 52 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: that are going to have some chance to have a 53 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 1: little extra time out there on the field, Bogan, unless 54 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 1: they're done offense? Who you want to see? Yeah? For me, 55 00:02:15,680 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: it's the two young tight ends. And I know they've 56 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 1: played a lot of you know, Turner and Armony Rodgers. 57 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: I think they've played a lot. They've blocked really well. 58 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: They've exceeded my expectation in that category. I just want 59 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: to see them catch the football a little. But I 60 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: remember in training camp Cole Turner was absolutely mossing every 61 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,799 Speaker 1: single person in sight. I want to see him get 62 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 1: some more touches there. Armande Rodgers, is this dynamic athlete 63 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: who every time he touches the football is a big 64 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 1: play waiting to happen. What happens if you're able to 65 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 1: feature him in the passing game a little bit more 66 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: and get them some more touches. I want to see 67 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: what their role is moving into next year. Yeah, And 68 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:44,640 Speaker 1: one of the things I want to look at offensively, 69 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: I feel like, when you look at across the board, 70 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 1: we have every guy you know, but the offensive line. 71 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:51,799 Speaker 1: I think this offseason is going to be we're talking 72 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: about quarterback. Yeah, we need a quarterback too, but we 73 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 1: also going to have to shop out there for those 74 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,519 Speaker 1: guys with protecting that quarterback. So knowing that Chris Paul 75 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:00,800 Speaker 1: is going to be playing, I've been hearing whispers here 76 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: and there saying that Chris Paul is one of those 77 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 1: guys not to be reckoned with. He's a guy that 78 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: has showed these guys on our start in defense that 79 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: he can be a force. And so I'm looking forward 80 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 1: to him going out there and playing some live action 81 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,000 Speaker 1: and being able to show the world what you can 82 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: expect next year. And when they drafted him, they said, Okay, 83 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: he's going to be a player that we will develop 84 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: and so his chance to get out there as well 85 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 1: quickly here Santana, what about on defense? Well, defense, Percy Butler. 86 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: You know another thing that I've been seeing since we 87 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: lost Cam a little bit, you know what I mean, 88 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: We've been needing that safety to somebody to step up 89 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 1: and be that other guy. So I want to see 90 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,960 Speaker 1: what Percy Butler has in the game where it's going 91 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: to be really bad. Basically on him to go out 92 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: and make some plays. Yeah. For me, it's the young 93 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: linebackers Milo and Harris. Hopefully those guys step up and 94 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: never agree in wide receiver John Dobson has put up 95 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: some record numbers in his first year. Dodson seven touchdowns 96 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: is tied for the most among rookie receivers this season. 97 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: London Fletcher caught up with Dodson to get his thoughts 98 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: on the season. All right, First off, Johan, congratulations man 99 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: to you Nitney Lions on the Rose Bowl win be 100 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: in Utah. Yeah, that's big time, big time got to 101 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: go in that's a such a historic venue to play. 102 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: Yet I always love seeing my Ninity Lions win. Yeah. 103 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: So for you, you know, the season obviously as a 104 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: team hasn't gone away we had hoped for, But you personally, 105 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: you've had it ann outstanding the rookie season. You know, 106 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 1: how how would you kind of rate your rookie season. Um? Yeah, 107 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: I feel like, you know, the games that I was 108 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: able to play, I feel like I've done some some 109 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 1: things very well, but I feel like there's there's a 110 00:04:25,839 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: lot of room for improvement, um in my game, you know, 111 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: from a lot of aspects of my game. Just being 112 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: more comfortable out there on the field. Um. And I 113 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: feel like that's just gonna come with time. Um. But 114 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 1: you know, getting in the weight room, different stuff like that, 115 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: getting with the coaches, more film work, just different little 116 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: things that invest my game so that I'm even better 117 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 1: next season. Even despite the only playing eleven games, You're 118 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 1: one touchdown away from time the franchise rookie record for 119 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 1: receiving touchdowns. This was set by Charlie Brown back in 120 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty two. I don't know if you pay attention 121 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 1: to the any of that, or if you were aware 122 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: of that. What does that mean to you? Having you know, 123 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: been able to accomplish that. Yeah, you know, that'd be 124 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: a very cool moment, especially for me and my family. 125 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: You know, just to achieve such a goal. Um, coming 126 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: in here, you know, I had high hopes for myself, 127 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: high expectations for myself, and to be able to put 128 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: myself in the record books with what guys like Charlie 129 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: Brown and Terry. I know, I'm uh like tye with 130 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: Terry or something like that. Just to be there with 131 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: those guys. Uh, and they're they're already Washington. Great. So Um, 132 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 1: it's truly a dream come true, as you as you 133 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: kind of look at it, you and Terry in the 134 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:31,559 Speaker 1: same room. Have y'all had a chance to talk about 135 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: that a little bit. Maybe Terry, I'm trying to try 136 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: to freak your record. No, not really, you know, Terry, 137 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: Terry is super humble, dude. I haven't really I haven't 138 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:42,039 Speaker 1: mentioned it to him at all, or he hasn't mentioned 139 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,160 Speaker 1: to me at all. Going going too this last game 140 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: against the Dallas Cowboys. You you you played them down there, 141 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 1: got a chance to experience what that rivalry is like. 142 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: You know what are you looking forward to it in 143 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: this game? Week a teen ageins the Cowboys playing them 144 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: at home? Yeah? Um, looking forward to go out, go 145 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 1: out the season on the right note. You know this 146 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: thing on a good note. We didn't get to where 147 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: we wanted to get to, but you know, we got 148 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: one more tests and one more opportunity in front of us, 149 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: and to go out with a bang and make sure 150 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: that we do this thing right and on a good note, 151 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: it would be a good good look for us. Looking 152 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: back on this season, from the time you were drafted 153 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: here to where you are now, what's been your favorite 154 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: moment of your rookie season. Favorite moment of my rookie season. 155 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: You know, honestly, I would just I would just say 156 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: just coming in here and just spending time with the 157 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: guys in my room. Like the guys in my room there, 158 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 1: they're truly characters. Man. They make they put smiles on 159 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: your face anytime you're around them. They their attitudes are contagious, 160 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: Like you just always want to be around those type 161 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: of guys. So I would just say spending the time 162 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: with the guys in my room and just laughing and 163 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: joking around. I'm looking forward to see you going down 164 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 1: and breaking that record against the Cowboys, man, and hopefully 165 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: we're able to get a win. So I'd love to 166 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,799 Speaker 1: see you. Wait, can't wait to see you play Sunday 167 00:06:54,800 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: against the Cowboys for all your news and analysis. Sure 168 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: to tune into Command Center weeknights at five and ten 169 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 1: pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also stream on 170 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 1: YouTube and commanders dot com.