1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:09,560 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. For 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:11,720 Speaker 1: the first wave of free agency in the books, the 3 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: Commanders made moves at the linebacker position, resigning Milo Eifler, 4 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: Nathan Gary, and Khalik Hudson. Additionally, Washington signed a free 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: agent Cody Barton from Seattle Santana. Moss Logan, Paulson, and 6 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: Fred Smooth joined me to preview the Commander's current linebackers. 7 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: So how do we feel about the linebacker unit this year? Look, 8 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: Barton comes in gonna take over for Cole Holkom with 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: that green dot. Jam and Davis did it a little 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: bit at the end of last season as Holcombe went 11 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: down to injury. But Fred, what are you expecting from 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: Barton in this unit? I'm expecting a lot. First of all, 13 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: he's a guy that started his career office especial teams. 14 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: I love guys to start from the bottom and get 15 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: to the top. Now as a full time starter, you 16 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: got to see him play last year. He showed you 17 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: not only can I handle the A and the B, 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: get I can cover, I can go get sex and 19 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: that's what I like to see from my line black. 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: But what I really like is you see that cherry 21 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 1: blossom back there. You store the blossom at the right tack. 22 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: And he is a guy that we have to ask 23 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: the question can he lead and Kenny Kyle plays? I 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: totally agree, Fred. I mean, I think converted safety a 25 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: guy with excellent covers to believe Kyle was some snap 26 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: to him. I think that gets you excited a little 27 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: bit more instinctive run player than Cole be interest to 28 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 1: see how we developed and Santana, let me bring you 29 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 1: in here, because look, Jaman Davis did wear that green 30 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: dat at a certain point. If it is on Barton, 31 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 1: what does it mean for where Davis fits in in 32 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: this unit? You know, that's a great question. And I 33 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:27,279 Speaker 1: hate to say he might not be on the field 34 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:29,279 Speaker 1: on third downs. You know, that's something that Logan pointed 35 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: to us, you know when we're talking about this. But 36 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: I think Jamie Davis one of those guys there regardless 37 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: of when he's on the fielding when he's not, he's 38 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 1: gonna be a difference maker. Yeah. And when it does 39 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: come to Davis, then you know, we saw him take 40 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: some great strides from his rookie season to his second year. 41 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: The game kind of slowed down from him a little bit. 42 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: You saw him growing his confidence and his instincts kind 43 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: of take over, letting the athleticism come to you. So, logan, 44 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: what can we get from Jayman if this is his 45 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: new role, taking some of that responsibility off and just 46 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: letting him go out there and fly around. Yeah, I mean, 47 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: I definitely think he's a guy that's going to ascend. 48 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: I think he's on that right trajector. We talked about 49 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: the blossoms with Barton. I think he's kind of the 50 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 1: same way, getting better each and every day, getting much 51 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 1: more intuitive, much smarter, understanding the techniques needs to play 52 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: with and how to match him pause country coverage right, 53 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: this defense is very challenging on the linebacker, a lot 54 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: of intellectual load. Every year he's gotten better. I expected 55 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: to get better the years, but I did like about 56 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 1: Jamie last year he stopped thinking one thing. Defense coordinates 57 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: tell us you think long when you think wrong. I've 58 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: seen him to say, you know what, I'm gonna go 59 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: out here, I'm gonna play football. I'm gonna go slop 60 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: paint with the other guys on the other side of 61 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:32,119 Speaker 1: the ball. I want to see his tenacity and intensity 62 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,960 Speaker 1: raised to another level. And that happens usually when you're 63 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 1: through thinking and just go out there and play football. 64 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:39,400 Speaker 1: In Santana, you were saying as well that like year 65 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: three is really the year that you get to know 66 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: who these guys really are. Is more of that household 67 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: name and what to expects. I speed that from experience. 68 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: I was a guy that year three was the year 69 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: for me, and I saw so many other guys that 70 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: came in with big names or first round draft picks. 71 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: You know, I had an injury early in my first year. 72 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: Jamie wasn't injury, but he had you know, when it 73 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 1: came to playing positions, he's out of position. So second 74 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 1: year was kind of like one of those learning years 75 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: and then you saw him make a lot of plays. 76 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 1: Year three is when he become a household name. Yeah, 77 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: you know, if he's gonna be one of those guys 78 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: that we talk about, you know moving forward, he's going 79 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: to do that this year. So when it comes to 80 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: the unit and the additions that they have, the losses 81 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: that they suffered as well, where are we in feeling 82 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: confident and where this unit currently lies right in a 83 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: logan going into next season? I mean, Fred, I think 84 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: Forred ten, I think it's a group that needs to improve, 85 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: right Julia, group that we can add depth too, and 86 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: guys like these are good football players, but they're improving 87 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,919 Speaker 1: football players right forty Barton specifically, I think you just 88 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 1: want to add some death, add some veteran experience, because 89 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: you can never go wrong you add a good football players. Yeah, now, 90 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 1: never go wrong with adding them. But the thing is 91 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: we play a four to five, so we're gonna have 92 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: a lot of linebackers. In the question he is with 93 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: these linebackers. Look at them. These are athletes sideline the sideline. 94 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: The question is what about the a gap? What about 95 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 1: their begin Yeah, And one of the things Barton was 96 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: saying about coming here is he is excited to play 97 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: behind that D line, which takes a little bit of 98 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: pressure oft of them, but not to diminish how important 99 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: the role is on the field. It's a unit that 100 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: you know, for a couple of years now, we've been 101 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: saying we've wanted to see some good production out of him. 102 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: Hopefully this is the offseason we're going to get even 103 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: more growth there. It's never too early to start scouting 104 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: out our division foes. We looked at some of the 105 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: free agency moves across the division. Let's go inside the 106 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: moves made by our NFC East foes. And for that, 107 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: I want you guys to give a grade and then 108 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: you can agree or disagree. In Santana, you're going to 109 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: kick us off with the Cowboys. Well, I already no smooth, 110 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: gonna hate this one, so I hate. I hate as well. 111 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: But I have to give the Cowboys at a a though. 112 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 1: Two names stand out to me. We got Gilwall coming 113 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,280 Speaker 1: to play corner. Now we got Cooks and and he's 114 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 1: going to talk a whole lot of trains about Cooks. 115 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: But I think Cooks are still approven target in this league. 116 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 1: Next still can be productive at Gilmore, still one of 117 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: the top cornerbacks in the league. Brandon Cooks, he's an 118 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,280 Speaker 1: old converse see you so much hate for him. He's 119 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: been productive everyway. Everybody's been hard. Fred. Okay, well why 120 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: don't we go since we're not going to totally agree 121 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: in the Cowboys as we should not. Anyways, what about 122 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: the Eagles? Fred? Now, the Eagles, I have to give 123 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 1: a to be honest, but just from the off season, 124 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: probably not. But there's some other stuff, right, Higgles, some 125 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: other stuff see everybody looking at who they lost. They 126 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: lives Huggary, They a lot of t J. Hills when 127 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: the Kobe Dane was drafted last year, Joan Davis, the 128 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:14,960 Speaker 1: tackle was drafted last year. So they feel some gafts 129 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: up there, and don't forget for Shot Penny. I think 130 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: at the end of day, Philadelphia has a plan and 131 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: the executing their plan, and they have two first round 132 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: draft picks this year. Yeah, they'll be able to totally 133 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: restock really good rosterbility. But I really like hearing that. 134 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: But it's what Philadelphia is doing right now on the 135 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: trend that they are on. How about Logan closed us 136 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: out with the Giants. Let me give the Giants of 137 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: B minus C plus. I'm the biggest star baller fand 138 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: you ever see I got Darrin Waller pajamas, Right, he's 139 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: been banged up, big contract, coming off an injury, right, 140 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: what's he gonna be this year? I like the move 141 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,040 Speaker 1: piece Sequon Barkley also coming off an injury for two 142 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 1: years ago. Ken those guys stay healthy and know they're dynamic, 143 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 1: But I always get nervous about paying guys a lot 144 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:54,760 Speaker 1: of money. When a nerd I'm so shocked that you 145 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 1: lift out, you lift my parents Campbell because I feel 146 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: my opportunity and chance work and what's he done right? Well? 147 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: Being coached by well, you know, yeah, great coach. We'll see, Yeah, 148 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 1: we'll see. I mean, that's what Fred says. It's time 149 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 1: to blossom. So we'll see if some of these players 150 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 1: do or do not. A quick programming note, at the 151 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: end of the month Command Center, we'll be leaving NBC 152 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,280 Speaker 1: Sports Washington, but don't worry. It does not mean the 153 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 1: show is coming to an end. We will continue to 154 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: deliver you fans the best content involving your favorite team. 155 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: You can watch new episodes of Command Center each week 156 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:31,360 Speaker 1: on the team's website and YouTube channel.