1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. The 2 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: off season is officially here for the Commanders, who finished 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: eight eight and one. Logan Paulson and Fred Smith joined 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: me to look back at the twenty twenty two season. Okay, yeah, 5 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: I mean most certainly there's players to build around. There 6 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: were positives to take from the season, but overall, you 7 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: didn't advance. The season did not go the way that 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 1: they had anticipated or planned. And now that we're kind 9 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: of like a couple of days removed from this, we 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: should be preparing for a postseason game, but instead we're 11 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,879 Speaker 1: kind of digesting what happened this year? Fred, what did 12 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 1: we learn about this team? We learned that we didn't 13 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: finish what we started. Coaches said it we control down 14 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: destiny and we still slipped through our fingers. We figured 15 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: out a way to lose these games. It's no one 16 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: position group you could point to in these lands four 17 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: games and say we got better play from this group, 18 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: we would be okay. It was a live bit of everybody. 19 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: Special teams wasn't special offensiting school any points. Defense started 20 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: to lag. They didn't make the impact play that they 21 00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: made earlier in the year. So I think it is 22 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: a group we let the fan base down. But guess what, 23 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: Like you see, it's so many bright points. You look here, 24 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:09,759 Speaker 1: and you look here, you say, oh, we with these clothes, 25 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: we with these clothes, but yet we did far away. 26 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: And I think there's the scary report about it. Yeah, 27 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: I think obviously. I think Fred brings up a fantastic 28 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: point because you're a smart guy, friend. Thank you. The 29 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: idea that like this, this team fell short of expectations 30 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: and we had so many high expectations at the beginning 31 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 1: of the year, and you look at the quarterback position 32 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: and we're still looking for a quarterback. All those issues 33 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: are still apparent. But I do think that there are 34 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 1: some really bright spots on the roster to be excited about. 35 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: I think you look at the young pieces that are 36 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: growing and developing. Jamon davis Man, he could be a 37 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: really special football player. You get the young safeties, Cam 38 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: curl Forrest, all these guys, Brian Robinson, Johan Dotson. These 39 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: pieces are things you can build around. Now you kind 40 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:44,679 Speaker 1: of say, what do we need to get really really 41 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: improved on offensive line, banking, the secondary piece. Find some 42 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: of those pieces and maybe it's there for you if 43 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,000 Speaker 1: you get the right coordinator here. Yeah, you really had 44 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: to find the quarterback to Coronover has been saying that 45 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: what he went through eight different starting quarterbacks in his 46 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: three seasons here, So still unable to find that to build. 47 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: They tried to bring in a veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick injury, 48 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: Carson Wentz injury. That route didn't necessarily work, although we 49 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: understand what the philosophy was going in with that with 50 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: a very young team. Now you saw what you got 51 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: to get out of potentially Sam holl and what he 52 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: could grow into. So what do we do going forward? 53 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: Logan just said it. He just said he I say 54 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: office lad, like at the end of the day, we 55 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: just introduced Tuddy is one Bacon. Last time we was 56 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: great on his officive lad. We had the hogs, we 57 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 1: had guys to smell like Bacon. We see what happens 58 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: on the defensive, lad, when you dominate the lad of scrimmage. 59 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 1: If we can get that way on office, I believe 60 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: you could take an average quarterback and he can play 61 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: great behind a great officeive lad. Yeah, I mean I 62 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: think that's kind of I think that's what we're getting 63 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: to here, right is maybe you can build around Sam 64 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: how I think he showed you some things to get 65 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: You're really excited about his ability, his skill set, his moxie, 66 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: all those different things. Maybe bringing a veteran to kind 67 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: of mentor maybe compete with him if it doesn't if 68 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 1: the progression doesn't happen the way you wanted to. But 69 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,519 Speaker 1: I think when talking to people around the bed, talking 70 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: with people that I have a lot of respect for Sam, 71 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: Sam Hall showed them a lot. I think they're excited 72 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:06,679 Speaker 1: about what he brings. I mean to the point we're 73 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: talking about earlier as well as if you want to 74 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: take advantage of Terry McLaurin, John Dots and Curtis Samuel. 75 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,320 Speaker 1: The line has to be able to hold up, to 76 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 1: give the quarterback time to let the play develop, to 77 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: be able to go downfield. And that's something that they 78 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 1: were a bit of a disadvantage of this year. So 79 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: they did want that kind of run first mentality. They 80 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: did find success with that. If we go defensively, though, 81 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: there's a lot of bright spots. We don't know if 82 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: they can really keep everybody together. I think that's a 83 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: big question this offseason two, Fred, what gives you hope 84 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: for next year with that unit. The defensive line makes 85 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: me smile. The defensive I sleep easy at night knowing 86 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: them guys out there can The fool is still a 87 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 1: young guy. Twenty seven, twenty eight, Saint Ju showed us 88 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: a lot. Defolk came up full circle to show us 89 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: the player he is. Cam Curroll is still they consistent 90 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: guy back there. But Julie, we need linebackers. We need 91 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: guys that run sideline, the sideline, the swamp paint this way. 92 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: If any place on their defense you could say need 93 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 1: to be addressed, is linebacker. Yeah? For me, I think 94 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: Cam Curl the most suciting piece. And the fact that 95 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: Percy Butler has developed and as a guy that can 96 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 1: kind of supplement what Campro does, I'm really excited about that. 97 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,120 Speaker 1: A big question for the Commanders' off season is the 98 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: quarterback position. Rookie quarterback Sam Howell had an impressive outing 99 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 1: in his regular season debut, recording over one hundred and 100 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: sixty passing yards and two touchdowns against a tough Dallas defense. 101 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: I sawt Dalla Howell to get his thoughts on his 102 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 1: rookie year and how he will attack the off season. Okay, Sam, 103 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 1: you got that first start. Was it everything you imagined? Yeah? 104 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: It was awesome, Just truly a dream come true. And 105 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I'm just super grateful for the opportunity to get out 106 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: there and play football again. So it was awesome everything 107 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: I thought it would be. A lot of guys will 108 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 1: tell me they kind of visualize the games. Could you 109 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: have visualized it going the way that it did and 110 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 1: getting that win over I mean, of all things and 111 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: all teams, the Dallas Cowboys, and know that they were 112 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 1: playing for a lot. They were, and we knew that'd 113 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: be playing for a lot, and you know that kind 114 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: of gave us a chip on our shoulder. You know, 115 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: even though we weren't we're playing for anything, you know, 116 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,360 Speaker 1: we still have a lot of pride and every time 117 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,359 Speaker 1: we step on that field, you know, we were playing 118 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:03,919 Speaker 1: for the name on the front of our jersey, the 119 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: name on the back, um. And so we weren't gonna 120 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: let them come in here and let it be easy 121 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: for him, um and so and so that's what we did. 122 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: Did anything surprise you about the game? Um? I mean honestly, 123 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: not really. I Mean I knew, I know how good 124 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: this team is, and I know, you know, when we're 125 00:05:19,440 --> 00:05:21,559 Speaker 1: playing good football. We can beat anybody in this league. 126 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: UM and and Dallas is a really good football team 127 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: and they'll they'll probably make a good run of the playoffs. UM. 128 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: But you know, we played our best last night and 129 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 1: it showed. Everybody was curious to kind of see how 130 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: you would have chemistry with the guys and what kind 131 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,919 Speaker 1: of rhythm you would take. UM, how do you feel 132 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: that went for you? Yeah? I think it went pretty 133 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: pretty good. UM. You know, there's obviously a couple of 134 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 1: players i'd i'd like to have back. UM, but you know, 135 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: we we connected when we needed to and put points 136 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: on the board when we needed to. UM. And it 137 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 1: was just really credit to our defense. UM. They I 138 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: mean they played great all night long and gave us 139 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 1: a good field position, which made my job easy. Um 140 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 1: and and special teams made um two big players as well, UM, 141 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: which we made it really easy for US boys. They 142 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: weren't letting up and they're considered a top defense in 143 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: the NFL. How much was it going up against and 144 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: kind of just being around the defense that Washington has 145 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: pretty darned stoup themselves that kind of maybe helped prepare 146 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: you for that. What did you learn from from our defense. Yeah, 147 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 1: I mean I was doing a lot of scout team 148 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: stuff throughout the year, and so going against our starting defense, 149 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: and you know, I really just learned a lot, you know, 150 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: just how good they are and how how fast on 151 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 1: those guys are, and how how good of a job 152 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 1: they do of closing windows and so being able to 153 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: do scout team stuff. I took it very seriously and 154 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: I learned a lot from our defense, and I was 155 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: glad to get out there against a really good defense 156 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: in Dallas. You know, there are some talks that they 157 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: might be rushing some guys or whatever the situation might be. 158 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: But I wanted I wanted their best um and I 159 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 1: wanted their best out there. So I was other side 160 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: of that that we got it. There's a lot of 161 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: question marks at this position. We hear um, you know, 162 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: going into the off season, where is your mind and 163 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: what you know you're capable of doing and what you 164 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 1: want to be able to do going forward here with Washington. Yeah, 165 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: I mean I don't want to get ahead of myself. 166 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 1: You know, it's just one game and I just want 167 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 1: to go to work this offseason and you know, just 168 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: come back ready to go. You know, I don't. I 169 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: don't know what the situation will be. I'm sure they 170 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: have a lot of decisions that they need to make, 171 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,400 Speaker 1: but whatever it is, I'll be ready to go um 172 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: and this team will get my best, all right. Congrat Sam, 173 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: see you around. Thank you for all your news and analysis. 174 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: Be sure to tune into Command Center weeknights at five 175 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,559 Speaker 1: and ten pm on NBC Sports Washington. You can also 176 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: stream on YouTube and commanders dot com.