1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. This 2 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 1: week marked at the start of Organized Team Activities here 3 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: in Ashbourne, as we got our first look at Washington's 4 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: newest editions alongside the veterans. Yesterday, Brand Weinstein and Zach 5 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: Selby headed out to the first session of OTAs and 6 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: we caught up with them to hear their observations. So 7 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: we're here with Brand Weinstein here after OTA the first 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: open media availability for OTAs, and we're haven't talking to 9 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: some of the players and us a couple of things. 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,600 Speaker 1: The other really stuck out to me. One was that 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: Carson Wentz. Obviously you have to talk about him, right, 12 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 1: I mean, how do you think he looked so far? 13 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: You know that its first first, really couple of days. 14 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: What do you think about him? I'm waiting for all 15 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: the tweets of we haven't seen somebody throw the ball 16 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: like that in a few years. They've already come. Yeah, 17 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: the first impressions of here is this particular level of 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: athlete that kind of hasn't been here in a few years. 19 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: So first impressions are good. I honestly, I was sitting 20 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: there talking to Logan Paulson during practice, and he was 21 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: actually quite surprised at how organized they were for day one. 22 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: And I felt the same way, like you know, I 23 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: think it's they've made it very important that everyone get here, 24 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: be here. You know, I think jump on board with 25 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: this is a year we're supposed to start winning. We 26 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: invested in a quarterback. He's got a lot of experience, 27 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: and he looks the part. I mean, he looks every 28 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: bit the part. So I really want to hear from him. 29 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: I want to see how he feels about it, right, No, 30 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: I mean, and you notice how precise he is with 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: the ball, you know, Johan Dason even mentioned that earlier today, 32 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: he mentioned how precise and accurate he is with his passing. 33 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: You know, you were right, you do feel it kind 34 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: of around Procie how important it is for them to 35 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: feel like this is the moment where we're all going 36 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: to take this step forward. Here. You know, another player 37 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: in offense that I really saw kind of be out 38 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: there a lot more as Cold Turner, you know, with 39 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 1: with Logan Thomas out, you know, he's kind of stepped 40 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: in there in those first team reps. How do you 41 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: think he looked in that New York Because that's a 42 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: lot for rookie right, it's a big athlete. They clearly 43 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: have likes at that position. You can see what the 44 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: type of players that they brought in and Clue Hodges 45 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: as well, the undrafted free agent. This is an interesting 46 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: position group to watch. It's a lot of inexperienced players. 47 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: Logan Thomas may or may not be ready for the 48 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,760 Speaker 1: start of the season. They're gonna have to bridge that gap. 49 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: They don't have another veteran here unless you count John 50 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 1: Bates as a veteran. So I do think it's gonna 51 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: be very interesting. And Turner is clearly an interesting prospect 52 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: at his size, his speed, He's a little stiff a 53 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 1: little bit when he runs, but as they talk about 54 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: this catch radius is obvious he's going to be a 55 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: weapon for them. How this plays out through the summer 56 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: probably depends on how healthy Logan Thomas is, but how 57 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: this plays out through the summer is going to be 58 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: probably one of the most interesting position groups for the team. Well, yeah, 59 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: I think you know, they like John bass where, they 60 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: like his hands, But there's just some things that Cole 61 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 1: has been able to show so far as you really 62 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: just can't find a lot of other players let's go 63 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: to the other side of the ball here, and you know, 64 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: as allay, they're running a lot of three safety looks 65 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: here and Derek Forres really kind of stepped up into 66 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,079 Speaker 1: a lot of really good things today. I mean, do 67 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: you do you think he's starting to take another step, 68 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: you know, so far in the second year of his career, 69 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 1: I think they're going to ask him to I mean, like, so, 70 00:02:57,040 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: you know, they I think it's clear that there are 71 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: a couple of position that they're probably going to look 72 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: at in this third wave of free agency. A veteran 73 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: safety might be one of them. A veteran linebacker clearly 74 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 1: is going to be one of them. But Derek Forst 75 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: getting opportunities right now to play kind of in that 76 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: role at like seeing Cam Curl moved back up towards 77 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage. You know, I think he's a 78 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,360 Speaker 1: playmaker specifically in the box. So who becomes this buffalo 79 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: nickel person or whatever this kind of position flexes. I 80 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: think it'll be something to be interesting to watch. But 81 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: Forrest is going to get opportunities because there is not 82 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: a lot of depth at the position's draft pick a 83 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: year ago. Second year, hopefully he can step up. We 84 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: know Corne Elder made the first interception to OTAs, but 85 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,839 Speaker 1: you know Derek was not too far behind and making 86 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 1: a cup for himself. You know. Also Cole Holkum, you 87 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: know another Cole. He's been talked about a lot of 88 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: taking another step being that mic linebacker. Do you think 89 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: he had that press? Do you think he handled that 90 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: down pat? You know during team droves and it looks 91 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: like it. I mean, and everything we know about him 92 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: is he's film junkie. He's going to be in and 93 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: out of the building. He accepts any responsibility that's put 94 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: in front of him. And again, this is another situation, 95 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: not unlike Derek Forrest in a lot all of depth 96 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: at that position. He's trying to have to step up 97 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: and do it. It does feel like in the case 98 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: of Holcombe, they're behind him, you know, taking this position 99 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: by the reins and let's see how please out well 100 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: if it leadships ain't been like it's hearing. You know, 101 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: he's got it pretty down. Patch about that. You guys 102 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: can check out all of our code for OTAs on 103 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: Commanders dot Com. Head coach Ron Rivera spoke with the 104 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:20,039 Speaker 1: media following yesterday's session. Here is what the head coach 105 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: had to note from the opening day of OTAs. Probably 106 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 1: the biggest thing is an opportunity for our players to 107 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 1: work their techniques, develop some rapport with each other. Part 108 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: of it also will be the learning aspect in terms 109 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: of retention. What will happen is, you know, the stuff 110 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: that we did today will be included tomorrow. We'll do 111 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: some installation this afternoon. They'll have to carry over from 112 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:43,280 Speaker 1: yesterday today and we'll see what we have as far 113 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 1: as that's concerned. And again, it's just a matter of 114 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: seeing how guys are adapting to the things that we're doing. 115 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,040 Speaker 1: And would you make a Carson today? I thought Carson 116 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: did some good things. You know, uh, he did throw 117 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: the pick today, but man, that was a pretty dog 118 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: on good play by Corn Elder. I mean, it's very 119 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 1: veteran moved by Corn. But I thought he did some 120 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: really good things. Got some pretty good report with these guys. 121 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 1: The thing I like is, again it's about making good decisions. 122 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:08,279 Speaker 1: You're seeing a lot of good decisions out there right now. 123 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: I thought Taylor had a pretty good day. He had 124 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: a couple opportunities and missed a couple of them, but 125 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: he threw the ball. Well, I thought again, Sam came 126 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: in holland did a nice job. Hey, Coach, one more 127 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:23,119 Speaker 1: with Landon Collins now gone and Bobby McCain having signed 128 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: a new contract, do you have any buddy who's struck 129 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 1: out to you as a leader in the secondary? Yeah, 130 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: I think, Um, Bobby is stepped up. He stepped up 131 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 1: last year as well and helped out. I like what 132 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: Kendall Fuller brings to the table as well, you know. 133 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: And the guy that's kind of starting to find his 134 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: voice is Cam curl Um, you know, and he's played 135 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,840 Speaker 1: very well for us. So I think it's a It's 136 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: a good group, very skilled group, and I think they're 137 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: coming together and they got to continue to work together 138 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: and communicate. Coach, he signed Andrew Norwell and the Austin 139 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: and Brian Trey Turner. Are you comfortable with where this 140 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: offensive line is right now? Very much? So? Um, you know, 141 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: we have we have Chase Ruler who's still healing up up, 142 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 1: you know. But um, I like what West does as 143 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,039 Speaker 1: far as his position, flex and be quietness. West as 144 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: a heck of a football player as well. So I 145 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: like the group. I like the depth that we had UM. 146 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: You know, one thing we wanted to do consciously was 147 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 1: we wanted to be at least UM, you know, wanted 148 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: to have at least ten guys that were veteran, savvy 149 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 1: guys that have played on the field for us UM. 150 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,159 Speaker 1: And we like that minimum of ten men depth. We'll 151 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 1: try and keep as many of those guys as we can. 152 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: For all your Commanders news and analysis, be sure to 153 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: tune into Command Center weeknightst T, NBC Sports Washington, and 154 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: while you're at it, follow at Commanders on all social 155 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 1: media platforms for the latest on the team. Hail to 156 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: the Commanders.