WEBVTT - Monday Night Miracle | Episode 18 0:00:02.440 --> 0:00:12.640 Welcome to the Command Center Podcast. I'm Julie Donaldson. Today 0:00:12.680 --> 0:00:15.040 we are talking about the men in the trenches, the 0:00:15.040 --> 0:00:18.200 Commander's offensive line. Santana Moss and Logan Paulson joined me 0:00:18.320 --> 0:00:22.000 to discuss the new men up front shifting on the 0:00:22.040 --> 0:00:25.480 offensive line. They did bring in Trey Turner and Andrew Norwell. 0:00:25.520 --> 0:00:27.320 By the way, the hat, he said, it's just for swag. 0:00:27.520 --> 0:00:29.200 We've got a bit. It's you know, of course we 0:00:29.280 --> 0:00:32.479 support the Nationals here in this area. Do you anticipate 0:00:32.520 --> 0:00:34.960 because Brandon chaff was a perennial All Star, of course, 0:00:34.960 --> 0:00:38.160 and we talked about how dominant he was this offensive line, 0:00:38.880 --> 0:00:41.560 what kind of can we anticipate a drop off should 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:44.680 there be one? What can we anticipate with these changes? Basically? 0:00:44.800 --> 0:00:46.720 I mean, offensive line is a weird thing because it's 0:00:46.720 --> 0:00:49.199 five people, and it's not just five individuals, it's how 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:51.879 those five guys play together. Right. So yeah, so even 0:00:51.920 --> 0:00:53.720 though you have one really good player in Brandon Sheriff, 0:00:53.720 --> 0:00:54.800 a guy that was in and that light up a 0:00:54.840 --> 0:00:57.520 little bit, if the aggregate of these new guys is better, 0:00:57.680 --> 0:00:59.280 like the group's going to play better, right, And so 0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:01.880 I think Norwell, Turner having been in this offense before. 0:01:01.920 --> 0:01:03.360 I think you mentioned that there are a whole bunch 0:01:03.360 --> 0:01:05.000 of guys who've been in the league for a long time. 0:01:05.040 --> 0:01:07.800 Blados another guy that it helps galvinized guys. They know 0:01:07.800 --> 0:01:09.520 how to play together, and I think that's really important. 0:01:09.640 --> 0:01:12.039 I think even though they're they're older, some of them 0:01:12.080 --> 0:01:14.120 have kind of had, you know, maybe on the downside 0:01:14.120 --> 0:01:15.760 of their career. The fact that they're going to come 0:01:15.800 --> 0:01:18.320 together and play really is going to maybe lead to 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:20.360 an increase in production. I think one of the things 0:01:20.360 --> 0:01:23.120 that you need the most on any team when you 0:01:23.120 --> 0:01:25.800 talk speaking of better ring guys is upfront with the 0:01:25.840 --> 0:01:28.240 offensive linement. Those guys who've been in the trenches know 0:01:28.280 --> 0:01:31.960 what it takes, have been around a system, can brain 0:01:32.080 --> 0:01:34.759 that leadership and and especially when you have a very 0:01:34.880 --> 0:01:38.039 verse or two group, these guys can basically play guard 0:01:38.120 --> 0:01:39.800 or tackle. A lot of these guys are setting you 0:01:39.840 --> 0:01:40.839 know what I mean. You have a lot of guys 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:43.600 that can be, you know, play different positions. So it's 0:01:43.640 --> 0:01:45.600 great to know that we have a couple of guys 0:01:45.640 --> 0:01:47.920 here that's that our veterans that's going to be able 0:01:47.920 --> 0:01:49.800 to lead these guys on and I think they'll be 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:52.360 fined them if you did talk about daver about being 0:01:52.360 --> 0:01:55.080 able to move around and have that ability to be 0:01:55.120 --> 0:01:58.040 at different spots on the offensive line. We've seen sadly 0:01:58.040 --> 0:02:00.360 and unfortunately too many times where that's been nest necessary. 0:02:00.480 --> 0:02:02.560 You have to be diverse and be able to where 0:02:02.560 --> 0:02:05.200 you can line up. They went and unconsciously brought in 0:02:05.240 --> 0:02:07.120 a couple of guys that were familiar with head coach 0:02:07.200 --> 0:02:09.360 Ron Rivera and his coaching staff. How much is that 0:02:09.400 --> 0:02:11.600 familiarity of what to expect and kind of what they 0:02:11.639 --> 0:02:13.200 know they're going to get from the line. How much 0:02:13.240 --> 0:02:15.000 does you think that factors in? Well, I mean, when 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:16.560 you're in a run scheme, I mean, it's very similar 0:02:16.560 --> 0:02:18.760 to a pass game. There's certain rules and certain principles 0:02:18.760 --> 0:02:20.040 that you abide by here, and they do a lot 0:02:20.040 --> 0:02:21.639 of jets sweep here, a lot of motion, a lot 0:02:21.639 --> 0:02:25.400 of post snap blocking assignments right where they move gaps 0:02:25.400 --> 0:02:27.359 and stuff, and that affects the defense. And if you've 0:02:27.400 --> 0:02:29.120 been in a system like that for a long time, 0:02:29.480 --> 0:02:31.280 you know the adjustments, you know how to handle it, 0:02:31.320 --> 0:02:33.560 you know all these different variables. And like the long 0:02:33.600 --> 0:02:36.639 gri was in KYLEI. Shanahan's offense, the more effective I became. 0:02:36.720 --> 0:02:38.720 I just knew the adjustments, I knew what to do, 0:02:38.760 --> 0:02:40.480 I knew the calls. I think that's the same thing 0:02:40.480 --> 0:02:44.679 with these guys here. Yeah, oh no, you said it right. Yeah. 0:02:44.800 --> 0:02:47.400 Is there any part of this line that maybe you say, Okay, 0:02:47.440 --> 0:02:49.440 I need to see when we get to training camp, 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:53.400 I need to see certain player at this position step up. 0:02:54.360 --> 0:02:55.840 I don't think so. I mean, I think one of 0:02:55.840 --> 0:02:58.959 the things that we saw that was, you know, that 0:02:58.960 --> 0:03:01.640 open to see young guys last year be able to 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:04.040 flourish in those spots, you know. I mean you had 0:03:04.040 --> 0:03:05.919 guys in and out of the lineup and still coming 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:08.160 in and playing well. So now you're bringing a little 0:03:08.360 --> 0:03:11.320 you know, veteran leadership that's going to be able to 0:03:11.320 --> 0:03:13.679 add to what those guys know or don't know. So 0:03:14.280 --> 0:03:16.160 I don't think I need to see much, but you 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:18.160 do gonna you are going to keep eye on some 0:03:18.200 --> 0:03:19.920 of those new guys just to see if they're gonna 0:03:20.000 --> 0:03:22.560 be able to you know, what level they're gonna play on, 0:03:22.880 --> 0:03:26.160 you know, while they're here. John Matsk's great offensive line coach. 0:03:26.520 --> 0:03:28.400 They always give credit for him being able to get 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:30.280 them ready no matter what position they have to play 0:03:30.320 --> 0:03:33.240 as well. Chase Roullier coming back from injury. Would nice 0:03:33.280 --> 0:03:35.040 to be having him back out there on the field 0:03:35.080 --> 0:03:38.160 as well. Speaking of the men upfront, former Washington guard 0:03:38.200 --> 0:03:41.200 Derek Dockery stopped by the park during minicamp. He shared 0:03:41.240 --> 0:03:44.680 his memory on the Monday Night Miracle in the game memory, 0:03:44.720 --> 0:03:48.760 I probably have to say it might have been two 0:03:48.800 --> 0:03:52.200 thousand and five. I believe four or five. We were 0:03:52.200 --> 0:03:56.560 in Dallas. We want on like like a last drive pass, 0:03:56.560 --> 0:03:59.920 like mark through a past Antana. That's why I'm find 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:03.280 memories that being from Dallas too, going back home. So yeah, 0:04:03.280 --> 0:04:05.040 I mean we had some great memories here. You ever 0:04:05.080 --> 0:04:08.640 get tired of talking about that game Santana? Never? Of course, 0:04:08.680 --> 0:04:11.480 because it's Dallas. I mean, trust me, everywhere I go 0:04:11.600 --> 0:04:13.800 is always then. And I asked the question all the time, 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:17.400 did I do anything else while I was here? As 0:04:17.440 --> 0:04:19.720 always a you know, Monday Night Miracle? But I love 0:04:19.760 --> 0:04:22.480 it because, you know, I asked a fan, you know, 0:04:22.880 --> 0:04:25.120 why is that so significant to them? And they was like, well, 0:04:25.120 --> 0:04:27.560 the years before you guys, they had Super Bowls and 0:04:27.800 --> 0:04:30.400 our era, the Monday Night Miracle stood out more than 0:04:30.640 --> 0:04:33.479 our playoff you know runs, so I guess I have to, 0:04:33.560 --> 0:04:35.760 you know, live with that. It kind of goes to 0:04:36.279 --> 0:04:38.479 talk about the rivalries we have in sports, and a 0:04:38.480 --> 0:04:40.120 lot of times now it used to be teams, but 0:04:40.160 --> 0:04:42.880 now with players moving all over the place, people kind 0:04:42.880 --> 0:04:46.160 of question, like, how much do we lose that rivalry aspect? 0:04:46.320 --> 0:04:49.400 It's never lost between Washington and Dallas, And that's just 0:04:49.440 --> 0:04:52.279 another example of it. Now. I found out the hard way, 0:04:52.440 --> 0:04:56.000 but I'm glad I was on the good the end 0:04:56.040 --> 0:04:58.240 of it. Yeah, is Dallas still the team to beat now? 0:04:58.720 --> 0:05:00.760 I mean, personally, I don't think so. I think right 0:05:00.760 --> 0:05:03.080 now Philadelphia seems to be moving in that direction. I 0:05:03.120 --> 0:05:05.479 think they've done a really nice shot with that defensive 0:05:05.520 --> 0:05:07.800 getting better this offseason. Their offensive line is probably the 0:05:07.839 --> 0:05:09.760 best maybe in the league, and they've got some good 0:05:09.800 --> 0:05:12.040 skill positions players now to support Jalen Hurts. And again 0:05:12.120 --> 0:05:13.840 Jalen Hurts is kind of the weak link there. But 0:05:13.839 --> 0:05:15.880 I think that's the team. But I think it's I 0:05:15.880 --> 0:05:18.680 think Washington and Dallas are much closer than people think 0:05:18.720 --> 0:05:20.400 a lot of national pundans, so I think that's gonna 0:05:20.400 --> 0:05:22.400 be really competitive games this year. I think that just 0:05:22.440 --> 0:05:24.640 stands out because of the owner. You know and s 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:26.880 star and they're always going to be known or named 0:05:26.880 --> 0:05:29.440 as the American's team. But you know, they do have 0:05:29.480 --> 0:05:31.800 some great talent at over seemed like they just find 0:05:31.839 --> 0:05:33.840 a way to I'm not sure if it's coaching or 0:05:33.839 --> 0:05:36.040 it's just the guys that's not getting together, you know, 0:05:36.080 --> 0:05:39.400 not making it happen together. But no, I'm I'm with 0:05:39.560 --> 0:05:42.240 Logan with that, Philly, it seemed to be the team. 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:45.080 Although the Giants have got some super Bowls in the 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:48.040 last ten years, two of them, I guests, you can say, 0:05:48.240 --> 0:05:51.479 but who knows, man, every season is another chance for 0:05:51.480 --> 0:05:53.760 another team to take that. And in the NFC East, 0:05:53.800 --> 0:05:56.479 it constantly is switching. But how much look that that 0:05:56.600 --> 0:05:59.920 loss of Dallas last year, it hurts. It's still hurt. 0:06:01.200 --> 0:06:03.320 I mean, I know, guys probably will sit there and 0:06:03.400 --> 0:06:05.720 go into anytime we meet Dallas week four and then 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:08.120 week eighteen to close out this season. They're going to remember, 0:06:08.600 --> 0:06:10.440 They're going to remember that last game and go and 0:06:10.520 --> 0:06:14.359 I'm sure with a little extra motivation as well. For 0:06:14.400 --> 0:06:16.520 all your news and analysis, be sure to tune into 0:06:16.600 --> 0:06:19.400 Command Center weeknights five thirty and ten pm on NBC 0:06:19.560 --> 0:06:22.600 Sports Washington, and if you miss an episode. They're always 0:06:22.640 --> 0:06:25.599 there on our YouTube channel and our website, and while 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:27.680 you're at it, follow up commanders on all social media 0:06:27.680 --> 0:06:30.880 platforms for the latest on the team. Hail to the Commanders.