UKHTTC Instant Reaction 3 & Out vs Lions

Washington now stand at 1-1 following a brutal first half showing vs the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

UKHTTC takes an instant reaction 3 & out on a disappointing night for the burgundy & gold as they lose 36-27 and the injuries pile up with Daniel Wise and Chase Roullier potentially facing time on the sideline.

Del Rio on the hot seat

The Commanders fired DL coach Sam Mills just before the season start and right now, you’d have to say the spotlight should be firmly on the controversial DC in Washington, Jack Del Rio. Hired in 2020 and with a haul of first rounders across the front, Del Rio has utterly failed to build on that successive first round DEF draft bonanza. In the first two games of NFL, the Commanders have given up 400+ yards to both Jacksonville and Detroit.

The backfield looks mediocre, and, despite a reasonable showing by the second year Jamin Davis tonight, the LB group is devoid of true NFL starting calibre talent. Such a glaring positional group weakness does not reflect well on third-year Head Coach Ron Rivera either.

22-0 at HT is entirely unacceptable for a team who often seem ill-prepared each Sunday.

Wentz and the offense provide second half spark

If nothing else, Wentz is a tough dude under centre.

Across the first two quarters, he was offered scant OL protection from the Detroit blitz, and it affected his game too as he started to hold on to the football for far too long. However, Carson showed grit and determination to shrug off the HT score and pressure and rack up 337 yards for 3 TDs and 1 INT.

Rookie WR Jahan Dotson impressed again with a tough TD catch as the air attack of the Commanders lent some respectability to what was looking a blowout defeat. TE Logan Thomas has yet to build a rapport with Wentz, although he did also catch a TD pass in the EZ.

The trio of Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel (1 TD) and Dotson flashed their ability in the second half and Washington will feel more secure when they can add the more space hitting rookie RB Brian Robinson Jr into the mix. Antonio Gibson did rush for a TD, but his overall play again did not look that of a natural space-hitting RB1.

Game Ball and on to the Eagles

The Commanders crowd certainly played their part in the opening day win vs the Jaguars, and it will be hoped that FedEx doesn’t become a home from home for Philadelphia fans next Sunday. The green and black will roll into town as week one victors vs the Lions and Washington will be underdogs to move to 2-1.

The return of Kam Curl to the backfield at Safety would be a boost for the burgundy & gold and a bounce back win vs the Eagles certainly won’t happen is the Commanders start as badly as tonight.

It is quite tough to throw out a Game Ball after such a sobering 22-0 HT score line, but for his second half resilience, I’ll give this to Wentz with the hope that he has the ability and strength of character to get fully to grips with the Scott Turner playbook.

Honourable mentions to McLaurin, Samuel, and Dotson as the supporting cast, with Jamin Davis and Daron Payne the best performers on the DEF side of the ball.