3 problems the Commanders are going to have a hard time fixing after Dolphins loss
Sure, there is nothing definitive about the preseason. There's always a chance, no matter how small or large it may be, that things can look completely different once the season starts rolling along.The Washington Commanders, like every other NFL team, has questions to answer and problems to fix heading into 2024. The problem is, the […]
Sure, there is nothing definitive about the preseason. There's always a chance, no matter how small or large it may be, that things can look completely different once the season starts rolling along.
The Washington Commanders, like every other NFL team, has questions to answer and problems to fix heading into 2024. The problem is, the chances of fixing a few key problems don't look too great after the preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins.
1. Riley Patterson is not the answer at kicker, but who is?
Patterson went 2-of-4 in the first half, and for the entirety of the game, with both misses coming under 50-yards (49- and 43-yards, to be exact). The two makes were from 46- and 38-yards out.
Patterson has been off and on throughout camp and he missed his only attempt against the New York Jets in Week 1 of the preseason. The idea that the Commanders' kicker for 2024 is currently on another team has really been gaining steam and it looks inevitable, at this point.
But, what do the Commanders do in the meantime? They have to have a placekicker, the problem is there aren't any viable options out there, right now. Veteran Randy Bullock is the only name that makes sense, but he was placed on IR last year with a hamstring injury, so his health is in question.
The hope, I guess, is Patterson will find the form that allowed him to complete 88.1% of his field goal attempts heading into 2024. That's the 11th-best rate among all kickers with at least 67 attempts since the 2021 season, or 27 qualifying players.
Either way, the idea of keeping Patterson or signing a guy who couldn't make another roster on his accord is not an ideal situation and it could easily rear its head in an ugly fashion during the regular season.
2. The cornerback position looks to be a major weak spot
The Commanders' awful pass defense was well-documented in 2023 and outside adding Mike Sainristil in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the team didn't make any big-time additions to the group.
So far, holdovers like Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste have not just seen their struggles – it's been against backups. Garrett Wilson is going to cook even the best cornerbacks, but Jason Brownlee and River Cracraft are different stories.
The new additions, like veteran Mike Davis, haven't stood out, either. At least in ways that make you think opposing passing attacks will have a harder time carving the Commanders up in 2024.
And obviously, the depth is questionable, as well. Very questionable. The Commanders will likely be looking around after final cuts are made, but the answer to this problem won't be available until 2025.
3. The tackle position has a very low ceiling
The idea of Cornelius Lucas and Andrew Wylie starting at left and right tackle, respectively, isn't the worse thought in the world, but there are certainly better scenarios. Like, Brandon Coleman starting at left tackle, when healthy, as long as he continues to play well once he returns.
But even then, the idea of Wylie or Lucas at right tackle is mediocre, at best, and NFL defenses are lining up their top pass rusher on the offensive right side more and more, these days. Wylie's been dealing with an injury throughout camp, as well, which adds to the situation. He was flagged twice on the same drive, with the second penalty being a drive-killer, as he knocked off the rust against the Dolphins.
On top of the respective ceilings, a long-term injury to any of the three aforementioned guys would put the tackle position in a really bad spot. Sure, there are ways to mitigate the problems through quick passes, tempo, etc. But, this is the NFL, and teams will start to figure out how to stymie that, making the Commanders offense's life even harder. On top of that, one of Daniels' biggest strengths lies in the downfield passing attack, but can the Commanders be able to take advantage if they can't dial up a play where the o-line holds up long enough to allow the routes to develop?
Unlike the other two positions, there are a couple of OK options on the market, but right now, the odds of Washington adding another tackle, outside injury, seem very slim. If they do, names like David Bakhtiari and maybe even Donovan Smith make sense, but both guys have their own questions. In all, though, the Commanders are probably going to have to ride this out, too.
