'I wouldn't read into that' – Dan Quinn makes it clear Commanders' training camp battle involving rookie is just getting started
Practice is underway in Ashburn, Virginia for the Washington Commanders and it's time to see what the team looks like after another offseason of rebuilding. If you're looking to see who could be the starters on the offensive line when the season kicks off, you could be waiting for a while though. Commanders HC Dan […]
Practice is underway in Ashburn, Virginia for the Washington Commanders and it's time to see what the team looks like after another offseason of rebuilding.
If you're looking to see who could be the starters on the offensive line when the season kicks off, you could be waiting for a while though. Commanders HC Dan Quinn has a plan for training camp practices and he's always preached his favorite word – competition.
Quinn warned the media before practice not to "read into it" with who starts where at practice. There's a lot of battles to watch up front, except left tackle and center.
The strategy at Right Tackle
The Commanders selected Josh Conerly Jr. with the 29th overall pick in the draft and the future is bright for the young athlete. This time spent in training camp is vital to his growth with the systems the team has created but also his own development.
"We'll mix it around some," Quinn told the media. "It's cool to see. Alright here he is going against Von [Miller], and then the next time against DA [Dorance Armstrong]. How do we work different guys. . .and the training camp practices against other teams help as well."
On the first day of practice, veteran Andrew Wylie started at right tackle with the first-team offense. Today, Quinn said Conerly Jr. will start at right tackle and get the experience against Miller and Armstrong.
Last season we saw Cornelius Lucas and rookie Brandon Coleman split time at left tackle before Coleman eventually took over as the starter. We could see the same strategy this season with Wylie and Conerly Jr. splitting time at right tackle until the rookie is ready to take over the reins.
Settling the inside of the offensive line
Improving both tackle positions on the line means that we will have some new faces on the inside as well. Coleman is being moved to guard where he can settle in and grow as a long-term piece of the team, and he's got a much higher ceiling there as well. The real question is which side on the line will he line up?
Will he take over right guard until Sam Cosmi comes back from injury, which will be much sooner than expected, or do you set him in at left guard to take over for Nick Allegretti? That's the more likely outcome in my opinion.
Speaking of Allegretti, we can see him move around and become a safety blanket at a much needed area of weakness on the team, backup center.
Allegretti is a solid starting guard, but it's all about putting forward the best starting five up front and he can become flexible to the team. Wylie restructured his contract in the offseason and can play guard as well.
Coach Quinn will play everyone possible up front at the open positions and there will be plenty of competitions to watch as training camp goes on, so don't read too much on what you see on the field right now. The line will settle itself out after the preseason.
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