Five must-watch players on the Washington Commanders defense in the first preseason game vs the New England Patriots
I’m keeping a close eye on these five defensive players in the preseason
It’s time for the Washington Commanders’ season to kick off with the first preseason game against the New England Patriots and see what this team has on the roster.
We know that the offense has Jayden Daniels and everything is possible, but what will this defense look like this season? Who are some of the depth and unsung heroes we should be watching for in the preseason? I’m glad you asked.
Edge/OLB – Jacob Martin
Jacob Martin was one of those quiet free agency signings that fans didn’t really pay attention to, but he’s a player that can rotate in and collect five or six sacks this season. The starters are unlikely to play, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste didn’t travel with an injury, so Martin should get plenty of looks. The Von Miller singing may have hurt his snap counts, but a solid preseason showing can help him earn some back.
Defensive Tackle – Eddie Goldman
The Commanders’ run defense was the third worst in the league last season, and they needed to beef up the defensive line. Eddie Goldman is one of the wild card players that I have no expectations for, so I want to see what he has on the inside of the defensive line. Let him stuff those runs that teams spam in the preseason, and I’ll be hype. At six-foot-three and 332lbs, he brings the size that was missing. We saw guys like Sheldon Day get a decent amount of snaps, and he could do the same.
Linebacker – Kain Medrano
Rookie Kain Medrano rotated some snaps at linebacker and safety at training camp once the pads came on, and he seemed to settle in at linebacker. Medrano had his best showings at the latest practices last week and really flashed his coverage ability and run-stopping. His biggest knock in college was his missed tackle rate, so I want to see him wrap some plays up and be dependable.
Safety – Tyler Owens
One position that still worries me is the depth at safety for the Commanders, and Tyler Owens can help out there in a huge way. Owens is already a really good special-teams tackler, so that boosts his roster stock, but his ability to contribute on defense might be needed more this season. I can see him being a thumper in the box while having the speed to drop into coverage.
Cornerback – Car’lin Vigers
Car’lin Vigers is the typical Dan Quinn corner who uses his length and athleticism to dominate in man coverage and press. I want to see live reps of Vigers running with some quality wide receivers in preseason to get a full picture of his potential. He can be another undrafted rookie that can steal a final roster spot in a secondary that finally has quality depth. The traits flashed at practice, now let’s see it in a real game.
The Commanders defense was the weaker side of the ball last season and they need to be much improved to make it to the Super Bowl this season. These five players are all guys who can contribute now, or in the near future at their positions and it starts in the preseason.
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Five must-watch players on the Washington Commanders offense in the first preseason game vs the New England Patriots
Keep your eyes on these five players on offense during the preseason game
