Washington Training Camp: Some Things to Watch For

Posted on by

July 29, 2022

by David Earl

Football is BACK!!!

Washington’s training camp has opened up, and comes with many anticipated questions to be answered, some of which were discussed on The Hog Sty Podcast this week. Although many anticipate a fun 2022 season, this team has many issues that cause concern at some level. Whether it is Carson Wentz‘s leadership, the linebacker depth, and if players like William Jackson III will rebound from a poor 2021 season. This team certainly has some nice foundational pieces we all recognize, such as Terry McLaurin and Jonathan Allen, but will Chase Young, who was labeled as a “generational talent” during the pre-draft process, join this club and enter the ranks of the NFL’s elite edge rushers? Here are some of the training camp items of interest I will be watching.

Points of Interest

  • Effects of Dan Synder’s Dysfunction: This is probably my biggest camp focus. We’ve already heard Ron Rivera‘s recent press conference on the off-field issues. Ron is certainly smart enough to understand this will continue to be discussed and, while winning is certainly part of the cure, the only true resolution may never happen as long as Dan owns this team. That said, Ron will have to once again keep this locker room focused on the on-field aspects. That may be a challenge entering his 3rd season – if his message no longer resonates with some key players the potential divisions, as we saw in Mike Shanahan’s final season, this season could be crippled before it even starts. He will almost certainly lean on Jonathan Allen and Terry McLaurin to help fortify this team’s cohesion going forward. The scandals circulating around the owner will most likely intensify over the coming months, so its possible that the potential on this team could potentially never shine.
  • Carson Wentz: This one is obvious, and I was not going to include him here originally but there is a growing negative narrative about Wentz. Whether it’s his aforementioned leadership concerns or his play in the biggest moments, the conversation around Wentz as a franchise quarterback is now going to test his mental resolve. The organization will find out if he is able to block out the noise, take the reigns of this team as a leader, and move forward in a positive progression. He must know this is his last chance so will he answer the call beginning in training camp, or fold?
  • Interior Offensive Line: How will the interior protection work out this season with Chase Roullier just activated from the PUP list after recovering from a fractured fibula, as well as the presence of the two newly acquired guards, Andrew Norwell and Trai Turner?  Wentz may have plenty of weapons at his disposal but if he cannot step up into a clean pocket these weapons will mean nearly nothing. As we saw at times last season when Wentz was behind the 31st-ranked offensive line in pass protection in Indianapolis, he’s proven to be less effective when constantly pressured. The chemistry here is going to be vital for Wentz to have a chance to succeed.
  • Scott Turner: Regardless of where you stand on Scott Turner as a play caller, logic says that the offensive skill positions handcuffed and limited his play calling in the past two seasons. This is not a way to excuse him, but is simply a fact. From a quarterback who couldn’t accurate open up the passing game down field to a wide receiver room that started and stopped with Terry McLaurin, he just couldn’t run a dynamic offense. Scott now has his quarterback, a healthy Curtis Samuel plus the other talent and depth at wide receiver, a deep tight end room, and a dynamic rushing attack to run his full offense, his window for mistakes is barely open. Scott now has the talent at his disposal to design an offense to move the ball and put points on the board.  He now has what he needs to take Washington’s offense to a playoff-caliber level. Sure, the players and their potential talent need to produce but it also falls on Scott to get the best out of his players putting them in position to succeed.

How About the Fight Song Options?

This may be an odd way to close a training camp preview article but I just had to speak on this quick. We all knew the direction here. Neither song truly is all that great but no matter what they did a portion of fans were never going to be happy. I believe a complete revamp would have been best.  This was an opportunity to create a new era but there would have been those who just wanted to keep something from the Redskins era. These choices fairly garner the criticism of being forced and lazy, something with which I agree. With all that said, nothing matters if they don’t start winning on the field. I personally have separated this rebrand enough from the Redskins era that I am just going with the flow and refuse to lose sleep over any of these decisions. I just want this organization to be reputable again especially winning on the field. Hell, if Ron Rivera does this and wins us a Super Bowl I’ll sing, “Hail to Ron Rivera,” for all I care.  I am just tired of the same old dysfunction we’ve witnessed for far too long.