Washington Commanders OTA: Observations

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June 7, 2023

by David Earl

Work Ethic No Surprise

Many of us look at these comments as “coach speak” which is usually an accurate description, but Sam Howell is different. Going back to his time in North Carolina his work ethic and demeanor was very much what Eric Bieniemy is eluding to in this press conference. Looking back a year ago, Howell played the role of understudy to Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke very seriously. The most impressive aspect of this 5th round pick was his focus on learning the offense. Knowing the very different offensive philosophy from North Carolina to Scott Turner‘s system, Sam made it very clear that playbook retention was his top priority. “We were more strictly shotgun in college, more of an Air-Raid type system. Here, it’s more of a pro-style offense, a little bit more under center, more play-action stuff — some stuff I didn’t really do in college,” Howell said. “It’s stuff I have to get more comfortable with. I feel like I’m making good progress. I’m taking all the coaching really well.” This response last offseason is indicative of not only what Eric Bieniemy has been speaking to but what his work ethic has always been prior to being drafted. There is some level of coach speak here, but Sam’s track record thus far has always been one to learn, absorb information, self-critique, and strive to improve every aspect of his game. Thusfar, up to this point, he has taken the next steps successfully at every level. Based purely on the commitment to excellence, Howell is poised to be the franchise quarterback for years to come, but has the talent followed suit thus far in OTA?

This is where the evaluation gets a bit cloudy, as Howell certainly has been up and down during these OTA sessions.  However, just how much value do you take in OTA performances? The film study, playbook understanding, and self-correction plus accepting of critical coaching have all been, to a degree, very productive. He seems to be taking strong command in the huddle and has apparently earned that leadership role among his teammates, especially Terry McLaurin. So, managing the offense seems to be there but it’s just too early to grade his execution of the offense. This time of year players and coaches try different things, knowing that much of what they try will likely be unsuccessful but helps give a good baseline gauge going forward. The evaluation comes later in connecting these early practices to late July and into the early stages of preseason. Then Bieniemy can see what adjustments were effectively made, whether some negative tendencies still seem to be carrying over, and can address any poor mechanics/decisions that seem to arise once the defensive pressure becomes very real. As of now, Howell is making a mix of fantastic throws and reads to decisions that are less than inspiring during these first couple weeks of OTAs.

The Hype is Legitimate Among Fans

To start with, the hype (or value) in Emmanuel Forbes started on draft night.  This video shows Washington entertaining the idea to move up with the New England Patriots to draft Forbes. As the draft was unfolding watching Oregon’s corner Christian Gonzalez and even Iowa’s linebacker Jack Camptell available at pick 16 no one in their right mind expected Emmanuel Forbes. The fan reaction was pretty clear too. Regardless of how we armchair general managers felt about this sequence, at least Ron Rivera and company got who was clearly their guy. Since the draft all Emmanuel Forbes has done was not only draw rave reviews but have some mention Darrell Green in the same breath. Regarding the Green reference, as I could go into great detail on why it’s not only premature but just ridiculous talk – let’s just relax on comparing him to one of the greatest Redskins of all time. Now the crazy comparison is behind us, why all the hype?

Let’s start with his athletic profile and how it has, thus far, translated very well on the field. His quick reaction to the ball is reflective of his 1.48-second 10-yard shuttle run which measures short area agility. Forbes has been very quick to process the play, read the quarterback and get on top of the pass on nearly every attempt. His scouting report  mentions above-average pre-snap recognition, and it was his instincts to read and react to the play that has been on display in OTAs. As far as anything beyond the short area zone, Forbes utilizes his 4.45-second forty times and a smooth lateral movement to keep the pace fairly well with Washington’s top wide receivers. This was especially evident against Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson early and often. Yes it’s early and it is just guys in shorts, but Forbes has been showing everyone why Ron Rivera wanted him and why Jack Del Rio is fired up to have him.

Eric Bieniemy Runs a Detailed OTA

No longer what seems like typical coaching in today’s NFL, Eric Bieniemy brings a style of coaching more similar to how Joe Gibbs and Bill Parcells run teams. A good example of this is when Beiniemy said, “Details, guys. The little things. This is the [expletive] that’s gonna win us games,” which is not a culture this team has had in quite some time. For too long the players seemed to dictate the offseason, usually from the coaching staff’s demeanor, but this offseason Eric is fully hands-on controlling their work tempo and ensuring a certain level of focus is constantly maintained. Not to take away from Scott Turner and Jay Gruden but their player’s coach approach has not produced anything while Eric’s intensity seems to mess well with Terry McLaurin and Jonathan Allen. From getting in Howell’s ear about not chasing down an interception to every play being run completely without any lagging, Bieniemy is developing a level of work ethic and accountability this team has sorely lacked as well.

As far as the offensive scheme, it is very clear Bieniemy is assessing each individual skill set of his players in order to fully understand what offensive direction or identity this team will have by week 1. This is no surprise either; I previously outlined just how he and Andy Reid adjusted offensive philosophy according to the player’s strengths and weaknesses.

Of the many observations being made during OTAs, Cole Turner seems to be one of the more intriguing players. Entering the draft many saw Washington focusing on a tight end such as Dalton Kincaid out of the University of Utah University, to many fan’s disappointment, they clearly did not even consider one of these rookie options. Many thought this was gross negligence, which could still work out to be true, but the usage of Cole Turner thus far has shown a possibility that Eric Bieniemy liked him from the start. There has not even been a heated competition as Turner has dominated first-team reps thus far and his talent seems to be showing. Looking back at his scouting report, it was not necessarily his athleticism that scouts saw but his frame and catch radius. Turner utilized his size exceptionally well in fades and back shoulder throws, has a strong lateral movement in his routes, and can track the ball very well on deep routes. There are some inconsistencies in his game, such as finishing catches and his play speed can seem to drop off but the right coaching can certainly improve this part of his game. Right now, Bieniemy seems to have Cole Turner dialed in and ready to take the next step.