- 14 hours ago
Commanders insider Nicki Jhabvala joins the program to preview the Commanders rookie mini camp this weekend.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00We're celebrating Latin culture today, and to help us do it is our friend Nicky Jambal.
00:06Nick, what's up? Happy Cinco de Mayo.
00:08You bring on the Indian chick for Latin culture?
00:12I don't know, man. We were just kind of...
00:14I was jamming a bad bunny, though. I'm a fan.
00:16Good. Did you work the Super Bowl? Were you there for his halftime?
00:20Yeah, it was amazing.
00:21It was so good.
00:22What was it like in person? Could you hear it?
00:23Were y'all there dancing, Nicky?
00:25It was so good. It was so good.
00:28Just the acoustics in there are just amazing.
00:31And the energy of it all. The dancers were phenomenal.
00:36Yeah, it was awesome. It was awesome.
00:38My favorite one, though, was at SoFi a few years ago when it was Dre and Snoop,
00:43and they brought out everybody. That was unbelievable.
00:45That's my favorite ever, too.
00:48I was not there, but that would have been incredible.
00:52Oh, it was awesome there. Yeah, it was great.
00:54We were flying back very much in style, though.
00:57We were.
00:58I remember when it was Justin Timberlake, and they did the Prince tribute in Minnesota,
01:05as far as being an in-person one. It was pretty cool.
01:09Yeah.
01:09Let's talk about a team that hopes to go to a Super Bowl at some point.
01:14I haven't checked in with you since the draft.
01:16Draft is done. Undrafted guys are signed.
01:20Where do you make of where this team is as, you know, the offseason is set to begin here?
01:26Rookie camp, OTAs, eventually minicamp.
01:30Yeah, I mean, I think Adam Pearce did a good job of addressing all the obvious holes on the roster,
01:35right?
01:35Like, they quickly went out and signed some edge rushers, tried to adjust the pass rush overall,
01:42not just on the front line, but getting guys like Leo Chennault and others on the second level to really
01:47help out.
01:48I like some of the guys on the secondary.
01:50I still think I would have liked to see them get, like, you know, sort of a more of a
01:57high-end cornerback,
02:00like a true outside guy.
02:02But I like Amik Robertson.
02:04I think he'll be good.
02:06I think he's scrappy.
02:07He's small, but he doesn't really play small.
02:09I think it'll be interesting to see how they use him in Sandersville.
02:12So, offensively, I feel like there's still some work to do there.
02:18I mean, yeah, you've got the center position that's still open, though I think that's probably the one
02:25where if you had to, you know, go without the true starter for a little bit, maybe that's it.
02:29But I still think they've got to add to that receiving core, you know, maybe tight end too.
02:36But just their pass catchers overall, I still feel like there's plenty to be desired there.
02:42Especially when you consider, you know, what is the long-term future for Terry.
02:46I mean, contractually, he's got, what, two years left?
02:50But I could only, I don't see them paying what they're set to pay him on that final year.
02:56So, it could very well be either the last year with Terry and then what?
03:00I don't see a successor there.
03:03I don't see a true number two there.
03:06I'm not sure there's a clear number three there.
03:10So, you would hope they find a little bit more hope.
03:14And I don't know how they will at this point.
03:17We, you know, we look at this whole thing with the receivers and the longer it goes,
03:22I believe the whole Brandon Ayoub thing is a fact.
03:26It's going to happen.
03:27I think they're going to wait.
03:28I think they've already had.
03:30It's going to happen, but it's me the answer.
03:32I just say it better work.
03:34It better work.
03:35It better work.
03:36But, you know, this guy hasn't, he hasn't played in a long time now at this point.
03:41And you think about some of the stuff that has happened in San Fran, his history, you
03:46certainly can't bank on him being the answer.
03:49You know, you can't, you can't mortgage the future of the offense to that, to that one
03:55spot.
03:56And I, I think I would have liked to have seen them, you know, get somebody else in there.
04:01But I also think Antonio Williams is sort of a mystery in that, you know, he, he played
04:07mostly in the slot at Clemson, but he's certainly capable of playing more outside.
04:12And I think it was his junior year where he, it was a little bit more balanced and where
04:16they had him line up.
04:18Um, and he's, he's got a talent.
04:20He's got, you know, he's a detailed route runner, but you know, can he translate it at
04:25the pro level?
04:25We'll see.
04:26Could, could some of it, could some of this stuff work differently because we looked at
04:32Cliff's offense, people line up in a position and they stayed there basically.
04:37Right.
04:37The fact that Blau is taking over and he will have some fluctuation moving guys around.
04:42Will the position not make that big of a difference?
04:45Because like, we always talk about size and I look at Santana, Santana 5'10".
04:49He played outside, left, right, inside, line up all over the field and he cooked people.
04:55So if something like that comes along, does where the person actually played make a difference?
05:01No, I think a lot of it is in the scheme, you know, and I, I think that's the reason
05:05they ultimately made the shift is they felt it wasn't, you know, making the most sense
05:10for the personnel and kind of what they wanted to do going forward.
05:13And sustainability wise, like it, it does make sense.
05:15I mean, you don't, the truth of the matter.
05:17And I think Ben Sanding made this point a while ago is that you don't see teams copying,
05:22you know, Chris offense, you see teams copying that West Coast, Shani style offense.
05:27Right.
05:28And this is sort of what this will be based on.
05:31I mean, I could envision this being much like what Ben Johnson runs.
05:35Um, I think he'll, I would imagine Blau will try to incorporate some things of other coordinators
05:41he's been around both as a player and a coach.
05:43Um, but that's what they want is more of that, a balance, that balanced attack.
05:48Um, and it should open up things for guys.
05:51Yeah.
05:52It's interesting because for so long, I think the, the Shani McVay offense was what everybody
05:59was emulating, but I do think this, this Ben Johnson evolution of it is a little different.
06:05You know what I mean?
06:06Yeah.
06:07And I think I trick plays sounds too dismissive, but right.
06:13But the, the Ben Johnson tree has far more like misdirection and, and like elements of
06:22disguise.
06:22Guys, uh, the reality of the, of the Shani offensive tree, they just want to run the
06:29absolute hell out of the football.
06:31And everybody seems to like miss that because the passing numbers get gaudy, but it's, it's
06:36all predicated on the run game.
06:39And not that, I mean, you watch the bears last year.
06:41I mean, the kid, Manunga, I was a killer.
06:42Like they're running the ball too.
06:43Yeah.
06:44There's just more deception than I think we're not going to be accustomed to.
06:50And I think that's going to be a really interesting wrinkle.
06:53No, I agree.
06:54I agree.
06:55I think there could also be some sort of speed bumps along the way.
06:59Um, this is, he's, I mean, this is the first year for David while being a play caller and
07:04a coordinator.
07:04So I think, you know, finding that rhythm with Jaden and helps that he's had like two
07:09years with him in the quarterback's room, but just sort of finding that rhythm and, you
07:13know, and that will be significant.
07:17Um, but yeah, I, I, I liked Ben Johnson's offense.
07:21I mean, I clearly it works.
07:25So, right.
07:26And I liked the fact that there was more creativity.
07:28It was less predictable in a way.
07:31So I could, and you look at what like blouse back on.
07:33It's not just Ben Johnson.
07:34Like he's had from, from, you know, from college.
07:40I mean, he, and he borrowed some of that that he used to give to Cliff over the last two
07:44years.
07:44So I think we could see a lot of that.
07:48I think he will be creative.
07:49Um, and I think this is sort of like, this is really like an incredible opportunity for
07:54him because it's a clean slate yet.
07:58There's some familiarity and it's, yeah, I think what they're looking for is, yeah, go
08:03do your thing, prove yourself.
08:04So it's kind of got, you know, somewhat of a longer leash than a typical first time coordinator
08:11in my mind.
08:12Talking with our friend Nikki Jabala from the athletic, read all of her work in the athletic
08:17and make sure you follow her on social at Nikki Jabala.
08:22Um, what day three pick are you most excited to see this weekend?
08:28Um, the running back, just because I'm going to ask him about fat man and I want to ask him
08:35if he can convince bill to change it to Robin so they can be fat man and Robin.
08:41That not the obvious storyline that people are chasing.
08:44I don't understand.
08:45Um, no, but he does.
08:47I do think he's interesting and I think they need, they need that boost in the running back
08:51room.
08:52I mean, to me, what they have now is a lot of potential and, um, you know, a number
08:57of short yardage vets, you know, I think bill still is mostly potential potential than proven,
09:03you know, player.
09:05I think what we saw last year was really intriguing, but can he do that on a consistent basis?
09:10Can he stay healthy and how will he look in this new scheme?
09:15So I'm, I think that room overall will be really interesting, especially if Alan can earn
09:20the spot and really prove himself there.
09:23I think so too.
09:24Are you at all, this is a very deep cut, right?
09:29Like this is only for the hard cores.
09:32What's your interest level in what to me looks like a Kaliak Manis, Sam Hartman, third quarterback
09:39battle.
09:41Yeah.
09:42Is there much of a battle?
09:44Well, they told us a lot when they signed Driscoll last year.
09:49Yeah.
09:49I mean, and one is a draft pick and one is not, I think that counts much as even though
09:55it's, it may be the seventh round pick.
09:57Um, I think I'm not ruling out Sam Hartman completely.
10:04Yeah.
10:04It's not like that.
10:05And it's, you know, this is QB three.
10:07And I think there could be room to add a QB four, um, on the practice squad, but, um,
10:17but I, I, I don't know.
10:20The fact that he was unable to win the QB three job a year ago after having a year in
10:26cliff system.
10:28Um, I think that was a bit concerning.
10:31Um, and not that many really expected him to beat out Josh Johnson, but I mean, I, I
10:38don't know that we saw enough from him to give you the confidence that he could step in at
10:43moment's notice and really be the guy you need.
10:47Josh Johnson did.
10:48And yeah, sure.
10:49A lot of that was his experience, but it was, it was much different watching him versus
10:53Sam Hartman.
10:54Now, will this anything kid, could he be any better?
10:57I don't know.
10:58We'll see, but if he shows it, he does come in.
11:01Sorry, go ahead.
11:02I think he has to come in and show something.
11:04You're not going to just move.
11:05He absolutely does.
11:06He has to show some capability.
11:08And then again, to be honest with you, both of them could be gone.
11:12Yes, totally.
11:13Like they could still have somebody off labor.
11:16I mean, how many years have they done that?
11:18Right.
11:19I, I think unfortunately for Hartman, they, they, they showed their hand when they signed
11:25Driscoll.
11:26Once they had to go to Johnson and they didn't elevate Hartman.
11:29I mean, do you remember you and I were talking to him?
11:32Do you, Sam always goes the high road.
11:36He was pissed.
11:37He didn't want to have to talk about it, but he did.
11:40Um, understandably pissed.
11:42I would say.
11:43Um, but especially for them to do that at that point in the season they were having.
11:49Right.
11:49You know, like they're really, it was, it was over then.
11:53Sure.
11:53And they still went to Driscoll.
11:55I just, I don't think Hartman has a pro arm and I don't know enough about Kaliak Manis,
12:00but like, I've seen it with my own eyes.
12:02Um, yeah.
12:04When I had this, I think it was interesting that he was, he was part of that, um, the
12:10top 30 visit where they go to top golf.
12:12He was, it was him.
12:14And there was one other quarterback, Mark Gronowski.
12:17They were the two.
12:18So they've been watching him for a while.
12:21Yeah.
12:21And I, I wonder what, if any of blouse influence is on that pick as a fringe NFL roster quarterback.
12:31You know what I mean?
12:32Like, I think he might see things a little differently because if you look at, if you
12:36look at cliff and going back to Arizona and they take Kyler and he builds an offense for
12:41Kyler and then he's got Jaden, another really mobile guy.
12:44He's known Kyler since high school.
12:45Right.
12:45But like he has been, his vision is these really mobile quarterbacks where you can run
12:50them because Cliff sure had designed quarterback runs a lot.
12:54And I think, I do think we'll see less of that going forward.
12:59Do you agree with that?
13:00Yes.
13:01Yes.
13:02And I think the one thing that really stands out about, about Ethan is one of the things
13:07the scouts really noted about him was the year over year jump and his decision making
13:12and for a player to make that kind of improvement at that position with a skill that, I mean,
13:18you absolutely must have as a quarterback to succeed.
13:21I think that's, that's very notable because you see that trip up so many quarterbacks, young
13:26and veterans, but you have to have that decision-making accuracy.
13:31It's one and two.
13:33You don't have that.
13:34You got problems.
13:35Right.
13:35Exactly.
13:36For sure.
13:37We had this debate and maybe we can open the phones on this because I think it's interesting.
13:43When do you think we can start to kind of set expectations for Jaden?
13:53Because I think we've got to see what this new offense looks like.
13:56Like we've got to see how much different everything is.
14:00And I think, I think we're going to have to like legit see a couple of weeks of training
14:05camp to get a feel because I think it's going to be, I think both sides of the ball, it's
14:10crazy because it's the same head coach.
14:12So we don't talk about the, the overhaul they're doing here, but I think both sides of the ball
14:17are going to look super different here.
14:20Yes, I would agree.
14:22It's really interesting for a coach to do that in a critical year three when, you know,
14:29his job is undoubtedly on the line after the season they had.
14:33So, you know, maybe he feels like, well, I, you can't keep status quo, but you got to really
14:40change it up if you're going to change it up.
14:42But yeah, I think both sides are a mystery and I think that's kind of always played in
14:46the commander's favor.
14:47I mean, look at year one with Jaden where they had somewhat of a softer schedule, which
14:52they should have again this year.
14:55And they were sort of that mystery team.
14:57I gave them some leverage in a lot of ways.
14:59Teams didn't know what to expect.
15:01Now, I think they know what to expect with Jaden in all that he can do.
15:05But I, I do think you can go into this with some level of expectation.
15:09Sure, because we saw, you know, for better or worse, there's the pressure that comes with
15:14the position, but we saw what he was capable of.
15:17Now, do you expect that every single season?
15:20Not necessarily.
15:21I mean, unless you're like Pat Mahomes, but like we saw what he can do when he's healthy
15:28and he has some help around him.
15:31Um, but I think the lesson from that season two is you can't rely on him to be Superman.
15:38So I don't think we should go into the expectation that he should be that.
15:41I think that ultimately hurts him and the team.
15:45But I think the expectation should be, you know, you want to see Jaden stay healthy, stay
15:52consistent and be able to show all that he can do.
15:56Yeah, I just think when you look at the difference that what the offense may be, I look at that
16:01as more of a positive because I, we got to a point where me and certain people will call
16:07the plays and if we're called, I know a damn defense coordinator is figuring it, figuring
16:11it out too.
16:11So just having some change up will make things a little different because overall we talked
16:17about the year two, if you don't make adjustments, teams are going to figure it out.
16:21And the mere fact that I believe that starting off, they're going to have a
16:25little jump because nobody knows what blouse going to run, but once they start running
16:30it, if you can stay ahead of it by making those subtle adjustments along the way, you
16:36make things better for you.
16:37But if you are very cocky, arrogant, and you say my stuff is going to work, that could
16:43be a problem, which we saw already.
16:46Bloud doesn't strike me as that type of dude.
16:47No, I don't believe he is.
16:48I think I'm looking at this thing in a more of a positive manner where the changes are going
16:54to be better for the overall team because I said last year, Nicky, every time you want
17:00this dude to be Superman, if he believes he can be, he's going to try, which puts him
17:06in more of a harm's way.
17:08So if you take that away from him and don't make him feel he has to be that, then you
17:13don't
17:13have as much risk taking.
17:16Right.
17:16Right.
17:17No, I agree with you completely.
17:18Completely.
17:19I am.
17:20I do hope he has enough reliable targets.
17:23I mean, he's familiar with the Ami.
17:25He's been working with the Ami quite a bit in the offseason, it looks like, just based
17:27on their videos they posted.
17:29Terry's been working quite a bit with the Ami.
17:33But, I mean, who is going to step up as that consistent number two playmaker for them?
17:40It might be Chig.
17:43It might be Chig, and that'd be great, you know?
17:46I think Rashad White could have a really big role, too.
17:49The fact that he went to Woodscom so much that going to Chig, you know you can get after
17:56the catch.
17:57You can get yours after the catch.
17:58Oh, yeah.
17:59With Woodscom, he was going to catch the ball, and he was going to be right where he's at.
18:01But you knew Ertz was going to run the exact route.
18:05I'm saying.
18:05Like, they knew he could throw, like, especially those short yardage, red zone situations, he
18:09knew Ertz would be exactly where he's supposed to be.
18:11But you throw it right there, and you know you can get four or five after that.
18:14That makes a world of difference for that offense.
18:15For sure.
18:16Yeah.
18:17Appreciate it.
18:17Do you think Ertz gets another year?
18:18Do you think Ertz has a year left in him?
18:20I saw him in Arizona.
18:22I'm guessing you did, too.
18:23Yeah.
18:24Talked to him for a minute.
18:26He wasn't playing football, but he was moving around just fine.
18:29He looked great.
18:31He was talking to Quinn.
18:32Yeah.
18:33I don't think it's here.
18:35I think, like, the Ertz and the Bobby stuff, like, between drafting Styles, signing Chig,
18:42like, they've moved forward there.
18:44But I'll be very curious to see what happens with both those guys.
18:48Nicky, we got to run.
18:49Thank you for the time.
18:50We'll see you on Friday.
18:51Sounds good.
18:52Thanks, guys.
18:53All right.
18:53That's the great Nicky Jambala.
18:55Give her a follow at Nicky Jambala.
18:57Read all of her work in The Athletic.
Comments