- 10 hours ago
Logan Paulsen is one of the most locked in Commanders analysts, so his words carry a lot of weight. When asked about Washington’s kicking competition, he expressed that he has a lot of concerns. Do the Commanders have enough time to figure things out before week one in Philly?
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Morning, Logan.
00:01Morning.
00:02Morning.
00:02Morning, boys.
00:03How you doing?
00:03Doing great, man.
00:04Thanks for joining us early.
00:05Appreciate you having me on.
00:06Have you been rocking them this morning?
00:07What are you doing?
00:09So I got a client at 6.30, so, you know, I'm just trying to make a buck, you know
00:13what
00:13I mean?
00:13Right.
00:14Guy's a grinder.
00:15He's got a million jobs.
00:18Where do you got, where does he go?
00:20Does he come to your house, or do you guys have a gym that you work at?
00:23So yeah, there's a PT clinic about five minutes from where I live, where I can, you know, kind
00:27of get most of the stuff I need to get done.
00:29And a lot of people out here actually have, like, personal gyms, like, nice personal
00:32gyms out in Loudoun County, so sometimes I go to their house, but recently I've been
00:36going to this PT clinic, which has been really convenient, so.
00:38So is it like young football guys, or is it just training in general?
00:43It just depends, man.
00:44You know, like, I've got a couple guys, like, I'm training a soccer player who's going to
00:47college, I'm training soccer moms, you know, I'm training, like, a retiree.
00:51It just depends on, you know, your fitness goals, and it's good for me, because it helps
00:55me learn kind of new approaches, new philosophies.
00:58So yeah, I like the diversity of it, for sure.
01:00All right, very cool.
01:01All right, so obviously the major news over the weekend is the Tunsil injury, you know,
01:06obviously devastating, no question about it, one of the best in football, but they do have
01:10a replacement who they were successful with in 2024, which leads me to believe, as a fan
01:14of the team, I'm not objective, I'm just a fan, that, you know, that Coleman can be serviceable.
01:20He proved that in 24.
01:22The schedule this year, Logan, as you know, I think it's very daunting, especially the first
01:2611 weeks, I don't know how many games we'll be favored in, so that's a different challenge,
01:30but, you know, how well prepared is Coleman to fill in for Tunsil at this point?
01:38Yeah, you know, it's interesting, I went back and watched the 2024 stuff, and I was like,
01:42you know, I kind of remembered it in the same way you remembered it, it was very, you know,
01:44this is very good, he's awesome, and there was a little bit up and down, but it makes sense
01:48to be the rookie.
01:49When you go back to 2025, obviously everyone remembers kind of a slow start at guard, and
01:53then I think the thing that was most surprising when I went back and watched the film was the
01:58last couple games of the season, the Kansas City game specifically when he replaced Tunsil,
02:02the Giants game, the Philly game, I think there was a Dallas game in there too, if I'm not
02:06mistaken, where he actually looked pretty gosh darn good, you know, like I think, you know,
02:12in terms of like trusting your pass set, being confident, kind of early in his rookie year,
02:17he's kind of over setting the line, or he's under setting the line, he's given rushers
02:20kind of free access to the quarterback, and then in 2025, I saw a guy who was very, very
02:25confident, like had a clear plan, and then, you know, obviously in practice in the last
02:29couple days, you've seen that same plan kind of continue to develop, like he was pass blocking
02:34against Adatio the other day, and Adatio has been giving everybody fits in practice, you
02:38know, Laramie, Connerly, you know, Trent Scott, name your person, and I thought that he
02:44just did a great job, like using his length and staying nice and balanced, and that's
02:48what you want to see from him, and again, there's some stuff that he needs to improve
02:51on in the run game, but I think you're starting to see a more confident football player, and
02:54again, like he's not, no one's as good as Laramie Tunsil, there's like three guys in
02:58the league that are that good, but I think you've got a guy here who's young, who's ascending,
03:02who's a good athlete, and has a lot of traits of elite tackles, you know, 35-inch arms,
03:07he's 230 pounds, he's 6'5", like there's a lot there to work with, which is very exciting,
03:12and I think he's an ascending player, which is also good.
03:15So do you think over the course of the season, Logan, not having Tunsil out there will be
03:21an issue, or do you think that Coleman can just get better?
03:24And of course, they'll probably help him out with all the tight ends too.
03:27Yeah, you know, I think it's a great question, and I think when you look at Tunsil specifically,
03:31like that's a hard question to answer, because Tunsil is one of three players in the world,
03:37right, you know, like there is going to be a drop-off to Coleman, and that's not an indictment
03:41of Coleman, that's just how good, for people who maybe don't watch a lot of O-line, like
03:44that's just how good Tunsil is, like you're going to have a sack, you're going to have
03:48a TFL, you're going to have some type of explosive defensive play, because he's not
03:53out there.
03:53Now, I do think you can mitigate that, because I think Coleman's pretty good, right, but he's
03:57just not like one of the best in the world at what he does.
04:00So I do think, like, yes, Coleman looks better from the, like 2024, 2025 got better.
04:06I think he looks pretty solid in training camp, and I think he's going to be a very, probably
04:10a serviceable plus type of replacement for him, which is really exciting to have that
04:14guy on the roster already, but again, like, you know, it's not Laramie Tunsil, and there's
04:18a reason to go out and pay him and make him one of the highest, I think he's the highest
04:21paid left tackle in the league, is because he's really gosh darn good.
04:24So, yes, you'll feel him, but I think Coleman's in a good spot to continue to get better,
04:29continue to improve, and I think he can mitigate, like, the total pain of that loss, the loss
04:35of Tunsil.
04:35Well, what makes it a little bit more difficult to swallow at this point has been the Allegretti
04:39kind of lingering stuff that's going on there.
04:41I was okay with him replacing Biotish.
04:44I just trusted them in their evaluation that he would be the next man up, but now he's been
04:48nicked up.
04:49I'm not hearing great things.
04:50I don't want to say disparaging things about guys, but I'm not hearing great things about,
04:53like, Julian Good-Jones and some of these other guys.
04:55I know Goldman's a rookie, can't expect him, six-round pick, to really be ready for prime
05:01time if Allegretti's not ready.
05:02I know Coleman actually was even talked about at some points that in a pinch he could maybe
05:06play center if need be.
05:08So, I'm kind of just worried overall about the depth of the O-line.
05:12Where are you at sort of center and how concerned are you with sort of what's going on with Allegretti
05:17and who may fill in for him?
05:19Yeah, I don't think I'm worried with the overall depth, you know, because I think you have Wiley
05:23and Trent Scott.
05:24You've got guys with multiple position flexibility who've played a lot of games.
05:28So, that's like, you know, guard and tackle, I don't think you're going to feel that depth
05:32issue quite as much because, again, those guys have stepped in and played really good
05:35football for this team multiple times.
05:37However, I do agree with the center assessment.
05:40Like, I think, you know, I'm kind of on the same mind as you.
05:42Like, I was excited to see Allegretti.
05:44I think his intellect, his professionalism, his experience was going to be able to kind
05:50of carry the day there.
05:51He's going to get guys kind of on the same page.
05:53But this is an important time of year to kind of cultivate that, you know, that intellectual
05:57muscle here and make sure I'm on the right page with everybody.
05:59And not that Julian Good-Jones has done poorly.
06:02I actually haven't felt him at all at camp in a negative way.
06:05I just think you want to make sure, I just trust Allegretti more.
06:08You know, I think he's played, you know, this is his 10th year in the NFL.
06:11He's played in Super Bowls, like he's been around high-level competitive football for
06:16a long time.
06:16And so I think you're kind of, it's the same reason you go out and you sign Stephon Diggs.
06:20Like, there are guys on the team that are talented and they'd be good enough to be that
06:23number two receiver.
06:24But you've got a guy in Stephon Diggs who's done it at a high level, like for a long time.
06:29So when those moments come, it's not overwhelming.
06:31And I think that's kind of how I felt about Allegretti.
06:33So, again, not that Julian Good-Jones had a bad training camp by any stretch of the imagination.
06:37Again, in some ways, it's been very, very solid, like good, I'll say.
06:41But I just trust the more experienced player.
06:44And so not having him out there, I think, is something that definitely should be considered
06:47when looking at the depth of the center position specifically.
06:51We're joined by Logan Paulson, co-host of the Take Command podcast.
06:54He does that with our pal, Grant Paulson.
06:57So I kind of want to go big picture with you.
06:59A year ago, there was all this optimism coming off the championship season where they won 14 games,
07:06and then this year, kind of the opposite.
07:08Now there's optimism because of the offseason moves.
07:12What's kind of your overall take if you were to compare last year's training camp to this year's training camp?
07:18Do you read much into it?
07:22Yeah, I mean, I think you have to read it because it's what we have available right now.
07:25I'll say this.
07:26Kind of the last year's training camp was tough.
07:29You know, like there was kind of, it was like emotionally flat.
07:32The defense was kind of dominating.
07:34There wasn't a lot of offensive innovation at the time, which again, like, is to be expected
07:39because that's what Cliff does.
07:40And so now coming out, like, watching the defense, watching some of the schematic stuff they've done
07:45from a coverage and from a pressure standpoint has been extremely impressive
07:49and something that's exciting to me because I look at the best defenses in the league
07:52and they're doing elements of what Durante Jones has done over the first couple weeks of training camp.
07:57And then same thing, like, transversely, when you go to, you know, David Blau, for example,
08:01like, he's done some things in terms of formations, motions, shifts,
08:06kind of bringing the receivers into kind of tighter formations on early downs,
08:09which I think, again, those are all trends you're seeing throughout the league
08:12and they just make it more difficult for the defense to kind of key in on what you're doing.
08:15So I think I'm excited from a schematic standpoint.
08:19Again, like, they're two first-time coordinators, so there is some inherent risk there
08:23that needs to be acknowledged for sure.
08:24But I trust this scheme that David Blau is bringing and I trust this scheme that Durante Jones is bringing
08:30and they seem to be coaching and executing it to a high level.
08:35So I'm much more optimistic than I was last year, for example.
08:38But, you know, like, where does that get you?
08:40I think it's the ultimate question.
08:41Like, does that get you to 11 wins?
08:43Does it get you to 12 wins?
08:45Or are you a nine-win football team?
08:46Like, I don't have a great answer for you because, like, as you know,
08:49you guys have covered this team for a long time.
08:50Like, it really comes down to how this group, offensively, defensively, special teams,
08:55how it gels and can they stay healthy?
08:58And can you ride some statistical variance in a positive way like you did in 2024?
09:04So this week they came out with their unofficial depth chart,
09:07and Dan Quinn made a joke about how it's about as meaningful as preseason, you know,
09:11rankings, et cetera.
09:12We get it.
09:12You know, you're just putting names there, just kind of doing the obligation.
09:15I get it.
09:16But what was a little interesting to me, and I don't know, you know, whatever.
09:20Take it for what it's worth.
09:21But defensively, they have Sonny Stiles or Leo Chennault and then Frankie Louvoo.
09:26We know Louvoo's going to play.
09:27We know Stiles, we know, always got to play.
09:30Gave him $100 million.
09:31I guess I was a little bit surprised that Chennault was kind of listed in that second team.
09:35I was figuring he was going to get more reps.
09:38Again, don't read too much into it.
09:40But is there something there that I'm not seeing?
09:43How do you interpret that?
09:47Well, you know, obviously when you sign Leo Chennault, I think you're expecting him to play a lot of football,
09:52for example.
09:53But I will say, like, Sonny Stiles has been an absolute freak.
09:56So that's not surprising to me, having gone and watched every practice.
10:00Like, there are certain players you feel defensively.
10:03I'm glad you mentioned the dafeo way.
10:04You feel Nick Cross, right?
10:06You feel Frankie Louvoo.
10:09You feel his leadership.
10:10You feel his energy.
10:10And then physically, I mean, Sonny Stiles is just different.
10:14His ability to play in space for a guy who's 6'5", 250 is unbelievable.
10:20Like, his ability to blitz and win a one-on-one matchup with the back is crazy.
10:23Like, I just haven't seen that before.
10:27And so, like...
10:28Where does Chennault fit in, though?
10:29That's what I don't get.
10:30And I think that's a good question, man.
10:33And I think, like, when you started this whole off-season process through free agency, you brought him in, and
10:37he was going to be kind of the guy.
10:39And then you're sitting there at seven of the best defensive players available, the best defensive player in the drafts
10:43available, and you kind of say, right, we've got to go this direction.
10:46So I think things have changed.
10:48I think they'll find ways to get all three of those guys on the field.
10:50They've been very adamant about that since, even from, like, spring, they've been adamant about that.
10:55So we'll see how they do it, but, like, the reason, like, Leo Chennault's not with the first group, quote
11:01-unquote, with this, you know, kind of nonsense step chart is Sonny Stiles has been practicing and playing that well
11:08over the last couple weeks.
11:09And, again, it's just, it's obvious.
11:12Like, when you go to practice, it's like, oh, who's that huge dude?
11:14Oh, that's 52.
11:15Who just made that play?
11:16Oh, that's 52.
11:17Who made that coverage stop?
11:18Oh, that's 52.
11:19Like, he's been all over the field.
11:20So I would say, like, that's why.
11:22And, again, that's not an indictment of Leo Chennault in any way.
11:25He's a good football player.
11:26I just think right now Sonny Stiles is playing better.
11:28Hey, Logan, are you concerned about the kicking?
11:33So I'm concerned about a lot of stuff.
11:35And I just, like, I kind of take the same approach that I did as a player, which is, like,
11:40whoever, one of these guys is going to make the team.
11:43And that's what we're going to deal with.
11:45You know what I mean?
11:46Like, that's every year, everywhere I've been, there's been some type of kicking consternation.
11:50Like, oh, this guy's not good enough.
11:52This guy's missing kicks in practice.
11:54And, like, it's just out of my, our control.
11:57So one of those guys, like, I do think I like, you know, Grant was able to talk to Stevenson
12:02the other day for a little bit.
12:03And I like some of the stuff that comes out of that conversation in terms of mindset approach.
12:08You know, Moody, for the first couple weeks of training camp, was lights out, was excellent.
12:13And obviously kind of has been struggling the last couple of weeks.
12:15But, like, kicking is a mental thing.
12:17It's like golf, you know.
12:18Like, you can't be in your own head too much.
12:21You can't overanalyze it too much.
12:23You got to kind of kick your way out of a slump like a shooter would in basketball, I would
12:26say.
12:27So one of these guys is going to be on the team.
12:29Maybe one of the guys on the street is going to be on the team.
12:32Like, they got to find somebody, and we'll see who they find.
12:35Apparently, yesterday they were both bad.
12:38Yeah, not great.
12:39Not great yesterday.
12:40I mean, I think they both were a three for six.
12:42One was four for six, maybe.
12:43But, yeah.
12:43Right.
12:43And, you know, like, it's just, when it's so close, you'd like someone to kind of separate themselves and say,
12:48this is my job.
12:49But I think maybe they're feeling a little bit of pressure.
12:52You know, I'm not them.
12:53I don't want to speculate.
12:53But, you know, it does seem like they are, there's a little bit of perceived pressure for both those guys.
13:01And rightfully so.
13:02Like, they're trying to make the ball club.
13:04All right.
13:04So last question for you.
13:06You know, kind of talk me off the ledge.
13:07When the schedule came out, I looked at it, and I went, oh, my God.
13:10Where do we breathe?
13:12Like, I just don't remember one being like this.
13:15You know, again, we've been doing this a long, long time.
13:17It just looks really daunting.
13:18You're a former player.
13:19I know, you know, as a player, you don't care.
13:21You want to play the best.
13:23But how do they survive sort of the first three or four weeks?
13:28Shoot, man.
13:29I don't know.
13:30Right.
13:31If I was making more money, maybe I could tell you.
13:32But, like, they're going to come out.
13:34Like, I think the thing that I would say is, like, you know, obviously I coach high school football.
13:38And this is a very different beast, you know, like the NFL.
13:41But, like, just trying to make sure the guys understand the urgency of the early part of the season, I
13:46think, is going to be a big factor.
13:48And I will say they're practicing with that kind of urgency now.
13:50So that's a good sign to me.
13:52And, like, you're just going to have to kind of rely on some novelty of scheme, you know, both new
13:56coordinators.
13:57Like, maybe you kind of catch a couple wins here and there because guys aren't expecting what you're going to
14:00do.
14:01They haven't prepped what you've put in, right?
14:03I think about that, especially defensively.
14:05Like, some of the pressures we've seen, like, I don't know how you prep them if you haven't seen them
14:09before.
14:10And, again, not having anything to refer to outside of the Minnesota film is going to be helpful.
14:14So I think, yes, just attack this thing with incredible urgency.
14:17Make sure we're ready to go week one, which it looks like Dan's made a big point of emphasis in
14:22just in terms of energy of practice.
14:23And then I think we're going to rely on some novelty, right?
14:26Like, the Eagles, you know, obviously we're very familiar with them, but they haven't seen anything like what we've done
14:31in training camp so far.
14:33So that's kind of what I'm hoping.
14:34And I'm hoping you get a little bit of confidence, ride a little bit of luck.
14:37You get a couple turnovers here.
14:39You get a sack in a critical situation there.
14:40And you come into that first four or five-game stretch, you know, three and two or two and three.
14:45And then you can kind of ride the easier back half of the schedule to a playoff appearance.
14:51All right, Logan.
14:52Good stuff, as always.
14:54We'll talk to you soon.
14:56Thanks, guys.
14:57See you, Logan.
14:57Thank you, buddy.
14:58Logan Paulson, co-host of the Take Command podcast.
15:01What was this quote?
15:03I'm concerned about a lot of things.
15:04Yes.
15:05That wasn't great.
15:06But I understand it's training camp and I've got some injuries, but concerned about a lot of things?
15:11Wow.
15:11Our training camp coverage is brought to you by Paul Henry's Window Installation, paulhenryswindows.com,
15:17your clear home improvement choice.
15:19We're talking about the Commanders training camp getting ready for their first preseason game coming up on Friday.
15:24Throughout the show, we hit the skins coming up at 7 o'clock.
15:27Kevin Sheehan, host from 10 to 1 on the Team 980.
15:31He'll join us at 825.
15:32Keep it here.
15:33We're the junkies on the fan.
Comments