- 15 hours ago
Nicki Jhabvala discusses the impact of Washington's early injuries, what rookies stood out against the Dolphins, and how much she thinks Jayden Daniels should play this preseason.
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00:00What did we learn Friday night, Commander Stolfen?
00:06We learned that their defense is capable of bouncing back.
00:09That first drive was not great by any stretch,
00:13especially since Miami left the punt
00:15and then also had a penalty on the return.
00:17To go 93 yards on that opening drive for a score is not great.
00:22But the way they bounced back,
00:25and I mean, they shut them down after that,
00:28which is what they should have done.
00:30I thought that was a very good sign.
00:32I think they have some positions
00:35that are going to be difficult to decide,
00:37and in a good way.
00:38I really like their two rookie running backs,
00:43which means somebody's going to get pushed out,
00:45and who is it?
00:46Same for receiver.
00:47I think they now have some really strong depth there.
00:50Same for safety.
00:51There's going to be some sort of, quote-unquote,
00:54surprise cut there.
00:56I think there have to be, just numbers-wise,
00:59so I think there were a lot of guys that showed out.
01:03I didn't think there was anybody that had any, like,
01:05massively egregious mistake that hurt their standing.
01:09And then, of course, there's Mariota that, you know,
01:13you hope he's back before the season opener.
01:15I know that's sort of an injury, depending on severity.
01:17It usually takes, what, three to six weeks?
01:19So you hope it's on the lesser side, of course,
01:22and he can return, but it does make you wonder, like,
01:25do they consider bringing on a third quarterback
01:28for the initial 53, and do they bring in somebody else eventually?
01:31I know Quinn said they wouldn't do it immediately,
01:33but how much faith do they have in Kaliak Nanis?
01:37Did I say that right?
01:38I hope I did that.
01:39Yeah, you did.
01:41But, yeah, I mean, those are some of the outstanding questions,
01:44I'd say, after that first one.
01:46We're in, like, a difficult, not a difficult,
01:48but kind of an unusual situation where you're looking at the players
01:53being decided upon, but we have two first-year coordinators.
01:57How do you think they did?
02:00I thought they did fine.
02:01I mean, like, I thought the lack of aggressiveness,
02:03sort of what Quinn said, too, I believe,
02:05but the lack of aggressiveness on the defense on the opening drive,
02:09I didn't think that was a product of play calling.
02:11I thought that was just poor execution, honestly.
02:15So I didn't have any issues with that.
02:18I think also it's, you know, nitpicking this one game,
02:22and even throughout training camp,
02:24just because you're seeing a mix of ones, twos, threes,
02:27and this game almost entirely twos and threes going,
02:30you don't really get a good sense of what they're trying to do
02:34and how much they're trying to hold back
02:36or if they're doing certain things to evaluate certain positions
02:39or certain players, that's all part of it at this stage.
02:44And, you know, to try to get a big picture of, you know,
02:48how will the system look?
02:49How will they handle things in terms of adversity as play callers?
02:52I don't know that you get a great sense of that this time of year.
02:55Yeah, because you're just not showing much, right?
02:58I almost think defensively they showed way less
03:03than we've become expected to at practice.
03:04I mean, DQ even kind of alluded to it with Chennault and Styles out there,
03:08how neither was blitzing.
03:11That's why it's tough to, like, try to take too much information
03:16from preseason.
03:17You know what I mean?
03:18Right.
03:18And that's, you asked an interesting question of Dan Quinn yesterday,
03:22if the Mariota injury impacts their decision-making
03:26on Jaden Daniels playing in Detroit,
03:29what did you, we've played it a few times, DQ's answer to you.
03:32What did you think of Quinn's answer?
03:36I thought it was a hedge of, as of now, things are staying the same,
03:42but that could change, you know, at some point down the road
03:45later in the week.
03:46I'm not saying it will change, but he left that door open
03:49is how I heard that.
03:50And my thinking and asking that was, like, all right,
03:54you've lost your starting left tackle.
03:56Your top corner isn't out there.
03:59You're still waiting on your center to come back,
04:01who we said should come back this week.
04:04You know, now your QB2 is banged up.
04:07I mean, to me, that's, you know, three of the, what, top four, top five,
04:12like four of the top five most impactful positions are either lost
04:17or at risk of being lost in the season opener.
04:20Like, do you want to risk it with Jaden too?
04:21Because he only played four snaps last preseason.
04:25That's it, all of four snaps, but it took only three for Mariota to get banged up.
04:30Or was it the fourth one?
04:31Either way, it was very few.
04:33So, I think, to me, the risk becomes greater.
04:36It's like, all right, you don't have Mariota right now.
04:38You hope he's back for week one.
04:40But do they view it as, all right, now we really need to preserve Jaden.
04:44And we know at this point what he is.
04:46And they have two joint practices.
04:48Yeah.
04:49And those have become more of the evaluation ground than, you know,
04:53these preseason games.
04:55So, I do wonder if they see it that way or if they see it as,
04:59no, we want to kind of keep it status quo.
05:01I don't know.
05:02Talking with Nikki Javala here on the Rude Guest Hotline.
05:05You can follow Nikki at Nikki Javala, N-I-C-K-I-J-H-A-B-V-A-L-A.
05:11Read all of her work in The Athletic like I do.
05:15Here's the real question then.
05:17What do you think should happen with Jaden in preseason?
05:20What do you think will happen with Jaden in preseason?
05:24I mean, if it were up to me, I'd sit him.
05:26I mean, I don't see – I mean, what are four snaps going to show you?
05:29I mean, he's in – he's looked good all camp.
05:32He's had the joint practice.
05:33They got another one with the Ravens.
05:34I mean, I think anybody who thinks these four snaps against, you know,
05:38the Lions in preseason thinks that's going to change things.
05:42I think you're kind of fooling yourself.
05:44I think he's looked really good, and it just becomes more of a risk at that point.
05:49You could say you want to see him in a game-like atmosphere,
05:51but I honestly feel like it's more of a game-like atmosphere
05:54in these joint training camp practices because his practices are more intense.
05:57And I think you get more out of him, frankly.
06:00I think I agree with you.
06:01I just don't see – I mean, sadly, and I feel bad for the fans that actually pay to watch
06:07these games,
06:08it's just there's become less and less value in the preseason games,
06:12especially with these joint practices.
06:14Teams have found other ways to get in that work for their starters,
06:16and that's not in those games.
06:17I mean, if he does play, this would be, you know, the only game he plays this preseason.
06:23And, you know, again, last season he played all of four snaps.
06:26What does that really get you?
06:28You know, I think there are other positions that you definitely want to continue to evaluate.
06:32You know, I would like to see Chris Paul and Brandon Coleman get more time together up front.
06:37I know Quinn said he would like to, you know, maybe rotate those safeties
06:40to get Revo and Nick Cross in there some.
06:43So, yeah, there's some guys that probably should get a few more reps,
06:47but he's not one of them in my opinion.
06:48But last year, when he started the season, the whole talk was he seemed out of sync.
06:55Yeah.
06:55But I think that was because of Noah Brown was down, Terry McCormick was only there for like a week.
07:00Yeah.
07:00But the first year he went out there, he was in sync with everybody,
07:04and it was his first time ever being around him.
07:06I just think we – I just don't want him to get to a point where everything is judged based
07:11off of injury.
07:13What are you going to call once the season start?
07:16Because if he gets hurt, get banged in the first game, somebody's going to say it.
07:21Well, if he had played in preseason, maybe that don't happen.
07:24Right.
07:24Well, there's always going to be some reason that fits everybody's narrative, right?
07:28Like there's always going to be one of those no matter what you do.
07:31If you don't play him and he gets hurt, somebody will say that.
07:34If you do play him, he doesn't get hurt, everybody will point to that.
07:37Like there's no – I feel like it's a losing situation for the teams in that regard
07:41because somebody will always find something to latch on to to kind of bolster their own narrative.
07:45But I just think in this situation, you've got to weigh the risk and reward each time.
07:51You know, like you can't see five miles down the road,
07:54but you've got to understand the risks that come in that moment.
07:57And to me, right now, given sort of the state of the team, to me, the risk outweighs the reward.
08:03You know, if it had been a little different, you know, and then they had a fully healthy slate, maybe.
08:09But I just think it's – what's the point?
08:14I'm sure there will be people who disagree with me.
08:16Oh, it's football.
08:16You've got to play.
08:17This is part of the sport.
08:18And, yes, that's all true.
08:19But I think he's the most valuable person to this franchise, you know, by a mile.
08:27And after he suffered three injuries last season, you don't want to, you know, coddle him.
08:32You know, it is a tough sport.
08:35He is going to get banged up, but you also want to be smart with how you use him.
08:41Yeah, I tend to lean your direction, or at least if they don't play him,
08:46I am not going to blast them for it because it's like – what do we think he's going to
08:52play?
08:52Maybe two drives?
08:54So let's call it –
08:55One drive.
08:55I would have trouble seeing him play more than one.
08:57I mean, like –
08:58But, like –
08:59Like, most of the starters, even in this last game, only played one drive.
09:01Let's say it's –
09:02I can't – like, I would have trouble seeing him play more than one.
09:04Let's say it's eight snaps, ten snaps, right?
09:07Like, is he substantially more prepared for Philadelphia three weeks later with ten snaps?
09:16That's exactly my point.
09:17It's like, what is the long-term value there?
09:20I mean, it –
09:21So I asked the question then.
09:22You know, getting more reps matters.
09:24Like, but do those eight really matter when you're going against a mix of –
09:28But to me, it's just the risk out always a reward.
09:31But so what is the suggestion?
09:33Would you suggest that they don't play him at all?
09:35Yeah.
09:35No.
09:36The joints.
09:37I mean, I understand the joints.
09:38Yeah, you have to do it.
09:39Those are the preseason games, in my opinion.
09:40They get more worse than they would before.
09:42The joints still aren't preseason speed.
09:46Sure.
09:46It's not live.
09:47So the speed of the game is where I get concerned.
09:51Like, the joint practice of control is not preseason speed.
09:54And I think you get a false sense of security, and you get into the game when it's real fast.
09:58That's where things go wrong real quick.
10:02I totally get that.
10:04Would eight snaps change your mind?
10:06Would that say he's prepared for the season, though?
10:08Eight snaps are going against somebody full speed.
10:11Against eight snaps are not ever seeing somebody full speed.
10:13Yes, I'll be a little better.
10:14I may not be completely where I need to be because I'm going to see how to grow.
10:16But I will be able to react to that quickness of the full speed.
10:22I see both sides of it.
10:23See, you having played this sport to a high level, I can't contend with that.
10:26I'm just a scrawny white girl, so I can't really do much there.
10:30No, I'm just saying, like, I understand what people do.
10:34But this is why, and J-No wants the season to start, for all those that didn't want him to
10:39play,
10:40I can't hear you complaining about where he's not at.
10:42You get what I'm saying?
10:43So I want him to play, so I know he'll be at a certain point.
10:47Those that don't want him to play, then they want to point out all the things that are going wrong.
10:51And I'm like, okay, if they were playing, it wouldn't be having these things go wrong.
10:55Right.
10:55And I think the team will see it that way.
10:58That's ultimately how I think.
10:59Like, I have a, you know, I will, I personally think he should do it, but I think the team
11:05will think the way you are.
11:08And I think he will play, you know, one drive.
11:11But I will think.
11:12It's going to be really interesting, and I feel like when you asked DQ that, he did provide wiggle room
11:19for himself.
11:20You know what I mean?
11:20Smart man.
11:21We got two really hard practices the next couple days, and we'll take it from there.
11:26And I think.
11:26Yeah, that's a, we're not telling you until you see us on the field.
11:30Right.
11:31Day of the game.
11:32A very polite way of saying, I'm not telling you.
11:34We'll find out the same way we did last Friday when we saw Jaden, Terry, and Steph going through a
11:40rigorous workout.
11:42Exactly.
11:42Which was very obvious that they then weren't going to play.
11:44I never expected those guys to play last week.
11:46No, last week I didn't expect it at all.
11:48What did you make of the discourse surrounding Stiles and Chanel out there early and Miami just kind of able
11:54to go right down the field?
11:57I mean, again, it's sort of in the same vein of, like, what do those eight snaps mean long-term
12:02for Jaden?
12:02I think it's a growth overreaction to, like, say, Stiles looks, you know, exceptional and will have a tremendous career
12:11or doesn't look so great and looks timid based on, what, 14 snaps.
12:16I think context matters in all of these games.
12:21You know, did he light up the world?
12:22No.
12:23Like, did they pick up the artist?
12:24Yes.
12:24But was it solely on him?
12:26I don't think so.
12:28And, like, I think dissecting it to the degree that some have is just not great for anybody.
12:36I absolutely agree.
12:37I think it's...
12:38So, I don't know, yeah.
12:40I think...
12:40I think, I mean, I listen to what, like, Durante has said.
12:44Like, and Quinn, like, you want him to play more freely.
12:47And that's part of being a rookie, in my opinion.
12:51It's like, he's got every athletic tool you could ever want.
12:54He's got the size.
12:55He's got the speed.
12:56He's got the power.
12:57Everything.
12:57He knows what he's looking at.
12:59He's just...
13:00I mean, think about the adjustment from, you know, even plays like Ohio State, which is
13:05borderline pro, to coming here.
13:07It's like, it's a big difference.
13:10And it takes, you know, a lot of players, like, you know, a couple games.
13:12It's not more to adjust to the speed and know what you're seeing and how to handle a huddle
13:18with grown men.
13:18And, like, you know, it's a lot.
13:20But, um, and I'm sure, like, you know, of course, I've never been in that situation, obviously,
13:26but I'm sure there's a ton going through his head on every snap.
13:29And until he can just learn to play and not think as much, I think he may see some hesitation.
13:35That's not a bad thing.
13:36I don't think that's an indictment on his future as a linebacker.
13:40Talking with Nicky Javala here from The Athletic.
13:43Give me your concern levels on a couple players.
13:46What's your concern level with Trey Amos?
13:49Um, pretty high at this point.
13:53I mean, he's had one practice since November 9th.
13:57Um, and what the season is, what, two and a half, three weeks away?
14:01Three and a half weeks.
14:02I mean, that's...
14:04Even if he has a full practice time, if he came back tomorrow, I'd still feel like,
14:08oh, is that enough time just because he wasn't involved in the offseason at all?
14:13I mean, I don't, like, I don't know if Terry's injury was directly correlated to,
14:20you know, him holding out last offseason, but I do think the risk is higher when you
14:24don't have a ramp up, you know, like a long ramp up, and it's been so long that
14:30he's been out of gameplay that you worry.
14:34Um, you don't worry about just his confidence level, too, of, you know,
14:37trusting your leg after dealing with such major injuries, you know, like, trusting
14:42your body, um, and then really understanding it's a new system and, you know, working
14:48with the guys around you.
14:49Like, he just doesn't have that prep time that the other guys have had, and he's
14:52such a key piece of this defense.
14:55Um...
14:55Agreed.
14:56I kind of believe it's more in between his ears than anything, because just like
15:01when we talked to Rassul Douglas, I think it was last week, you have to get to that
15:05point where you could stop thinking about the injury and just play.
15:09And most young guys can't get there.
15:11Yeah.
15:12Um...
15:13And he's been through a lot of them at this time.
15:14I mean, that, that injury was a, that was a massive injury he went through in
15:18November, and then to, you know, deal with the ankle a day after coming back, like,
15:22that's, that can mess with your head quite a bit, I would think, you know?
15:27Oh, yeah.
15:27What about J-Mac?
15:28Um, and what are the roster options with a guy like McNichols?
15:31They're saying, Quinn kind of said, this could be a couple weeks, it's a major quad
15:35injury.
15:36What can they do roster-wise?
15:38Because that's a guy they love and should.
15:41He's always good whenever he gets on the field.
15:43Um, as, as August 30th kind of looms.
15:48Yeah, isn't there that new rule now where you can put two guys on IR before the initial
15:5353 set and still designate them for early return?
15:56So I wonder if they consider doing that with him because I, if he had been healthy, he,
16:02he would have been on my 53, you know, just cause he's, he's sort of that third down guy.
16:07He's a veteran.
16:07He, you know, can give you those chunk plays, um, when you need them.
16:12But if he's not available to go and you have, you know, a couple of good rookies, it
16:16seems, I mean, I, to me, that would be the most logical option if he's still not cleared
16:23by then.
16:23Um, and that means he's out at least first four, right?
16:28Right.
16:29Yep.
16:30Um, I, I almost feel like that's the direction that thing's going to go.
16:33Uh, Nikki, we will see you tomorrow morning and we appreciate your time as always.
16:36All right, Nick.
16:37Take care.
16:38All right.
16:38Thanks guys.
16:39See ya.
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