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There are several Commanders players that struggled in week one against the Philadelphia Eagles. In this segment, The Sports Junkies break down how those players can rise to the occasion on Sunday afternoon in Dallas. Who are you expecting to have a big game in week two?
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00:00Who needs to step up for the commanders to win the game?
00:04Who makes the difference?
00:06I'll lead off.
00:07I think it's got to be Jaden Daniels.
00:09Jaden's got to play better.
00:10He didn't play great.
00:11He's got to play better.
00:12I mean, this is not entirely his fault,
00:14but Terry needs to catch more than two balls.
00:16He needs to be more involved in the offense,
00:17and it's dependent on Jaden Daniels
00:20and the effectiveness of the offense,
00:22but I mean, Terry McLaurin is the alpha wide receiver
00:26on this offense,
00:28despite the addition of Steph Diggs.
00:30He's got to be more involved.
00:31Right.
00:32I think Rashad White has to do something,
00:34especially in the pass game.
00:36I mean, he was kind of just, he just disappeared.
00:38He didn't do much.
00:39They didn't give him the ball a lot.
00:41He was open a couple of times,
00:42and Jaden didn't look his way,
00:43especially on the two-point conversion,
00:45but that was a design play.
00:46I think even though he's an RB2,
00:50I just don't think you can lean on Bill
00:52for four quarters against Dallas
00:53when you have to score some points
00:54and you have to keep the ball.
00:56I think Rashad White's got to do something.
00:57I think, again,
01:00we can win this game if we score 24 points.
01:03We can't win this game if we get smoked defensively
01:07like six times on big plays
01:09with tight ends or Mikey Sanistro
01:11leaving guys wide open.
01:13So if I'm going to call out one guy defensively,
01:16I guess I'll start with Mikey.
01:17It's a good one.
01:18We got to have better back-end play.
01:21I love the pressure.
01:24We had three sacks.
01:25Maybe we can get more.
01:26See if we can get a couple more.
01:28But the back-end has to be better,
01:29specifically Mikey Sanistro.
01:32I don't know how to play DB at that level.
01:33I would have no idea.
01:35But by all accounts,
01:36he's got to be more disciplined.
01:38He's got to hone his technique there.
01:40They've got to communicate better.
01:42He's got to have better communication on the back-end
01:44and limit explosive plays defensively.
01:47If we do that, we have a fighting chance.
01:49It is distressing, though.
01:52The most distressing thing I've heard all day today
01:54is that Dak hasn't lost at home against an NFC East team
01:58since 2017.
02:00That's kind of a shocking number.
02:02That's enough to just depress you.
02:04Do theory, EB.
02:05Do.
02:05I do like the do theory.
02:07And it wasn't like he was outrageous last week.
02:10And we've talked about the percentage of going to the playoffs
02:13if you start 0-2.
02:14Now, that number's a little bit higher now because you played an extra game.
02:18But let's just call it 13%.
02:20I wonder what the percentage is if you lose the first two in the division.
02:25I don't know.
02:26I would think it'd be.
02:27I personally think he's our franchise quarterback for the next decade.
02:31You don't need any of that.
02:32We don't need to, like, look, you may not be a DQ guy.
02:37I can understand that.
02:38Do you want to actually go through another coaching search?
02:40Do you want a new regime?
02:42Are we at that point?
02:45I mean, not yet.
02:45But if it's another dud season, the heat's going to be turned up on his seat.
02:50I agree.
02:51And it should be.
02:52But, man, you can't just keep changing coaches every couple of years.
02:55No, no, no.
02:56You're right.
02:56You can't.
02:56I agree.
02:57I love stability.
02:58But you can't have stability where it's five or seven wins per season.
03:03Yeah.
03:03Like, it's got to get back up in that double-digit range.
03:05And let's see.
03:06That's the expectation.
03:06Let's see what happens this year.
03:08I mean, if it's a dud season because of key injuries that you can't control and you really
03:12have no chance of winning because of it, that's different.
03:14If you have all your guys on the field and you're losing, the seat gets hotter.
03:181-800-636-1067.
03:20I agree with you, EB.
03:22Mikey's a big one.
03:23Like, I'll start with Jaden.
03:25I think Jaden's got to have a vintage performance and carry this team.
03:29That's how you win in the NFL.
03:30Look, watch the game last night.
03:32Why did the Bills win?
03:33They got a great team, but Josh Allen's unbelievable.
03:36And Jared Goff threw four touchdowns is the only reason they got back in it.
03:39Your quarterback's got to lead the way.
03:41You can't have your quarterback throwing for less than 200 yards and running for 30 yards
03:45wherever he ran.
03:46The reason this team won so many games in 2024 is because he put them on their back.
03:53Yeah.
03:54He might need to do that again.
03:55I saw somebody tweeted and said, we need to let Jaden Cook rant.
03:59There was a point in the season where you said they need to let Jaden Cook, and he cooked.
04:03And then they started winning.
04:04And, look, I like that they've changed the offense, and I do think that it will pay dividends.
04:10I think that they can be highly successful with an offense where they run play action,
04:14have him out on the perimeter, little John Elway-ish.
04:19But he's got to deliver.
04:21I'm just okay with him picking his spots.
04:23That's all.
04:24It seems like everybody wants him just to go back to 2024 and just take off on instinct.
04:30And I think they're trying to limit that to an extent.
04:34And I think I'm okay with it.
04:35I'm fine with that.
04:36But I'm telling you, there were several times in that game where it looked like he was about
04:41to make a throw and he decided not to make it.
04:43Because I don't think the guys were as open as you think.
04:45I think they were pretty blanketed.
04:48Sometimes you've got to take shots.
04:49You have to look at every single play.
04:50I think they were going against an extraordinary defense.
04:52I think it's going to be different this week.
04:55By the way, a bonus guy.
04:55Let's not make the Eagles defense into the Bears 85 defense.
04:59I think they're pretty great defensively, especially on all levels, actually.
05:04They're a very good defense.
05:07Very, very good.
05:08I think you're overstating how good they are.
05:09With the most experienced defensive coordinator in the game.
05:13Blau needs to find the weak link and expose him like they were exposing Cooper Dejean with Diggs
05:18and with Antonio Williams.
05:20In other words, he's got to find that guy.
05:21I totally believe.
05:23I could be wrong.
05:24Of course, I'm always subject to being wrong.
05:26I totally believe we lost last week more because of them than because of us.
05:32Like, we lost because the Eagles beat us defensively.
05:36We didn't lose because we were just rusty.
05:39No.
05:40They were the reason we lost.
05:41I'd say it was a combo.
05:43I think they looked like a team that hadn't played a lot in the preseason.
05:48I agree, but I think that's because of the defense.
05:50In the first half.
05:51I think that's because of Philly.
05:53That was a factor.
05:55For what it's worth, Philly last year in yards finished 13th defensively and points finished 5th.
06:01Yeah, I mean, they were top five defense.
06:03All right, let's go to Michael in Alexandria.
06:06Michael, what's up?
06:07You're on with the Junkies.
06:09Yes, my name is Michael Bardak.
06:12I work at McDonald's as a customer service assistant.
06:16Honestly, I haven't spoken on the radio in 20 years.
06:19All right.
06:20What did you call for?
06:21Well, welcome back, Michael Bardak.
06:25I have just two points to make, and then I'll hang up.
06:28One is, I think the Cowboys' offensive line with center, Bebe, and their left tackle, Tyler Gupton, played very well
06:39against the Giants,
06:40and that could neutralize the commander's pass rush, pass defense rush.
06:45All right, noted.
06:45And the second point is Dak Prescott has been 13-2 in the last meetings with the commanders,
06:52and he usually plays well against the commanders.
06:56So, yeah, that's trouble, too.
06:58It does, especially at home.
07:00But if the commanders are going to get a win, who do you think needs to step up, Michael?
07:04He's not going to say that.
07:06He came in with his agenda.
07:07Yeah, you're trying to extend it.
07:09He's got to go to work.
07:10He did well for his first call in 20 years.
07:12Let's just end it there.
07:14Hey, you might have some particularly good insight.
07:16Let's hope so.
07:17Let's go to Russell, Temple Hills.
07:20Russell, what's up?
07:20800-636-1067.
07:23What has to happen?
07:25How are you doing this morning?
07:27We're doing great.
07:28How are you?
07:28We're doing great.
07:29I'm doing good.
07:30Good.
07:30But you know when other teams play against Dak Prescott,
07:38and when they beat the Dallas Cowboys, they put more pressure on Dak Prescott.
07:43I know you have to put more pressure on him because under pressure, he will give up the ball.
07:47He will throw an interception.
07:48But I feel confident that our defensive front can put pressure on him, and that'll help our back end.
07:53So I don't have to worry about too many chunk plays.
07:55But you've got to pressure Dak Prescott, though, in order to beat the Cowboys, especially with those receivers they have.
08:01So who's your key player?
08:02O-Way?
08:06My key player would be standing still when he gets his stuff together.
08:11Okay.
08:12And our offense will come around.
08:16Tonya Williams is good, and Diggs is a player, and Clark McLaurin is a player.
08:22So we should be able to score against the Cowboys.
08:25In order to beat the Cowboys, we definitely got to put pressure on Dak Prescott.
08:28Yeah, I'm with you.
08:29Listen, Russell, I'm with you.
08:31Are you concerned about Jaden?
08:33Like, all of a sudden now the fan base is kind of questioning Jaden.
08:38No, I don't have any problems with Jaden.
08:40I think what we need to do is let Jaden be Jaden.
08:44Don't have him be restricted by going underneath the center.
08:47Our offensive line is not bad, but Jaden being on the center, those guys are right in his face as
08:54soon as the ball is snapped on him.
08:56I think the shotgun would be better, and I think let Jaden be Jaden.
09:01If you want to run, let him run.
09:02I mean, you've got to move around the pocket.
09:04I think that way Diggs and McLaurin and Tonya Williams will give our other team's defense the fits.
09:11Right.
09:11All right.
09:12Thanks, Russell.
09:12I appreciate the call, man.
09:13Thank you, buddy.
09:15I think another guy that needs to step up is Chanel, especially if Lou Vu misses.
09:19Like, he's got to flash more on defense.
09:21He's got to play a more prominent role.
09:23He didn't blow me away.
09:23He got an okay PFF grade, but I was a little.
09:26You know what I need him to do?
09:27Blow me away in week two and blow up Dak Prescott and Javante Williams.
09:33He's definitely going to have to step up.
09:33I want Sonny to keep making plays, man.
09:35That would be great.
09:36By the way, if this is correct, I have Dak as number one in PFF grade last year under pressure.
09:46He was number one in completion rate and passing yards when under pressure.
09:51He's an experienced quarterback.
09:53Hence the, you know, incredible record at home and during the regular season.
09:58Let's go to Ronald in Fairfax.
10:00Ronald, what's up, buddy?
10:02You're all with the junkies.
10:02What's up, Ronald?
10:04How we doing?
10:05Hey, Ronald.
10:05Good.
10:07Jason said something earlier.
10:08I kind of disagree with him.
10:09I thought Rashad White was wearing like he had waterlogged shoes or something.
10:13He looked horrible out there.
10:14I know.
10:15That's what I'm saying.
10:15He's got to step up.
10:16I think he's got to come to play this week.
10:19Yeah, definitely.
10:20I think it's got to be a bill game, especially if you're just trying to run through the tackles,
10:24at least, and trying to chew up that clock.
10:27And they've got to get a turnover.
10:29I mean, when you have a guy like Sammer still out there, you're going to give up 28 to this
10:33offense.
10:33So, you've got to get a turnover.
10:35You've got to make a big play.
10:37You've got to get something like that.
10:38A little bonus.
10:39I think you've got to get Terry going early.
10:41Yeah, agree.
10:42It seems like that's a security blanket for Jaden, and then once they all get going
10:46in unison, I think the sky's the limit once you add Williams and Diggs.
10:50So, I'm honestly not scared of Dallas.
10:52They've really just got to win the turnover battle and run the ball, and I think they
10:55can easily win this game.
10:56Right.
10:57Okay, great.
10:58Thanks, man.
10:58I like it.
10:59The only thing that scares me is all those stats favoring back.
11:03That's all in the past, DB.
11:05You've got to worry about what happens on Sunday.
11:07You can't worry about what happened seven or eight years ago.
11:10I'm worried about that.
11:11Let's go to Cam.
11:12Cam, what's up?
11:14You're all with the junkies.
11:15How are you?
11:15How are you, gentlemen?
11:17Thanks for taking my call.
11:18Thanks for calling.
11:19I'm down here in North Carolina.
11:20Very cool.
11:20Long-time Scans fan, for sure.
11:23Just had a comment about the new offense.
11:25I'm concerned with the play action because, you know, at the beginning of camp, they say,
11:32hey, Terry's going to get 10 targets a game.
11:34Well, when Jaden's dropping back, being a right-handed quarterback, the left-handed side is blind
11:38to him.
11:39I mean, he doesn't have a chance to really process the field.
11:41I think right now, with the rushiness of our offensive line, and that being our weakness
11:46right now, I think the new offense is honestly holding us back.
11:50But do you realize, hold on, let me interject.
11:53Do you realize they only ran five play-action passes?
11:58Yes.
11:59I totally understand that.
12:00So, I don't think that it's a big enough body of work to make a decision yet that he
12:04can't include Terry on the left side on play-action passes when they've only run it five times.
12:11It's a little early.
12:13And you make a great point there.
12:15However, I do think, you know, Jaden's always been used to that shotgun, and he's still getting
12:19used to this new setup.
12:22That's fair.
12:22And with the offensive line, it doesn't give him enough time to process the field because
12:26he's dropping back during the setup.
12:30Well, by all accounts, I don't think that was an issue in training camp, but, you know,
12:34maybe you're right.
12:35But they're not going after him in training camp.
12:38He's been billed as an elite processor.
12:39He should be able to process what's happening.
12:41They started scoring points and moving the ball when he was in shotgun in the second half.
12:45Yeah.
12:45They've basically been praising his decision-making.
12:48So, you know, I don't know.
12:50Maybe he'll go out there and just hold the ball forever and just suck.
12:52I don't think so.
12:53I think they're going to look a lot better offensively Sunday.
12:56Yeah.
12:571-800-636-1067 is the number.
13:01Remember, later in the program, TJ Miller, actor, comedian, going to drop.
13:05He's at the DC Comedy Loft.
13:07He'll join us in studio at 920.
13:10But coming up next, every week, we've got the Commander's GM, Adam Peters, on the show.
13:16Adam Peters will join us next here on The Junkies.
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