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Grant & Danny debate the top concerns they have for the Commanders ahead of their matchup with the Cowboys.
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00:00Thank you for making the show part of your day on a field trip Friday.
00:04If you want to enjoy us on site and hang out and talk ball, come on out to Leesburg,
00:09our second Leesburg stop in as many weeks, which is okay with me.
00:14I love it out here.
00:15We drove past our old friends.
00:16It's Banky Shenanigans right here on the way, just maybe a quarter mile up the road
00:20to see our friends at Pupatella.
00:21But we like it out here in Leesburg.
00:23Very calm, very together.
00:25People are trickling in, fired up about some foosball this weekend.
00:29An opening week loss has not dampened spirits.
00:32I think people are net encouraged from week number one.
00:35Commanders Cowboys Sunday, the question on the table for you right now at 800-636-1067
00:43on Grant and Danny is, what are you confident in and what are you worried about
00:48when it comes to this Cowboys matchup?
00:51The wide receivers for Washington will end this game full.
00:56They'll be tired.
00:57Not just from cardio, they will have catches, they will have receptions, they will have yards.
01:02Washington will move the football, they will move it through the air far more proficiently
01:06than they did in week number one.
01:08I think Diggs has a nice day.
01:10I think McLaurin has far more than his two catches for 14 yards that he put up in week
01:15number one.
01:15I think Washington will be able to move the football this week against a beleaguered Dallas
01:19defense.
01:19Yeah, the thing I feel really good about this week is I like the idea that Washington's
01:25going to be able to come out and get Bill going.
01:27I like how he ran the football.
01:28He did put a ball on the ground, which maybe we haven't talked enough about this week because
01:32that was an issue last year.
01:34It was one of the main reasons he didn't get more work, frankly.
01:37But I think they're going to be able to run the football against Dallas.
01:40I think there's going to be air in the passing game, to your point.
01:42I mean, this will be a game where they look better offensively than they did against a
01:46much more talented, better coach just because it's the same scheme and Vic Fangio created
01:53it and he's been there for a long time, not a knock on the Cowboys' first-year coordinator.
01:57But I think they're going to be able to move the football better.
02:01I feel good about that.
02:02The thing I'm worried about, the thing I'm nervous about, is just personnel.
02:05It's the Jimmys and the Joes on the outside.
02:07When Washington's on the field defensively, do they have the corners to play any kind of
02:12man coverage with C.D. Lamb and George Pickens?
02:14You're going to have to live in zone, probably.
02:16You're going to have to get safety help on those guys over the top to negate and take
02:20away some of the big plays, the explosives.
02:22Pickens had 1,400 yards last year.
02:25He's considered their number two because Lamb is the perennial volume guy that catches
02:31the most passes on the team and works the middle of the field.
02:34He himself is an annual 1,200- to 1,500-yard type receiver in this potent offense.
02:39And I just told you, Dak Prescott has feasted on this team.
02:41They haven't gotten him enough.
02:43They haven't moved his feet enough.
02:44He's not immobile, but he's much more of a pocket passer than he is an athlete who's
02:50going to create and extend.
02:51So you've got to get him moving.
02:53Get him off his spot.
02:54They haven't done enough of that.
02:55I'm hopeful that they do this week.
02:57But I'm very, very nervous about the Cowboys wide receivers and the commander's corner.
03:02So I'm going to be a bit of a jerk for a second.
03:04I'm not nervous about that.
03:05I'm resigned to that.
03:06I think that's inevitable.
03:09The sun's coming up tomorrow.
03:10I think that passing game will do well.
03:12The key to me is can Washington disrupt Dak, get a turnover or two, give me a sack, fumble,
03:18create some pressure that hasn't been there.
03:19New scheme will be really put to the test here.
03:21But I think closets are happening.
03:22I think Dallas will move the football.
03:24My worry is that they're so concerned and they've got to back off to prevent some of
03:29these big plays.
03:30And maybe as they're blitzing, they get caught.
03:33I'm worried about Javante Williams.
03:34I'm worried about this running game from Dallas a little bit, right, where you can throw to
03:38set up the run.
03:39I'm worried about their ability to hand the ball off that way.
03:42You know, Washington gets gut punched a couple different times.
03:45Then your play action shot happens.
03:47Then your double move happens.
03:48Or then your catch and run happens, et cetera, for these outside guys.
03:51To me, I think it's inevitable that there are points scored, that both teams move the football
03:56in this game.
03:57The analogy I've been using a bunch this week, and I'm going to use it again today ad nauseum,
04:01is this reminds me of that Detroit playoff game.
04:04If Washington's going to win it, they're going to turn Dallas over a couple times.
04:07The recipe for turnovers is there for Washington.
04:10That's why they hired Javante Jones.
04:11That's why they're running the system.
04:12They started with Flores and worked their way down the tree.
04:15This is the point.
04:16You get 10 tackles for loss.
04:17You get the pressure rate that they had, the three sacks.
04:20You apply some of those things this week, you've got a chance to force some turnovers this
04:25week and every week.
04:25Let's get to the phones.
04:26800-636-1067.
04:29What do you feel best about?
04:30What do you feel worst about?
04:31Let's go to Jack in Arlington on Grant and Danny.
04:34Jack, what do you feel best about?
04:38Best about?
04:39This is not a bit, by the way, but best about?
04:41I think this is going to be a coming out party for Ben Sennett.
04:44I think with Chig on the sideline, he's going to get to see a lot more opportunity, and I
04:49think he's going to finally show up for us.
04:53I love when you compliment a player.
04:55You've got to say, this is not a bit.
04:59Listen, because I'm not joking.
05:00My last name is not Sennett.
05:02I hope so.
05:05Yeah, no, I've been laughed off the radio by you guys before for bringing it up, so it's
05:10not a bit.
05:11If you call every single week and predict the Ben Sennett breakout, one week you're going
05:16to be able to call back in and say, we get it.
05:18That time that happens is going to be joyous for you.
05:22I can't wait.
05:23I can't wait.
05:25The low side, I mean, you guys covered it.
05:26I think that cornerback play is going to be tricky for us.
05:30But I would also, I'd really, really love to see D-Pain, you know, rise to the occasion
05:36and give those guys a little bit of help.
05:40Appreciate you, buddy.
05:41Let's go to Chris in Edgewater.
05:42Looking at the Commanders and the Cowboys on Sunday.
05:44Chris, thing you feel best and worst about for the matchup?
05:47Oh, the thing I feel best about is you guys got me reminiscing from the past when you was
05:54talking about the Dallas showing Jayden Daniels on the ground.
05:59And I'm thinking that you show that to my offensive line and get them guys fired up for
06:04him and get Jayden going.
06:06Because I think Jayden, if he's true to Jayden, he's going to keep improving this week.
06:11He's going to keep improving as he did in college, out of college in his first year.
06:15And he stays healthy this year.
06:18Man, I'm getting my offensive line involved with this bad boy this week.
06:22I'm letting them guys become hogs of the past.
06:26Appreciate you, buddy.
06:27Thank you, dude.
06:28Yeah, that's a good one.
06:29Look, I think you need to walk before you can run sometimes at the beginning of a season.
06:33And it used to be that you learned how to walk in the preseason.
06:36That was the whole point of August, so that you could run in the regular season.
06:39When you opt out of August and you opt out of playing football games,
06:42especially as it pertains to Daniels, who just hasn't played much ball.
06:47You've got to go back to last October to find him starting and finishing football games.
06:52I say it all the time.
06:53I think it was two games after Halloween when your kids were getting dressed up and putting
06:57on costumes that he played last season.
06:59He just hasn't played a lot of football, hasn't been on the field.
07:02It was really important for him to knock that rust off last week.
07:05That does not happen quickly.
07:07Look at Deshaun Watson after missing a year.
07:09Look at some of these players after injuries, Kirk Cousins last year or Aaron Rodgers after the Achilles.
07:15It takes time.
07:16The timing of this game is irreplicable in practice.
07:20And on top of that, I would add that because of who they played largely
07:24and because of that road atmosphere in Philly,
07:27which is way worse than the neutral site indoors game essentially that you play in Dallas,
07:33him just getting through a game healthy,
07:35he acknowledged after the game mentally what that did for him.
07:38He has not been able to.
07:39Last year, every time he played, he got hurt.
07:42He got through a game.
07:43I think you can now trust your body a little more.
07:46You trust whatever was ailing, whatever issues you had a year ago.
07:49I think we're going to see a different version of him someday.
07:51I really do.
07:52I've harped on this point a million times and will continue to do so.
07:55Their week ones, three for three, over the last three years have looked like that.
08:00Where for most of the game, not much doing on offense.
08:02Go back to even Jaden Daniels' transcendent season in 2024.
08:062024, it was kind of like that with more scrambles.
08:08This was an improvement in terms of throwaways and taking fewer hits,
08:11but last year it was more of the same against the Giants.
08:13It was a pedestrian showing, and we're kind of scratching our head going,
08:16huh, okay, we're easing our way into the season.
08:18Business picks up kind of starting week three.
08:21You go back to last year was the Chargers game,
08:22but even a couple seasons ago during his excellent year,
08:25it wasn't really until Cincinnati, the game that you and I were at,
08:29where he turned into Superman.
08:30So, we're three for three with this.
08:33I think better days are ahead as long as he's helpful.
08:36800-636-1067.
08:38If you want to join in, Dave did.
08:40He's in Waldorf.
08:41Dave, Cowboys on Sunday.
08:42What do you feel best and worst about?
08:45First of all, guys, I'm envious of y'all out there in Leesburg.
08:49I know what you're doing out there.
08:50Having a good time.
08:51But here's my good thing.
08:55I want to thank the Giants for exposing Dallas' cornerbacks,
09:00and it shows the weakness of their defense.
09:03That's my good thing.
09:04Here's my bad thing.
09:05I'm a little worried about the running back situation
09:09because if Bill puts the ball on the ground or gets hurt,
09:14the guy who's going to step in is a rookie,
09:17and I'm not sure if he's proven.
09:19That's where I'm at.
09:21Well, I'd like the guy that steps in to be a rookie
09:24because that would mean Kaytron Allen's getting those carries.
09:26The way they've been operating, it would probably be Rashad White.
09:29But your point's well taken.
09:30Bill has a ceiling and an ability to hit the long ball,
09:34extra base hits, speed, explosiveness,
09:37that doesn't exist otherwise in this ground game.
09:40Even Kaytron Allen, for his successes and the things he's going to do well,
09:43thumper, physical, runs through tackles.
09:46But that's 4.1 yards per carry waiting to happen.
09:49And there's a purpose there.
09:51Yeah, like David Montgomery to Jameer Gibbs.
09:54Give me Jameer Gibbs.
09:55Give me B. John Robinson.
09:56But you also need Tyler Algier.
09:57That's part of why those guys are so effective.
10:00But one of my gripes from Week 1, actually, for David Blau,
10:04everyone's focusing on the two-point conversion
10:06or the receivers spacing and all this stuff.
10:08I care about the actual decision he made and they made that Rashad White is
10:13someone that is going to basically split carries.
10:16That should not be happening, in my opinion.
10:19He's the – I still get the sense, because you remember Bill had that penalty
10:23when he was asked to hold up in pass pro once.
10:26I think they don't trust him in pass pro,
10:28which means there's a whole subset of plays that they've got to deploy Rashad White.
10:32Then you've got to be able to show that you'll run it with him sometimes
10:34to avoid, like, an obvious tendency thing.
10:36It kind of has left him in a rock-and-a-hard place there when it comes to it.
10:40The real key to me is can Bill hold up in pass pro, can be a valuable receiver,
10:45then there's no tell, then he can dominate possessions,
10:48dominate time on the field.
10:50What are you basing your take that Bill struggles in pass pro on?
10:53Last year, where they just wouldn't play him on passing downs.
10:57Right.
10:57And then kind of Rashad White's play total now.
11:00And, you know, the one time he was asked to –
11:02So you're assuming based on how they use him?
11:04I'm guessing.
11:05Yes.
11:05I don't know specifically.
11:06I'm saying since the moment they signed him,
11:08they've been talking about how much they like him and how good he is,
11:10and I'm saying watch the Tampa tape again.
11:13You're talking Rashad White?
11:14Yes.
11:14Yeah.
11:15Watch the Tampa tape.
11:16This is what he is.
11:17He is a 3.2-yard-per-carry running back.
11:21If you block it for four, he'll get four.
11:23If you block it for six, he might get six.
11:25He might get three.
11:26But he's normally going to get three yards.
11:28Now, if you want to throw him the ball out of the backfield, fine.
11:30Do that.
11:30He's good at it.
11:31Averaged about 50 catches in Tampa.
11:33You know who else is good at that?
11:34I watched it in practice.
11:35Bill's good at that.
11:37Now, if he can't block, the reason I ask you is if you've seen something,
11:41heard something, now I'm interested in that.
11:43But until they say he can't pass pro,
11:46there is no good reason for Rashad White really to be on the field on non-passing downs.
11:52You're saying, like, let's just keep him honest.
11:54I like that.
11:54I get that.
11:55I think Bill could be a three-down back.
11:57The issue I have is his durability.
11:59He is always banged up.
12:01He just can't quite stay healthy, it seems.
12:04What are you guys worried about when it comes to the Cowboys?
12:07800-636-1067 is the number.
12:10You just heard from Danny.
12:11I'm Grant.
12:11We're out in Leesburg.
12:12We are at Pupatella Pizza right off Market Street.
12:15So get on out here.
12:16Eat some pizza.
12:17Talk some football.
12:18We're taking you up to a great weekend in pigskin.
12:22You're listening to a Football Friday on The Fan.
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