While some are bemoaning the performance of the Washington Commanders in yesterday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, there was a point in the game that really impressed me.
Trailing 27-13 yesterday, the Commanders were facing a 4th and goal with 12 minutes left. They weren’t going to win the game since the defense had no answer for the Baltimore running game all day, but if some miracle happened and Baltimore were to make mistakes and fumble, Washington needed to score right then at that juncture to have any chance.
There was no mere “let’s give it a try and hope for the best” mentality in the huddle that has been evident in year’s past. QB Jayden Daniels was calm, didn’t rush anything, and had the air of if it being the same as it being 1st and 10 and the game just started. They broke the huddle, Daniels threw a crisp pass (maybe even a hair early) right at the pylon and Terry McLaurin secured a difficult but catchable ball to make it a one-score game.
Everyone seemed to know their assignment, everyone seemed to execute those assignments, and everyone seemed to approach the tasks as “when” they scored the touchdown instead of “if.”
It was like being on a golf course where you know you have to hit this next iron very close. Some just take a swing and hope, but others take their time, focus on being smooth, don’t look up or make mistakes, then swing through the ball to put it close.
That’s what Daniels, McLaurin and company did. Nobody moved early. Nobody panicked. Nobody was in the wrong place.
They were professionals who knew what they needed to do, and did it.
That doesn’t happen a lot on pro football teams, and particularly not on bad football teams. It showed a culmination of work by players and coaches, and a discipline to execute under pressure. Washington would lose the game because they don’t have enough guns on a defense that was tiring (Jon Allen was lost during the game to a pec injury), and not enough weapons on offense in the running game. Austin Ekeler is a fine runner and receiver who is a great change of pace back, but he’s not Brian Robinson (who was out with an injury). Just as Joe Washington and Kelvin Bryant were great runners, but they’re not John Riggins.
Regardless of the arsenal, the Commanders impressed me with their mental aspect of the game. When they needed THAT play, they executed it to perfection. They also showed when needed again, they’ve proven they can do it. It’s just one more sign that as this team plays more games together, makes more mistakes together and learns from them, and adds a few more weapons on defense, this team is going to be special.
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I know FOX is trying to make Tom Brady as a color commentator the second coming of John Madden, but I don’t think that’s happening. Yesterday while watching Detroit bludgeon Dallas in a most entertaining way, I caught myself thinking “oh, that IS Tom Brady.”
It has happened several times previously as I was watching games. To me, Brady’s voice does not stand out as unique enough among the broadcasting noise. In the past when you heard John Madden, you knew it was Madden. Same with Keith Jackson. Or Don Meredith. Or for that matter, Howard Cosell. Their commentary was unique, and combined with the specific sound of their voice, made them someone you instantly recognized and accepted as legitimate.
At least yesterday, Brady was not. I tend to tune out announcers these days while watching a game on TV unless they specifically have something interesting to say, so by not standing out audibly, Brady’s voice made it much easier to tune out while watching.
Sunday I actually dug in and tried to listen to some of his commentary, and what I heard wasn’t all that interesting. He tended to talk like a high school coach mentoring his young charges, and in an age of irreverent social media, sounded stiff and corporate to me. It’s like he’s trying to be Tom Brady, superstar quarterback, wowing the little people with commentary, instead of Tom Brady, horse whisperer to the great unwashed who never played the game, providing insights and back stories that are richly entertaining.
John Madden was. From what I heard yesterday, Tom Brady is not. Madden was that comfortable, unironed, favorite sweatshirt in the closet. Brady came across as that buttoned down, stiff, headmaster who tells you what you probably already know, then adds “and don’t forget to eat your vegetables.”
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Yesterday’s game on CBS had announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo (the former announcing golden boy before Tom Brady retired from playing) and each made an interesting comment. Nantz’s was a rare miss, as after McLaurin scored the touchdown to make it a one-score deficit, Austin Seibert hit a low line drive on the XP that made it across cross bar and was good.
I know this because while watching it, I couldn’t help but notice the official on the field holding both arms straight up in the traditional way of saying the kick was good. But I immediately got confused as Nantz was saying the kick was blocked and the score was 27-19.
On replay you can see it was good and while it seemed to have all the characteristics of a kick that had been partially blocked, Seibert just hit it low. Nobody touched it. And I was surprised, as Nantz has always been good at calling what he actually sees, not anticipating what something could appear to be.
Romo, conversely, was dead solid perfect with one of his comments. As the season progresses and Jayden Daniels continues to play at the high level he’s been playing at, the games are also going to continue to be a lovefest between Daniels and former quarterbacks. But tucked in among all this slobbering, Romo did say “to me, they’re just not ready yet in the secondary and on the back end.”
It’s been a problem for a long time. It’s also the difference between having an entertaining team the fans are excited about and an entertaining team that can win championships.
It’s a good reminder that they’re getting better and Sundays are a lot more fun at my house.
But there’s still work to be done.
