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LIVE: QB Sam Howell speaks to the media before practice https://t.co/M4CY3aZ1Ab
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 27, 2023
Learned from the Bills game and bouncing back from it:
Sam Howell was sacked 9 times vs. Buffalo.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
He's been sacked 19 times in three games.
Today, he was asked about all of those sacks and the OLine.
Howell said, "It's my job to get rid of the ball before I get hit. ... for the most part, those guys are doing a good job." pic.twitter.com/pyQ6duoVFi
Yeah, I mean I just think I gotta do a better job overall just getting the ball out. And the offensive line, they’re doing a good job and it’s not gonna be perfect every single time and it’s my job to get the ball out before I get hit. Just knowing that I’m not gonna have perfect protection every single time I snap the ball and for the most part, those guys are doing a good job and I just gotta do a better job. I think it’s not on one person or one group. I think collectively we can all just do a better job.
His input on the protections at the line of scrimmage:
I mean I have a lot of input at the line of scrimmage as far as protection and in certain protections I make the MIKE point and certain protections, the center makes the MIKE point, and then I can change it. But we’re all on the same page and we haven’t really seen anything that was specifically new in the game. It was kind of all stuff we’ve talked about. It’s just a matter of going out there and executing. It’s not like we’re having free runners all the time, you know what I’m saying? So, I think from a schematic standpoint, we’ve been fine as far as picking up the blitzes. We just gotta do a better job executing and I’ve gotta do a better job getting the ball out.
Defenses neutralizing Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson:
Yeah, I wouldn’t say so. I mean, I think we’re probably seeing a little more shell coverage this year, a little more two-high than what we saw last year. That’s just kind of based on the offense we’re running and the track record that EB has with the Chiefs. They see a lot more two-high shell coverage, so I would probably say that that might be a little bit of it, but I think I just gotta do a better job. We gotta do a better job of getting those guys more involved.
Targeting certain WRs:
Howell on targeting certain WRs: "We have so many good WRs and playmakers that yeah I want to get them the ball but I try to go through my progressions and go where its open"
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 27, 2023
I think for me, my thought process is we have so many good receivers and playmakers and I want to get all them the ball. But I just kind of go through my progressions the way I’m supposed to go through it. Sometimes I focus on who is where and what position but for the most part I’m going through my progressions how I’m taught to go through them and whoever’s in that spot at that time is, and if they’re open, they’re gonna get the ball. But there are some things in the offense where it’s kind of pick a side or pick a guy. And obviously I know who I like in certain situations. But yeah, I mean I just think overall I gotta do a better job of getting those guys the ball because they’re special players and we gotta just continue to spread the ball around.
Youth is not an excuse:
Accountability.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
So important in every aspect of life.
Commanders QB Sam Howell doing just that.
Howell said, "I don't make any excuses for myself. I expect to play much better than I played Sunday. My teammates and this organization deserves for me to play better." pic.twitter.com/jJByBEOAQw
Sam Howell: "I don't make any excuses for myself. I expect to play much better than I played Sunday. The team and organization deserves for me to play much better. I can't make the excuse I'm young. The team we're playing doesn't care; the scoreboard doesn't care."
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 27, 2023
Honestly, no. I don’t make any excuses for myself. I expect to play much better than I played on Sunday and my teammates, and this organization deserves for me to play better than I played on Sunday, and I just got to do a better job. I can’t go out there and make the excuse that I’m young because the teams we’re playing, they don’t care. The scoreboard doesn’t care. So, I got to do my job at a higher level in order for this team to go where we want to go. I’m excited to get back out there on Sunday.
Beating the Eagles last year in Philadelphia:
It was a great game. Great win for us last year and such a cool thing to be a part of. I just remember the locker room was probably the most excited I saw our locker room was after that game last year. And obviously a good Philly team and so talented, they had one of the better rosters in the NFL, so it was a great challenge. But yeah, we’re excited to go back to Philly. Obviously last year’s game isn’t going to do anything for us this year. It’s a new team, we have a new team and we got to go in there and play at a high level in order to have a chance to win the game. We got to have a really good week of practice and we’ll have a good plan and it’s just a matter of going in there and executing.
Approach to bouncing back:
Sam Howell is moving on from that Buffalo game.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
He's focused on bouncing back vs. Philly.
Howell said "the player who I was on Sunday is not who I truly am as a player. I got back to my process and doing what's always worked for me in the past. Never losing that confidence." pic.twitter.com/eFvWkgmECc
Honestly, I just kind of put the game behind me and worry about the next game. I think the player I was on Sunday is not who I truly am as a player. I just kind of go back to my process and doing what’s always worked for me in the past and preparing the same way and just never losing that confidence. I think especially in this league, you have to stay confident and no matter how bad I played on Sunday, I have another opportunity this Sunday to play against a really good Philadelphia team and I got to do whatever it takes throughout the week to prepare myself. I’m excited to get back out there. Ever since the game ended on Sunday, I was excited for the next game just because I’m ready for another opportunity, I’m ready to go out there and play like myself again.
Messages after a bad game:
Howell said he gets more texts after a bad game like last week than he does after a good game. People checking on him he said.
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) September 27, 2023
Yeah, I talk to all those people. My dad, my high school coach, my trainer back home, everyone. Honestly, I get more texts after a bad game like that than I do after a good game. Just people checking on me and checking on my mindset, making sure I’m all right. The main thing is a lot of people have had my back and not only back home, but in this building as well. It’s been good to feel that, but I’m excited to go back out there.
Approach to taking sacks:
I just think it’s been a point of emphasis for us. I got to do a better job getting the ball out of my hands, knowing the right time to try to extend the play and get outside of the pocket and knowing the time to just take an incompletion. I think that’s one thing that’s hurt our offense so far is the negative plays and getting behind the chains, just because if you get behind the chains in this league, it’s hard to put drives together. So, it’s something I’m definitely always working on and obviously always cautious of. Yeah, I feel like it’s something that I’ll only get better over time.
Eagles defensive line:
You always look at the guys they have and obviously they’re really good up front, so we got to do our job in protection, I got to do my job in protection as well in making sure we’re neutralizing the front. They’re just so talented and they have so much depth as well. You know, the guys that are coming in backing those guys up are really good players, like the Jalen Carter kid doesn’t even start the game, but he’s one of the better players we’ll play all year. They have really good players on their front, and we got to be ready for it.
Logan Thomas’ absence affecting the offense:
Yeah, I mean obviously we love to have Logan out there and he’s a tremendous player for us. But at the same time, we love all our tight ends. I think Cole has done a good job of kind of stepping in and filling that void of being a good pass catcher. When Bates has been thrown the ball, he’s done a good job with it as well. Obviously, everyone knows what he’s capable of doing in the running game and pass protection, but we love all our tight ends. But yeah, definitely missing Logan out there.
Terry McLaurin
Terry McLaurin in the locker room pic.twitter.com/EilmXhNRuS
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
Sam Howell:
Terry McLaurin is a strong believer in Sam Howell.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
Terry told me, "Usually when somebody is taking that kind of accountability it means they really care and they're going to do whatever it takes to make sure that stuff doesn't happen again and it's on us to rally around him." pic.twitter.com/q4z8wq7csU
Letting Sam Howell know the team has his back:
McLaurin said he was checking on Howell during the game against the Bills. Wants to let his QB know that he has his back
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
NFC East games:
McLaurin said NFC East division games are usually very physical, super competitive and come down to the final quarter
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
New offense:
Commanders offense really struggled vs Buffalo, certainly sacks & turnovers were biggest factors. But WR spacing wasnt great, and Terry McLaurin said there are still spots to figure out in new offense. pic.twitter.com/m04zIhe0hG
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) September 27, 2023
Jahan Dotson
Jahan Dotson addressing the media in the locker room pic.twitter.com/9hOnhQUNpX
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
Sam Howell:
After the Bills loss, the Commanders are rallying behind their young QB in Sam Howell.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
Jahan Dotson told me, "You don't need to say much to him...he wants to put in the work just as much as we do. You just tell him, "we're here for him. We got your back no matter what."" pic.twitter.com/FrxrGRIyPl
Logan Thomas
Playing on Sunday:
Logan Thomas in the locker room. He’s ready to roll pic.twitter.com/PIgB3poux2
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
It appears Commanders TE Logan Thomas is on track to play this week in Philly.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
QB Sam Howell will get a big target back on the field.
Logan told me, "feel good, ready to roll. It was a long week last week, but back on it." pic.twitter.com/y5Ox3tWvSY
Logan Thomas (concussion) was a limited participant in practice. He said in the locker room he expects to play Sunday.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) September 27, 2023
Brian Robinson
Eagles defense:
Brian Robinson talking in the locker room after practice. Said the Eagles defense is fast and talented. Had success against them last year and is ready for the challenge
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
Getting the ball more:
Antonio Gibson
Fumbling:
Antonio Gibson understands he can't fumble anymore.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
His teammates are supportive, keeping his head right.
AG told me, "Nobody is bashing me, but at the end of the day you can't have that. It's kind of understood, I can't let it keep happening or I won't be playing at all." pic.twitter.com/uRZkHe8UPU
Sam Cosmi
Sam Howell has to play better.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
The Washington O-Line has to play better as well.
But nobody is pushing the blame.
Sam Cosmi told me "Not being able to point fingers and self reflect is huge. That's hard to do. It was a rough game for a lot of guys." pic.twitter.com/eAg4w52Tn6
Jonathan Allen
Bouncing back:
Jon Allen on bouncing back from last week’s loss pic.twitter.com/phyU37BKii
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) September 27, 2023
Eagles:
Bring your hard hat and lunch pale.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 27, 2023
Commanders DT Jonathan Allen is ready for the battle in Philly on Sunday.
JA told me, "I think the NFC East has the best O-Line and D-Line in the league. You know it's going to be a physical game and you know it's going to be won up front." pic.twitter.com/TvGnqPeKqw
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