There is one indisputable fact about the final week of the preseason for the Washington Commanders. The team was glad to get on the bus and leave Baltimore.
After a joint practice, in the team put up one of the worst offensive performances of the last decade, the players who suited up Saturday topped that in a 41-3 loss to the Ravens.
“I was definitely not pleased with what I saw tonight,” head coach Dan Quinn said after the game. “I just thought’ ‘man we looked just with out a lot of energy and juice to go for it.”
The Commanders offense generated just 177 yards if total offense while the Washington defense gave up 456, in addition to the afore mentioned 41 points.
At least Quinn and his coaching staff will have plenty of choices when it comes to getting the roster cut down to 53 active players and 17 practice squad members.
Few, if anyone, distinguished themselves to make a push for a permanent job.
Rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis had a chance to lock down the third string quarterback job but was ineffective completing nine of 14 passes for 64 yards. Sam Hartman wasn’t any better, just seven for 13 for 45 yards. It’s unclear which might stick after the 6pm Sunday night roster deadline, although Kaliakmanis has looked better through out training camp.
Quinn said it was especially disappointing because the camp had been sharp, in his opinion. Quinn said he felt the players came into August in good shape and practiced hard.
“I loved the competition that they did,” he said. “I loved the connection the team built. That’s what is going to make the next couple of days difficult…. I’m pleased weith the camp, I’m not pleased with with this being the exclamation at the end of camp.”
The problems started right after the opening kickoff.
The Ravens drove 69 yards on eight plays and scored the games first touchdown when backup quarterback Tyler Huntley found Chris Moore on a 25 yard touchdown pass.
The Commanders answer was to fumble on it’s first offensive play as rookie Kaytron Allen was hit by Baltimore’s Ethan Burke. He lost the football which was recovered by CJ Okoye on the Washington 30 yard line. Seven plays later, third string quarterback Joe Fagnano scored from the one yard line to increase the lead to 14-0.
The Ravens would increase the lead to 24-0 at halftime and 31-0 in the third quarter before Drew Stevens made a 39 yard field goal to end the Commanders scoring drought.
Most of the key players that are counted on make the regular season a success did not play but a few saw some action early in the game. Defensive lineman Tim Settle, who has been sidelined with an injury, played 13 snaps and was solid, according to Quinn.
“That was good for him to get into the routine, get going. We didn’t have a lot planned for him but that would be an example of, sometimes its a small sample size to get rolling on that.”
Game Notes:
Against a very weak field, Safety Tyler Owens was easily the best player on either side of the ball. He had five tackles and seemed to be around the football on every play when he was on the field. His PFF.com number led the team with an overall rating of 79.5….. Punter Tress Way is fully healed from his preseason injury. He punted seven times and averaged 46.6 yards per punt….. Rookie kicker Drew Stevens was 1 for 2 missing a 62 yard field goal before connecting from 39 yards.
Bob Matthews is a 33 year veteran broadcast journalist, spending the last 29 years of his career in Virginia. Bob has covered both news and sports stories and for the last three seasons, the Washington Commanders. He looks forward to continuing to provide coverage to Sportsjourney.com both on the website and through his podcast, The Bob Matthews Show.
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