How To Measure Success For Commanders This Season?
This Washington Commanders team is a true “year one” team. As they head into the season with a still-new owner, a new general manager, a new head coach and a new quarterback, Washington is ready to cast off the demons of the decades and set a new standard for the Commanders franchise.
NFL.com’s Adam Rank preached patience in a recent article, but could the Commanders be a surprise playoff contender this season?
“This is the easiest one to call,” Rank wrote. “It's great if a rebuilding team can become a surprise playoff power like the Houston Texans did in 2023, but the Commanders shouldn't be upset if they don't do that.”
“The most important piece of information Washington can come away with in 2024 is the answer to this question: Do they have a quarterback who can play? If the defense struggles but Jayden Daniels is out there lighting up the scoreboard, I'll consider that a pretty successful season.”
We tend to agree with Rank’s assessment. Coach Dan Quinn is bringing a new level of excitement to the team in trying to build a winning culture. His decision to let the players get to know each other before they got to know the playbook was a masterful move in allowing the players to create the culture.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU was seen by many as the best quarterback coming out of this year’s draft, so the Commanders have to be ecstatic that the Chicago Bears took Caleb Williams No. 1 overall so they could take Daniels.
His growth as a rookie signal caller is first and foremost the priority for this coaching staff. Allowing him to grow and learn and trust his teammates as they move through a season together.
The development of third-year receiver Jahan Dotson will greatly depend on the maturation of Daniels as well. But with a veteran team around him, Daniels could definitely be the leading candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The other measuring stick is: How well does this Quinn defense perform? It can’t be worse than last year when they were No. 32 in the league, dead last, in nearly every defensive category.
Quinn’s impact is already being felt as veteran Jonathan Allen is starting to have the swagger he had before beating of being on a 4-13 team a year ago wore him down.
Overall, if you want to base a successful season solely on wins and losses, if the Commanders could finish anywhere between 7-10 and 10-7, that’s something to build on. In fact, 10-7 would make you a playoff chaser and might make Quinn win Coach of the Year.
Training camp starts on July 28 at the OrthoVirginia Training Center at Commanders Park in Ashburn, VA.