Daronte Jones & David Blough reveal some game strategy ahead of Commanders vs Eagles in week 1

0:00Damn, what are you most looking forward to seeing from Jayden, especially after what he went through last year? What are you looking for the most seeing as a season begins? Man, that's that's an awesome one. Just knowing John how much work that he's put in to the system like to see that execution take place. He's really in very good command of it. And then I would say probably the second thing is like the amount of time him and Terry have had together. I read I think it was like less than 15% of the snaps they were on the field together in 20, 25 that sounded crazy. But the amount of work that those two guys have had to see that and I think just to see his the way he's able to express himself in the offense. So I can't wait to see it. I can't wait to see that either on Sunday. Quarterback one wide receiver one a legitimate we think wide receiver two I think perhaps an upgrade overall in tight end number one.

1:00The running back situation TBD I think we're going to see a lot of Rashad white I do. But Croskey Merritt had a very good off season and summer and certainly could be the guy that gets some of those first down looks. Yeah, offensively two years ago this team at times. I mean, it's only two seasons ago. At times like most of the time was unstoppable. Last year that team offensively that played in 2024 didn't really play together. It shouldn't be a surprise to you coach Quinn. John Kym actually asked the question and actually had the exact numbers on how much Terry and Jaden played together. It was less than 15%. It was exactly 13.9% of the snaps over the course of the season. They played on 138 snaps out of

2:05990 total snaps. In 2024 they played on 817 snaps out of 2011. You can kind of do that math. It's over 80%. In fact, it's 80.8% of the time they played together on offense versus 13.9% of the time last year. So you're two of your three best offensive players and your best quarterback to wide receiver connection barely played football together last year. That is a big reason why the team did not play well last year. Like the number one reason if we're being truly objective and fair. That hopefully will change this year. Fingers crossed. There's no guarantee because you were the most injured team in 2025 that you'll remain healthy and be much better off in 2026.

3:10Injuries don't have memory from the year to year but if he plays all 17 and if Terry's out there for all 17 and they remain relatively healthy with their best players, I don't know how they would suck which is what many people think they'll end up being in 2026. The team we saw in 2024 couldn't be stopped offensively and you have theoretically upgraded at receiver. Not to mention there is some hope and reason to hope that you're not going to be nearly as bad on defense which will help as well. All right. The coordinators talk on Thursday and that meant the first regular season presser for Dorontay Jones and for David Blowell. Let's start with Dorontay Jones. He was asked about trying to slow down and stop Sequan Barkley on Sunday. And I know you weren't here but

4:16ever since Sequan Barkley joined the Eagles, he's rushed for at least 115 yards and a touchdown every game against the commanders. How do you stop a guy like that? Sequan is special. I don't think it's not a one man job. It's a team effort and even with that, I mean his explosiveness, his playmaking ability, he's very dynamic and they've done a great job of using him in that way and finding different spaces to get him touches. And so you take your head off to the organization, how they utilize their personnel over there. Yeah. Probably key number one on Sunday. And I'll give you my keys to a win over Philadelphia. Stop the run. Stop Sequan Barkley. You've got to be in that position or you get the Eagles into, you know, third and two and second and four and

5:17that's not a position where you can, you know, highlight and show off your new pass rush. This was Dorontay Jones being asked about the Tush push, which by the way with a new offensive coordinator, we don't know if we don't even know if we'll see it. I would assume we would, given its effectiveness, even though it took a bit of a step back last year. But this was Dorontay Jones on stopping Philadelphia's Tush push. Warren coach, the Eagles are kind of known for those snake packages. We've seen teams have different strategies, including like Frankie jumping over the line. Without getting into specifics, how do you start to build out how you're going to try to prevent that as a coordinator? Probably the easiest way is keeping them out of that situation. I mean, it's like a 75% rate, success rate. I mean, it's tough. You know, the rugby deal is not having, have come into our sport, which has been huge in terms of tackling, but you can see how as some of us say the scrum has kind of come into play a little bit. So.

6:17Yeah, keep them away from third and two, fourth and one, etc. And you don't have to face it. Although, you know, it hasn't been as we know a play that's been legislated or has been officiated very well. Last night, we did see an offensive off sides. We saw the right tackle, clearly off sides pre snap for Seattle on a push push and they called it. So that has to be called more than it has been in the past. This was David Blow, the new offensive coordinator on his confidence in the offense. We've heard a lot from the staff and the players that we really haven't seen everything that this new offense and defense is going to show obviously in the regular season. But if we're not seeing it out there and, you know, you're not wrapping it as much because we're not seeing it, what gives you confidence that is ready for week one? What gives me confidence is that this game always comes down to fundamentals and the team that

7:20blocks better, the team that tackles better, the team that throws and catches better, team that takes care of the football better. You know, we'll win the game and we've been drilling it. We've been teaching. So I'm excited for people to see what our units about and our playstyle and full display. But, you know, we know as a group what it comes down to. You can't throw three interceptions like Jake Drake May did in the fourth quarter of a game and expect to win. Minus three doesn't usually get it done in the NFL. Washington's turnover margin last year, second worst in the NFL at minus 13. There are a number of takeaways last year. We've talked about this a lot. Ten total next to last and just, you know, for the purposes of comparing, you know, they were too fewer than the next team in line, which was the Cowboys. Believe it or not, you got to end up this year taking the ball away and being much better in the turnover

8:24margin minus 13 equals losing record period. And usually a big time losing record. See the jets in Washington for the bottom two turnover margins from last year. All right. Tonight we get game number two. It's a wild one in Melbourne, Australia, where the Rams got onto a plane on Tuesday. There's essentially, which was really, you know, late late Tuesday night, Melbourne time. They have basically arrived somewhere in the neighborhood of about 30 hours or 34 hours before the game. They're going to play the game and go back. Less need was asked about the decision to to basically fly in, play the game and fly out as to whether or not. That was a good thing to promote the league in Australia, rather than being there for the last week, as the 49ers have. And he said,

9:27we've got 51 other weeks. We can go back and promote the game in Australia. We're playing to win the game. And this is what our people say is the best way to do it. It's two different approaches. This is obviously from an international game standpoint, the most challenging in NFL history. It had to be a game played by two West Coast teams. We knew that going into the schedule. And tonight, the Rams as a team that is the favorite to win the Super Bowl is a three and a half point favorite against the 49ers in the first of two against the Niners that will be more likely than not very important to the NFC West and to the NFC race all together. No smell test pick on the game. There is a public lean on the Rams. And if you're asking me, well, I got to play the game. Give me what you gave me last night or yesterday. And I said, if you got to play the game, play New England plus the points, either a pusher or a win, I'd play the Niners plus the points.

10:32And I probably will personally, but it's not one that fits sort of the smell test formula. I will have plenty of those picks on tomorrow's show. In addition to Max and I giving out our Washington prediction record wise, I've already told you I've got him winning the NFC East. Max has already told you he's got him finishing second in the NFC East because he's got him as a wild card team. Right? Or did you sneak him in with Elfia? No, I've got us, maybe. Yeah. Well, you could have had Philly too. I could have. I know. Could have. We'll have our season prediction record wise. We'll give you guys a chance on that. But the first full fledged football Friday of the year coming up tomorrow. Again, the rundown, our schedule has changed. Following me now will be the last hour of B-Mitch and

11:37JP from 1067 the fan or sister station, followed by the first hour of Grant and Danny from 1067 the fan. And then Chris will be in from three to six. That's his new schedule. We are ready for football season. Back tomorrow, everybody.