Sam Howell reveals primary catalysts behind Commanders’ demise
Sam Howell shared details about his stint with the Commanders last season.
The Washington Commanders began the 2023 season with Sam Howell as their starting quarterback. Ron Rivera had him earn it by defeating veteran Jacoby Brissett in a training camp fight, which he did with little fuss to secure a big-time shot under center.
Howell’s predicament wasn’t easy. There were numerous incredible moments, most notably in Washington’s two losses to the Philadelphia Eagles. However, certain key faults surfaced as the campaign progressed.
This left Howell’s status uncertain going into the summer. Rivera was eliminated from the equation, as expected. Adam Peters joined the organization and immediately began shaking up the Commanders’ underperforming roster. When the new general manager decided that selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft was the best path ahead, the former North Carolina standout became surplus to requirements.
Interest was apparently strong in Howell. This allowed Peters to get the most out of the signal-caller, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks after a brief but tumultuous tenure with the team.
Sam Howell took the high road after Commanders exit
Howell will serve as Geno Smith’s backup in 2024. The Seahawks want to develop him over the next several years in the hopes that he will be ready to start when the time comes. What about the commanders? They honestly believe Jayden Daniels is the great quarterback this venerable organization has been waiting for decades.
When examining what went wrong with the Commanders lately, Howell took the accountability approach, citing remarks from Pro Football Talk. He said that pressing the issue when pursuing games proved to be his downfall. In order to advance, the athlete also wants to reduce turnovers.
“I believe I could play some smarter ball. I believe there were instances when we were down large in certain games, and I was a bit too aggressive in trying to make something happen to pull us back in. The turnovers are simply too high for what I intended and what the squad need. I believe that is something I can learn from last year.”
This is commendable of Howell and consistent with his good character. However, he isn’t the only one who must accept responsibility for his failure in the nation’s capital.
Rivera did a poor job recruiting along the offensive line. Howell was the league’s most-sacked quarterback and spent the season on the run. While he brought some of them on himself, the possibilities available were not up to the requisite quality, with the exception of Sam Cosmi and maybe Charles Leno Jr.
Eric Bieniemy imposed too much on Howell. That cannot be contested. Adopting a pass-heavy strategy overlooked the evident potential of running back Brian Robinson Jr. to carry the burden. It put a lot of pressure on the second-year pro, especially because his defense wasn’t up to the task of blocking more passes.
Howell was thrown to the wolves. It’s understandable that the player felt let down by those in charge of his development. Instead of blaming others, he chose the high road and concentrated on the positives, leading to a professional resurrection in a new context.
He deserved better. Unfortunately for Howell, Rivera and Bieniemy were not up to the challenge.
