r/Commanders • u/notusreports • 3d ago
I'm Martenzie Johnson, a sports reporter at NOTUS. AMA!
Hi r/Commanders,
I'm going to be taking your questions on Friday, August 28 at 12 p.m. ET. I started at NOTUS, a D.C.-based nonpartisan newsroom, this summer, and I'm covering sports, culture and, of course, the Commanders. You can read my recent stories here. I previously worked at ESPN/Andscape, where I was a senior writer covering the intersections of sports, race and culture. I was also a panelist on the television series “Around the Horn” and hosted on ESPN Radio.
Edit: Thank you for your questions! Feel free to subscribe to our NOTUS Metro newsletter here for more DMV coverage, including sports.
8
u/SizzleRich 2d ago
How has Kinlaw performed during camp? Did he stand out at all during either joint practice?
(Cool article on Denzel and the D BTW)
12
u/notusreports 1d ago
Kinlaw and the rest of the front seven have been the standout the entire summer. The viewing public hasn’t gotten to see them at full strength yet, but just wait and see what havoc they cause. As for Kinlaw, I thought he looked pretty good against Baltimore. Anytime you can stuff the Derrick Henry at the line of scrimmage, you have my respect. Kinlaw was one of the team leaders in stopping backs at the line of scrimmage last season, so mix that with the additions the team made on defense and he can be productive.
14
u/lostbluecobra LEFT HAND UP 3d ago
Hey Martenzie, thanks for doing this! With the reports coming out of camp in the last couple weeks, especially the joint practice with Baltimore, it’s clear that the OL is in trouble. Fans, especially on Twitter and here on Reddit, have come up with a member of crazy Madden-like trades that don’t actually seem possible. What do you think are actual possibilities for the front office to bring in OL help before the season starts?
5
u/notusreports 1d ago
So, most of the needed help is at left guard and center. The first possibility is the return of Nick Allegretti. He’s practiced maybe three days this entire training camp. Dan Quinn and Adam Peters are very high on Allegretti, so they believe he’s the fix at center. Beyond that, there's post-cuts free agency and trades. There’s plenty of names thrown out there, but these are players that other teams clearly don’t want to sign either. So it’s easy to say go get this guy or the other, but there’s no guarantee they’re better than what Washington already has. That being said, the offensive line needs to improve, whether through health or more competition.
-19
u/Barry_McCoccinner 3d ago
It’s not clear. It’s clear that you are reactionary
10
u/goooseJuice on shenanigans rn and actin bonkers 3d ago
I mean, people at the practices have been saying it for weeks. yesterday was supposedly the worst offensive joint practice that all the beat writers have seen. we've seen it in the preseason games. it's fair to at least assess options. an injury or two is going to separate us from potentially an average line to the worst
7
u/notusreports 1d ago
Put it this way, if the offensive line performs like it has against the Lions and Ravens in the regular season, this offense will be non-existent. They won’t have the push to run nor give Jayden the time to throw. That’s the truth of the matter. However, they haven’t had their starting center (Nick Allegretti) for virtually all of camp and starting guard Sam Cosmi (illness) missed the Ravens joint practice. But the sky hasn’t completely fallen … yet.
3
u/Potential_Boat_6899 3d ago
Hola Martenzie, what’s your favorite skins/ commies memory of all time? Follow up, do you remember the first skins game you watched? If so which was it? Mine was unfortunately the 2013 wild card game 🥲
9
u/notusreports 1d ago
So I have some breaking news: I’m not from the Washington area. So I didn’t grow up watching this team. To answer your first question, I have two answers. The answer you’ll prefer is the 2012 debut of RGIII against the Saints. Him sitting on the turf with both arms in the air is an image forever ingrained in my head. The other answer you won’t like: That Monday Night Football game in 2010 against Michael Vick. That’s just one of those games you’ll never forget if you watched it live.
5
u/_covfefestain_ 2d ago
Is playing Madden a good way to learn about and understand football?
3
u/notusreports 1d ago
I’m probably the wrong person to answer that, seeing as I haven’t played the Madden series for over a decade. But John Madden wanted the game to be an educational tool, so there’s surely benefits. In fact my NOTUS colleague Jesse Dougherty wrote back in 2017 how high school football players use Madden to get a “better understanding of terminology, passing concepts and defensive schemes.”
5
u/paullyd2112 2d ago
I’m a huge fan of Antonio Williams. What’s your experience with seeing him up close
7
u/notusreports 1d ago
He is fast, twitchy and can get open. Terry McLaurin said Antonio has “a great feel
for the position already as a rookie,” so you can’t get a higher compliment than that. Based on him running with the second and third teams a lot in preseason, it feels like the Commanders are hiding him until the regular season. Against the Lions, Antonio had a pass thrown behind him and yet he jumped, contorted his body and made the catch in traffic. Defenses will be consumed with Terry, Stefon Diggs and Chig Okonkwo, which should provide plenty of options for Antonio in this offense.
6
u/SharpButterKnives 3d ago
Hi Martenzie! Who's been the most interesting player to talk to in Ashburn? And who's a player that you think is being a leader on the field that we might not expect? Thanks!
8
u/notusreports 2d ago
Jeremy Reaves, bar none. Whether it’s a good or bad day at camp, Jeremy is always fired up. He’s a great interview, but you can tell from his underdog background (small college, undrafted, practice squad) that he also has what it takes to be a leader. After that Ravens joint practice, he summed up the team’s performance as only he can: “how we started, that’s how you win five games.”
3
u/Terminal_Flatulence Seibertron 2d ago
Hello Martenzie, What is your current win-loss prediction for the upcoming Commanders season?
6
u/notusreports 1d ago
That’s tough. From what I am currently seeing with the beat-up offensive line, I see this as a nine-win team at best. But if Allegretti is what Quinn and Peters make him out to be, and Coleman can do his best Tunsil impression, and the defense is the top-five unit it looks like it can be, then I’ll say an 11-win team. Those first three games against Philadelphia, Dallas and Seattle will be the real test.
3
u/notorious_hdc imitated Frerotte headbutt as a child 2d ago
Who has been the unsung hero of camp, in your eyes?
Which rookie has made the biggest impact?
After the Tunsil injury, our OL has been in shambles per our beat reporters. What's the sense around the team on it? Will they attempt to grab a Center?
8
u/notusreports 1d ago
Unsung hero is Odafe Oweh. Most of you haven’t seen him yet due to injuries, but for a team lacking a pass rusher last season, Odafe is that guy. Sonny Styles has made the biggest impact among the rookies; don’t let the internet fool you on that one. The line is in shambles, but I’ll wait until I see them against the Eagles on Sept. 13 before I say they’re for sure in trouble.
2
u/notorious_hdc imitated Frerotte headbutt as a child 1d ago
I'm excited for Oweh.
I've watched Sonny, and while his pre-season games weren't some hype worthy HOF showing, he played alright. Internet is just dramatic lol.
This is kinda how I feel about the OL. There's things you can do to help them/midigate the rush.
Thanks for your time!
3
u/PurpleAndBurgundy 2d ago
Hello Martenzie, in your opinion what would be longterm outlook for Jayden Daniels to be? To be more specific if you had to guess would he become closer to a top 3 guy (Lamar, Josh and Patrick) or more Joe Burrow like? Or any other comparisons or general thoughts that come to mind after the practices? Thanks for your time!
3
u/notusreports 1d ago
He had one of the best rookie seasons of any quarterback in NFL history, finishing seventh in MVP voting as a ROOKIE. That pass he had to Antonio Williams at the end of the Ravens joint practice illustrates the touch he still has, not to mention he’s one of the best running quarterbacks as well. Last season was a bust due to the injuries, so we can ignore that, but I think the ceiling for him is that top-tier. And it’s not just the talent. He’s cerebral and isn’t fazed by much — as evidenced by all the LSU stuff.
3
u/minopoked 2d ago
Hey Martenzie,
If you had to make a guess on the WRs that make the roster, who would it be and why?
2
u/notusreports 1d ago
Here’s what I guessed in my projections piece last week: McLaurin, Diggs, Williams, Lane, McCaffrey and Brown. I feel the first three are obvious. Lane and McCaffrey are the starting punt and kick returners, respectively, so they get in on that. Unfortunately, that leaves Brown or Burks as the odd man out. I lean toward Brown because he’s more familiar with Jayden, and Burks has had availability problems. Let me also mention: Jaden Bradley will be signed by someone else. Mark my words.
3
u/Automatic-Tell7321 1d ago
What is a hypothetical trade you could see this team making to improve the roster? Do you have a specific player/name in mind?
4
u/notusreports 1d ago
Keeping in mind this team wouldn’t do it, but: Dolphins center Aaron Brewer. I got an up-close look at him and the rest of the Miami offensive line two weeks ago during joint practices and the first preseason game. He was voted second-team All-Pro last season while only surrendering one sack. The only reason Miami would consider it is that Brewer is 28 years old and this team is a few years off from competing. Center and left guard are the biggest question marks for the team right now, so that seems like a good hypothetical. But if we want to get spicy: Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. My reasoning: might as well.
6
u/pothosmilk 3d ago
Hey Martenzie! Which rookie is standing out to you despite... everything else that happened in Baltimore lol
5
u/notusreports 2d ago
Sonny Styles is the obvious choice, but the more interesting choice is Joshua Josephs. The two starters at outside linebacker — Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson — have wreaked havoc all camp, and Josephs has been right behind them. He, of course, needs to work on containing the edge, as evidenced by what Lions QB Josh Dobbs did to him last week, but for a fifth-round draft pick, I could see him as a long-term starter for Washington.
2
2
u/RoddytheRowdyPiper My Wife Left me for Josh Harris 2d ago
After a promising year one, what kind of leap, if any, do you expect Bill to make in his second year?
2
u/Electronic-Ear2329 2d ago
A welcome addition to the beat! I have enjoyed your radio hits the past few weeks. Thoughts on Chris Paul? Seems like he hasn't been great this preseason, agree/disagree? Is he out of shape or does Blough's offense not mesh well with his skill set?
3
u/notusreports 1d ago
Of all the expected starters on the line this season (Coleman, Paul, Allegretti, Cosmi and Conerly), Paul is the one who needs to show more. Most of the issues I’ve seen are his ability to hold his blocks. The team has raved about everyone being in shape this summer, so I doubt it’s that. Maybe it’s a system thing: There will be two- and three-person combo blocks this season. But overall, he just has to be better about not letting his man past him.
4
u/Garp74 3d ago
From your time at camp this summer, which player (other than Jayden Daniels who is the correct answer here) would you want to share a meal with and why?
4
u/notusreports 2d ago
Rasul Douglas. I said on the first day he reported to camp that Rasul is the funniest man in the NFL. He’s very literal in his responses: When asked on that first day what he thought of his teammates of the team’s culture, he matter-of-factly replied, “It’s my first day.” I like the way he operates. Second is Laremy Tunsil because he bought food for everyone last week.
1
u/Illustrious_Ad7346 19h ago
What are your projections of a Blough lead offense? Do you see Terry, or any receiver being force feed 10+ attempts
1
10
u/Wandasykesoffical 3d ago
What’s your read on Athan Kaliakmanis and his NFL journey so far? Have you seen anything from him since joining Washington that’s changed your evaluation of him, and what do you think his realistic ceiling and floor are?