Behind Enemy Lines: Week 7 Q&A with Commanders Wire
The New York Giants (1-5) and Washington Commanders (3-3) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 7 matchup at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The Giants opened the week as 1.5-point home underdogs but that has only gotten worse since then. They are +3 as of this writing.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Commanders Wire managing editor Bryan Manning.
What have you seen out of Sam Howell, positives and negatives, in his first season as the starter?
Manning: Way more good than bad. The sacks are the biggest issue, but Sam Howell can make every throw on the field, isn’t afraid, and can make plays with his legs. It’s not time to definitively call him “the guy,” but anything he struggles with is coachable. Once Howell stops holding onto the ball too long, he can be a really good player. Washington hasn’t had QB play this good since Kirk Cousins.
I know people like to pick on Kirk, but he’s not nearly as bad as some in the media like to portray him to be. There will be a new regime in Washington next year, and I think it’ll be an offensive guy. The Commanders should look to build around Howell unless his play just falls off a cliff this season.
Washington has given up a league-worst 34 sacks. Is that just bad OL play or is there more to it?
It’s definitely two things: The OL play, particularly at right tackle, hasn’t been good. However, the rest of the unit has held up reasonably well, but it’s far from a strength. Charles Leno is a solid veteran left tackle, and right guard Sam Cosmi is probably the top player. The second issue is Howell holding onto the ball too long. He did well against the Eagles and had a terrific game, but sometimes he just waits that extra second looking for a big play, and he is sacked.
How are all the ex-Giants faring in Washington?
Nick Gates is a welcome addition to Washington. I love his attitude. If there’s a skirmish, he’s going to be in the middle defending his teammates. He’s also been solid as the center, too. Jamison Crowder had a massive punt return last week that changed the game. David Mayo is excellent on special teams and a good reserve linebacker. Joey Slye has a booming leg but sometimes misses the easy ones. Overall, he’s been fairly consistent for a kicker. Jake Fromm had a terrific preseason. He is a perfect fit for Eric Bieniemy’s offense. The Commanders definitely like Fromm as a future backup, which we know is valuable.
What has gone wrong for the Commanders defensively?
The secondary has been atrocious, allowing far too many big plays. The defensive line, which is supremely talented, needs to take over games more consistently. It’s a good group, but Washington needs them to beat up the less-talented offensive lines more frequently.
Let's hear your game prediction. How do you see the game playing out, who wins and what's the score?
When these two teams get together, it’s always a close call. I feel that way now. You can throw records out the door, as we know the game will come down to the wire. This is a huge game for Washington. The Eagles are up next in Week 8, and if the Commanders underwhelm again vs. the Giants, fans aren’t going to be happy with the coaching staff. This one is close, but I will stick with the Commanders.
Commanders 23, Giants17
