Hogs Haven
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EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL for Washington Commanders first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr. during rookie minicamp. There were classroom meetings, drills with coaches and bonding with new teammates.
Until the final day, May 10. That’s when the Navy SEALs arrived.
They talked to the rookies for approximately 30 minutes about grit and mindset and what it was like to train like a SEAL. Then they had them perform a drill that reinforced what Commanders coach Dan Quinn often emphasizes: teamwork and communication.
They had three teams — two with six players and another with coaches — lift a 250-pound log. Whichever team held it in position the longest won. They squatted with it, did lunges and then held it at their shoulders with the log covering their neck area.
Conerly’s six-man crew emerged victorious after about five minutes.
“It gets hard after three or four minutes, to be honest,” said the 21-year-old Conerly, an offensive tackle.
But for Conerly and the other rookies in camp, the day reinforced the message Quinn wanted them to receive. Quinn has brought in the Navy SEALs in the past, both when he was in Atlanta and last year with Washington. With the rookies, the goal was to bring everyone together quickly after having been off for a while.
“It was cool, knowing that you all have to be on the same page, hear the same communication, and you just have to move as one at all times,” Conerly said. “One thing that kind of stands out to me about Coach Quinn, and one of his quotes, is doing hard ... I’m going to say ‘stuff’ with good people. That resonates throughout the whole building.”
The Washington Commanders’ ground game regressed as the season went on. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was far too reliant on Jayden Daniels, which he’s more than capable of. However, it’s a trend that cannot continue moving forward.
Adam Peters opted to keep faith with the options already available. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler will once again play key roles in the final year of their respective deals. However, there’s a growing belief that the Commanders might have a steal on their hands with seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
If Croskey-Merritt takes on coaching, he’s got a good chance of establishing himself right out of the gate. If he needs a little longer, Jeremy McNichols is perfectly capable of manning the third spot behind Ekeler and Robinson.
The Commanders’ wide...
