NFL Trade Rumors
The Commanders’ defensive line is focused on stopping the run after failing to do so against Eagles RB Saquon Barkley in big moments during the playoffs.
“[If] you can’t stop the run, you can’t win games,” DE Dorance Armstrong said, via John Keim of ESPN. “That’s why our big focus this year is to be able to stop the run a lot better than we did last year. I’m not going to say we didn’t trust each other [last year], but we’ve got a little more time to get on the same page than we did last year. That was the main thing, the more time to learn the system we’re playing, the better we can be.”
“We didn’t play the run well enough, and I thought we would have,” DC Joe Whitt Jr. added. “Some of the things we’re doing with the front for the run game we have changed and some we have adjusted.”
Commanders HC Dan Quinn is currently evaluating the size, strength, and versatility of players such as DE Deatrich Wise, whose job will be to set the edge for the defense.
“I love the versatility of the different guys and how we’re going to feature them this year in terms of sizes and strength and how we’ll use some of the big guys and how we’ll play them,” Quinn said. “That’s the part I’m looking forward to.”
“I’m a very powerful, strong individual,” Wise noted. “What makes me a good edge setter is I’m able to use my hands, my strength, how long my arms are to keep guys off me. … The best thing to do is push the ball carrier back to those guys. My main job is to set the edge. If I can push it back to those guys, who are fast and physical and strong, we’ll have a lot of plays being stopped.”
Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin is entering his fourth year on the team. He’s confident HC Brian Schottenheimer‘s system will accentuate his strong points by getting him in one-on-one situations and in space.
“He wants to do shifts and motions, to get the ball in playmakers’ hands in space, and to get one-one-ones,” Turpin said, via Patrik Walker of team’s site. “I feel like that’s good for me. One-on-one with a linebacker or a safety, I’m gonna take advantage of them.”
Turpin has made his biggest impact as Dallas’ return specialist. He’s focused on building trust as an offensive player in 2025.
“I’ll say to just be available,” Turpin said. “I gotta be trustworthy so they know when they call my number, I’ll go out there and make a play. Kickoff returns and punt returns, I’ll be me and try to make a Pro Bowl again. But, on offense, I’ll let them believe in me and trust in me to go out there and be the playmaker I can be.”
Turpin is hoping opposing teams actually give him a chance to return kickoffs.
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