Cowboys 2024 opponent preview: X-factors for the Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders enter the 2024 season searching for to enter yet one more new period. Just like the Dallas Cowboys, they haven’t gained a championship for the reason that Nineteen Nineties and haven’t reached an NFC title sport for the reason that similar decade. Washington hopes their new possession group, spearheaded by Josh Harris, can usher within the daybreak of a brand new day after popping out from beneath the massive shadow solid by former proprietor Dan Snyder together with his mismanagement and controversies.

Up to now, Harris and the group have made sound choices on the high, with new workforce basic supervisor Adam Peters hiring Dan Quinn away from the Cowboys and naming him their thirty first head coach in franchise historical past. Final season, the Commanders have been a franchise in transition, and it confirmed. The possession gave every part one final strive earlier than gutting the group from the within out, very similar to a liquidation sale the place every part should go.

In Quinn’s first yr, a lot isn’t anticipated out of the Commanders in a aggressive NFC East division, and they’re an extended shot to compete for a division title, however as we’ve seen within the NFL, stranger issues have occurred. The Cowboys have gotten the very best of Washington currently, but when these two groups meet up, twice a yr in an NFC East contest, who’s to say that Washington can’t in some way edge previous the Cowboys in 2024? Listed here are the x-factors on the Commanders the Cowboys have to look out for.

Opponent: Washington Commanders

2023 report: 4-13, 4th place within the NFC East

Date(s) on the schedule: Week 12, Nov twenty fourth & Week 18, Date TBD

Frankie Luvu, Linebacker

The one factor you may say Dan Quinn didn’t have a lot of with the Cowboys final season was standard linebackers. Typically, Quinn tried utilizing larger safeties interchangeably with linebackers and sacrificed run-stopping for move protection. With Luvu, Quinn could have struck the proper stability. Luvu had the very best season of his profession in move protection, permitting a 60.7% completion share. He has been a tackling machine over his final two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Luvu has totaled 236 tackles and 142 of the solo selection within the earlier two years. As a move rusher, he has additionally has some upside, as he has collected 12.5 sacks over his final two years with the Panthers.

PFF has Luvu graded out with a terrific rating of 80.0 for his total efficiency. He has all of the makings of an ascending participant, much more so due to his circumstances. Dan Quinn is an distinctive coach, and he has quite a lot of assist due to their robust inside defensive tackles in Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen. Within the matchups in opposition to Dallas, it will likely be paramount to cease Luvu from taking pictures by means of gaps and attending to the ballcarrier. Washington handed Luvu a three-year, $36M contract, which is a discount, and guaranteeing that he’ll be of their plans for the foreseeable future.

Jayden Daniels, Quarterback

If the Commanders are to shake up the soccer world, it begins with probably the most essential place within the sport, quarterback. The Commanders boldly drafted LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels because the second total decide on this yr’s draft, forward of Drake Maye, Michael Penix, and J.J. McCarthy. Whereas Daniels could appear extra of a uncooked prospect than a ready-to-go best choice, his expertise is undoubtedly attractive. Daniels dominated school soccer final yr accumulating 4,946 yards from scrimmage and 50 mixed touchdowns, incomes the Heisman trophy within the course of. One of many main points plaguing the Commanders offense was safety. Final season their beginning quarterback Sam Howell was sacked a staggering 65 instances. Happily for Daniels, his mobility ought to have him fare higher in that class than Howell.

The Commanders signed Tyler Biadasz away from Dallas to help the offensive line and make Daniels’ NFL transition simpler. Kliff Kingsbury is the offensive coordinator and you may anticipate him to craft an offense to intensify Daniels’ expertise very similar to he did for Kyler Murray when he was with the Arizona Cardinals. It’s laborious to not really feel flashbacks of Robert Griffin III, one other Heisman Trophy winner, when he was drafted in 2012 (additionally) with the second total decide and reworked the franchise in a single day. That season, Washington unexpectedly swept the Cowboys to win the NFC East. If the Commanders can play complementary soccer on protection and tailor the offense to Daniels’ strengths, the Commanders may pose bother.

Jahan Dotson, Large receiver

You get the impression that Jahan Dotson should be a giant a part of that course of for the Commanders to begin trending within the route and giving Daniels the correct basis. Dotson started his profession with a decent rookie season in 2022 that noticed him report 523 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns for 14.9 yards per reception. Nonetheless, in 2023, Dotson skilled a sophomore hunch. He posted fewer yards on 22 extra targets and fewer touchdowns. A few of that may very well be attributed to Dotson and Sam Howell not being on the identical web page with one another and former offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy coming in with a bang and going out with a whimper. What works in Dotson’s favor to be an x-factor is that he’ll be counted extra closely with the departure of Curtis Samuel.

Moreover, with the addition of Austin Ekeler pairing with Brian Robinson, Washington’s dashing assault grew to become extra numerous. Within the passing sport, Terry McLaurin remains to be an underrated expertise that calls for the eye of opposing defensive coordinators. Zach Ertz is also a productive tight finish when wholesome. These components ought to create one-on-one matchups for Dotston to be his most profitable. In his personal proper, Dotson has good pace, is an satisfactory route runner, and is stronger on the catch level than some would possibly assume. Dotson is virtually a lesser model of McClaurin, so he’s a risk to affect the sport in opposition to the Cowboys. If Dotson can start to return a number of the Commander’s first-round funding, it might go a great distance towards expediting Daniels’s growth and the Commanders’ rebuild beneath their new regime.