ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s first run of the season foreshadowed what the Washington Commanders hope is to come.
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Commanders → foreshadow → season
The second-year running back known as “Bill” took a handoff from Jayden Daniels, planted his left foot, cut upfield and ran over a defender for an 11-yard gain.
Croskey-Merritt finished the 24-22 loss Philadelphia with 16 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown, a modest performance against one of the NFL’s best defenses.
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Merritt → know → defenses
the running back’s first game in new offensive coordinator David Blough’s system, a zone-run based scheme that could fit a one-cut runner like Croskey-Merritt.
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that → base → Merritt
“I love the twitch that you see with Bill,” coach Dan Quinn said.
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Quinn → love → Bill
“When we can get him onto the second and third level, that presents a real problem from a tackling standpoint.”
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that → get → standpoint
The Commanders visit Dallas on Sunday, going up against a Cowboys defense that allowed 165 rushing yards to the New York Giants in a 28-20 loss.
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that → visit → loss
The Giants’ run game success gave them a significant edge in time of possession (36:40 to 23:20) and limited the Cowboys’ offense to just two drives in the second half.
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success → give → half
That’s a blueprint the Commanders would like to follow.
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Commanders → ’ → ?
“The biggest thing is controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” right guard Sam Cosmi said.
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Cosmi → control → ball
“For us, keeping Jayden upright, keeping our ball carriers upright, getting hats on hats, especially in the run game. ...
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keeping → keep → game
It’s going to be a good game plan.”
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It → go → ?
Like Philadelphia, Dallas has plenty of talent on the interior defensive line in Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark.
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Dallas → have → Williams
The Commanders believe facing Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis last week helped prepare them for whatever Williams and Clark throw at them on Sunday.
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Williams → believe → Sunday
“Guys like that, they are disruptive,” Croskey-Merritt said.
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Merritt → say → that
“It’s all about having a plan for guys like that.
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It → ’ → that
We just have to worry about ourselves, go out there and attack.”
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We → have → ourselves
Since training camp began, the Commanders have been intent on using Croskey-Merritt in the lead back role, with veteran Rachaad White handling pass-catching duties and rookie Kaytron Allen in short yardage as a change of pace.
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White → begin → pace
Croskey-Merritt added five to 10 pounds of muscle this offseason with the goal of bulking up to better withstand contact.
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Merritt → add → contact
“He’s a stronger person right now from the offseason program,” Quinn said.
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Quinn → ’ → program
“The zone game suits him because he’s got the cutback ability.
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he → suit → ability
The more reps he gets in, the more times he’s seeing the blocks, the O-line knowing where he is — those are things that just need time on task.
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that → get → task
I’m pleased with what we’ve seen so far.”
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we → ’m → what
After turnovers were an issue during his rookie year, he fumbled again late in the fourth quarter.
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he → fumble → quarter
Fortunately for Washington, right tackle Josh Conerly recovered the ball, but Croskey-Merritt was subbed out in favor of Allen, who handled the remaining snaps of the drive.
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who → recover → drive
“The ball security, that’s definitely the premium for us,” Quinn said.
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Quinn → ’ → us
“You’ve heard me talk about it a lot.”
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me → hear → it
Despite his fumbling issues, the Commanders remain confident in Croskey-Merritt.
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Commanders → remain → Merritt
He feels he has plenty to improve, too.
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he → feel → plenty
“I have to work on being better at my fundamentals — just staying on my feet and being the guy that I am,” he said.
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he → have → feet
“That’s something I got to work on and am definitely going to correct going forward.”
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I → ’ → ?
Commanders add offensive line depth
The Commanders signed interior offensive lineman Lucas Patrick, adding a proven veteran after converted guard Nick Allegretti struggled at center in the opener.
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Allegretti → add → opener
Patrick, 33, spent training camp with the Giants and lost out to younger option Bryan Hudson.
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Patrick → spend → Hudson
He played six games for Cincinnati last season, starting one.
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He → play → one
The Aporia
