Some take-aways from WaPo training camp coverage of today:
1. “That s--- is money!” This was the first time the Commanders’ draft-night vision for Daniels — a dual-threat QB and deep-ball maestro — burst into reality. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury schemed up vertical shots, and Daniels hit several of them, including a pair to McLaurin.
“I’m telling you: That s--- is money!” McLaurin screamed after hauling in a 40-ish-yard pass.
Later, on fourth and medium, Daniels rolled right, away from pressure, and found Dotson for a toe-tap conversion. Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. shook his head, grinned and dapped up Daniels.
Dotson was so inspired by the offense that, among other ambitious claims, he called fellow wide receiver Terry McLaurin the “best go-ball player in freakin’ NFL history.”
Maybe hyperbolic, but representative of the excitement.
“With him, anything is possible,” Dotson said of Daniels, adding, “Me and Terry were just talking about it on the sideline. [Daniels is] putting the ball in places where it makes our job so much more easier … where only you can get it and the defender has no play on it. You truly got to cherish stuff like that and be thankful for it because not everyone can do that. He’s a special talent.”
2. The offensive line competition is on. Coach Dan Quinn — in his most definitive comments of camp — said the only two locked-in starters on the line are right guard Sam Cosmi and center Tyler Biadasz, the former Dallas Cowboy signed to a three-year deal this offseason.
He said left guard Nick Allegretti (signed from the Kansas City Chiefs) is “almost there,” though he’s still sharing reps with veteran Michael Deiter. The glaring omission is right tackle Andrew Wylie, who returned to practice Sunday from what he called “tightness.” The team has rotated four players through first-team right and left tackle, roughly equally between veteran Cornelius Lucas, rookie Brandon Coleman and Wylie (when healthy) and then given a few reps to journeyman Trent Scott. It’s likely two of those four will start at the tackle spots in Week 1.
5. Vertical threats. A different wide receiver scrapping for a roster spot pops each practice, and Tuesday was for Brycen Tremayne, a 2023 undrafted free agent who seems like a long shot to make the roster even though he’s nearly always the first player on the field and is the only receiver taller than 6-foot-1 (he’s 6-4, 212 pounds).
The best argument to keep Tremayne and Dyami Brown, who’s taking nearly every snap with the first team but remains on the roster bubble, is that they’re vertical threats who can help Kingsbury and Daniels keep the deep-ball vision alive.
I read that last one as, "If Dyami Brown can't make hay w/ Daniels, he's gone."