Sam Howell on Washington Commanders Trades: 'Hate to Lose Those Two Guys!'
The Washington Commanders were big sellers on the NFL trade deadline day as defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat were both shipped out to San Francisco and Chicago, respectively.
Jack Del Rio's defense was ranked 31st for points allowed per game (28.5), and now, with no Young or Sweat, Washington perhaps enters a rebuilding phase this season.
For quarterback Sam Howell, he was naturally disappointed to lose two teammates.
“It's always tough," Howell said. "Two great teammates, two great players. Obviously, I didn't have anything to do as far as the decision-making of the trades, but they did whatever they felt was best for the team and as far as the future goes. I hate to lose those two guys. Obviously, tremendous, tremendous players, but they're just great guys, great guys in the locker room. They're fun to be around, and they work really hard. I wish those guys well, and I want nothing for [but] the best of them.”
Such is the nature of the NFL, players and teams have to move on quickly, and for Washington, that means putting in the work to get ready for the New England Patriots on Sunday.
Bill Belchick's defense has been the straw that stirs the Patriots' drink over the course of his time in New England, but this season, they have struggled to stop teams from putting up points.
Sam Howell expressed his disappointment at seeing Chase Young and Montez Sweat being traded.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots rank 26th in the NFL for points allowed per game (26.0), so there could be some yards to be picked up by Howell and Eric Bieniemy's offense.
For Howell, despite the Patriots' defense giving up a lot points this season, what Belichick does pre-snap is something he's cognizant of.
“They do a lot of different things on defense, and you can tell they try to do things to mess with your eyes, and they do a good job of it," Howell said. "They try to give you different looks pre-snap and then get to some of the same coverages that everybody plays. You just get to them in some unconventional ways, but they do a good job. Obviously, there's a reason they've had so much success up there on the defensive side of the ball. It'll definitely be a challenge for us.”
The Commanders are coming off yet another battle with the Philadelphia Eagles in a game that they feel they could/should have won as Howell played perhaps his best game of the season (39/52, 397 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception).
With Ron Rivera wanting to use that performance as a springboard for the rest of the season, the 3-5 Commanders will have to work hard to replicate their efforts from a week ago.
But with plenty of football still to be played, Washington, which is now without two defensive stars, must pull together, go to Gillette Stadium, and get back on track by winning what is considered a very "winnable" game.
