'Don't Sleep on Cole Holcomb': Can Commanders Rising Star Secure The MIKE Role?

The Commanders have had mixed success at middle linebacker.

Jeremy Brener | May 18, 2022

On the defensive side of the football, the "MIKE" linebacker is often considered to be the quarterback.

The quarterback is always looking to identify the "MIKE" because the play is likely going to end based on what he does.

For the Washington Commanders, that "MIKE" is Cole Holcomb.

Cole Holcomb

"I feel like I'm gonna take control of this defense, take charge at that MIKE spot," Holcomb told Commanders.com.

Holcomb got an opportunity to move inside in 2021, and he impressed both head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, both former linebackers.

"We thought he did some really good things, especially down the stretch," Rivera told Commanders.com.

Holcomb had eight games where he racked up double-digit tackles in 2021, with four of those coming in either December or January.

Rivera has told the media that the Commanders are looking to add a veteran linebacker, but they want that new addition to complement and add insurance for Holcomb, not replace him.

"Don't sleep on Cole Holcomb," Del Rio told Commanders.com. "He's a pretty good player."

Cole Holcomb

Cole Holcomb

The Commanders are in a very fragile position as a defense. With a lot of young players nearing the end of their contracts, the window for success is razor thin and 2022 could be their best opportunity to become one of the NFL's elite defenses.

While Chase Young, Jonathan Allen and Kendall Fuller are all important players tied to the success of the unit, Holcomb might be up there right along with his star-studded teammates.

Published May 18, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.