Commanders' Sam Cosmi Ready For 'Instant Boom' in Position Change
If the Washington Commanders offense is going to turn the corner this season, they need their offensive line to vastly improve.
The Commanders allowed 48 sacks in 2022, the seventh most in the NFL. Washington added to the trenches by signing Andrew Wylie and Nick Gates in free agency, then took Ricky Stromberg and Braeden Daniels in the 2023 NFL Draft.
A player Washington will rely upon to improve the offensive line is Sam Cosmi. The third-year offensive lineman has played right tackle but has moved to guard.
With the position change, Cosmi feels like playing guard is a better fit because of how he plays.
“I really have grasped the position," Cosmi said. "I really feel comfortable at the position right now. I could be irreplaceable between guard and tackle if they need me to. But I'm really, really enjoying that inside being guard, physicality stuff. I think it fits my style of play better, and I've been enjoying the transition for sure.”
Injuries have hampered Cosmi's development. In his first two seasons, the Texas product has only played in 23 of 34 games.
The position change first came about when Cosmi talked to Washington head coach Ron Rivera. Knowing that a move to guard was in the cards, the third-year offensive lineman adjusted the training and has seen immediate results.
“[Coach Rivera] felt like that was the position for me and I trust in it and I'm feeling really good about it," Cosmi said. When it came to the training aspect, I just worked on shorter sets, more physicality, faster hands when it comes to your punch. At tackle, you have a lot more space, a lot more room to battle. Guard, it's like instant boom. It’s a brawl.”
With a new offense under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and a new quarterback, the Commanders may have the pieces to improve. But if Washington's offense is going to reach its full potential, they'll need Cosmi and the offensive line to make strides from last season.
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