Commanders Training Camp: Secondary Scene Developing, QB Sam Howell Finishes Strong

Washington Commanders training camp heated back up on Day 7 with a short scuffle and featured a secondary playing on more solid ground.

ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Commanders are still more than one week away from hitting players not wearing the same uniform and tensions are starting to build as the teammates continue to push each other in the summer heat of training camp. 

On Wednesday, early in team periods, center Nick Gates engaged with defenders Khaleke Hudson and Cody Barton before the players were separated by other teammates. 

Outside of trash-talking, which is more than normal, it was a sign that the need for external competition is coming, but that's far from the only thing we took away from Day 7 of Commanders training camp.

SECONDARY UPDATE

We've made the rounds on the biggest questions and battles happening in training camp, so now we get to start updating some of them from an original base of observation.

For the secondary, the intelligent and aggressive play we saw through earlier portions of practices still lives, but the consistency across levels of the roster is what stands out the most at this stage. 

Whether it's Benjamin St-Juste or Emmanuel Forbes on the outside with Kendall Fuller getting some veteran rest on Wednesday or second-year corner Tariq Castro-Fields in with the second-team defense, the secondary is present and making plays.

"I definitely feel way better than I did rookie year," Castro-Fields said after practice. "Being accustomed to the defense I'm just trying to come to work every day and put my best foot forward and keep improving."

As far as depth is concerned the team looks pretty consistent with Forbes and Fuller outside when three cornerbacks are on the field while St-Juste slides inside to the slot. 

Kamren Curl is looking like a lock as the team's Buffalo Nickel this year while he's not patrolling the backfield with Darrick Forrest holding down the other safety spot. 

And second-year safety Percy Butler gets into the first-team formation when Curl is down in the box. 

This is an alignment we feel confident in saying is likely to stick, giving Washington depth talents like Castro-Fields, rookie Quan Martin, and All-Pro Special Teams contributor Jeremy Reaves among others.

PLAY OF THE DAY

For the second straight day, our play of the day is going to come from the first-team rushing attack. 

After opening a very large hole in the A-Gap for running back Brian Robinson Jr. to run through he burst through the line and gained a solid eight yards before being met by Butler at the safety level.

It was an encouraging rep for the offensive line which has had up-and-down experiences going up against one of the NFL's best defensive fronts today.

And it was an impressive run by Robinson who hit the hole with confidence and speed heading to the second level of the defense.

HOWELL WATCH DAY 7

Second-year quarterback Sam Howell completed 13-of-22 pass attempts for a 59 percent completion rate and finished the practice better than he started it. 

Prior to the day beginning Washington coach Ron Rivera noted that Howell has faded in previous sessions saying, "Every one of his throws, I sit there and watch it and try to see how long it took for him to get where he needs to," Rivera said about watching his quarterback's practice reps. "It's not just him going through it, but also getting to that point where he gets to his setup, is his footwork good?...One of the things that [QB Coach] Tavita [Pritchard] talked about is that for the most part, it's been really good until he gets near the end. He does get a little tired, a little lazy with it, and he's gotta push himself through that."

Rivera also mentioned how early in training camp it is, signifying that these issues are correctable and something they'll be working on as the preseason progresses. 

On Wednesday the quarterbacks spent a session of practice working on their base and footwork setup prior to throwing and when they came back Howell finished the day looking sharp completing five of eight pass attempts and connecting in the end zone with rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Coincidence? It seems unlikely.

Find David Harrison on the Locked On Commanders podcast or text him directly at (202) 760-2188.

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