ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ gamers acquired a transparent message despatched by the entrance workplace after they acquired cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.
“We need to win, and we need to win now,” linebacker Bobby Wagner stated. “It was cool for them to try this.”
The Commanders (7-2) traded three picks to New Orleans — 2025 third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks — to get Lattimore and a 2025 fifth-round decide. He immediately improves a protection that ranks 18th in opposing quarterback score and twenty first in web yards per go try.
Lattimore, a four-time Professional Bowl choice, stated his arrival pushes Washington nearer to a objective of contending for a Tremendous Bowl.
“Most positively,” he stated. “I would not be right here if I did not. They made that apparent with what they gave as much as get me. I simply bought to do what I’ve bought to do.”
Which, he stated, is “exit and do all the pieces I can for the group, simply being a canine.”
Lattimore didn’t follow Wednesday due to a hamstring harm that sidelined him for New Orleans’ loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. It is unsure when he’ll follow, not to mention whether or not he’ll play Sunday in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2).
However the Commanders will likely be cautious with Lattimore, wanting him to be wholesome for the rest of the season.
Lattimore supplies Washington with a real No. 1 nook, one thing it has lacked for years. The group’s final Professional Bowl nook was DeAngelo Corridor in 2010. Its final nook with a number of Professional Bowl appearances was Champ Bailey from 2000 to 2003.
Washington can now combine and match its different corners. The Commanders have Benjamin St-Juste, who provides size at 6-foot-3; Mike Sainristil, drafted as a slot nook however moved exterior out of necessity; and Noah Igbinoghene.
“He can take away half the sector,” St-Juste stated of Lattimore, “so we are able to work so many alternative [coverages] on the opposite facet of the sector.”
St-Juste echoed Wagner’s sentiment.
“It exhibits they’ve confidence in us, and so they see us going far this season,” St-Juste stated.
Washington normal supervisor Adam Peters stated he and different members of the entrance workplace had been speaking to a number of groups for some time about numerous gamers. The Commanders needed a nook specifically. They did their homework on Lattimore, too, however Peters stated they did not suppose he was out there — till late within the course of.
And, whereas Peters desires to construct via the draft, he did not thoughts giving up the picks as a result of they entered the day with 9 and nonetheless have seven. Washington nonetheless has a third-round decide acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in August for receiver Jahan Dotson. Peters additionally stated the Commanders weighed what is perhaps out there in free company and the draft — and that they could want to search out one other cornerback within the offseason as effectively.
However they’d no downside surrendering what they did for a participant of Lattimore’s caliber.
“He suits into any protection,” Peters stated. “So, no matter we’re taking part in — zone or man — he is going to have the ability to do all that. He is a extremely, actually sensible participant. He’s a extremely instinctive participant. He is bodily, and people are issues we’re in search of.”
Washington coach Dan Quinn stated he watched how Lattimore lined prime receivers up to now and stated he would make it powerful on contested catches for prime wideouts.
Quinn additionally instructed a reporter, “You are barking up the appropriate tree,” when requested whether or not Lattimore’s presence will increase what they will name defensively.
“Not all people can go and match on completely different gamers in numerous spots, left facet, proper facet within the slot,” Quinn stated. “You have to be sensible to have the ability to try this. And he is proven over the course of his profession the flexibility to maneuver inside and outdoors and staying related to receivers. He is tackler, so we’re pumped he is right here.
“We’re including an actual dog-ass competitor into a bunch of fellows that prefer to struggle and prefer to battle.”
