Wake Up Washington | Cosmi likes increased emphasis on run game

Jul 30, 2024 at 09:00 AM

Hayley Salvatore

Contributor

A morning roundup of content from the Washington Commanders on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

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It's no secret that Washington's offense struggled last year.

It hardly protected the quarterback, allowing Sam Howell to be sacked 65 times, the second-most in the league behind division rival New York Giants (85). It didn't help that the team rarely utilized its run game, opting for a pass-first approach under former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Sam Cosmi understands that the NFL is a pass-heavy league, but he still wants a strong run game to be a part of the Commanders' new offensive identity. He believes a larger use of the run game will only help the team and compliment the quarterback's arm.

Cosmi and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to that desire, as Day 2 of training camp began the second phase of the offense's installation that consisted of run plays. Cosmi interpreted this as a step in the right direction, although he admits the team won't truly know where it's at in terms of installing the run game until the pads come on.

"I always say it's a pass heavy league, and running the ball just compliments it, it keeps the defense true," Cosmi said. "And so, if we're able to do that, it just helps not only us, but it helps the offense, helps just everything. I don't know what our percentages were last year, but I think we're last in the league for attempts in rushing and then one of the highest in passing, and you saw where that got us."

Despite the offensive line's past lack of fortitude, Cosmi was a consistent bright spot. Drafted by Washington as a second-round pick in 2021 to be the team's right tackle, last season's restructure at offensive line saw Cosmi shift into the right guard position. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Cosmi has high hopes for the player he can become in Kingsbury's offense.

"I come out each and every day and I just prove to them that I am the player and the caliber player I am," Cosmi said. "And so doing that, just coming out to practice proving that is a huge thing. I think everybody on the team should do that. It's kind of like a clean slate, but at the same time we still have tape. Everybody has tape. That's how they evaluate us, and they've definitely looked at that tape and see what type of caliber players they have. I got to prove that every day, every single day. Not only to this team, but to 31 other teams too. So, that's just how this all operates."

Although it's still early in camp, head coach Dan Quinn has high expectations for Cosmi and this offensive line when it comes to safeguarding rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The key to unlocking the strongest line of protection is communication among the different pieces, and Cosmi is uniquely equipped for the task given his recent transition between positions.

"Different combinations of players will be necessary over the course of the next four or five weeks to find what's the best winning combinations," Quinn said. "So often a guard or a center has to work together or a tackle or a guard have to work together. So, they'll need time, but we will mix and match until we find that right balance. I'm looking for execution and the skill work. That's always something that I think will be leveling up, and again and again and again."

Cosmi is no stranger to "leveling up," as Quinn puts it, and now hopes to give Daniels and the running backs that same opportunity by putting in the work with his fellow linemen to allow the run game to flourish. If he can do that, Cosmi sees himself not only establishing a dominant on-field identity for the Commanders' offensive line, but also living up to his own individual identity as a guard.

"I want to be one of the best in this league," Cosmi said. "I feel like I am one of the best in this league. I'm going to be dirty, I'm going to be nasty. I'm not going to take, excuse my language, [expletive] from anybody. So, that's what I'm going to do every time I step on that field, and that's the type of player I'm going to be."

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