Washington Commanders Whiteboard: Notes and observations from preseason Week 2

The Washington Commanders' second preseason game against the Detroit Lions resulted in a 17-13 loss at Ford Field. The Commanders' starting center, Julian Good-Jones, was replaced, but the team believes the issue lies within the offensive line as a whole. The coaching staff and front office were responsible for the release of Tyler Biadasz, and bringing Nick Allegretti back to the starting lineup did not resolve all the problems.

Rookie Matt Gulbin struggled, and most of the team outside of right guard Sam Cosmi also showed limited ability. Tight end John Bates' performance was notable, as he failed to set up his run block on the second offensive play, resulting in a sack.

Running backs need to practice with the new offensive line to develop timing and learn how to create holes. Ricky Barber showed promise, appearing bigger and more effective in the run game than his teammates. Maurice Hurst II had two sacks, but they occurred later in the game. The team seems to prefer Barber over other rookies, including Maurice Hurst II.

Will Harris has underperformed, and his release would save the team $3.7 million. However, with safety Percy Butler's special teams play and the emergence of Tyler Owens, Harris may not have a place on the roster. The Washington Commanders' defense has shown potential, creating five takeaways in their last four quarters of play, including interceptions by Quan Martin, Ale Kaho, and Malik Spencer. While the defense has allowed some big plays, their ability to generate turnovers should help keep the team competitive.