Latest news with #MikeSainristil
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Washington Post
Deebo Samuel, Mike Sainristil and a promising sign for the Commanders
After the Washington Commanders finished practice Wednesday, veteran receiver Deebo Samuel and second-year cornerback Mike Sainristil kept working out together in a moment that encapsulated the state of the team. Samuel, who's entering his seventh season, ran about a dozen routes to show the young corner how receivers could use different release techniques at the line of scrimmage to create separation against him. One big focus was refining how to stick to receivers who use an outside release to set up an inside route. Sainristil has seen such moves before, of course, but he wanted to see them again and again so his reactions would become automatic. The moment was a metaphor. The team is Sainristil, a young upstart with lots of promise, and it wants to be Samuel, a proven winner and consistent presence in the biggest playoff games. Their work together distilled the purpose of this space in the NFL calendar between the roster-building flurry of the spring and the training-camp battles of the summer. These offseason workouts, which will end next week with mandatory minicamp, are for experimentation, relationship-building and skill development. 'You would've thought he's been here the past five years of his career the way he's adjusted,' Sainristil said of Samuel. 'He's a guy that loves extra work, loves football, loves to win. So, any way I can pick his brain about what receivers do to help myself, I'm going to do exactly that.' Coach Dan Quinn gushed about 'the environment that the players have created together.' 'We all know, to be at our best, it's gonna take all of us improving,' he said. 'If that's Mike asking Deebo a certain technique or vice versa, that's really where it takes place. And so, we take these times on the field seriously, 'cause it's not just the scheme, it's the individual skill work.' There's a massive difference, Quinn pointed out, between knowing what to do and having the minute details ingrained in muscle memory. 'Be very specific; I think that's where the gold is,' he said. 'That's why I think the teaching this time of year has to shine on the coaches, and we've got some excellent ones because they'll get very specific on the certain techniques. 'Let's try that one again. Let's put the hand into this space.' You're not in a rush to get to the next play [like you are during the season]. … If they have to do it four or five times, that's okay.' Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. recently did similar work. He had a group of safeties practice press technique against a tight end. That specific skill set might not always be top of mind for coaches. But it could matter a lot in a big moment of a big game if safety Will Harris has to press, say, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert. It might not have been a coincidence that Wizards Coach Brian Keefe attended practice Wednesday. 'We learn a lot from the NBA [in terms of] what that small group would look like, of a specific two or three players getting better on something,' Quinn said. Samuel said he knows there are things he needs to work on himself. His top goal of the offseason was 'being in better shape for sure,' he said, though he declined to detail what he focused on or how it would show up in his game. He pointed out he also needed to learn a new offense. But Samuel showed through his work with Sainristil that he understands his value to the Commanders goes beyond his individual skills. He's been here just for a few weeks but has already embraced the word 'brotherhood,' the team's favorite way to express closeness. 'The guys in the locker room make it easy,' Samuel said. 'When I walked in the locker room, I felt like I've been here before because of how the guys treated me.' Said Whitt: 'When we went on that three-game losing streak [last season], it wasn't anything other than the brotherhood that kept them together.' The brief post-practice scene Wednesday carried all this subtle significance. Mentorship from talented veterans can help younger players — and therefore the team — actualize their potential. And the relationships built in those moments can help players stick together during tough times.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Commanders' rookie cornerback standing out during OTAs
The Washington Commanders had a first-round grade on cornerback Trey Amos in the 2025 NFL draft. Fortunately for Washington, Amos fell to them with the No. 61 overall pick in last month's draft. The Commanders' draft room celebrated, believing they had landed two first-round talents with their first two selections. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback began his college career at Louisiana before transferring to Alabama for one season and ending his career at Ole Miss. In each step of the way, Amos bet on himself, and it paid off in a major way. Advertisement After adding Amos, Washington suddenly had depth at cornerback. In addition to Amos, the Commanders have Mike Sainristil, Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Jones and Noah Igbinoghene. That's a vastly improved group from this time one year ago. The Commanders opened Phase 3 of their offseason program this week, which meant OTAs. For the first time, the rookies and veterans were lined up against one another in practice, and it appears that Amos is already making waves. Zach Selby of named three standouts from the first week of OTAs: Amos was one of his three picks. There's no telling at this point just how many snaps the second-round pick will get as a rookie or where he will land on depth chart, but Amos made the most of his snaps in seven-on-seven drills. Amos, who the Commanders considered taking with their first-round pick, held his own against several of the team's veterans. In one of his more impressive plays, he managed to stay upright after his feet got tangled with Michael Gallup and got under a tipped pass for an interception on the second play of the drill. He nearly got a second one later in the day while working against Luke McCaffrey and kept up with Deebo Samuel when lined up against him. Although general manager Adam Peters said Amos is an all-around cornerback, the Commanders primarily view him as a perimeter defender. As shown during his reps against Samuel, his large frame allows him to be physical at the line of scrimmage with bigger receivers. Amos still has months before he is ready to be a regular defensive contributor, but he's off to a good start. Yes, Peters said Amos can play inside or outside, but the Commanders drafted him to play outside. Washington can use Sainristil inside or outside, but would prefer to play him inside, with Lattimore and Amos on the outside. Jones, the steady veteran, can play everywhere, while Igbinoghene is better in the slot. Advertisement In the latest edition of "Commanders Log," Washington executives and coaches were thrilled to land Amos, particularly defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. On paper, the Commanders have a better secondary in 2025. However, Washington needs Lattimore to return to his previous form and remain healthy for a full season. If that happens, this could be one of the NFL's better cornerback rooms. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Trey Amos standing out during OTAs
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan football defense hoping to pick up where it left off in 2024 with consistency
Michigan football defense hoping to pick up where it left off in 2024 with consistency ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Michigan football defense saw a mass exodus going from 2023 to 2024 on several fronts. Some of the key players departed, such as Mike Sainristil, Mike Barrett, Junior Colson, Kris Jenkins, Jaylen Harrell, Braiden McGregor, and Josh Wallace. Though many of the returnees had ample playing time coming in, there was another exodus on the coaching staff, with the entire defensive side of the ball being revamped. There wasn't supposed to be much of a dropoff with Wink Martindale taking over the defense, yet, it took the Wolverines about 10 games to find their footing. But once they did, opposing offenses did not have a good time. According to fifth-year defensive tackle Rayshuan Benny, that's because of the focus that comes with the regular season finale as much as getting acclimated to the coaching staff. With the Buckeyes on the mind, the Wolverines locked in. "Well, the end of the season, you know what comes at the end of the season every year -- Ohio State," Benny said. "It's really just like the guys in the building. We know we'll come with it. The focus is up. The intent is up. Not to say that we're not focused. It's just like everybody knows that this is the week we've been waiting for all year. We all just jelled at the right time." This year, despite some new faces in terms of defensive starters, there's optimism that Michigan can pick up from where it left off in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama -- not only because the bulk of that defense will be this year's squad, but also because the entire defensive coaching staff returns. In 2021, the maize and blue had a new defensive coordinator, with the extant defensive line coach, a new linebackers coach, and a new cornerbacks coach. In 2022, again, there was a new defensive coordinator, a new defensive line coach, a returning linebackers coach, a familiar coach in Jay Harbaugh who moved to safeties, and the same setup with cornerbacks. That unit held strong, minus Chris Partridge coming in as linebackers coach. In 2024, it was a whole new setup across the board, and every coach from last year returns. According to senior cornerback Zeke Berry, that should pay dividends. "I feel like it's a good thing for us, something that we're comfortable with, having the coaches still there," Berry said. "And still some of the older guys that's been through the program, me, Rod, and some of the other guys on the other side of the defense. And I just feel like that's going to help us build from there."
