Sonny Styles’ preseason debut gave social media plenty to argue about, but Logan Paulsen wasn’t buying the noise.
Styles, the Washington Commanders rookie linebacker, got only one series in Friday night’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. That possession ended with a 14-play, 93-yard touchdown drive for Miami’s starters against mostly Washington reserves, with Styles and fellow linebacker Leo Chenal among the few regulars on the field.
Styles admitted he wanted more.
“Me and [LB] Leo [Chenal] were a little frustrated,” Styles said with a smile. “One drive, one touchdown, like 15 plays, so, not ideal, but go again next week.”
By the next day, clips of Styles’ snaps were circulating online, and plenty of people rushed to judgment. Former Washington tight end Logan Paulsen watched the same film and came away with a very different read.
“A lot of people sent me that, and it was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t quite as good as I remember watching it live,’” Paulsen said on the latest edition of the “Take Command” podcast alongside co-host Grant Paulsen.
“Then you go back and watch the All-22, and you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s right, he’s actually the conflict defender here on like a pass,’ and so he’s like really doing a good job getting under this thing. Or he’s got this player; he’s the flat player, so he’s like pushing with vision to the quarterback.
I think from a coverage standpoint, it was everything that you wanted, honestly. Just kind of that safety feel.
Like, there was a play action look where he had to match a crosser. And so everybody’s up in the line of scrimmage, and then he’s able to get back, and he’s five yards deeper than every other linebacker on the field.
Like, he's just able to cover so much more ground."
Paulsen also liked what he saw from Styles against the run, even if he thinks the rookie sometimes played a little too carefully.
“In the run game, I thought he was really deliberate and specific about his fits. I think that’s a good thing; I think it’s also a bad thing.
So, he’s like really, really thoughtful. Really, really aware, like, ‘Oh, the fullback’s here, I need to fit the outside shoulder, so I’m gonna squeeze in here.'
At the detriment of, like, maybe making more plays. So, what I’d say is like you were excellent live, showed great dexterity in coverage, you did the right thing in run fits.
Now, can we get to a point where we understand what the offense is giving us? And we can start making some of these plays."
The bottom line, from Paulsen’s view, is simple: this looked like a rookie’s first NFL action, not a disaster. Styles was eager, maybe a step fast at times, but he was in the right spots and handled his assignments. As the game slows down, Paulsen believes the rest will come.
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