Big Brother is listening...to Sam Howell calling plays.
The Washington Commanders hear the quarterback in the huddle, coming to the line of scrimmage, looking for audibles and executing plays thanks to microphones on Howell. Coach Ron Rivera likes hearing the details of plays to ensure the second-year passer with just one game’s experience is ready for his fall debut. Because, if Howell isn’t, 2024 likely sees a new coaching staff and starting quarterback. Howell figuratively feels Rivera and staff looking over his shoulder.
“It's a good opportunity for me to learn and hear what I sound like,” Howell said, “because it's something I've really never heard before. When they first said they were gonna do it, I was kind of shocked cause I've never heard of somebody doing it. But, I think it's a great idea and it's definitely been fun to hear their feedback and stuff like that.”
What has the close monitoring taught Howell and coaches? Words have consequences.
“Coach EB [Eric Bieniemy] says it all the time to overcommunicate clarity,” Howell said. “So just trying to overcommunicate at the line of scrimmage with the o-line and stuff like that and just saying one more word, one more code word that means something that they need to hear. So just to try to make sure we're all on the same page.”
Howell has looked solid over the first two weeks of voluntary workouts as the team now readies for minicamp on June 6-8. Not many balls hit the ground over practice. Howell’s arm strength can handle deeper routes while learning to take short-yardage gains if forced.
The biggest challenge is for a young quarterback to silence a huddle of veterans and instill confidence. That’s what Rivera is most seeking from the close-circuit monitoring.
“[Howell has] a lot of confidence,” Rivera said, “but the difference I'm seeing really is from when he first got started when we began OTAs to where he is now. The way he handles things, his command in terms of the things that he's doing. . . . The way he's handling the huddle calls, how he's handling things at the line of scrimmage, it's given us a lot of insight into that.”
There’s a lot of moving parts for Howell to assimilate. Left tackle Charles Leno is the only holdover from last year’s starting line and didn’t attend OTAs. Howell is pulling together two free agents, one player changing positions, a competition at left guard and a temp for Leno, who should attend mandatory minicamp.
Plus, Howell has to learn Bieniemy’s new offense and accept tough love the coordinator sometimes gives on the field and classroom. Howell’s even watching film of Bieniemy’s former team – Kansas City – to see how quarterback Patrick Mahomes handled it.
“[Bieniemy’s] just coaching,” said Howell of the coach’s intensity. “I go back there almost always after we finish like a run of plays and we kind of just talk through the plays. He asked me what I saw and if there's one play he didn't agree with my decision, he tells me. So, we kind of go from there. But I just love being coached and I love that he does that type of stuff because I always want feedback. And I tell him that all the time to coach me hard. I want to be coached hard. So, it's been fun.”
Fun? Well, Rivera won’t hear laughter on the mic, but the zeal of a young passer getting his chance is contagious.
“I'm just super blessed, that people are supporting me,” Howell said. “Obviously, I really don't think I've deserved anything at this point, but I am super thankful to the fans. They've been awesome to me.”
Follow Rick Snider on Twitter: @Snide_Remarks
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