“You have to know your stuff and know it fast.”
That is apparently what has made a big impression on Commanders’ first-round draft choice (29th overall), Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly. I say this because he was later asked, “Since you’ve gotten here to Washington, what have you learned about the style of play from Dan Quinn and what this coaching staff wants from not you specifically, but everything that’s currently being built here in Washington?”
Without hesitating, Conerly replied, “That it moves fast, and I’m pretty used to that too.”
What does Conerly hope to get out of these three days? “Really, to just get out here and work, you know? It’s a smaller group of guys, so you know, get to know them as best as I can. And then obviously just take all the coaching that I can, absorb that and put it into my play.”
Conerly said he has actually not met many veterans yet since arriving in Ashburn. However, he did offer that the veterans he has met have brought great vibes and have been very welcoming.
“The helmet felt great, it was pretty unreal. It’s really a dream come true, you know what I mean?” Conerly further elaborated that even before the practice began, it was hitting him that he was now in the NFL. He said it hit him when he began walking out from the facility to the field. “As soon as I touched the grass it was like, ‘it’s here’.
Most analysts and local media continued to talk of the Commanders needing to draft an edge rusher in the draft. However, when Conerly was still available at No. 29, the Commanders even turned down a couple of offers to trade back.
GM Adam Peters told the media following the draft that with Conerly still on the board, he had determined he was not trading the pick down to anyone. Peters was quick to turn in the card, selecting Conerly. The pick of Conerly potentially improves the Commanders at right tackle (Conerly), left guard (Brandon Coleman), and swing tackle (Andrew Wylie).
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