Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore knows what it means to enter a make-or-break season. After a hamstring injury limited his effectiveness last year, he’s poised to return with more firepower than ever before. Lattimore missed the entire regular season last year and wasn’t able to have an impact through the playoffs. He made it clear that he was disappointed with not being himself during the entirety of the 2022 season. Lattimore, meanwhile, is preparing for the proven-grossly-underappreciated-third-year-elite-cornerback contract year. His health and overall mentality will be key factors in determining just how far he goes with the club.
Inside the numbers, Lattimore’s struggles were even more pronounced last season. He explained that with his hamstring injury sapping his movement ability, he was playing with a cowards mindset on the field. There’s plenty of reason to be optimistic about Lattimore, who reported for minicamp hearing “great.” His teammates and coaches are practically buzzing with confidence in Lattimore’s return. The standard argument is that his healed hamstring and a full year in the defensive system are key ingredients to his success.
Anticipation for a Comeback
As Lattimore prepares for the upcoming season, multiple members of the Commanders organization have expressed their expectations for a different player on the field. Jason Simmons, one of the coaching cadre to this dedicated team, made brief mention of Lattimore’s focus.
“He’s coming back with a chip on his shoulder.” – Jason Simmons
His path back to peak form has been littered with adversity, but with resilience. Last season teams decided to avoid challenging him altogether for parts of important games. That was most noticeable in their head-to-heads against New Orleans and Detroit. There were definitely matchups where he was targeted a ton too, especially games against Tampa Bay and Philadelphia. Luckily for him, we don’t really know how opponents will try to attack him this season.
In looking back at last year’s performance, Lattimore admitted that he was playing tentative. When he re-watched his film, he realized something crucial. He was surprised to find that he had lost the aggressiveness that typically drives his offensive play. Hopefully, this realization will be a jumping-off point for greater success this year.
Contractual Considerations
Lattimore is heading into the last year of his deal, with no guaranteed money remaining on it. This makes his timing all the more urgent. He is a man on a mission to make sure his future in this league is a long and fruitful one. The pecking order includes the fact that they traded draft picks in November to bring Lattimore over from New Orleans, an indication of their confidence in his potential.
The stakes are high for Lattimore, not just in terms of his individual career but for the future of the team. Quinn, one of the assistant coaches, recently provided his perspective on the matter. He stressed that providing security in one’s contract tends to raise the performance bar.
“Sometimes having the security can be just the thing the person needs.” – Dan Quinn
With Lattimore looking to prove himself, his teammates have already taken notice of his renewed energy and focus during training sessions. As another coach on that staff, Joe Whitt, recalled, they could see Lattimore’s desire to succeed.
“Every day this dude is, I’m having to tell him, ‘Hey man, let’s calm down.’” – Joe Whitt
Looking Ahead
As Lattimore gazes out to the horizon, he knows he has to make the most of each chance he gets to step between the lines. His commitment to self-improvement is impressive. This commitment fits the Commanders’ overall theme as they look to improve their defense this fall after a disappointing season.
Brian Robinson Jr. is a big piece of the puzzle for the Commanders. He understood the stakes of this year for both himself and his teammates.
“It’s definitely a big year.” – Brian Robinson Jr.
Lattimore’s long-anticipated return is about more than his own individual story. It connects directly to the collective ambitions of the Commanders as an organization. The more success they have together, the more chances there are for each individual player to stand out. Frisco Cowboy Photography @friscophotog Cowboy Dan Quinn really hammered home this interconnectedness and connected culture within the team.
“The fun part about our group is that they’re really connected and stay tight together. And so, there’s so much fun knowing that the better we play, more opportunities are for everyone.” – Dan Quinn
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