{"id":59309,"date":"2019-02-24T22:38:28","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T03:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=59309"},"modified":"2019-02-25T10:22:59","modified_gmt":"2019-02-25T15:22:59","slug":"aaf-recap-philip-nelson-starts-wins-31-11-at-home-vs-san-antonio-commanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/02\/24\/aaf-recap-philip-nelson-starts-wins-31-11-at-home-vs-san-antonio-commanders\/","title":{"rendered":"AAF Recap: Philip Nelson Starts, Wins 31-11 at Home vs. San Antonio Commanders"},"content":{"rendered":"

The San Antonio Commanders<\/a> and the San Diego Fleet<\/a> squared off<\/a> in Week One in San Antonio, and the Commanders took that contest convincingly in a defensive battle. This week, the Fleet played a strong offensive game on the arm of Philip Nelson<\/strong> and the feet of\u00a0Ja’Quan Gardner<\/strong> and\u00a0Terrell Watson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and won the rematch 31-11.<\/p>\n

Takeaways from Week Three Commanders vs. Fleet Rematch<\/h1>\n

Nelson is the right choice for San Diego<\/h2>\n

Philip Nelson flung a deep interception on the very first play from scrimmage in this one but was able to shake it off and settle in. Nelson was able to stand in the pocket and deliver all throughout the first half, even as the\u00a0Commander’s pressure bore down on him. The Fleet’s new starter struggled when plays began to break down as the San Antonio secondary smothered receivers and prevented Nelson from extending plays with his feet. Nonetheless, Nelson showed that he can get through his progressions quickly and find open receivers from the pocket when necessary.<\/p>\n

Nelson has provided a spark that this San Diego team was missing with\u00a0Mike Bercovici<\/strong> at the helm.<\/p>\n

The Fleet have their\u00a0own Zoom & Boom<\/h2>\n

Last week<\/a>, Ja’Quan Gardner tore up the Atlanta Legends<\/a> on the ground.\u00a0This week, it was Terrell Watson’s turn.\u00a0When Gardner’s number was called, the Commanders had his number and stifled him in the first half, but Watson was able to run downhill and keep the stalwart San Antonio defensive line on its heels. Watson bullied the Commanders over and over, alleviating some of the pressure on Nelson to deliver and contributing to the quarterback’s ease on the field.<\/p>\n

In the second half, Gardner exploded on a blazing 83-yard rush for a touchdown.\u00a0Alvin Kamara<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Mark Ingram<\/a><\/strong> may have the NFL’s handle on Zoom & Boom, but Gardner and Watson might just be their mirror image.<\/p>\n

The Commanders lack QB consistency and RB identity<\/h2>\n

Logan Woodside<\/strong>\u00a0started the game off with a gorgeous bomb to Mekale McKay<\/strong> on his first possession,\u00a0but shortly\u00a0threw a pair of interceptions in the first half and failed to find his rhythm during the game.\u00a0Marquise Williams<\/strong> made an appearance in the first half, but his athleticism and ability to run the ball didn’t make up for his poor decision-making skills, and Woodside reappeared in short order.<\/p>\n

The offensive line was unable to protect Woodside enough for him to deliver the throws he’s proven to deliver, and he took more than his fair share of lethal hits. Woodside’s accuracy wavered, and he threw a heavy handful of targets too high for his talented receivers to pull down.<\/p>\n

Williams reappeared midway through the fourth quarter but again chose to move the ball on the ground and inside the numbers when quick passes to the outside were a necessity. The UNC product threw a dart to\u00a0Josh Stewart<\/strong> but then drastically overthrew a wide open receiver streaking to the end zone on the very next play.<\/p>\n

Kenneth Farrow<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0was successful early on, but the Fleet dialed in and slowed it down enough for the Commanders to make not one, but two, changes at running back. Trey Williams<\/a><\/strong> saw his first action of the season for the Commanders today and saw some success running on the perimeter.<\/p>\n

But the three-man rotation including\u00a0David Cobb<\/a><\/strong> isn’t helping the Commanders establish an identity in the running game, and if Woodside keeps playing like he did today, the Commanders offense is going to keep stalling out. Cobb hasn’t contributed much to the offense so far this season, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the speedy Williams emerged in the coming weeks as the light-footed complement to Farrow.<\/p>\n

Quick Hits from SA Commanders vs. SD Fleet<\/h2>\n