RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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With the advent of social media, people constantly try to be controversial. Some speak about things they don’t know, just hoping to say something that will make them go viral. One of the strangest fixations in the NFL right now is fans of other teams watching Commanders rookie linebacker Sonny Styles and calling him a bust after 30 or fewer preseason snaps.
For one, most don’t even know what they’re talking about. Others just repeat the same tired talking points they read online the prior week. Last week, social media “film analysts” picked one Styles play to dissect. In Saturday’s game, Detroit quarterback Joshua Dobbs scored on a 50-yard run.
Later that day, the same “analysts” were back at it, calling Styles a bust, blaming the touchdown on him.
Clearly, they didn’t know what they were talking about. Surprise.
On the play, rookie edge rusher Joshua Josephs — who otherwise had a terrific performance — lost contain, allowing Dobbs to break free for the long run. There was another breakdown by a Washington defender on the play — it wasn’t Styles.
In case you missed it, here’s the play. Watch No. 48, Josephs.
JOSH DOBBS TO THE HOUSE! Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Ac2ExcheNS
— NFL (@NFL) August 22, 2026 Had Josephs kept contain on this play, Dobbs is bottled up, and this doesn’t end up being a big play, much less a touchdown.
It was a good teaching moment for Josephs that you can bet head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones coached him up afterward.
So, why blame Styles? He’s apparently the new flavor of the month for the untrained social media analysts.
On Monday, Quinn put the nonsense to rest.
“A good zone read for him, and he’s got that ability like [QB] Jayden [Daniels] to hand it off and pull it,” Quinn said of Dobbs.
“So, on that particular one, on that option, they read the defensive end. So, if the defensive end closes, he pulls it. So, on that particular one, we’d love Josh [Josephs] to wait it out. And then we were in man-to-man behind, so once it’s handed off and we’re out of pass, get off your man, and everybody get back to it. So, I get it could be a first down, but to have it be a touchdown was certainly disappointing. But it would start with Josh, and then, just backside pursuit and speed to finish. But he made a good play, too.”
It's time to put this one to bed.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Dan Quinn puts an end to Sonny Styles' nonsense
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