-
John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore not solely returned to the power this week, he hopes he has returned to being the participant he as soon as was with New Orleans.
A hamstring damage modified his recreation and prevented him from making the affect he and the Commanders desired. However greater than 5 months after the season ended, Lattimore stated he likes how he is feeling, primarily as a result of his hamstring is wholesome — and that has allowed him to be in higher form.
“I really feel means higher than final 12 months,” he stated. “I really feel explosive.”
If that continues into the season, it’s going to assist the Commanders’ protection significantly. Washington traded a third-, fourth- and sixth-round choose for Lattimore (and a fifth-round choice) in November as a result of it lacked a powerful exterior nook with Benjamin St-Juste struggling and rookie Mike Sainristil greatest suited as a slot nook.
However Lattimore, a four-time Professional Bowler, was coping with a hamstring damage on the time. It sidelined him for his first 4 video games with Washington. He wasn’t focused in his debut towards his former staff, however every week later allowed a number of huge performs to Philadelphia’s A.J. Brown.
“I felt a bit of timid, not mentally however I may inform watching my recreation movie by the best way I used to be stepping,” Lattimore stated. “I regarded timid in my recreation.”
He performed all three postseason video games, having some points towards Tampa’s Mike Evans and once more towards the Eagles — which got here after a strong recreation towards Detroit. Towards the Eagles, he allowed a key fourth-down move to Brown and was later referred to as for move interference ultimately zone.
Lattimore stated he felt inside strain to play.
“I needed to show they made the best choice,” he stated. “I needed to indicate what I may do. I used to be harm however I do not wish to make excuses. I used to be on the market. If I used to be ok to play, I might be evaluated on that. I simply wish to get on the market this 12 months to indicate what I may do.”
Lattimore opted to skip the voluntary exercises this spring, as he did at instances in New Orleans. Throughout minicamp practices, he has aggressively pushed on receivers after they lower on a route — typically main to bother, different instances to breakups. It led to 1 move breakup towards receiver Noah Brown on Wednesday.
However the outcomes of the play aren’t the main target proper now for Lattimore. It is how he feels.
“Simply the burst, getting out of my breaks,” he stated. “Coping with a hamstring takes so much out of you; it takes a very long time to heal.”
Jason Simmons, the Commanders’ defensive move recreation coordinator, stated Lattimore by no means informed them how a lot the hamstring damage impacted his play. Staying wholesome would be the huge key for Lattimore this season after enjoying in solely 26 video games mixed the previous three years.
“The one factor he’ll let you know is, ‘I can play,'” Simmons stated. “So I can not converse to the way it affected him however he’s coming again with a chip on his shoulder. He is a gifted participant and needs to get again to the shape that he has performed his whole profession.”
