What LB Bobby Wagner brings to the Washington Commanders

Breaking down what the Commanders are getting in new free agent linebacker Bobby Wagner

New general manager Adam Peters clearly felt the Washington Commanders desperately needed to revamp the linebacker position. Jamin Davis has been just about the only reliable and serviceable player in that position for a while now, so it was obviously a big need entering the offseason. At the start of the legal tampering period, the Commanders went out and signed Frankie Luvu, who I thought was likely to play the Mike (middle) linebacker spot next to Davis. However, the team then went and signed Bobby Wagner to a one-year contract with significant guaranteed money. 

Wagner obviously has a lot of connections to the Commanders coaching staff. He played under head coach Dan Quinn in Seattle and Quinn has referred to Wagner as the best linebacker he’s ever coached. Wagner also played under Ken Norton Jr. who is the Commanders new linebackers coach. Norton was Wagner's position coach when the Seahawks first drafted him and later became the defensive coordinator in Seattle too. So he’s a natural fit with Washington’s coaches, who needed a true Mike linebacker to lead the defense. 

For Washington, the only question with signing Wagner is how much he has left in the tank? Wagner has had a fantastic NFL career where he established himself as one of the top linebackers in the league for a decade. He’s now 33 and will be 34 by the time the season starts, so he’s not a young player any more. So what exactly does he have left to offer? Let’s take a closer look:

Run Game

In the run game, Wagner is still playing at a very high level. His age and experience has only helped him in this regard as there’s not a formation or motion he hasn’t seen. He’s so good at anticipating what’s coming and that mental sharpness more than makes up for any physical decline that comes with age. 

This play is a great example of the anticipation and understanding Wagner plays with now. The Lions line up in what appears to be a pass formation with no tight end or receiver attached to the formation. However, a tight end lines up outside to the left and comes in motion just before the ball is snapped. Wagner has clearly seen this look on film before and as soon as the ball is snapped he’s working across to the opposite side of the line, anticipating the run going that way. He’s of course absolutely correct and because he knew what was coming, he got into position so quickly that the right guard couldn’t peel off his double team to pick him up in time. That leaves Wagner free in the lane to make the tackle for a minimal gain. 

The Commanders haven’t had a Mike linebacker that can make that type of play in years. Just about everyone the previous regime put at the Mike linebacker spot slowed down significantly as they hesitated and paused at the snap to try and process everything going on. Wagner has no such issues and has so much experience and knowledge from studying film that he recognizes plays before the ball is snapped, which allows him to get in position quicker than younger players who might be more athletic now but aren’t anywhere near as fast mentally as Wagner. 

That’s not to say Wagner can’t run anymore either. He’s still capable of making plays in the run game that require some athleticism. 

Here we see Wagner working against a wide zone run scheme from the Rams. The Seahawks’ front does a nice job occupying blockers and keeping Wagner clean, allowing him to flow freely as he mirrors the movements of the running back. But Wagner shows he can still run to the edge while also maintaining that smart understanding of what the play is designed to do. He knows on a wide zone run, the back will be looking for a chance to make his cut and get vertical, so if he just shoots a gap into the backfield, the back could make that cut and avoid him. So Wagner stays patient, allowing the front to string the run outside until the back has no real choice with his run. That’s when Wagner then commits to a gap and bursts through to make the tackle. 

Wagner is also still able to avoid blockers when he needs to.