Marshon Lattimore just proved why he could sink Commanders' season

"Marshon Lattimore showed up healthy this offseason. The veteran looked sharp, explosive, and ready to silence his doubters. A strong performance in Week 1 lent further weight to these claims, but his early efforts against the Green Bay Packers proved why he could sink the Washington Commanders' season. Lattimore is a shutdown presence when firing on all cylinders. He locked up Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers impressively, which shows what a force he can be once early momentum is generated."

"Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the former Ohio State standout these days. One that reared its ugly head in a disastrous first-half showing with the primetime spotlight glaring. It didn't take long for the Packers to test Lattimore. Jordan Love felt like there was a mismatch available whenever the defensive back was lined up against Dontayvion Wicks. He was unable to keep up with the pre-snap motion and was punished twice. This set the tone, and not in a good way."

"Lattimore got burned deep again in the second quarter, failing to keep up with Malik Heath en route to an impressive 37-yard gain. It was ugly, and the frustrations were clearly showing. This is the problem Washington has with Lattimore. They want him to be the No. 1 guy, and he can be when everything goes well. However, there is a clear blueprint for exposing him, which wasn't always the case during his best years with the New Orleans Saints."

Marshon Lattimore entered the offseason healthy and showcased sharpness, explosiveness, and a high ceiling with a strong Week 1. He demonstrated shutdown ability by locking up Malik Nabers when momentum favored him. Against the Green Bay Packers he struggled, getting tested early and repeatedly, failing to mirror pre-snap motion and yielding a deep 37-yard gain to Malik Heath. Opponents can target his matchups and exploit a clear blueprint for exposing him. Effective game-planning and careful management of his assignments are necessary before the Commanders receive a significant return on their investment.

Read at Riggo's Rag