Tag: Kliff Kingsbury Commanders OC

Commanders’ Kingsbury: ‘McCaffrey has done everything we’ve asked’

Someone needs to step up. Does Kliff Kingsbury think it will be Luke McCaffrey?

Do you remember the show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”

The show was a smash television hit, and Thursday, Commanders’ offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury referred to the million-dollar question.

He talked of the Commanders’ offense now needing to find extra offense, and it was the million-dollar question of from where it was going to be produced.

Listening to Kingsbury, he suddenly presented some of the options that have been running through his head, but he certainly was broad enough, he didn’t actually give away anything to the Saints or Eagles.

“Do we need to have different sets and run the ball more, or can we take more shots now? Is that something that’s going to help us get those yards back and maximize the guys who will be playing. And that’s what we gotta figure out over this next couple game stretch is where does that come from?”

Kingsbury was also correct, noting that Noah Brown and Austin Ekeler both have very physical, aggressive styles in their play.

“It’s hard to replace two guys like that, the production they had and just the type of teammates and the effort they played with. But young guys get the opportunity, and we kind of see where it fits.”

Kingsbury was asked about the Commanders’ third-round selection (100 overall) in the 2024 draft, Luke McCaffrey. “Yeah, I mean he’s a talented young man, we’ve asked him to play inside and outside because he can handle it. And that’s a lot on a young player.”

Kingsbury praised the other receivers, Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown, saying, “It’s a loaded receiver room that there’s a bunch of guys that can do a bunch. I know they don’t get the notoriety that some people talk about, but the way they play, the way they perform, it’s been a good group for us.”

Remember, GM Adam Peters drafted McCaffrey based on his athleticism and intelligence, believing that McCaffrey, who only played the position his last two years in college, was going to grow and develop.

Kingsbury declared he is pleased with McCaffrey thus far, saying, “…he’s done everything we could have asked from him, but other guys have made plays and it’s just a crowded room right now.”

McCaffrey will certainly be getting more snaps this week, so perhaps he will see more targets and receptions against the Saints in New Orleans.

Kingsbury has Daniels progressing quickly through three games

The pairing of Jayden Daniels and Kliff Kingsbury has been excellent thus far.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels are working together well.

Daniels struggled in his first game at Tampa Bay, not seeing the field well and taking off to run too often. The Bucs were in a soft prevent, permitting Daniels to go 5-5 on his final possession, padding his stats, but better things were to come.

In Week 2, against the Giants, Daniels again ran too often in the first half, not seeing the field, and then he got nailed! Daniels was on the turf, having had the win knocked out of him.

The Jayden Daniels of the second half was the beginning of what we saw Monday night in Cincinnati. Daniels began to see the field better and make some downfield throws, and the Commanders never punted in a 21-18 win over the Giants.

Against the Bengals, Daniels was moving out of the pocket but now looking down field more, completing passes. In fact, he completed 21 of 23 passes, including completions of 55, 30, and 27 yards.

Kingsbury was criticized following the first game and, though less so after the second game, for his conservative passes being called repeatedly for Daniels. But Kingsbury was correct to do this because Daniels was not seeing the field well and was running too often.

Teams will not be able to sit on early routes all the time now. Daniels believes he can go deep in the NFL. The offensive line has protected well, and yes, by design Kingsbury also had drawn up max protection on the touchdown pass to McLaurin.

Kingsbury also has very well-designed screens and short passes to Austin Ekeler. But Ekeler is out with a concussion, and Kingsbury and Daniels will miss him.

So, what will Kingsbury draw up for the Commanders offense this week against the Cardinals? Will Jeremy McNichols be called upon in the passing game to help in the absence of Ekeler?

Honestly, Kingsbury has probably shown he is not going to be the issue on Sunday. The concern is going to be the Commanders’ game plan and execution of that plan on the defensive side of the ball going against Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison, and the Cardinals.

Another Commander is glad a new OC is in town

Another Washington starter is thrilled with the O.C. change.

Another member of the Commanders offense is happy to see Kliff Kingsbury as the new offensive coordinator.

Earlier Thursday, Sam Cosmi spoke out very strongly about his fervent disagreement with Eric Bieniemy’s approach in 2023.

“I think we were last in the league for attempts in rushing, and then one of the highest in passing (attempts), and you saw where that got us…”

Friday, it was Brian Robinson’s turn. Robinson took a very positive approach. Yet, for those who know the 2023 situation, Robinson spoke softly, yet clearly.

“Kliff has great energy as an offensive coordinator. He’s very personable. I think he’s a great player’s coach, somebody you can just rap with, you know, just come and chop it up with.”

“You can tell him how you feel about what you see, your ideas and thoughts. He’s going to listen to you, talk with you and be genuine with you, so I appreciate the relationship we are all building.”

“Very personable, you can tell him how you feel, what you see, going to listen to you, be genuine with you,” (yes Brian, we understand.)

Last month Cosmi told of how Bieniemy had some more rules for his offensive players, “That was something that we as players, offensive side, we weren’t allowed to wear our hat backwards.”

Bieniemy’s common refrain with the press was that he was old school, that he was going to do things his way, and that he was not changing for anybody.

As early as the 2023 training camp, there was tension as Bieniemy was said by players to be loud, always loud. Even one member of the sports media acknowledged Bieniemy was loud, but all the cursing at players could easily become problematic.

He was right; it was. Before the regular season had even begun, head coach Ron Rivera had already lost a sense of control with Bieniemy, conveying that some players had come to Rivera unhappy with Bieniemy.

Had it been unproductive players, Rivera would have shrugged it off, thinking them soft. However, Rivera was very concerned because it apparently was players Rivera respected.

At season’s end, Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, and Sam Cosmi all offered direct commentary as well.

One year later, Cosmi and Robinson, both productive players in 2023, are happy coaching changes have been made. That’s fine, and they both agree it is up to them to continue to produce as the team leaders they were a year ago.

Former Washington cap analyst praises Harris ownership group, Peters and other Commanders

Lots of praise for Washington’s offseason moves — on and off the field.

Former Washington Redskins salary cap analyst J.I. Halsell joined Al Galdi on his podcast Thursday, and Halsell had some direct comments regarding some current Commanders’ players and staff.

Josh Harris ownership group: “They have been willing to think outside the box in how they have gone about their process. To bring in Bob Myers was outside the box, but leadership is leadership, whether we are talking basketball or football. When you have a leadership group that is willing to think outside of the box, I think that is great.”

Jayden Daniels: “He is not much bigger than he was back then (Arizona State) and I know that is a concern around his NFL game, his stature, his frame. Look, the kid has a high ceiling. He has put up high numbers in the SEC, and it’s impressive…You take the guy with the high ceiling, potential (when drafting).”

Kliff Kingsbury: “That guy is a great OC (offensive coordinator). He’s proven he can orchestrate an offense. Now, if you want him to lead the entire team, he’s just shown mediocre results. But he’s shown he can orchestrate a high-powered offense. So, when you combine that with the upside of Jayden Daniels, you got to be excited as a Commanders fan.”

Brandon Sosna: “It’s been a very fast rise for him…his rise to this role has happened very quickly, over five years. Rob Rogers is going to be a tremendous resource for Brandon on the nuances of the negotiations and managing the (salary) cap.”

Adam Peters: “The end goal of cap management is to create enough flexibility so that you are not hamstrung in how you build the roster…It tells me they are thinking, ‘Let’s try to build this thing through the draft, cheap(er) rookie contracts and marginal to not expensive veteran free agent contracts’. Yes, I do like how they have gone about it, this first offseason.”

Jonathan Allen: “Roster construction, roster management is really an exercise in succession plan and risk mitigation…It’s not by chance that they drafted in the second round a defensive tackle out of Illinois…If we decide to move on from Jon Allen, then we already have his successor in place. We drafted him in the second round, so we think he can play.”

Samuel Cosmi: “If he is proven in the offseason weight program and as we go into training camp that he is going to be a scheme fit, then you do want to reward your young guy…but it is always cheaper to do the extension sooner, rather than later. ”