Tag: Kliff Kingsbury

WATCH: New Commanders TE Zach Ertz’s highlights

Zach Ertz comes to Washington with 709 career receptions and 46 touchdowns.

New Commanders tight end Zach Ertz comes to Washington with plenty of experience. A second-round pick in 2013, Ertz enters his 12th NFL season in 2024.

Washington fans know Ertz all too well. Having spent the first 8.5 seasons of his career with the Eagles, Ertz regularly caused matchup problems for the Commanders. Ertz has played 17 career games against Washington and has 93 receptions for 888 yards and three touchdowns. Ertz has three games against Washington in which he has caught 10 or more passes.

For his career, Ertz has 709 receptions for 7,434 yards and 46 touchdowns. After the Eagles traded him to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, many believed his best days were behind him. But then Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury reignited Ertz’s career. Ertz was so effective under Kingsbury that he earned a two-year extension that offseason.

Now, Kingsbury is Washington’s offensive coordinator and, with a need at tight end, reunited with Ertz.

The Commanders are expected to select a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft. Ertz will be the perfect safety valve for a young quarterback. During his career, he has helped other young passers, such as Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray.

Courtesy of the Commanders’ social media, let’s look at some of Ertz’s career highlights finding the end zone.

 

What did Ron Rivera think of the Sam Howell trade?

Ron Rivera also has an idea on which quarterback the Commanders like at No. 2.

At this time, one year ago, a desperate Ron Rivera staked his future on the right arm of young quarterback Sam Howell. Entering a critical fourth season as head coach of the Washington Commanders, Rivera had struck out on previous quarterbacks and decided to roll the dice with his 2022 fifth-round pick.

With limited funds due to a pending ownership change, Rivera was unable to improve the Commanders around Howell last offseason. Instead, he hoped new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy could spark Washington’s offense.

It didn’t work. The Commanders finished 4-13, and Bieniemy led an offense with the most passing attempts in the NFL — and the fewest rushing attempts — as they lost their final eight games.

Howell did some good things for Washington, at times making Rivera look like his gamble would pay off. Unfortunately, Howell struggled badly in the second half of the season. He was benched twice and finished with as many interceptions (21) as touchdowns (21).

The Commanders moved on from Rivera and hired Adam Peters as the general manager. Peters hired Dan Quinn to replace Rivera.

Last week, Washington moved on from Howell, sending him to the Seattle Seahawks in a pick swap that netted the Commanders Seattle’s third-round pick.

Rivera is now a member of ESPN, making his debut earlier this month. Last week, he was a guest on “You Better You Bet” on BetQL, discussing the Commanders moving on from Howell. 

“Well, I think it was a smart move for both teams,” Rivera said. “Just because of the way the draft picks were traded. It gives the Commanders, I believe, six in the first two days, which is outstanding. And then you look at what Seattle gets; Seattle gets probably, who is gonna be a solid backup that has the ability to be a starter in this league. And I really like what they’ve done. Now you know, with Geno as their starter, gives them a guy, in case something happens, can come in and, I think, do a nice job running their offense for them.”

Remember what Rivera said about Howell last offseason and in the early weeks of the 2023 season? That sure sounds like a different tone. He still praised Howell but made sure to use the term “backup.”

Who does Rivera think Peters and the Commanders will select at No. 2 overall in next month’s NFL draft?

In his first episode on “NFL Live” earlier this month, Rivera linked LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels to the Commanders. Rivera referenced new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and the style of offense he wants to run as a reason he believes Daniels will be Washington’s pick.

He reiterated that stance in this interview.

“Oh, I think they go with Jayden Daniels,” Rivera said of Washington. “This is about who’s going to fit that style of offense that Kliff Kingsbury is bringing to town. That’s why they went out and signed Marcus Mariota, and I think that’s what you’re going to get. I really do. I think that’s the kind of player they’re looking for, and I think he’s dynamic enough.”

Washington fans will likely roll their eyes at Rivera’s thoughts. In fairness, he was asked the question. The Daniels’ connections to Washington make sense, as do the Drake Maye ties. When everyone mentions mobility, they apparently forget that Maye is pretty mobile, too, and offers a higher upside as a passer.

Does Marcus Mariota signing suggest Commanders will take Jayden Daniels?

Does the expected signing of Mariota give us a clue about the Commanders’ plan at No. 2?

The Washington Commanders added a veteran quarterback on Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with Marcus Mariota.

No big deal, right?

Mariota joins a roster that features 2023 starter Sam Howell (entering his third season) and Jake Fromm. Washington is widely expected to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and Mariota’s signing could give us an indication of which way the Commanders are leaning.

Mariota, like LSU quarterback Daniels, is a former Heisman Trophy winner. Mariota won the award in 2014 for his ability as a dual-threat passer for Oregon. Daniels won it in 2023, passing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns, only four interceptions and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Does this tell us that GM Adam Peters, head coach Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury already have a preference?

Daniels is a far more advanced passer than Mariota was at any time. However, Kingsbury made it clear how important mobility is for the quarterback position.

Signing Mariota doesn’t necessarily mean Washington wants Daniels over Drake Maye. And here’s another thing that’s often lost: Drake Maye is exceptionally athletic, too.

On Monday, it was revealed the Commanders were checking in on Sam Darnold as a potential veteran option. Darnold is not known for his mobility. He eventually signed with the Vikings for a chance to start.

While on the surface, it would appear that Mariota’s signing would mean Washington is leaning toward Daniels, that’s far from a certainty. Several NFL teams don’t need the backup quarterback’s skills to mirror the starting quarterback. The Commanders aren’t running an option offense. Daniels and Maye are both passers first who can run.

So while it’s easy to draw in the blanks and think Mariota automatically means Daniels is coming to Washington, slow down. There’s a long way to go until the first round of next month’s 2024 NFL draft.

The more immediate thought is, what does this mean for Howell?

 

Commanders agree to terms with veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota

The Commanders add a veteran quarterback to the roster.

The Washington Commanders found their veteran quarterback. Adam Schefter of ESPN revealed on Tuesday that Washington agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Marcus Mariota. The deal has a base value of $6 million with an upside of up to $10 million.

The move gives Washington the veteran quarterback it lost when Jacoby Brissett agreed to terms with the Patriots on Monday.

Mariota, 30, was the Tennessee Titans’ No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. After spending his first five seasons in Tennessee, Mariota has since played for the Raiders (for two seasons), Falcons, and Eagles in 2023.

The 6-foot-4, 222-pound Mariota brings plenty of experience to the Commanders. He has appeared in 90 career games with 74 starts. Mariota has a career completion percentage of 62.7%, 15,820 passing yards, 93 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions.

Also known for his running ability, Mariota has 2,064 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Mariota joins a QB room in Washington with rising third-year passer Sam Howell and Jake Fromm. The Commanders are widely expected to select a quarterback at No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz fired up to play for Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury

Zach Ertz is a big believer in Kliff Kingsbury and praises Dan Quinn as a coach he wanted to play for.

The Washington Commanders released tight end Logan Thomas last week after four seasons. This week, they replaced him with Zach Ertz. Ertz, 33, signed a one-year deal with Washington that could be worth up to $5 million.

The former Philadelphia Eagle enjoyed a career renaissance when he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. Ertz caught 56 passes in 11 games with Arizona that year and followed it up with 47 catches in the first 10 games of the 2022 season before suffering a knee injury.

Who was Ertz’s coach in Arizona? New Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Kingsbury liked the veteran tight end so much that the Cardinals gave the then-31-year-old Ertz a two-year extension before injuries undermined the rest of his tenure in the desert.

For the Commanders, Ertz is a smart, short-term addition for multiple reasons. He’ll be a tremendous asset to a rookie quarterback and any other young tight ends Washington adds to the roster — and he’s not going to cost much.

You can bet that Ertz is excited to reunite with Kingsbury. In an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday, Ertz said he was excited to play for head coach Dan Quinn and Kingsbury.

“Obviously, Kliff has been a huge part of my success the past two years in Arizona,” Ertz said.

“So when he got the job in Washington, and I was a free agent, it was very easy for me to say, ‘Hey, this is a place I would love to play for.’ They’ve essentially redone the entire building since when I first came into the league. New owner, new GM now, new head coach. And I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about Dan Quinn. And so, I am extremely excited to play for him and get back on the East Coast is going to be fun.”

It’s refreshing for Washington fans to hear veteran players want to come to Washington to play for this coaching staff.

What type of impact will Ertz have in 2024? The Commanders have the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which means Ertz will likely be catching passes from either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels.

Ertz has shown in the past that he can be the best friend of a young quarterback. Washington hopes for something similar next season.

 

Former Commanders coach Ron Rivera is now an ESPN analyst

Rivera reveals who his pick would be if he were still in charge of the Commanders.

It didn’t take long for former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera to land on his feet. On Wednesday’s edition of NFL Live on ESPN, Rivera was revealed as one of the network’s new analysts.

Rivera was fired on Jan. 8 after four seasons as head coach/GM of the Commanders with a record of 26-40-1. Rivera immediately told John Keim of ESPN he still wanted to coach, even if it meant being a defensive coordinator. Rivera enjoyed focusing more on Washington’s defense late last season after firing Jack Del Rio.

Rivera interviewed for two defensive coordinator positions, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. Those jobs eventually went to Vic Fangio and Mike Zimmer, respectively.

Rivera could return to coaching, but for now, he will give his perspective on the NFL from the media side.

Adam Schefter immediately put Rivera on the spot in his debut, asking him if he were still in Washington what would be his quarterback plan.

“You know the big thing, more than anything else, is you have to look at the is style of offense they’re going to run,” Rivera said. “You’ve got Kliff Kingsbury, a guy that likes the mobile quarterback. The quarterback that can move in the pocket, that can make the plays when they’re downfield and throw the football. I think the big thing is you’ve got to have a mobile quarterback.”

So, who will that be, Coach?

“Jayden Daniels, because of the fact that everybody expects Caleb (Williams) to go first,” Rivera answered. “So, to me, if this is the style of offense you’re going to have, you’ve got to have that type of quarterback. A guy that can, again, move around in the pocket, hold onto the football, find guys downfield.”

Here’s the full clip in case you wanted to see Rivera:

Most Washington fans probably aren’t ready to hear Rivera’s opinions on the draft, considering his record of doing such over the past four seasons.

Rivera should excel in his new role. He’s well-liked, well-respected and obviously has contacts throughout the league. And, most importantly, he seems happy.

Commanders sign veteran tight end Zach Ertz

The Commanders add a veteran tight end on Wednesday.

The Washington Commanders released tight end Logan Thomas last week in a salary cap move.

On Wednesday, the Commanders found his replacement, signing veteran tight end Zach Ertz to a one-year deal that could earn him up to $5 million.

Ertz, 33, was the Philadelphia Eagles’ second-round pick out of Stanford in 2013. Ertz spent 8.5 seasons with the Eagles before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. Ertz was waived in November.

Ertz’s coming to Washington reunites him with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury was Arizona’s head coach for Ertz’s first two seasons with the Cardinals.

It also reunites him with Washington’s quarterback coach, Tavita Pritchard. Pritchard was a senior during Ertz’s freshman season at Stanford and was part of the coaching staff for his final three seasons with the Cardinal.

Ertz becomes the most experienced player in the Commanders’ tight end room, which features John Bates and rising third-year players Armani Rogers and Cole Turner. Rogers missed last season with an Achilles injury, while Turner played sporadically. Washington will almost certainly look toward the draft to add to the group, too.

Ertz was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Eagles. When traded to the Cardinals, he was 30 and produced good numbers under Kingsbury. In 11 games with Arizona in 2021, Ertz caught 56 passes for 574 yards and three touchdowns. In 2022, Ertz had 47 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in only 10 games. Ertz suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10 after signing a three-year extension earlier that year.

He returned in 2023, catching 27 passes in seven games before he requested his release in November.

Ertz has enjoyed success against Washington over his career. He has 93 receptions for 888 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games.

 

Zach Ertz, Kliff Kingsbury reunited in Washington

Ertz gets a one-year contract worth up to $5 million to play for the Washington Commanders in 2024, where Kingsbury is OC.

The Arizona Cardinals fired Kliff Kingsbury as head coach over a year ago and released tight end Zach Ertz last season. The two will work together again.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Ertz has agreed to a one-year contract to sign with the Washington Commanders, where Kingsbury is now the offensive coordinator under new head coach Dan Quinn.

Ertz, 33 years old, played in seven games for the Cardinals in 2023, catching 27 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He went on injured reserve with a quad injury before asking for his release, which was granted. He later signed with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in the playoffs but was never elevated and did not play for them.

Kingsbury loved Ertz when he coached him in Arizona. After the Cardinals acquired him via trade in 2021, he caught 56 passes in 11 games, which give him a tie for the franchise single-season record for receptions by a tight end before Trey McBride broke that record last season.

The one-year deal is worth up to $5 million, Pelissero reports.

The Cardinals will face Ertz, Kingsbury and the Commanders at State Farm Stadium in 2024.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Trading down would be a ‘bold move’ for the Commanders

Would the Commanders even entertain trading down in the first round? They shouldn’t.

NFL free agency begins in less than three weeks. On Friday, the NFL announced the salary cap would be $255.4 million for the 2024 season — a $30 million increase from 2023.

No team has more salary cap space than the Washington Commanders. That’s good because Washington needs plenty of help. The Commanders also hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and are expected to target a quarterback.

With so many needs, could Washington entertain moving down in the draft?

Aaron Schatz of ESPN recently suggested a “bold move” this offseason for all 32 NFL teams. His bold move for Washington was moving down.

Here are some of Schatz’s words:

The Commanders need a quarterback. There are a couple of top quarterback prospects in this draft class. Therefore, the obvious move is for the Commanders to use the No. 2 pick on a quarterback. However, that’s not the bold move. The bold move would be to trade down and accumulate more picks they can use to rebuild their whole roster.

Let’s start with the easy trade down: one spot to No. 3 with the Patriots. We all want to believe that we can properly rank the best quarterback prospects, but we certainly learned from the 2023 season that the higher-rated quarterback going into the draft doesn’t necessarily turn into the better quarterback in the NFL. So, if New England loves Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels, trade the Patriots the No. 2 pick, get a couple of lower-round picks and just use the No. 3 pick on whichever quarterback the Pats don’t want.

Schatz even suggested potentially moving down further for the Commanders with teams such as Denver, Atlanta and Pittsburgh to draft a quarterback, just not one as highly regarded as Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or Jayden Daniels.

He’s right; this would be a bold move. It would also be a bad move. Any other year, I would agree with Schatz. Trading back is always a wise decision because it allows you to add further draft assets. But when you’ve had quarterback questions for decades and are in a position to draft one of three top QB prospects, you can’t pass up that opportunity.

Quarterback is the most important position in sports. Sure, Williams, Maye, or Daniels may not be successful in the NFL. No one knows. But the same thing has been said about some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. You must attempt to find that guy every year until you land him.

Some Washington fans want the Commanders to trade back and build around Sam Howell. That didn’t seem like a bad idea around Week 9, but Howell fell apart over the second half of the season. In fairness to Howell, he didn’t have a lot of help, but some of Howell’s issues, such as taking too many sacks or turning the ball over, can be considered fatal flaws. He has proven he can play in the NFL and perhaps be a starter, but the Commanders are in a position to land a potentially elite talent and must go all-in to find that guy.

Washington has a new coaching staff. On offense, the Commanders have four former college quarterbacks on staff, led by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. They are building an infrastructure to support their young passer — or passers.

The next move should be about using free agency to improve the offensive line. Then, in April’s NFL draft, Washington should select its quarterback and use the rest of its selections to continue building around him.

Trading down remains a great idea for the Commanders — in the second round and down. In the first round, they should take a quarterback at No. 2 overall and not look back.

 

WATCH: Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr’s top plays from 2023

The top highlights from Brian Robinson’s 2023 season.

Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. took a big jump in his second NFL season. While Robinson’s rushing yards didn’t take a massive leap — he rushed for 64 fewer yards in 2023 — don’t blame him.

Washington was last in the NFL in rushing attempts in 2023, while Robinson’s yards per attempt were up from 3.9 to 4.1.

Robinson really stood out as a receiver in 2023. After catching nine passes in 12 games as a rookie, Robinson caught 36 passes for 368 yards with four receiving touchdowns last season. Robinson accounted for 1,101 yards and a team-leading nine total touchdowns.

Imagine if the Commanders had committed to running the ball in 2023.

The good news is Robinson will be a featured offensive piece for new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury in 2023. Additionally, running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn is known for assembling a strong running game.

Here’s one final look back at 2023 with Robinson’s top plays.