Tag: Kliff Kingsbury

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels with another solid preseason performance vs. Dolphins

Another good night for Daniels.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels played two series in the Week 2 preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. In two preseason games, Daniels has played three series and has completed 12 of 15 passes for 123 yards. He’s also carried the ball three times for 16 yards and a touchdown.

In his first NFL series against the Jets last week, Daniels led the Commanders on a touchdown drive. Against the Dolphins, Daniels engineered two potential scoring drives, one of which led to a field goal, while the other fell short after kicker Riley Patterson missed a field goal.

Against Miami, Daniels looked comfortable leading Washington’s offense despite some offensive line concerns. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury called a conservative game plan, and Daniels got rid of the ball quickly and put it into the hands of his playmakers. While Kingsbury isn’t showing much of his offense in the preseason, that strategy is likely one the Commanders will use this season to keep Daniels from taking too many hits.

With one preseason game remaining, does Daniels need to play again? The third preseason was once the dress rehearsal for NFL teams, but with the reduced preseason schedule, the third game has now essentially become the fourth game where the starters do not play.

Washington coaches also benefited from joint practices against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. Daniels was reportedly phenomenal in Thursday’s practice against the Dolphins.

The Commanders have had a strong plan for Daniels since drafting him in April. They haven’t deviated from that plan, and Daniels has rewarded their patience.

Don’t be surprised if head coach Dan Quinn officially announces Daniels as the starting quarterback soon.

Albert Breer talks Commanders offensive issues

What do national analysts think of the Commanders offense?

What do NFL analysts think about the Commanders’ offense and Jayden Daniels?

SI’s Albert Breer had a lot to say to guest host Andrew Siciliano on the
Rich Eisen Show,” Tuesday.

Breer: “The Commanders are starting from ground zero so I think a big part of making him (Jayden Daniels) win the job is you want to make everyone win their job, especially when you are telling Bobby Wagner, Jonathan Allen or Terry McLaurin that every position is open. You’re trying to preach competition, so I think everyone here (Ashburn) knows the score. He’s taking all of the first-team reps, operating as the first-team starter would.”

“I think because of the offense they are going to run here, he has a real chance to hit the ground running as a rookie.”

Siciliano: “Is there any concern that this offense (pause) I just hope they protect him…for Jaden Daniels to make sure that he doesn’t get beat up?”

Breer: “This is a guy who did take a lot of big hits in college, and this is a guy who is not built like Cam Newton.”

“They have issues at tackle, so they are going to have to take care of how they protect, and they are going to want to take advantage of who he is as a runner. So, if you are going to do that, you got to teach him, ingrain in him the importance of sometimes you can be in second-and-6, you don’t need to get to second-and-2…You don’t always have to put your head down and grind out the extra couple of yards.”

“The other way they are going to manage this is through the run game. It’s more difficult to get to the quarterback if you are effective at running the ball. They feel they have a couple of good backs in Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler, who has been fantastic. He does look like he has some juice left coming over from the Chargers.”

So, I’d say it’s Jaden being cognizant that he can’t take hits the way he did in college, leaning on the run game which will naturally slow the pass rush, and managing your offensive line issue in a certain way. I think Kliff (Kingsbury) is smart enough to coach around his personnel. I think they are well aware of their tackle issue, being what it is. There are going to be times they are going to have to do that (max protect) a bit more often in 2024.”

Fantasy football: Commanders TE Ben Sinnott a sleeper in 2024

Could Commanders rookie TE Ben Sinnott be a fantasy sleeper in 2024?

Washington Commanders rookie tight end Ben Sinnott has been quiet during his first training camp. Please don’t mistake that, for he’s had a bad training camp. He hasn’t. Through the first two weeks, veteran starter Zach Ertz has handled the majority of snaps as Sinnott gets acclimated to the NFL game.

In fantasy football terms, if you’re looking for tight end help from the Commanders, Ertz is probably your guy. The 33-year-old looks rejuvenated after reuniting with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Tight end production isn’t always easy to find in the NFL. Not every team has a tight end who puts up big numbers. So, if you’re playing a league that starts two tight ends, you could be searching high and low for some sneaky production.

Enter Sinnott.

The Commanders spent the No. 53 overall pick on the former Kansas State star. Sinnott was KSU’s best player, and he’s big, athletic and versatile. One of the reasons why Washington liked Sinnott was because he was a willing blocker, but it could move him across the formation. So, if Ertz is the only tight end on the field, Sinnott could play some fullback or H-Back.

Sinnott will see the field in 2024, and that playing time could increase throughout the season.

NFL.com recently looked at 10 fantasy sleepers at tight end, and Sinnott came in at No. 10.

Projected draft position: Round 17 (TE23)

A second rookie tight end? Have I lost my mind? Maybe, but see my comment about rookies in the Brock Bowers section and then take a gander at Ben Sinnott’s profile. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound athlete out of Kansas State exceeded draft expectations with his Round 2 selection, after turning in a stellar performance at the NFL combine that included a 40-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-6-inch broad jump and a 6.82-second 3-cone drill.

General manager Adam Peters compared Sinnott to two 49ers: All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk and All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Peters was in San Francisco when the 49ers acquired both players.

Keep in mind that Ertz will be 34 in November. He’s dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, so if he can’t make it through the season healthy, Sinnott becomes even more valuable.

Fantasy football: Commanders TE Zach Ertz named one of 2024’s top sleepers

Zach Ertz could be a fantasy bargain in 2024.

If you play fantasy football and need a tight end, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz may be your guy.

Before you say, “Ertz is almost 34 and coming off a couple of injury-plagued seasons,” understand that he’s atop Washington’s depth chart that is expected to heavily feature the tight end in 2024.

Ertz is healthy and has looked terrific early in training camp. He also looks comfortable in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, an offense he has plenty of experience with. There’s also the quarterback. Ertz and rookie Jayden Daniels already appear to have developed a rapport.

So, where should fantasy owners look to draft Ertz?

Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus named 10 fantasy sleepers for 2024, and he included Ertz. His projected ADP is in the 21st round, making him a potential bargain for a No. 1 tight end.

Ertz was once among the best fantasy tight ends. From 2015 to 2019, he consistently gained at least 70 receptions and 800 receiving yards. After a down 2020, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2021 season and then finished as a top-12 fantasy tight end in fantasy points per game in both 2021 and 2022.

Ertz played seven games in 2023 but suffered a quad strain and didn’t return to action. He was also starting to get phased out by the budding Trey McBride. Ertz has since signed with the Washington Commanders, reuniting him with Kliff Kingsbury, who was his head coach with the Cardinals and is now the Commanders’ offensive coordinator.

A lot is working against Ertz, considering that he’s 33 years old, his recent injury history and the fact that Washington drafted a potential replacement in Ben Sinnott in the second round. It’s hard to imagine anyone with this low of an ADP being a top-six fantasy tight end, but there is a path for Ertz to get there. He just needs to stay healthy, hold off Sinnott and Father Time for a season and play as well as he did the last time Kingsbury was calling plays for him.

There are risks with Ertz. Washington does have Ben Sinnott, who has a high ceiling but has also been quiet in training camp. Cole Turner and Armani Rogers, both entering their third season, have impressed, but neither will challenge Ertz for playing time.

So, while there are risks, how risky is it to spend a late flier on a starting NFL tight end with a history of success?

Former Commanders RB Antonio Gibson calls his former team ‘a struggling organization’

Antonio Gibson says the Commanders are “a struggling organization.”

The Washington Commanders spent a third-round pick on running back/wide receiver Antonio Gibson in the 2020 NFL draft. As a rookie, Washington immediately made Gibson a full-time running back and handed him the starting job. Gibson proceeded to rush for 795 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The future looked bright for Gibson.

In 2021, Gibson started 16 games for the Commanders, rushed for 1,037 yards and seven touchdowns, but struggled with fumbles. He fumbled six times in 2021.

The Commanders brought in Brian Robinson Jr. in 2022, who would overtake Gibson as the starter, allowing Gibson to be more of a receiving option out of the backfield.

This offseason, Gibson departed. Gibson’s fumbling issues and poor coaching derailed a once-promising career in Washington. Neither head coach Ron Rivera nor Gibson’s offensive coordinators (Scott Turner and Eric Bieniemy) knew how to use him best.

Gibson signed a two-year deal with the Patriots in March.

In his first training camp with the Patriots, Gibson had some parting words for his former team, calling them “a struggling organization.”

This should go over well with Washington’s fans. The comments were all over Gibson, asking him if he “fumbled his words.”

In all seriousness, Gibson isn’t wrong. The Commanders were a struggling organization while he was there. And maybe the Patriots do things completely differently, but so does Washington — now.

Rivera and his staff are gone. From the top on down, the Commanders are much different, and everyone is raving about the changes. So, sure, Gibson may remember things one way, but that’s not how things are these days.

Gibson was used incorrectly in Washington. If he had a clean slate and time left on his contract, perhaps new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could help maximize his skillset. Both sides needed a change, and the Commanders signed Austin Ekeler, while Gibson gets a chance to restart his career.

 

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler: ‘I have no intentions of slowing down’

Austin Ekeler sees big things for himself in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Remember when the Washington Commanders signed veteran running back Austin Ekeler to a two-year deal in the early moments of free agency in March? Many reacted that Washington overpaid Ekeler. We aren’t sure how giving Ekeler a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million is a bad deal.

Ekeler had a down year for the Chargers in 2023. However, the Chargers, much like the Commanders, had a horrible season playing out the string with a lame-duck head coach. Additionally, Ekeler was dealing with a nagging injury that he played through for most of the season.

Washington, with new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, had a plan for Ekeler. His signing with the Commanders reunited Ekeler with his first NFL head coach, Anthony Lynn. Washington hired Lynn as the running backs coach/run game coordinator in the offseason. The Commanders believe a backfield consisting of Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. can be one of the NFL’s best.

Ekeler, who has been the NFL’s best pass-catching back for several seasons, can also be a safety valve for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Ekeler still believes he has plenty left to give Washington.

“It’s been great,” Ekeler told Scott Abraham of ABC 7 in Washington. “I think every year is the same type of adjustment minus this year for me the location. What I mean by that is coming in, establishing yourself, establishing your role, being a leader at the position I’m at, and continue to bring everyone along and push yourself at the same time.”

Ekeler then discussed his motivation entering year eight of his career.

“I think it’s just really something that’s been built into my journey. I’ve come from what I call the bottom and took the stairs. And have no intentions of slowing down. So, for me, it’s continue to push myself because I want to see how far I can take my capabilities.”

Ekeler seems excited about his role in Kingsbury’s offense.

“To put the right plays in place and put players like myself, I’m all over the field, I’m in the slot, I’m out wide,” Ekeler said.

Washington believes it has two starting running backs, Robinson and Ekeler. Both will be on the field at the same time at times.

WATCH: Commanders TE Zach Ertz makes one-handed catch in training camp

Zach Ertz with a one-handed grab in practice.

The Washington Commanders signed tight end Zach Ertz in the offseason, expecting him to start in 2024. Some questioned whether that was a smart decision for the rebuilding Commanders. Ertz, who will turn 34 in November, has dealt with injuries over the past few seasons.

Washington believed in Ertz, specifically offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who coached Ertz with the Arizona Cardinals. The Commanders believed that not only did Ertz have plenty to give on the field, but he could also serve as a mentor to whichever quarterback they chose in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Commanders chose Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick and he and Ertz quickly formed a connection throughout the spring. That connection continues to grow, with Ertz making a terrific one-handed catch during Day 2 of training camp, courtesy of Mitch Tischler of Monumental Sports.

It’s early, but if Ertz can stay healthy, he and rookie Ben Sinnott could form a nice 1-2 punch at tight end for the Commanders in 2024.

Will Lincoln Riley give up play calling responsibilities at USC?

Lincoln Riley was asked about giving up play-calling duties. He gave a very interesting answer.

During Big Ten media days on Wednesday, Lincoln Riley was asked if he had thought about giving up his play-calling duties to focus on the various responsibilities of a head coach at USC.

“I have, the last few years have made me think about it a little bit more than the first several. I have,” Riley admitted. “I don’t want to do anything other than what’s best for the program. Right, like that is the most important thing to me, like whatever I feel will most help us to win… that’s what I’m going to do. I’ve certainly made some adjustments the last few years to allow me to do the things I need to do.” 

In the offseason Riley explained that he had relinquished more responsibility with QBs, promoting Luke Huard to quarterbacks coach. In 2023 Riley brought in Kliff Kingsbury as his senior offensive analyst, who worked extensively with the quarterbacks.  Balancing time with his quarterbacks has freed him up to be more involved with recruiting, different aspects of the offense and defense, and the transactional side of coaching — the donors.

A huge part of the Sooner and Trojan success has hinged directly on the elite offensive game planning and play calling of Riley. His offenses have been the blueprint for three Heismans and College Football Playoff appearances over his first seven years as a head coach.

Riley shared a conversation with former Florida Gators national champion head coach Steve Spurrier after he took the job as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.  Riley said the “Head Ball Coach” told him, “Don’t ever give up calling plays.”

However, Riley was clear that he will always put the needs of the team first. “If I ever get to the point where I am not serving the program in the other areas I would give it up in a heartbeat. But if I do feel like I can do it, help our team win, and still be where I need to be on the other parts of the program that’s what I’m going to try to do.”

It doesn’t look like Riley is giving up calling plays anytime soon; it would not be in the best interest of the team. In arguably his worst year as a coach, the Trojans averaged 41.8 points per game.  That was good for third in the nation behind LSU and Oregon.  His talent for making quarterbacks shine and putting points on the board, facing some of the best defenses in the country when Big Ten play begins, will be needed more than ever.

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NFL analyst is ‘expecting a big year’ for Commanders 2024 offense

One analyst sees big things for the Commanders offense in 2024.

Opinions are mixed on the ceiling for the 2024 Washington Commanders offense. The Commanders have a new quarterback (Jayden Daniels), a new offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury), and questions at offensive tackle.

Each of those concerns is valid. Kingsbury is viewed as a brilliant offensive mind, but this is his first year in Washington, and he’s also breaking in a rookie quarterback. As for Daniels, he’s a phenomenal talent who has drawn rave reviews from his teammates, but he’s still a rookie.

The offensive tackle issue remains a massive question mark. The Commanders bring back Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Wylie didn’t play well last season, but coaches believe he’ll perform better under the new coaching staff. At left tackle, you have veteran journeyman Cornelius Lucas battling rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman.

You add these things together, and it’s not necessarily a recipe for success.

However, there are also reasons to believe the 2024 offense could be better than many believe. CBS analyst Emory Hunt said he’s “expecting a big year” for Washington’s offense, led by Daniels and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin.

Hunt said McLaurin’s TD prop (4.5 receiving touchdowns) seemed “rather low” and explained all of the quarterback issues he’s dealt with since being drafted in 2019. He thinks Daniels changes that.

Here’s the full segment:

Hunt said he thinks McLaurin will get closer to eight or nine touchdowns — either would be a career-high.

Are people sleeping on Washington’s offense? While there are questions, the Commanders have some intriguing pieces. It all begins and ends with Daniels.

Where does Commanders coach Dan Quinn’s big-game resume rank among NFL coaches?

What is Dan Quinn’s track record in big games compared to others?

In just his second year as a head coach, Dan Quinn led the Atlanta Falcons to the Super Bowl. Quinn would’ve reached legendary status in Atlanta if he had led the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory, but the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead to Tom Brady and the Patriots and haven’t been close since.

That loss sticks with Quinn, who would coach the Falcons from 2015-20 before he was fired and spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. During Quinn’s time in Dallas, he quickly turned the Cowboys into a top-five defense and led the NFL in forced turnovers.

During Quinn’s time away from being a head coach, he has focused on finding ways to get back to the Super Bowl and not repeat some of the mistakes he made during his six seasons in Atlanta.

After Quinn led the Falcons to the Super Bowl in the 2016 season, he returned to the playoffs the following season but lost in the NFC Divisional round. Quinn never took Atlanta back to the playoffs.

Now, Quinn is the head coach of the Washington Commanders and has a different challenge in front of him. How long will it take for him to lead his new team to the playoffs?

CBS Sports recently ranked all NFL head coaches based on their big-game resumes. Eighteen of the 32 coaches didn’t make the cut because they were inexperienced on the big stage. Quinn came in at No. 14—last among the ranked coaches—with the following explanation.

Quinn is revered for his defensive mind, fresh off a nice run with the Dallas Cowboys, but as a head man, he hasn’t overseen a playoff appearance since 2017. His Atlanta Falcons went a combined 14-23 from 2018-2020, and his one Super Bowl appearance included an infamous blown lead.

Those are certainly fair criticisms. As a defensive coordinator, Quinn is better than anyone right now. Can he repeat his early success from Atlanta in Washington? If so, can he maintain that success?

Quinn has a few things going for him. First, he has a general manager (Adam Peters) who hired him. They came in together and picked the quarterback (Jayden Daniels) together. They will all have time.

If Daniels hits, there’s a good chance Quinn will be around a long time. One of the biggest questions facing Quinn was what type of offensive staff he would hire. He responded by hiring former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator and former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson as the pass game coordinator.

Everything Quinn has done in Washington in a short time has been smart. But so much of his success depends on the quarterback. If the quarterback position is solved, you can bet Quinn will win some big games in the future and move up these types of lists.