Tag: Kliff Kingsbury

Advanced stat highlight Commanders’ offensive issues from past 2 seasons

Washington’s offensive numbers were ugly over the past two seasons.

At any level of football, the goal is to get off to a fast start. While starting fast and scoring fast doesn’t always mean you’ll win, it definitely increases your odds of winning.

Over the past two seasons under former head coach Ron Rivera, the Washington Commanders were an offensive mess at times. In 2022, Scott Turner was in his third season as offensive coordinator before being fired at the end of that season. Last season, Eric Bieniemy took over as Washington’s offensive play-caller.

The results were similar despite how the Commanders arrived at those results.

Warren Sharp recently revealed the Commanders, along with division rival the New York Giants, were dead last in the number of times they scored first in a game over the past two seasons combined.

While the Giants were a surprise playoff team in 2022, they’ve been abysmal for several seasons. New York has been consistently worse than Washington in recent years, as the Commanders often hover around the .500 mark before the wheels fell off.

So, out of their last 34 games, Washington scored first in only 11. The Commanders are 12-21-1 during this time. Last season was awful for Washington, which lost its final eight games because it could not get anything going on offense.

Turner and Bieniemy are gone. In are offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Commanders will be better offensively. How much better? We shall see.

In some good news from Sharp’s statistics: The Cowboys were 10-0 when scoring first last season when Washington head coach Dan Quinn was their defensive coordinator. So, if the Commanders can get a lead, perhaps Quinn can help them keep it.

PFF analyst praises and questions Commanders’ QB Jayden Daniels

Some good analysis, raising some potential concerns until proven otherwise.

Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has everyone’s attention this offseason.

Pro Football Focus college football analyst Max Chadwick was a guest on the “Al Galdi Podcast” this week. Chadwick made several comments that raised eyebrows. Here are selected quotes regarding Daniels.

“He loves to target outside the numbers. I think he has the arm strength to deliver the ball down the field with a lot of touch and arc. It’s just the velocity when he has to rifle one. He doesn’t really have as good an arm as some other quarterbacks.”

“Just because we have not seen him target too much over the field in the intermediate area, so I think the sideline throws (where he really made his money at LSU last year) that is probably going to be an important part of him. I am sure Kliff Kingsbury is going to be incorporating as much of that into the offense as is possible.”

“When everyone talks about how he (Daniels) can’t throw over the middle of the field, I don’t know if it is that he can’t. I don’t think he was asked to do that. Maybe he can’t, and that is why he was not asked to do it. But we don’t know.”

“He is probably the best rushing quarterback we have seen come into the NFL since Lamar Jackson. Yes, I think on day one, he will be one of the top rushing threats in the NFL.”

“A big reason he doesn’t slide is because he knows he can outrun basically anyone. A lot of quarterbacks can’t say that. Jayden Daniels doesn’t know that he will be caught…there is a lot of RG3 in his game…”

“I think Jayden Daniels if he does struggle as a passer, at least you have the added floor of him being a great runner, and that way, he can keep defenses honest.”

“He went from being a really conservative quarterback at LSU to being a flame thrower this past year. That’s the thing I would point to. This guy has gotten better every single year of his career.”

“He clearly wants to get better, and he has. Whereas some guys stagnate in college, stay the same, and think this is good enough.”

“Yes, I think it’s definitely a concern (pressure to sack rate). I think it is something they need to keep an eye on. He played behind a really good line at LSU, too…”

Jahan Dotson named the Commanders’ most promising building block for 2024

Will Jahan Dotson have a big season in 2024?

At this time one year ago, Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson was everyone’s favorite choice for a breakout player. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for Dotson in 2023.

While Dotson was healthy for all 17 games, he managed only 49 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns. As a rookie in 2022, Dotson played 12 games, catching 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns.

So, while Dotson finished with more receptions, the numbers were disappointing as he averaged less than three catches per game. Additionally, his touchdowns and yards per reception were down in an offense that led the NFL in passing attempts.

Don’t let the stats fool you. While the Commanders led the NFL in passing attempts, they were hardly a good passing offense. The offense’s structure was confusing, and pass protection wasn’t good. Quarterback Sam Howell was also learning on the job. Everything was a bad mix.

Kliff Kingsbury is the new offensive coordinator, and excitement is in the air for 2024. Much of that excitement surrounds rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, but a new coaching staff could be exactly what Dotson needs to bounce back from a disappointing second season.

David Kenyon of Bleacher Report recently named one promising building block for every NFL team. Dotson was his pick for the Commanders.

One year from today, Washington undoubtedly is hoping we’ll be highlighting quarterback Jayden Daniels. For now, wideout Jahan Dotson is the clear choice. The speedy receiver didn’t have the production hoped in 2023, but a breakout year is entirely plausible after Curtis Samuel’s departure and the arrival of coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

It was easy to get on board with Dotson last season. While he had some issues with drops at times, almost everyone on Washington’s roster regressed last season. There’s a new coaching staff this season. Dotson has mentioned how excited he is to put last season behind him.

If you drafted Dotson in your fantasy draft last year and were disappointed, give him another chance in 2024.

Who are the best offensive coordinators in the NFC East?

The former Washington tight end analyzes all four of the NFC East’s offensive coordinators.

How would you rank the NFC East offensive coordinators?

Former Washington tight end and current analyst Logan Paulsen provided his thoughts on this to Craig Hoffman on the most recent episode of the “Take Command” podcast.

Here are a few select quotes from Paulsen regarding each of the four offensive coordinators in the NFC East.

Mike Kafka, NY Giants

“I look at what he did last year and 2022. He consistently, week after week, makes chicken salad out of chicken s–t.”

“That O-Line is in tatters and they find ways to create a good protection plan, a good run scheme, good explosive plays…I wish he had better offensive personnel to work with…He does more with less.”

Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

“Each and every week, they do a great job of getting CeeDee Lamb touches, finding ways to be explosive.”

“They have the best quarterback in the division…All of these coaches are elevated by the personnel around them….This is good stuff, you are finding ways to elevate, put the defense in conflict, and for me, Kafka and Schottenheimer are up in that next tier.”

Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders

“I like the way he is trying to find matchups, find touches, his offensive philosophy. It’s not what I would do, but I understand it, and I think it is good.”

Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles

“I’m a little down on Moore at the moment. His offense seems like it is so reliant on us being better than you…They have one of the best O-Lines in football, even though they are kinda re-tooling.”

 

 

 

Commanders Dan Quinn poised to succeed in his second shot as a head coach

Quinn not afraid to lean on others as he looks to take advantage of his second chance.

One of the things that impressed the Washington Commanders in their interview process with Dan Quinn this year was his preparation and attention to detail. Quinn had been a head coach before, going 43-42 in five-plus seasons as coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

The high point of Quinn’s Atlanta tenure came in 2016 when the Falcons won the NFC and led the Patriots 28-3 in Super Bowl LI before falling 34-28. Quinn did not post a winning record in his final 2.5 seasons with the Falcons.

Quinn landed in Dallas in 2021 as the defensive coordinator. In three seasons with the Cowboys, they finished in the top five of most statistical categories each year, making Quinn a hot head coaching candidate again.

Quinn wasn’t going to take just any job; it needed to be the right one. Washington was the right opportunity for Quinn. Quinn has described the effort he’s put forth since his time in Atlanta to avoid repeating some of the same mistakes. He’s repeatedly asked other leaders for advice.

That hasn’t changed since the Commanders hired Quinn.

Quinn’s coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury (former Cardinals head coach), running backs coach/run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, and pass game coordinator Brian Johnson (former Eagles offensive coordinator). Each brings something different to Ashburn, and Quinn is leaning heavily on his staff in the development of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Their working relationship was on display when Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports recently visited Ashburn.

Lynn may be the running backs coach/run game coordinator, but as a former head coach, he was instrumental in developing Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert.

From Epstein:

“I want you to think about your time with Justin: What did you do that was too much? What did you do that was not enough?” Quinn asked Lynn on June 5. “Don’t answer me now.”

Next, there is Kingsbury. While his time as head coach of the Cardinals produced mixed results, Kingsbury’s work with young quarterbacks, most recently Kyler Murray, is respected around the NFL.

Johnson spent the past three seasons with the Eagles working with Jalen Hurts.

Quinn isn’t only reaching out to staff members. Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson recently visited Ashburn for her own “professional development,” Quinn used it as a learning opportunity.

“Teaching and coaching and leading transcend the sport and sector,” Lawson said, per Epstein.

Who knows how Quinn’s tenure in Washington will go? Whatever the result, it will not result from being outworked or unprepared. Quinn views the Commanders as the opportunity of a lifetime, and he’s not afraid of leaning on others as he looks to resurrect the long-struggling franchise.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. named a potential 2024 breakout player

Will 2024 be Brian Robinson Jr’s breakout season?

What is Washington running back Brian Robinson Jr’s ceiling? As a rookie in 2022, Robinson rushed for 797 yards and two touchdowns in only 12 games. This is after he missed the first four games of his rookie season after he was shot twice in an attempted robbery just before the season.

In 2023, Robinson, as Washington’s lead back, rushed for 733 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. While Robinson took a step back in total rushing yards, his yards per attempt were up, and he did more damage as a receiver, catching 36 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

But why did Robinson rush for fewer yards while remaining healthy? The answer is former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The Commanders, in Bieniemy’s only year in Washington, led the NFL in passing attempts while finishing last in rushing attempts. This wasn’t a product of the Commanders being down in every game, either.

After the season, multiple players shared their frustration with the offense, including right guard Sam Cosmi.

Washington has a new head coach (Dan Quinn), offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) and quarterback (Jayden Daniels). The Commanders will run the ball in 2024, although Robinson will split some time with veteran Austin Ekeler, who does his damage in the passing game.

Pro Football Network recently named one 2024 breakout player for every team. Robinson was Washington’s pick.

Dan Quinn is changing things in a big way for the Commanders, and with a ton of new pieces in place, the running game is going to be a rookie QB’s best friend. Following a season in which Robinson showed some exciting potential, 2024 could be the year he puts himself in the breakout category.

We totally agree here. Robinson will not be forgotten in Kingsbury’s offense. There has been talk that Washington will use more 12 personnel in 2024, which could be fun with a dual-threat quarterback like Daniels under center. Either way, don’t be shocked if Robinson has his best season yet.

 

Zach Ertz already making an impact for the Commanders

Ertz has already emerged as one of Washington’s leaders.

When the Washington Commanders signed Zach Ertz in March, no one believed he’d be the starting tight end in 2024. Ertz was 33 and coming off a pair of injury-shortened seasons that left his future in question.

Washington believed Ertz had plenty left in the tank. It helped that his former head coach in Arizona, Kliff Kingsbury, was the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. After the Philadelphia Eagles traded Ertz to the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, he enjoyed plenty of success in Kingsbury’s offense.

Washington entered this offseason understanding it needed to rebuild the tight end position. After releasing veteran Logan Thomas, the Commanders signed Ertz to lead a room with younger players like John Bates (4th season), Armani Rogers (3rd season), Cole Turner (3rd season) and rookie second-round pick Ben Sinnott.

This is where Ertz would be counted upon. Yes, Washington believes he can still play, but head coach Dan Quinn has praised Ertz for his leadership throughout this offseason.

In an appearance on “The Sports Junkies” of 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., this week, Turner spoke of Ertz’s influence.

“Zach and (Kingsbury) have been together for years before,” Turner said via Logan Mullen of Audacy.

“That’s the first thing about Zach that he’s seen what Kliff expects from the offense, and he’s not a selfish guy, he wants to help everyone out. It’s been really fun to play with him. Me and Zach have become friends in just a few months of knowing each other; he’s a very personable guy and a guy that goes out of his way and wants to see the team win.”

What Turner would say next is music to Quinn and general manager Adam Peters’s ears as they look to build the team and rebuild the culture.

“It’s been great having him around – not just for the tight ends, but for everyone. He’s one of the leaders on the team, for sure.”

Coaches and players have sung the praises of Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner throughout the offseason. While the Commanders are counting on Ertz to start this season, his most significant role could be his impact in the locker room.

NFL insider: Some teams ‘scared to death’ what Commanders could be with Jayden Daniels

Some within the NFL think Jayden Daniels can take Washington’s offense to a new level as a rookie.

How good can the Washington Commanders be in 2024? NFL analysts believe the Commanders will be better in 2024 but stop short of thinking they can be anywhere close to a playoff team.

Others think Washington will be terrible — again.

However, according to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, some teams think the Commanders could be scary with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels under center.

“This is the time of the year where I talk to teams, just about big-picture stuff, what do you think of this player, that player, and I’ve had multiple people bring up this week, unprompted, I’m kind of scared what Washington could be with Jayden Daniels,” Fowler said.

“Because he’s got the high-end running ability like some of these other quarterbacks we’ve seen come in, but he is more advanced as a passer. It was brought up to me, the comp with Lamar Jackson, maybe not quite as good of a runner as Jackson was, but good enough. But, a better passer at this stage of his career than Jackson was. The offensive line is the one thing that could be holding back Washington’s offense because they have a lot of skill to go along with Daniels.”

Here’s the clip.

The offensive line remains a question. The Commanders signed two new starters at center (Tyler Biadasz) and left guard (Nick Allegretti). Washington brings back Andrew Wylie, who struggled at right tackle last season. At left tackle, the Commanders will roll with veteran journeyman Cornelius Lucas or rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman.

In an ideal world, Washington’s offensive line would improve due to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy was determined to pass the ball 40 or more times each week, even when the Commanders were successfully running the football. Running the ball will help the offensive line and the quarterback.

What are your expectations for the Commanders offense this fall?

 

How is the Commanders’ RB unit still ranked outside the top 20?

Washington should have a strong backfield in 2024.

In his second NFL season, Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 733 yards, averaging 4.1 yards per attempt. While those weren’t outstanding numbers, it’s important to note that Washington led the NFL in passing attempts while ranking dead last in rushing attempts.

The Commanders could run the ball when they chose to but rarely tried, even when games were close. This irked some Washington players, including guard Sam Cosmi.

This offseason, the Commanders moved on from former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. After hiring Dan Quinn as head coach, he hired former Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury as the new offensive coordinator.

Washington wasted no time in adding to the backfield, signing veteran Austin Ekeler on the first day of free agency’s legal tampering period in March. That gave the new-look Commanders a backfield of Robinson, Ekeler and second-year pro Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Kingsbury’s offense plans to feature the run, regardless of what you hear about him as an Air Raid guy. The Commanders reportedly plan to run more 12 personnel in 2024 to support rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Robinson and Ekeler could form one of the NFL’s better duos in 2024 because of their complementary skill sets. Robinson will be the lead back, while Ekeler can operate as the third-down back. While both are good receivers in the passing game, Ekeler has been the NFL’s top pass-catching backs for years. Rodriguez represents the perfect change of pace from both.

How is Washington’s backfield viewed across the NFL?

Apparently, not too well. Pro Football Focus recently ranked all 32 NFL backfields and placed the Commanders at No. 24.

The Commanders ranked 16th in PFF rushing grade in 2023 before subbing out Antonio Gibson for Austin Ekeler this offseason. Ekeler is coming off the lowest single-season rushing and receiving grades (65.1 and 57.4) of his career, but a change of scenery for him in Washington could lead to a bounce back.

Behind Ekeler, Washington haw Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez Jr., both of whom earned rushing grades above 73.0 last season.

Why does PFF think Robinson will be behind Ekeler? And how is Washington’s backfield not ranked somewhere inside the top 20?

Sure, there are some concerns with Ekeler’s age, as he battled a nagging injury last season. But he says he’s healthy and from watching him during the offseason, he surely looks healthy. Robinson is re-energized under the new coaching staff.

The Commanders essentially swapped out Antonio Gibson for Ekeler. Gibson was frustrating at times, but neither of his two offensive coordinators in Washington knew how to use him. Ekeler has accomplished a lot more in his NFL career, but how much does he have left?

If the Commanders’ backfield remains healthy in 2024, they could be one of the more intriguing units in the NFL.

 

Is Commanders WR Jahan Dotson facing a make-or-break 2024 season?

Commanders WR Jahan Dotson has a lot to prove in 2024.

At this time, one year ago, Washington Commanders wide receiver Jahan Dotson was a popular choice to be one of the NFL’s breakout players.

Did Dotson deliver? Not exactly. He caught 49 passes for 518 yards with four touchdowns. Dotson started all 17 games as Washington’s No. 2 receiver.

But it’s difficult to blame Dotson entirely. Almost everyone on the Commanders’ roster had a down year in a 4-13 season. The former coaching was let go, and last season’s offensive coordinator, Eric Bieniemy, proved to be a poor fit in Washington.

Last season’s offense lacked a true identity. Bieniemy wanted to throw the ball 40 times per game but couldn’t protect the quarterback. Washington’s scheme was criticized, and Bieniemy refused to run the ball.

Bieniemy is gone, and Kliff Kingsbury is the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator. Washington also has a new quarterback: 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels. The arrow is pointing up for the Commanders.

What should we expect from Dotson in 2024? The third-year wide receiver is excited about all of the organization’s changes this offseason. Could 2024 season actually be his breakout season?

Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports named eight players facing a make-or-break year in 2024. He broke them down into four categories, with Dotson included in the “Players who dipped after playing well early and are now in a prove-it year” category.

Here’s what Trapasso said about Dotson:

As a rookie, playing opposite Terry McLaurin, who’s always seemingly on a cusp of being widely accepted as a superstar, Dotson caught 35 passes for 523 yards with a whopping seven touchdowns on under 55% of Washington’s offensive snaps. In his sophomore season in the nation’s capital, Dotson played more than 82% of the snaps and only saw a minor uptick in receptions (49) with fewer yards (508) and four scores.

Now, any young receiver should be exuding confidence after 11 touchdowns in his first two NFL campaigns. But Dotson was clearly less efficient as an offensive weapon in his second season.

Do I think the Commanders would automatically trade him if he doesn’t erupt in Year 3? No. But if he hovers around 45-50 snags with 500-ish yards and a few scores with Jayden Daniels throwing him the football in what truly marks a new era in franchise history, then he’s unlikely to be in the team’s long-term plans after the 2024 season.

Dotson’s numbers in 2023 were concerning. He had issues with drops at times, too. But there are clear indications he could blossom under new head coach Dan Quinn and Kingsbury.

Trapasso is correct that if Dotson posts similar numbers in 2024 with Daniels under center, it’s cause for concern. That means the Commanders would not pick up his fifth-year option for 2026. However, if Dotson delivers, he will not only have his option picked up but be included in Washington’s long-term plans.

A big year for Dotson, indeed.