Tag: Kliff Kingsbury

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin on Jayden Daniels: ‘The kid loves ball’

Terry McLaurin praises Jayden Daniels’ work ethic and that players are already gravitating to him.

Has Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin finally found stability at quarterback?

McLaurin, entering his sixth NFL season, will have a sixth different opening-day quarterback come Week 1. He’s caught passes from even more quarterbacks. Yet, through it all, McLaurin has never complained, exemplified top-notch class and leadership at every turn, and always gave it his all on the practice field and during games.

McLaurin still thrived on the field despite the constant chaos at quarterback, going for over 1,000 yards each of the last four seasons.

As for the quarterback position, McLaurin said the right things, stating that he believed in his quarterback and would do everything he could to help him.

In rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, McLaurin may have finally found the quarterback he’s waited for since being drafted in 2019.

During Washington’s minicamp earlier this month, McLaurin praised Daniels on every level. In an appearance on ESPN’s Sportscenter with Scott Van Pelt, McLaurin continued to lavish praise on his young quarterback.

“You don’t have to tell what to do when it comes to practice,” McLaurin said. “He’s out there early; he’s getting warmed up. And if he doesn’t like a rep that went down in practice, he’s like, ‘Hey, Terry, come over here, let’s get this rep again.’ And I think that’s a testament to his work ethic and how he tries to prepare each and every day in practice. He treats every practice and every rep like it’s a game-rep situation.”

McLaurin praised Daniels for his knowledge of an offense he’s playing in for the first time. He noted how offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury already had several installs of the offense complete by the time the rookies arrived, and he tried to integrate them slowly. However, it looked like Daniels had already known the entire offense, saying he was calling the plays and huddles almost immediately upon arriving.

“He’s extremely confident,” McLaurin said. “It’s a testament to his preparation and the studying he did on his own, but also, I just think the kid loves ball, and he has a good feel for the game. I think he really came in with the right mindset and energy and guys are already gravitating to him.”

There are a lot of encouraging nuggets from this interview, particularly regarding how hard Daniels prepares. Not every rookie quarterback is ready for that type of commitment. Daniels has already been preparing like a pro long before his first NFL game.

McLaurin also said players are already gravitating toward Daniels. That’s a big deal for a rookie quarterback.

It’s early, but Jayden Daniels continues to win over everyone in Washington, particularly the ones who matter the most.

The Arizona Cardinals are a super sleeper team going into 2024

With a second-year head coach and a refreshed franchise quarterback, the Arizona Cardinals could shock the NFL world in 2024.

One wouldn’t be blamed for not thinking highly of a team that finished last season with a porous 4-13 record and a proven talent gap within the division. However, the Arizona Cardinals are a team that could prove to play spoiler for the 2024 NFL season, and may even be a surprise playoff team when things are all said and done.

While the talent pool in Arizona is not as deep as some of the juggernauts of their division, with the Rams and 49ers boasting two of the more dangerous rosters in the entire league, there was clearly a spark to this Jonathan Gannon led team last season that was without their franchise quarterback for the majority of it.

Yes we can call Kyler Murray what he is at this point in his career, and that is a franchise quarterback. Injuries and mixed play have certainly damaged his reputation with the general public, but when Murray is at the top of his game he is a superstar and he showed as much during the final stretch of last season as he was coming back from injury.

In the final three games of the season Murray compiled six touchdowns to just one turnover and had Arizona averaging 23 points a game over that stretch. Murray has been able to adapt to the new look Drew Petzing offense, which was a massive change of direction compared to the equivalent of offensive food poisoning that was the Kliff Kingsbury offense he previously played under. With Petzing clearly prioritizing the run to set up Murray’s play by play explosion, this offense looked like it was humming better than it had all year once Murray started to come into himself late into the season.

This offseason has been a massive shift on offense to help establish their new identity as a smash mouth running team. Drafting the likes of Florida State running back Trey Benson, Illinois guard Isaiah Adams, and Illinois tight end Tip Reiman, along with the signing multiple free agents who fit the mold, sends a clear signal that Arizona is going to run the ball down opposing teams throats play after play.

The most obvious draft selection of Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is only going to help open up the field for Murray on passing downs as well as relieve pressure within the front seven, as teams will have to respect the rookies playmaking ability at the second level. Veteran running back James Conner should find plenty of opportunity to expand upon what was one of his best seasons to date.

It’s easy to forget that Arizona was projected to be the worst team in the league last season, and many a fan and analyst wrote them off the be blown out every game until Murray returned to service, but that simply did not happen. While the win total did not fall far from that prediction, it was clear this team was fighting game in and game out for their rookie head coach. The defense looked refined and relentless under Gannon’s guidance, and was a big reason why the team was so competitive.

Arizona even ended up shocking the world early on in the season with a major upset over the Dallas Cowboys in week three, which looked like a culmination of all the things we talked about coming together (plus some super hero stuff for Josh Dobbs).

With a clear identity, a fully healthy Murray, a budding defense behind a brilliant defensive mind, and players willing to go to war for their coach, the Cardinals could continue to shock the world and take a massive leap in Jonathan Gannon’s second year as head coach.

New Commanders RB Austin Ekeler talks why he is no longer with the Chargers

Ekeler discusses his exit with the Chargers and how there are no hard feelings.

Austin Ekeler was an afterthought when he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Coming out of college, Ekeler had a phenomenal career, but Western Colorado wasn’t exactly a hotbed for future NFL talent.

So, Ekeler signed as a priority free agent with the Chargers and their head coach, Anthony Lynn. Lynn, a former NFL running back and first-time head coach, was the perfect mentor for Ekeler. The pair spent four seasons together until Lynn was fired after the 2020 season.

The bond remained strong, though. This offseason, with Ekeler finally a free agent, he chose to join his mentor in his new job with the Washington Commanders. Washington hired Lynn as its running backs coach and run game coordinator.

Why did Ekeler split with the Chargers after seven seasons?

“Well, I think you can kind of see how they’ve been building the team so far this offseason,” Ekeler told Kay Adams on “Up and Adams” of the Chargers and new head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“They went out and drafted a tackle in the first round, brought in some bigger backs over from Baltimore. They want a guy that can hand the ball off to 200-300 times a year, and look, I haven’t had the capacity to do that; that’s not my game. That’s not how Austin Ekeler is going to be best on the field. There was a misalignment there, no harm, no foul. I will go find somewhere else where I can add value, where Austin can be the best version of myself out there.”

Ekeler has had a phenomenal NFL career as a dual-threat back. He has averaged 4.4 yards per rushing attempt and has 440 receptions and 30 receiving touchdowns. While he had a down year in 2023 — so did the entire team — injuries were to blame.

The Commanders are taking the chance that a healthy Ekeler, used correctly in Kliff Kingsbury’s offense and reunited with Lynn, will help Ekeler be the best version of himself.

QB Jayden Daniels is the Commanders’ biggest reason for optimism in 2024

The Commanders have reasons for optimism and none are bigger than QB Jayden Daniels.

The Washington Commanders have many reasons to be excited about the future: A new owner, a new general manager, a new head coach, over 20 new free agents and a highly-touted draft class led by a dynamic quarterback.

All of those reasons should excite fans. But quarterback Jayden Daniels is the greatest reason for optimism in 2024 and beyond.

The No. 2 overall pick comes to a franchise with a solid nucleus of talent and a coaching staff built to aid in his development. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is a former college quarterback and college and NFL head coach. New assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Brian Johnson is a former college quarterback and NFL offensive coordinator. Quarterback coach Tavita Pritchard and assistant quarterback coach David Blough each started at quarterback in college.

Additionally, Daniels’ expected backup is a former No. 2 overall pick himself: Marcus Mariota.

Pro Football Focus recently a reason for optimism for all 32 NFL teams. PFF picked Daniels for the Commanders:

Washington selected LSU’s Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick in this year’s draft. He’s the face of a new regime that has overhauled its roster with hopes of competing sooner rather than later.

Daniels enters the NFL as one of the best athletes at the quarterback position. He led all FBS quarterbacks in overall grade and rushing yards last season while finishing second in passing grade. He also holds the Power Five record with a career 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate (minimum of 600 dropbacks). The Commanders finally have a franchise quarterback.

That last line: The Commanders finally have a franchise quarterback. That statement alone is enough to create genuine excitement for long-suffering fans. However, most fans also proceed with caution. They’ve seen others who were supposed to be the franchise savior.

This time, it’s different, though. Sure, there is no guarantee of success for Daniels. But it will not be because the organization set him up to fail. And with his talent and work ethic combined with the organization doing everything possible to support his development, you like your chances.

Who are the most productive NFL receivers ever with a rookie quarterback?

Can Terry McLaurin and Jayden Daniels crack this list?

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will play with a new quarterback in 2024 — again. In McLaurin’s five NFL seasons, he has had a different starting Week 1 quarterback every year. That number will grow to six in September regardless of who starts under center for the Commanders.

In total, McLaurin has played with 11 different quarterbacks in his five NFL seasons. If he catches passes from rookie Jayden Daniels and veteran Marcus Mariota, that will make it 13 quarterbacks. Washington is hoping the buck stops with Daniels.

The Commanders selected Daniels No. 2 overall in April’s NFL draft, hoping he would become their franchise quarterback for the next decade or more. That would mean McLaurin finally finds stability under center.

Which other veteran wide receivers have fared the best with a rookie quarterback? Jordan Dajani of CBS recently listed the 10 best seasons for a wide receiver playing with a rookie passer.

Here’s the list:

  • 1. 2011: Steve Smith/Cam Newton, 1,394 yards, 7 TDs
  • 2. 2008: Roddy White/Matt Ryan, 1,382 yards, 7 TDs
  • 3. 2012: Reggie Wayne/Andrew Luck, 1,355 yards, 5 TDs
  • 4. 2023: Nico Collins/C.J. Stroud, 1,297, 8 TDs
  • 5. 2015: Mike Evans/Jameis Winston, 1,206 yards, 3 TDs
  • 6. 2012: Brian Hartline/Ryan Tannehill, 1,054 yards
  • 7. 1996: Isaac Bruce/Tony Banks, 1,034 yards
  • 8. 2008: Derrick Mason/Joe Flacco, 1,005 yards
  • 9. 2011: A.J. Green/Andy Dalton, 1,002 yards
  • 10. 2013: Vincent Jackson/Mike Glennon, 959 yards

If Daniels can play all 17 games in 2024, there’s a good chance he and McLaurin can crack this list, perhaps pretty high on this list. McLaurin has gone over 1,000 yards in the past four seasons and almost did in his rookie season. And he’s done without consistency at quarterback and offensive coordinator.

Kliff Kingsbury is Washington’s offensive coordinator and comes from an Air Raid background. While Kingsbury shied away from calling his 2024 offense the Air Raid, the offense will have ties to the passing game made famous by Mike Leach.

Commanders GM Adam Peters could quickly become one of the NFL’s best

Commanders Log gave us an look at Adam Peters in his first NFL draft as GM. He crushed it.

Washington fans eagerly awaited the release of the latest edition of “Commanders Log” to see behind-the-scenes footage of the 2024 NFL draft.

The latest video, “At the Top of the Pile,” begins with Hall of Fame cornerback Darrell Green learning his number was being retired. This happened in April, but thanks to the Commanders, fans were allowed to see things from Green’s perspective.

From there, we get footage from inside Washington’s draft room, where general manager Adam Peters was joined by head coach Dan Quinn, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., owner Josh Harris, and others in the front office.

We see when the Commanders called quarterback Jayden Daniels to inform him he was the No. 2 overall pick, and we hear from Daniels, too. Throughout the 50-minute video, we see Harris asking questions and Peters and Quinn keeping him informed. It was the type of collaboration we’ve heard them say was happening behind closed doors.

There was one moment during “Commanders Log” when we truly saw Peters, a first-time GM, in action. Peters was on the phone with Eagles GM Howie Roseman. Roseman is one of the NFL’s best and loves to make deals. He often wins those deals.

In his dealings with Peters, he tried to sneak one by the Washington boss, but Peters had none of it. Roseman insisted on pick No. 210 being included to finish the deal, while Peters said he needed No. 161. Peters got what he wanted.

He later joked with Roseman that he was a “pain in the ass” but said to his peers later that while the longtime Philly GM drove a hard bargain, he was “a good man.”

What did we learn here?

This was Peters’ first NFL draft, and with the weight of the world on his shoulders, he was calm and relaxed. He made deals, kept his staff and boss aware of what was happening, and didn’t flinch when Roseman tried to talk him out of what he wanted.

Here’s the interaction:

You can’t judge Peters until we see what happens on the field. However, after years of preparing for the role in Denver and San Francisco, Washington may be the team that’s finally rewarded for landing Peters. Long called one of the NFL’s best evaluators, Peters has routinely been praised for how he treats others.

The 2024 NFL draft could change the fortunes of the Commanders for a long time—not just because of Daniels but because of the players Washington picked on Day 2. Peters noted that only 20 players were given gold tags by Peters and his staff. During the Commanders’ first three picks, he landed three of those players.

If multiple players from this draft class hit, they will build a statue of Peters outside of the new stadium. We are joking — sort of. Fans have waited years for a true GM, and Harris hired the best possible candidate he could find. Since Peters accepted the job, he has surrounded himself with other high-level executives who left good jobs to come and work for him. These are the types of executives who never would’ve considered Washington previously.

Times have changed in Washington, and fans have every reason to be excited for the 2024 season and beyond

WATCH: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels in action on final day of minicamp

Watch Daniels in action on the final day of minicamp.

The Washington Commanders completed their three-day minicamp on Friday and are now off until training camp begins later next month. It was a good week of practice for Washington, which used the entire three days for camp instead of cutting a day short like the previous staff.

As expected, all eyes were on quarterback Jayden Daniels this week. Daniels had a good week of practice, and while head coach Dan Quinn has yet to name a starting quarterback, he acknowledged that Daniels had made “unbelievable progress” since arriving in Washington last month.

Daniels’ accuracy was on full display throughout the week. He also got in some time throwing the deep ball.

Here is Daniels in action on Thursday, courtesy of Scott Abraham of WJLA Channel 7 in Washington, D.C.

Here is Daniels once again showing off his accuracy.

Next up for Daniels is training camp.

Commanders are better at tight end but don’t forget Armani Rogers

The Commanders have some new faces, but don’t forget about Armani Rogers.

When discussing Washington’s rebuilt tight end room, much of the discussion centers around veteran Zach Ertz and second-round pick Ben Sinnott. John Bates enters his fourth NFL season in 2024 but is used mainly for his outstanding blocking.

Next is Cole Turner and Armani Rogers, both of whom are entering their third NFL season.

Did you forget about Rogers? At this time last offseason, the Commanders got the difficult news that Rogers tore his Achilles and was lost for the season. It was tough news because Rogers received rave reviews for his work at tight end after playing quarterback in college.

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Rogers made Washington’s roster as an undrafted free agent in 2022. When he received opportunities, he flashed his elite physical talent.

Don’t you think Kliff Kingsbury can find a way to use this type of athleticism?

Rogers, of course, must win a spot on Washington’s roster. Ertz and Sinnott are locks, while Bates’ blocking should give him a leg up. The Commanders will choose between Turner and Rogers for the fourth tight end. Sure, Washington may not keep four tight ends, but Kingsbury plans to use plenty of 12 personnel, so you’d think the Commanders would keep four tight ends.

Zach Selby of commanders.com observed the following regarding Rogers during Wednesday’s minicamp action.

Armani Rogers spent the past year recovering from a season-ending injury, but he’s fully healthy now and ready to prove that he deserves a roster spot with the new regime. He made an impressive catch at the start of 11-on-11 drills fighting through some contact to haul in a grab near the middle of the field.

The coaches who signed Rogers are no longer here. General manager Adam Peters is looking for talent, though. Rogers has the talent, and he seems to have taken quickly to the tight end position. This should be a fun battle to watch this summer.

 

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin discusses where he wants to improve

Terry McLaurin talks about areas in which he wants to improve.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin enters his sixth NFL season in 2024. McLaurin will catch passes from another new quarterback. None of Washington’s 2023 quarterbacks are on the roster, with rookie Jayden Daniels expected to be the starter in 2024.

Over the years, regardless of how well he has played, McLaurin has always discussed areas in which he wants to improve. McLaurin is an oddity for a star NFL wide receiver. He’s unselfish and quiet, doesn’t throw a fit when the ball isn’t coming his way, and always puts his teammates first.

Every year, McLaurin discusses an area in which he wants to improve. Before, he talked about being better at contested catches and later was among the NFL’s best in that area.

The Commanders opened mandatory minicamp on Tuesday and McLaurin spoke on which area he’s trying to improve in for 2024.

“The main thing, route-running wise, is my feet, getting in and out of breaks at the top, I think I can be a lot more efficient in that,” McLaurin said.

“Run after the catch is one of the things that just in my game I feel like is OK, and I feel like I can take another step, and I think that’s just putting yourself in those positions in practice. Not just being OK, taking the ball and running straight for 10 yards, even though that’s what we’re asked to do. It’s like trying to size up a DB when you get down the field, try to use a stiff arm, not trying to hurt your guys, but just putting yourself in those live types of situations to be prepared for the game. It’s a balance for me because I always want to protect the football, that’s my No. 1 objective when I am carrying the ball. But at the same time, when you can make one guy miss, two guys miss, and you can get those three, four yards, those add up over the course of a game. And I think the elite receivers really do that at a high level. That’s someone I see myself being.”

It isn’t as if McLaurin isn’t good after the catch; Washington’s offense hasn’t allowed him the opportunity to create extra yardage after the catch. Perhaps that changes under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

It’s rare to hear any player talk so openly about specific areas in which they want to improve. It’s another reason why McLaurin is special.

Commanders guard Nick Allegretti reveals Patrick Mahomes endorsed Kliff Kingsbury

Mahomes endorsed Kliff Kingsbury to Nick Allegretti.

Nick Allegretti spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. Allegretti played in 17 games for the Chiefs, with 13 starts. So, when he became a free agent in the offseason, he wanted to go to a place where he could compete to start.

Allegretti made it clear when the Commanders signed him that he wanted to compete. He didn’t want anyone to guarantee him a starting position, but he had his eyes on the starting left guard position. That attitude regarding competition likely endeared him to head coach Dan Quinn.

Allegretti was beloved in Kansas City, with star tight end Travis Kelce sharing his thoughts on his former teammate.

“You can’t have everything go your way all the time. The Chiefs lost one of my favorite f—–g teammates of all time,” Kelce said in March on his podcast. “I mentioned him in the New Heights stamp of the week after the Super Bowl. The guy that tears his UCL and plays the rest of the Super Bowl screaming at the sideline to get him an elbow brace, Nicky Allegretti, is expected to sign in D.C. The Washington Commanders might’ve got him. He’s going to team back up with another one of my favorite teammates of all time, Andrew Wylie. I love those dudes, man. I couldn’t be happier for Nicky. Kind of being just such an awesome dude in the building, one of the most accountable guys, on and off the field.”

That’s quite the endorsement.

On Tuesday at Washington’s mandatory minicamp, Allegretti spoke to the media and revealed Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ endorsement of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury helped make his decision easy.

Kingsbury recruited Mahomes to Texas Tech and coached him throughout his college career. The two have maintained a strong relationship since.

Allegretti is the leading contender to start at left guard for Washington.