Tag: RB Brian Robinson Jr.

Commanders’ Brian Robinson happy to have Austin Ekeler joining him

Brian Robinson Jr. loves the idea of teaming with Austin Ekeler this season.

Brian Robinson is not threatened by Austin Ekeler.

In fact, the Commanders running back told the media on Thursday that he is enjoying Ekeler, having joined the Commander running back group.
“Austin, he’s a pro’s pro. He shows up to work every day. He’s locked in, he’s focused, he tries to find every way to hold the guys around him accountable.”

Not only does Robinson notice Ekeler being a leader in the running back group but Robinson likes what Ekeler has taught him. ” I’ve been learning a few steps from him in the pass game and he’s just been a real big help for me and what I want to do this season. And I expect us to have a great year together.”

Robinson also likes what he sees in rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.  “He’s poised, he’s a hard worker, he comes to work every day, just looking to take that next step and improve, and he’s done that every single day. He’s come in here; he’s gotten better.”

With some personnel changes made in the offseason, Robinson is encouraged by this group of offensive linemen. “They just got to emphasize getting off the ball and coming downhill. And I feel like when they’re at their best, they do that very, very well. So, they just got to kind of keep that in the back of their heads and just stay focused on what we want to accomplish.”

With rookie Jayden Daniels learning his first NFL offense and seeing NFL defenses initially as well, Robinson is confident he and Ekeler can be a big help to Daniels in 2024

“I feel like it’ll help him tremendously. Just knowing that he always has an option in the running backs. Anytime me or Austin are in the game, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to find us, or check down to us, or find us in the pass game just as much as he can find a receiver.”

 

Commanders listed as one of top 5 most underrated Week 1 games

Commanders and Bucs named a “sneaky good” Week 1 matchup.

What are the top five most underrated games of Week 1 in 2024?

Rich Eisen, on the “Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday, came prepared with his list of the top five games that he believes are under the radar of most NFL fans.

Eisen provided one honorable mention game that barely missed his list when he cited the Titans at Bears. Eisen stated this will be a big game as well because he believes overall No. 1 2024 draft selection QB Caleb Williams will result in the Bears being the most talked about non-playoff team (2023) during the upcoming preseason.

In his countdown, Eisen listed the Commanders at Buccaneers as the fifth most underrated game of the openers.

“Nobody is talking about this one. This team made the divisional round last year, and you want to talk about running it back, I am talking about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And it is the debut of Jayden Daniels in the National Football League and Dan Quinn as the new head coach of the Washington Commanders. Commanders at Bucs is an under-the-radar sneaky good Week 1 game that we are not talking about right now. I kind of dig it.”

“What if Washington hangs 30 on them and wins by two scores?” asked co-host Chris Brockman.

Eisen replied back, “Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson Jr. These are no slouches, and Jayden Daniels comes in and shows up like he could be like, remember last year’s second overall pick in the draft did (referring to C.J. Stroud of course). No expectations, not high, right?”

The rest of Eisen’s list of Week 1 most underrated games were:

4. Cardinals at Bills

3. Texans at Colts

2. Jaguars at Dolphins

1. Raiders at Chargers

You can watch here for video of the entire segment.

Cowboys writer says Commanders signing already a flop

Some over-the-top comments regarding the Commanders and Dan Quinn.

A writer covering the Dallas Cowboys went on record Friday, stating he believes one Dan Quinn signing might already be a flop.

Jerry Trotta, who writes for “The Landry Hat,” asserted the new Commanders head coach, “Quinn overspent on a pair of Cowboys free agents in Dorance Armstrong and Tyler Biadasz and signed a 33-year-old tight end in Zach Ertz who’s played only 17 games the last two seasons.”

I actually admit to being concerned regarding Ertz, not knowing what he might still be able to contribute in 2024 for the Commanders.

Trotta then continued a step further, saying, “Any of those moves could blow up in Quinn’s face, but there’s one marquee signing that already looks like a flop: running back Austin Ekeler.”

Ekeler had appeared on the “Up and Adams” show with Kay Adams, stating that the Chargers were going a different direction, deciding to sign bigger running backs. So, Ekeler signed with Washington.

This reason didn’t satisfy Trotta, who called Ekeler’s reason “ludicrous.” Yet, Trotta doesn’t seem to understand that though Ekeler carried the ball 206 and 204 times during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the 5-10, 200-pound running back is now entering his eighth NFL season.

The Commanders are not planning on using Ekeler to carry the ball 200+ times in 2024. If he reaches that many carries it will only be because Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez were both injured during the season.

The Commanders hope to assign Robinson and Rodriguez the workload of carrying the ball between the tackles, permitting Ekeler to be utilized more in space as a third-down back or pass-receiving back.

Trotta concluded, asking his readers, “You think Quinn already regrets signing Ekeler?”

Frankly, isn’t it much too early to make such an assumption?

Ekeler’s contract is only for two years. The Commanders can get the most out of Ekeler over two seasons by not pounding a 200-pound back too often, especially when they have guys like Robinson and Rodriguez, with younger bodies with less wear and tear, who can get the tough yards.

Perhaps, might his wishes that Quinn is not successful in Washington, be clouding Trotta’s judgment?

After all, we all (myself certainly included) have our own biases, and they reveal themselves from time to time.

Every Commanders touchdown through Week 14

A look at each of Washington’s touchdowns this season, led by Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell.

The Commanders have scored 29 touchdowns thus far through their 13 games in 2023.

The Washington offense, led by offensive coordinator Eric Beiniemy has produced 11 touchdowns on the ground and another 18 via the passing of Sam Howell.

You can see every touchdown scored in their first 13 games, as the organization has compiled a video solely of the touchdowns scored. Follow the link to watch.

One thing that will jump out at you in watching the video is that Sam Howell has rushed for five touchdowns which ties him with running back Brian Robinson’s five rushing touchdowns. The only other rushing touchdown has been scored by Curtis Samuel, in the first game against the Eagles.

Jahan Dotson leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four, while Logan Thomas and Brian Robinson each have collected three through the air. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and Antonio Gibson have each caught two.

Unfortunately, the defense has not been able to put a single touchdown on the board all season. They just have not been able to force that fumble nor intercept that pass that would produce a touchdown this season.

Jamison Crowder did produce an exciting 61-yard punt return against the Falcons in Atlanta, but he was caught from behind, keeping the Commanders’ return units unable to score a touchdown thus far in 2023.