Tag: WR Luke McCaffrey

Commanders minicamp summary: Daniels already leading

Jayden Daniels already displaying leadership qualities.

Former U.S. Army 5-Star General and U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower said, “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.”

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels might not be aware that Eisenhower spoke of leadership this way. However, he is already leading the Commanders.

In the video “At the Top of the Pile,” Daniels speaks of his parents’ leadership. He understands he is not a self-made man; his parents led and sacrificed for his benefit.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here;  how hard they worked, what they instilled in me to be a great human being. Not just a football player, but a person who treats people with respect and gains the respect of others. Nothing’s given to you in this life; you got to go out and earn everything.”

Prior to the April NFL draft, we learned that Daniels would show up early in the morning and influenced other LSU Tigers to join him. Now, in his initial NFL offseason, Daniels has again been reporting very early to the Commanders’ facilities in Ashburn.

This week, during the Commanders’ mandatory mini-camp, Daniels was asked about his current routine as an NFL rookie quarterback. The second overall pick responded, “I get here around 5:45, like walking through the bubble, watching film, stuff like that.”

“It was a routine I had in college, but now I’m in there actually walking through because I’m still learning the playbook and trying to grasp everything. So, just being comfortable for the day, being ready to go out there and compete and practice.”

Daniels was then asked, “Are you by yourself when you are doing that?” His response was, “Me and Luke McCaffrey.”

Plain and simple, the rookie quarterback is leading, and he already has another rookie (McCaffrey) coming in early to work with Daniels as well.

The two rookies now instinctively realize the other guy is coming in early, so both need to be there, too. In that sense, they are both influencing each other to get to bed early enough to get to work early enough to prepare for the day’s work. That’s how mutual accountability works.

It is also true that Daniels’ leadership is getting McCaffrey to do something, Daniels wants done because McCaffrey wants to do it.

 

Chris Cooley film review of Commanders’ WR Luke McCaffrey

Cooley on McCaffrey: “He’s going to be a good player.”

“He is super fast.”

That’s how former Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley began his film review of Commanders third-round selection (100) Luke McCaffrey.

A guest on the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast this week, Cooley mocked those who have already stereotyped McCaffrey as a receiver who won’t be able to work downfield. Cooley asked, “Why? Because he is a white receiver?”

Cooley continued, “He tracks the ball incredibly well, and he is able to go up and get it. He has great ball skills.” He then alluded to McCaffrey’s one-handed, all-hands catches.

The former Washington tight end and broadcaster likes McCaffrey’s measurables as well: 4.46 (40 yards), 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, 36 inches (vertical). At the NFL Combine, McCaffey’s other measurables were broad jump (121), shuttle (4.02), and 3-cone (6.70).

For quick descriptions, Cooley offered: “Fearless, tough, great run after the catch ability, good at finding open spots, a good, all-around player.”

“He can play in the slot; he can play outside. He will go over the middle and make a catch anywhere.”

“He is in and out of his breaks pretty well. He does need to do a better job setting up those breaks/setting up those routes. But as of now, he is able to create separation.”

“He attacks the ball at its highest point; he makes body adjustments.”

“He is a fearless blocker; he will get after it when he is in the run game. He is a play-every-snap kind of guy.”

“He is going to be a good (NFL) player.”

Remember, Luke only played receiver his last two years at Rice, after first playing quarterback at both Rice and Nebraska. Thus, he is still learning and developing at his “new” position.

Also, Luke’s dad, Ed McCaffrey accumulated 185 NFL games in his career, McCaffrey had 565 receptions for 7,422 yards, including 55 touchdowns. McCaffrey also averaged 13.1 yards per reception.

Luke’s older brother, Christian, followed in Ed’s footsteps, playing in the Pac-12 conference for Stanford. He has enjoyed an illustrious NFL career, already rushing for 6,185 yards and scoring 81 touchdowns in his 91 NFL games.

Santana Moss likes what he sees in two Commanders rookies

Santana Moss already likes what he sees in a pair of rookies.

First impressions are important in life.

What did former Redskins receiver Santana Moss think this week when he first watched Commanders’ first-round draft choice, quarterback Jayden Daniels?

“First, things looked well. I don’t like to get too high on a kid,” said Moss. I don’t like to put too much pressure on anybody; it doesn’t matter who you are.”

Moss was a guest with the Team 980 show host, Craig Hoffman, on Thursday.

“Looked like a quarterback; looked like a second overall pick quarterback. Some of the things that was glaring was his footwork, how that ball jumped out of his hand. Those things like that, you either got it or you don’t.”

“When you look at a kid that they talk so much about, and that dynamic was because of how well he ran the football, they never try to highlight how well he threw the football.”

Moss told Hoffman he thinks Daniels has shown the ability to both throw and move well, and that is going to be so important because defensive pressure comes so often from those getting bigger and faster.

Hoffman added that he liked how the coaching staff efficiently used the time that all four quarterbacks were passing and how one phase of a drill led to another phase of the game.

With the Jets and Redskins, Moss recalled how he was coached well on some teams and not so well on others. He thought watching the energy and intensity of Dan Quinn might also help explain why the Dallas defense improved in 2021 upon his arrival.

Catching 732 NFL passes for 10,283 yards and 66 touchdowns, Moss knows how to play receiver in the NFL. He told Hoffman he liked what he saw from third-round pick, receiver Luke McCaffrey.

“Every cut, every plant is very violent.” Moss pointed out he could already see McCaffrey has a discipline and a motor. “He doesn’t look like a rookie right now. It’s early, I’m not trying to get too far ahead of myself, but I like what I see.”

Commanders sign WR Damiere Byrd

The Commanders sign a WR with ties to Kliff Kingsbury.

The Commanders signed a veteran wide receiver on Wednesday.

After working out some receivers on Wednesday, the Commanders determined that they would be signing Damiere Byrd, per Tom Pelissero.

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound veteran played his college ball at South Carolina and was undrafted. He was signed first by Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers.

Three seasons in Carolina (2016-18) resulted in 12 receptions for 129 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Why did the Commanders go with Byrd? A very logical explanation may be that Byrd has playing experience under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. In 2019, Byrd spent one season with the Cardinals and Kingsbury. He was on the receiving end of 32 passes for 359 yards and one touchdown.

2020 Byrd enjoyed career highs when he caught 47 passes for 604 receiving yards playing for the New England Patriots.

Byrd caught 26 passes for 329 yards in 2021 for the Chicago Bears before moving again, this time to the Atlanta Falcons for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. 13 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns came in the first season in Atlanta, but only two targets (no receptions) came in his lone game last season.

Here are some big plays receiving and returning by Byrd.

The eight-year veteran turned age 31 in January and is hoping to make the Commanders his sixth NFL team. He will be in a battle with Kazmeir Allen, Dyami Brown, Jamison Crowder, Davion Davis, Dax Milne, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Mitchell Tinsley, Brycen Tremayne and Olamide Zaccheaus for roster spots.

The Commanders really need a few of these receivers to step up this offseason and preseason, as only Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Luke McCaffrey are sure bets to be on the 53-man roster.

Why one Commanders rookie might surprise in a few years

Don’t sleep on wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, who could prove to be a steal.

It’s only minicamp, but one Commanders rookie is a real prospect.

Yes, the vast majority of the attention will go to quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, one other first-year player might gain more attention in time.

Former Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey is not your typical receiver coming out of college.

McCaffrey’s dad, Ed, was an NFL wide receiver from 1991-2003 with the Giants, 49ers and Broncos. His older brother Christian is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL.

McCaffrey learned to pass a lot at a young age to his older brother and loved being a high school quarterback. He signed to play at Nebraska, where he would play for former Cornhuskers quarterback Scott Frost.

However, McCaffrey saw action in only 11 games as quarterback at Nebraska for two seasons, passing for three touchdowns and six interceptions. He did rush for 530 yards, averaging 6.0 per carry.

So he transferred to Rice, which he thought might be a better opportunity. Completing only 31 of his 62 attempts with two touchdowns and four interceptions led to another major change — not the transfer portal, but changing positions in the Rice offense.

He had never played receiver, yet he made the move for his final two seasons with the Owls. He amassed 71 receptions for 992 yards, averaging 14.0 per reception in his final college season.

The point is, how many NFL rookies have played their position for only two seasons?

No question, Commanders general manager Adam Peters had this as his focus in drafting McCaffrey.

Barring injury, he could really improve as he continues to gain experience at his new position. And don’t overlook the fact that his old position was quarterback. Consequently, he will understand the position from a quarterback perspective as well.

Certainly Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are much more experienced, but McCaffrey is still learning the position. His ceiling might be higher than we are expecting for a receiver from Rice.

What type of wide receiver will the Commanders get with Luke McCaffrey?

The future is bright for new Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey.

Luke McCaffrey’s dad has a funny draft story.

McCaffrey’s dad, Ed, told his sons that he thinks all the NFL teams contracted him prior to his draft day in 1991. However, one team did not contact Ed — the New York Giants — and they were the team that ended up selecting him in the draft.

Thus, Luke McCaffrey told “Grant and Danny” that he had absolutely no idea what might, could or would occur on draft night last Thursday.

Is Luke like his dad? Ed McCaffrey had the uncanny ability to get open and catch the ball when the pass was in his vicinity. After playing his college ball at Stanford, he was drafted in the third round by the Giants (83rd overall).

Logging 185 NFL games in his career, McCaffrey had 565 receptions for 7,422 yards, including 55 touchdowns. McCaffrey also averaged 13.1 yards per reception.

His son Christian followed in his footsteps, playing in the Pac-12 conference for Stanford. He has enjoyed an illustrious NFL career, already rushing for 6,185 yards and scoring 81 touchdowns in his 91 NFL games.

So, why did Washington Commanders GM Adam Peters draft younger brother Luke? Many will ask that, given Luke did not play for an NCAA powerhouse. After some time at Nebraska, Luke moved on to Rice and made a successful transition from quarterback to wide receiver.

Luke McCaffrey is still learning the position, and Peters most likely views him as someone who has a lot more room to grow through the experiences he has already gained.

Don’t overlook the fact that he can also continue to learn from his dad about the ins and outs of being an NFL receiver.

It’s very early in the process; no need to get carried away with praise for Peters’ selection or Luke McCaffrey’s future career with the Commanders. At this point, what we can do is expect lots of hard work and a good mentality from a member of the McCaffrey family.

McCaffrey is a logical choice for Peters. Peters knows what he is getting, as Luke will not be entitled, thinking the NFL owes him anything. He is young at the position and will grow consequently through years of experience.

Who knows what type of career Luke will enjoy? For now, we wait and see, trying our best to be realistic about the draft and not so giddy.

But isn’t it fun having a real general manager again in Washington?

Who are the Commanders getting in Luke McCaffrey?

What are the Commanders getting in Luke McCaffrey?

With the final draft pick of Friday night’s round three, the Washington Commanders selected Rice wide receiver Luke McCaffrey at No. 100 overall.

If you read that name and are wondering, yes, Luke is the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey. By the way, both are sons of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey.

Luke certainly knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. He has seen his older brother push himself to such limits that he is able to play in the NFL.

McCaffrey stands 6-foot-2 and is 23 years of age. While playing his high school football in Colorado, Luke played receiver for his first two years, while his older brother Dylan played quarterback.

A four-star recruit, Luke committed to and signed with Nebraska. Determining to depart after two seasons with the Cornhuskers, he committed to Louisville. After being at Louisville for a brief period, he departed for Houston to attend Rice.

In his last two seasons with Rice, McCaffrey caught 58 and 68 passes, averaging 12.5 and 14.2 yards per reception, including six and 12 touchdown receptions, respectively.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, McCaffrey ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and recorded a 36-inch vertical leap.