Kliff Kingsbury likes what he is seeing from some of his offensive personnel.
How about the Commanders’ backfield? The Commanders wanted to sign a veteran running back. Kingsbury never dreamed they would be able to acquire former Charger Austin Ekeler.
“I watch him [Ekeler] and I’m like, ‘This guy is tremendous.’ So, I’m not sure what it was last year, but he hasn’t lost a step. He’s as quick and as fast and as strong as I’ve seen him. Have just been really pleased. I didn’t study him much in free agency. I didn’t think he’d be there and he was there late, and once we got him, ‘This is unbelievable that we got this guy and he is in this form.’
Brian Robinson was last year’s top Commanders running back. The former Alabama runner gained 733 yards on the ground and averaged 4.1 yards per carry in 2023.
“The compliment of him (Ekeler) and B-Rob is great. You have a power back who has great hands, and then you have a quick-twitch, smaller guy who’s been a 100-catch guy in the NFL. So, couldn’t be more pleased with that one- two punch and the different things that we’ll be able to do with both those guys.”
Another new player for the Commanders who pleases Kingsbury is third-round draft choice (67 overall) offensive tackle Brandon Coleman out of TCU.
“Anything we ask Brandon to do, he’s shown up, and he’s tried it. A lot of times with young rookies, they’re used to a certain technique that may not be able to work at this level, and so you got to adjust it. And he’s tried to do it exactly how we’ve coached and he’s a tremendous athlete and works his tail off. So, we like his progress. He’s got a good room too that’s bought into him and have really helped kind of guide him through this first training camp.”
Running the ball will be important this season with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. One can easily see Kingsbury hoping Ekeler, Robinson and Coleman all have productive years, helping Daniels adjust to playing quarterback in the NFL.