Expected to major in three wide receiver sets, Kingsbury could use the two-back look with a changeup in the same way he has historically used multiple tight end sets.
Ekeler (5-foot-10, 200 pounds) and Robinson (6-1, 225) are complementary. Commanders can manipulate opposing defenses with various alignments and pre-snap moves. Ekeler said he views himself and Robinson as “different assets” rather than his competitors.
“He’s a great guy,” Ekeler said Wednesday during the second day of mandatory minicamp. “He will catch the ball. He will be a strong downhill runner. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room, though. But if you compare that person to me, I’m a jitterbug. “Maybe I’m a little more mobile than he is.”
Washington wants Robinson to improve in the passing game. Even though he started as a pass catcher last year (he had 36 catches for 368 yards and four touchdowns), most of those big plays weren’t designed for him.
Coach Dan Quinn, who calls minicamp “passing camp,” said Robinson has grown as a pass catcher this spring. One reason for that is because he relied on “someone as good in the passing game as Austin.”
If Kingsbury sticks with a one-back set this season, the backs seem likely to fall into their traditional roles. Robinson is an early, between-the-tackles pitcher and Ekeler is a pass-down receiver.
But if this spring experiment runs through Sunday, the Commanders’ offense could take on a new flavor. Maybe Kingsbury can dust himself off. this play designComing off a two-back set, he threw a 47-yard touchdown to Zach Ertz, now in Washington.
Jayden Daniels said he arrives at work around 5:45 a.m. every day. This explains why interior offensive lineman Nick Allegretti, who clocks in around 6:30, has yet to beat a quarterback into the building.
Daniels said that during rookie minicamp, wide receiver Luke McCaffrey asked him what time he would arrive at the facility, and McCaffrey subsequently showed up at 5:45.
“I’m just trying to prepare for the day,” Daniels said. “It’s similar to the routine I had when I was in college, but now I’m really there because I’m still learning the playbook and trying to figure it all out. So just take it easy for the day and be ready to go out and play in practice.”
With free rushers pressuring him, quarterback Marcus Mariota lifted a flare pass over his head and up the field towards Ekeler. But Quan Martin put safety first. He jumped the route, lifted the ball with one hand and caught the interception behind his back.
The incredible display of athletic ability drew the camp’s loudest cheers. Some strikers also nodded in agreement.
It’s no surprise that second-year defenseman Martin appears comfortable with Washington’s scheme. Last year with Quinn, Dallas had the highest cover one percentage in the NFL, and when Martin was in college, Illinois There was a heavy reliance on signs..
Lucas Havrisik is off to a strong start to the kicker race. The 24-year-old, who is with the team as a tryout, made about 10 kicks each on Wednesday, including a 45-yarder that had the entire team swarming around, yelling and flailing their arms to distract him.
He also nailed the “mayday” drill, in which the field goal unit rushes from the sideline, snaps the ball and has about a 16-second run time to kick it from about 30 yards away.
Ramiz Ahmed remains the only kicker signed to the roster, at least for now.
Dyami Brown and Cole Turner have had some big plays this spring. But the young wide receiver and tight end have had promising offseason workouts in the past. Remainers from the previous regime are trying to show the new coaching staff that they can be consistent and produce when it counts.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu missed practice with a “very minor” ankle injury, according to a person familiar with the situation. The team isn’t worried, the person said.
Two veterans, Ertz and wide receiver Jamison Crowder, did not participate in practices and appeared to have rest days.
