Under former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, the 2023 Washington Commanders led the NFL in passing attempts but finished dead last in rushing attempts. It was no surprise that Washington’s offense was among the worst in the NFL last season.
After last season, several Commanders’ offensive players let it be known they weren’t happy with Bieniemy or his play-calling.
In February, new head coach Dan Quinn hired former Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury as his new offensive coordinator. In addition to Kingsbury, the Commanders hired former Chargers head coach and NFL running back Anthony Lynn as the running backs coach/run game coordinator to improve Washington’s running game behind a rookie quarterback.
On Sunday, the Commanders picked up their first win of the 2024 season, defeating the Giants 21-18 without scoring an offensive touchdown. Penalties were a major issue for Washington, as the Commanders committed five penalties inside the red zone.
While quarterback Jayden Daniels performed efficiently on Sunday, third-year running back Brian Robinson Jr. was Washington’s offensive MVP. Robinson carried the football 17 times for a career-high 133 yards, averaging almost eight yards per attempt. It was a dominant performance by Robinson, who displayed speed, power, and vision in each of his runs.
After the game, Robinson appeared happy with his increased work and expressed gratitude for the opportunities.
“It’s been a while since I got 17 (carries) in one game, too, so I appreciate all that love from my coaches, and I expect to keep building off of that,” Robinson said after the game.
Postgame LIVE: Took the dub in the home opener! https://t.co/Vofze5hRqi
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 15, 2024
How good was Robinson? Check out his numbers AFTER contact:
Brian Robinson Jr. created 123 of his 133 rushing yards after contact in Week 2.
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 16, 2024
What a performance from Robinson.
So, when was the last time he had at least 17 carries? It was Week 11 last season, coincidentally enough, against the Giants.
