ASHBURN, Va. — The Commanders offense looks a lot different from the 2023 campaign in many ways. A new quarterback, a new offensive play caller in coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and a new-look backfield with lots of experience.
Austin Ekeler comes to the Commanders after seven seasons with the Chargers. The 5-foot-9 200-pounder will compliment a much bigger back in Brian Robinson standing four inches taller and thirty pounds heavier.
“I’m not going to say we have two completely similar games, we can kind of do all of the same things," said Robinson, who was drafted by the Commanders in 2022. "He’s a little smaller frame, a little more twitchier than I am. I’m probably more aggressive and physical in the run game than him, but I feel like we carry all the same abilities as a running back.”
Ekeler said, “B-Rob’s been on the come up these last few years. I’ve been doing my thing the past few years as well and now we’re bringing that magic together with Kliff Kingsbury putting us out there on the field, putting us in a position to win. It’s going to be fun to watch.”
In the backfield or running routes: Robinson has 45 career catches under his belt for nearly 430 yards in his first two seasons.
Ekeler has caught 440 passes amassing over 3,800 yards and 30 scores.
Both hope to be routine targets for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
"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 passing game just as much as he can find the receiver," said Robinson.
They aren’t just keeping their quarterback happy, but their blockers as well. Picking up blitzes better than most.
“They understand the protection which is fantastic and that is not a common thing in this league," said Commanders offensive lineman Nick Allegretti. "Having two dynamic but very different backs obviously, one’s a little bigger, one’s a little smaller, it’s going to be tough for defenses having those very different running backs that are dynamic in their own way."
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