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Kliff Kingsbury has done a phenomenal job as the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator. Last year, Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels were the talk of the NFL. Washington's high-powered offense ranked at or near the top in most statistical categories, despite having few top offensive playmakers, outside of Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
That success quickly elevated Kingsbury back into the head coach conversation. He turned down interview opportunities last offseason to return to Washington. Whether it was because he didn't like the available opportunities or because he just wanted to continue to work with Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn, it was a win for the Commanders.
Unfortunately, things haven't gone as planned for Washington in 2025. Injuries are a primary reason for the step back this season. McLaurin and Daniels have only played together in two games: Weeks 1 and 2. McLaurin will miss his seventh game on Sunday with a quad injury, while Daniels will miss his fifth game. Daniels is currently dealing with a dislocated left elbow.
There have been other offensive injuries, too. Running back Austin Ekeler was lost for the year in Week 2. Wide receiver Noah Brown has not played since Week 2. Deebo Samuel has missed a game and played through an injury. Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey was lost for the season two weeks ago. Washington has had to elevate receivers from the practice squad almost every week to have enough on gamedays.
One area where the Commanders have struggled is on third downs. That wasn't the case one year ago. Washington has even struggled on third-and-short. One criticism of Kingsbury has been his reliance on shotgun and pistol formations. Kingsbury uses them almost exclusively, especially with Daniels under center. Old-school football coaches and fans believe the quarterback should line up under center in short-yardage situations.
On Thursday, Kingsbury explained why he uses the shotgun and pistol so frequently.
"I think there's a lot of different things that come into play, but I think with Jayden starting off, comfort level more than anything, we want to tailor offense to what he is used to, comfortable with, and does the best," Kingsbury said. "But you've seen certain teams have a lot of success under center, a lot of teams have had success in shotgun, so I don't think there's a right or wrong. I think it's playing to your personnel and maximizing what you want to do offensively."
You couldn't argue with Kingsbury's strategy, especially last season. But it's also fair to ask why Daniels isn't under center a bit more frequently in his second season. While Kingsbury mentioned Daniels, it's also been the case with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, an 11-year veteran. Of course, much of Mariota's success has come in similar style offenses.
Last season, it made sense for Daniels to remain under center. For one, he was a rookie, and it was about making things comfortable for him. And, most importantly, it worked. Everything worked. However, this season has been different. It will be interesting to see if Kingsbury tries Daniels more under center when — if — he returns this season.
It should also be mentioned that shotgun and pistol formations are popular across every level of football. They're not going away. Nor should they. For people who want to see Daniels more under center, it's about helping him in short-yardage situations. The drawback of that is you become predictable. If Kingsbury starts using Daniels under center when the Commanders need a yard, defenses will catch on quickly.
The truth is, injuries have decimated Washington's entire roster this season. The defense is historically bad. While the offense is still solid, it's a few steps below last season. Don't be surprised if the Commanders get a healthy Daniels and McLaurin back after the bye, and if some things improve, no one will care whether Daniels is under center or not.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Kliff Kingsbury on why likes certain formations
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That success quickly elevated Kingsbury back into the head coach conversation. He turned down interview opportunities last offseason to return to Washington. Whether it was because he didn't like the available opportunities or because he just wanted to continue to work with Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn, it was a win for the Commanders.
Unfortunately, things haven't gone as planned for Washington in 2025. Injuries are a primary reason for the step back this season. McLaurin and Daniels have only played together in two games: Weeks 1 and 2. McLaurin will miss his seventh game on Sunday with a quad injury, while Daniels will miss his fifth game. Daniels is currently dealing with a dislocated left elbow.
There have been other offensive injuries, too. Running back Austin Ekeler was lost for the year in Week 2. Wide receiver Noah Brown has not played since Week 2. Deebo Samuel has missed a game and played through an injury. Wide receiver Luke McCaffrey was lost for the season two weeks ago. Washington has had to elevate receivers from the practice squad almost every week to have enough on gamedays.
One area where the Commanders have struggled is on third downs. That wasn't the case one year ago. Washington has even struggled on third-and-short. One criticism of Kingsbury has been his reliance on shotgun and pistol formations. Kingsbury uses them almost exclusively, especially with Daniels under center. Old-school football coaches and fans believe the quarterback should line up under center in short-yardage situations.
On Thursday, Kingsbury explained why he uses the shotgun and pistol so frequently.
"I think there's a lot of different things that come into play, but I think with Jayden starting off, comfort level more than anything, we want to tailor offense to what he is used to, comfortable with, and does the best," Kingsbury said. "But you've seen certain teams have a lot of success under center, a lot of teams have had success in shotgun, so I don't think there's a right or wrong. I think it's playing to your personnel and maximizing what you want to do offensively."
You couldn't argue with Kingsbury's strategy, especially last season. But it's also fair to ask why Daniels isn't under center a bit more frequently in his second season. While Kingsbury mentioned Daniels, it's also been the case with backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, an 11-year veteran. Of course, much of Mariota's success has come in similar style offenses.
Last season, it made sense for Daniels to remain under center. For one, he was a rookie, and it was about making things comfortable for him. And, most importantly, it worked. Everything worked. However, this season has been different. It will be interesting to see if Kingsbury tries Daniels more under center when — if — he returns this season.
It should also be mentioned that shotgun and pistol formations are popular across every level of football. They're not going away. Nor should they. For people who want to see Daniels more under center, it's about helping him in short-yardage situations. The drawback of that is you become predictable. If Kingsbury starts using Daniels under center when the Commanders need a yard, defenses will catch on quickly.
The truth is, injuries have decimated Washington's entire roster this season. The defense is historically bad. While the offense is still solid, it's a few steps below last season. Don't be surprised if the Commanders get a healthy Daniels and McLaurin back after the bye, and if some things improve, no one will care whether Daniels is under center or not.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Kliff Kingsbury on why likes certain formations
Continue reading...
