Commanders Making ‘Disorienting’ Change for Jayden Daniels

Not content with how Jayden Daniels dominated the NFL as a rookie, the Washington Commanders are making a key change for their franchise quarterback, one designed to make the offense even more “disorienting” for opponents.

The change was spotted by ESPN’s Ben Solak during his training camp tour this August. What Solak noticed was “spinner handoffs,” described by the author as “the quarterback handing the ball off from the gun while spinning in the backfield.”

Solak also explained how the concept is “borrowed from single-wing and wing-T offenses, the spin allows the quarterback to bluff one handoff but execute another and can disorient opposing linebackers when dressed with more backfield eye candy. Here’s an example for the visual learners,” per Coach Dan Casey of The Play Caller’s Club.

As for the benefits of incorporating more spinner handoffs, “the Commanders want to have as disorienting a running game as possible. Without an elite back in the backfield, yet with a couple of tricky, movable players in WR Deebo Samuel and RB Austin Ekeler, they will benefit from a nontraditional handoff game that makes their jet motions and screens all the more dangerous,” according to Solak.

There’s also a greater benefit. Namely, “having a quarterback who is also unlocked by read options and shifting backfields. With his smooth ballhandling and impossible quickness, Jayden Daniels is going to shine even brighter with these nifty backfield shenanigans forcing hesitations from unblocked defenders.”

Using different handoffs is just one of the new plans being added to the playbook by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury this summer. Each of the different wrinkles are designed to make last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year even better.

Commanders Changes Already Working for Jayden Daniels

Kingsbury’s plans are already taking shape and increasing Daniels’ threat levels, particularly on the ground. Great examples of the strategies in practice occurred on the signal-caller’s single drive during the 31-17 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals to close preseason Week 2 on Monday, August 18.

As Monumental Sports Network’s Ethan Cadeaux highlighted, the run-heavy march netted 74 yards and a score. Although the spectacular and scary touchdown dash came courtesy of Daniels’ own dual-threat skills, a lengthy run from Chris Rodriguez Jr., beginning at the 0:09 mark, showed the spinner handoff in action.

The play was proof of how effectively a spinner-based strategy can work. Specifically, by putting defenses in a bind about whether or not Daniels will keep the ball and attack the back-side edge.

Countering this possibility means teams leaving at least one player to account for Washington’s QB1 and creating a lighter front to repel runs through the middle or to the far side.

Those things can be crucial factors in making the Commanders more prolific running the ball.

Commanders’ Running Game is Changing

Change is already afoot in the running back rotation, with the Commanders actively trying to trade their incumbent starter. His place can be taken by dual-threat wide receiver Samuel, versatile veteran speedster Ekeler and breakout rookie find Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt.

The latter got loose for a 27-yard scoring scamper against the Bengals on a play where backup quarterback Josh Johnson also feigned as if he’d kept the ball for an off-tackle run.

More window dressing and subterfuge will force defenses to play passively against Washington rushing attack, while also helping preserve the integrity of the play-action passing game to protect Daniels.