Brian Robinson talks Commanders culture, vibe change and Jayden Daniels' impact with Junkies
Things are really starting to click for Brian Robinson Jr. in his third season with the Washington Commanders. The running back has rushed for 461 yards on 101 carries (4.6 average) through seven games with six touchdowns. So what changed specifically for him?
"I felt it in the structure and the coaching and all the differences and all the changes that's been made around our building," Robinson said during his weekly appearance Tuesday with 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
"It just gives you that free space and state of mind where you just... sometimes you feel a little bit better," Robinson told The Junkies. "You never know how much of a difference that makes when it comes down to consistency and production and just about how you feel about the people that are around you and making sure that you're doing what you need to do.
"I feel like the culture and instruction around here definitely gives you that space to want to go out and play for them and go hard for them. They look out for you, for real. It feels like a genuine connection between our program right now."
Robinson added that in addition to that culture change – with a new head coach in Dan Quinn hired by the new general manager Adam Peters – there are also a lot of new faces who are hungry to show something.
"There's a lot of people on this roster that have a lot to prove and they want to prove themselves and guys who haven't had opportunities," Robinson continued. "Like Terry [McLaurin], he's a star player, he deserves opportunities to play in the playoffs and play in those big games and have a great roster of guys around him that are gonna help him win games.
"And now just seeing how happy guys are around the building now, like these guys been here for like seven years and didn't win. It just feels good to see that energy in those guys because you could tell, don't take winning for granted in this league because it's hard to win. I went 2-0 last season and lost my last 13 out of 15 games."
And while the Commanders sit at 6-2 and are in first place in the NFC East, there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of season left to play.
"We got off to a great start," Robinson said, "but we gotta turn a page a little bit now and turn the page onto the second half of the season and really start to dominate."
One are of improvement has been in the running game and offensive line play, an area that Robinson sees Quinn having a big impact on.
"We just playing for each other, guys more serious more serious about their work, the detail and their job," Robinson told the Junkies. "I feel like that's something we haven't had around here and now, like I said, Dan Quinn and the staff do a great job just making sure everybody on point and making sure the right guys on the field, like the guys that's gonna pay attention to all the details and make sure we can protect our quarterback and be positive in the run game."
And, as he said, another big change has been the addition of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
During the week when Daniels was dealing with a rib injury that many thought could keep him from playing in Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears, Robinson said he spoke to the rookie during the week and he was determined to play.
"He came to me like a man, we talk like men, we don't sugar-coat no conversations so he told me how he felt and I was like, 'Hey, man, you're a man, I know you're tough but just be smart with whatever decision you make,'" Robinson said. "And he repeated what he told me and I was like, 'Ok, then let's go.'"
The running back didn't reveal when that conversation took place during the week, but added, "I just know he was determined to play and even if coaches had the final say so, he had in his mind that he wanted to play all week from the top of the week."
