SNIDER: Commanders planning multi-aerial attack

It took a village for quarterback Robert Griffin’s 2012 campaign. Six targets largely split Washington’s rookie passer 258 completions with none reaching 50.

The Washington Commanders have waited 12 years for a similar varied offense.

Last year’s system was such a crash and burn the staff was fired and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is now working for a college. Throw out last season’s stats. It’s like 2020 when excusing such randomness in life to Covid.

Now, Washington has a second version of Griffin in Jayden Daniels. Maybe not quite the dual threat, though, because the Commanders don’t want their current Heisman Trophy winner running 120 times.

Washington has similar depth versus 2012. The former crew saw Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss and Josh Morgan all catching 40-something passes while Leonard Hankerson, Fred Davis and Logan Paulsen contributed regularly.

This time, Washington has Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey as its big three while tight end Zach Ertz should be a focus. But unlike 2012 when running backs caught few passes, Washington figures on Austin Ekeler as a steady option. Plus, Dynami Brown and Brycen Tremaine could surprise under offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

“The biggest thing for me is just getting our playmakers in space and letting us do what we do,” Dotson said. “Whether that's quick screens, stretching the ball down the field. For me, myself, getting me in space, letting me create space because I feel like I do a very good job of that in tight windows. Letting me move around everywhere. . . . It's special watching it and being that Kliff is enabling us to do that, it's really cool.”

Recent practices have seen more deep balls as the offense tries to go full speed now that pads are popping.

“We were hitting on a lot of go balls stretching the field a little bit,” Dotson said. “And that's really what this offense is about – getting our play makers in space letting us do what we do best. . . . But you know, it's kind of just the start of it. We're looking to do that more and more each and every day and kind of create these explosives for the offense.”

Coach Dan Quinn sees the team readying well for the preseason opener versus the New York Jets on Aug. 10.

"To see very few mental errors that are taking place outside,” he said, “that's been a big thing that I've been pleased with on both sides of the ball. And then over the next really three weeks to see our practice tempo, our identity, our execution over and over and over again. That's what I'm looking for. But, I do like the speed that the guys are practicing with. I hope when our fans and family watch us play, and say, 'Man, you guys really bring it at practice,' and that leads into the way that we play."

The Commanders won’t rely too heavily on McLaurin, who’s still their No. 1 target. Quinn said the key is playing to strengths of each target.

“Where the real secret sauce is, is finding the unique things that a player can do and then featuring them into that role,” he said. “Whether they're a starter or not, but on the roles that they play, they're excellent at. Not every player is excellent at everything, but the things that we ask them to do, they have to be elite at. And so that's kind of the secret sauce that you're trying to find. The same 11 won't play on every snap. So, those 18 players, how do we maneuver them? How do we work them to get into different spots?”

Dotson loves that Daniels can throw into tight coverage.

“With [Daniels, anything is possible and he's showing you that. He's putting the ball in in places where it makes our job so much more easier because he is putting it where only you can get it and the defender has no play on it. You truly got to cherish stuff like that and be thankful for it because not everyone can do that.”

Which is why it takes a village.