Why the Commanders offense won't be 'limited' in 2026
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon explains why Washington's decision to move on from Kliff Kingsbury will only help Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and company this season. Check out the full conversation on "Football 301" - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
Yeah, I think that there were so many different paths for this team to take coming into the off-season, 'cause they really needed a, a ton of help on both sides of the ball.
And, you know, I think selfishly, like, I wanted them to come in and just hammer offense and, like, get, get a ton of help around Jayden Daniels, to kind of make sure this third season was a takeoff season after a step back last year with injuries.
But they didn't really do that.
They, they kind of decided that what would help them is just a change of system on offense, and I kind of agree with that, put a pin in that, and then really just hammer talent on the defensive side of the football, like Sonny Styles in the first round, Adafe Oweh you mentioned.
like that to me I think has been their-- the way that they wanna go, right?
Like, let's, let's make sure this defense is not that bad again, 'cause this is Dan Quinn, the defense is his.
Like obviously they bring in, Jones to be the defensive coordinator this year.
You know, are they gonna bring in some of those, like, Brian Flores ideas?
I think that will be really fascinating to watch.
But, overall, like, I like this approach here because to me, just, I think Kliff Kingsbury is not as bad as maybe some of, and, you know, maybe we've been these guys at times, like the naysayers have, have necessarily painted him to be.
But I think he's like a get your young quarterback on base, but, like, you're not gonna round third, with Kliff Kingsbury as your offensive coordinator.
Like, you're never gonna get to home base with him, because I think it's just so, it's just so limiting.
And, like, I made this point to Justin Boone on the fantasy show when, you know, because he was talking about Terry McLaurin and, you know, as a bounce back candidate this year, and he's like, "You know, I know the new offensive coordinator said, David Blough said they're gonna move him around," but every new offensive coordinator said that.
I'm like, "Yeah, except this time, like, it will, it will not be possible to move around less, like move your number one receiver around less than Kliff Kingsbury does."
And I know that's, people get tired of hearing about that, but it just is so limiting and so unusual for an NFL offense.
It's, yes.
And it's a pro- it's, it's, it's, it's a problem in the passing game.
Like, the run games with Kliff have been pretty decent, so I think they might end up keeping a lot of that.
David Blough obviously was there last year.
He knows what they were doing.
I believe Anthony Lynn is still on the, his coaching staff as well.
you know, he was the running back coach, run game coordinator, I, I believe.
Mm-hmm.
tell me if I'm wrong there.
But, again, I think they'll keep some of the run game stuff pretty similar, maybe just involve the quarterback less as a designed runner than they have at times.
And I think the passing game is gonna look and feel very, very different this year, which is, which is a welcome, welcome result based on, again, what it, what it was last season for sure.
So defense, more talented.
Offense, new ideas.
I think that's a pretty good direction for the Commanders coming into this year.
