During the early days of training camp, ESPN reporter John Keim caught up with Ben Sinnott to discuss how offensive coordinator David Blough plans to utilize the Commanders tight ends this season. Clearly, Sinnott was excited about the possibilities in Washington’s new offense.
“It’s not even close,” Sinnott said. “So many different variations. Today we’re lining up at number one, we’re running five-step ins, we’re running corners, we’re running options, we’re running flat [routes]. We’re just doing everything. It’s so much fun. It’s a breath of fresh air for this offense and how it uses tight ends.”
Head coach Dan Quinn has also detailed to reporters the role they see for free agent addition Chigoziem Okonkwo.
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“Long play-action passing, over routes, pylon routes, things that are down the field, crossing routes that are catch-and-run to use some of his speed,” Quinn said. Previously, we examined how much the Washington Commanders might run heavy personnel this season, but today we look at a couple of examples of what it might look like on the field.
12 Personnel
Likely the personnel grouping most utilized by the Commanders offense this year, 12 personnel involves one running back, two tight ends, and two wide receivers. The team has emphasized the need for multi-dimensional running backs while adding Okonkwo as a big receiving threat. To gain an understanding of how Blough might use Chig out of 12 personnel, we take a look at an All-22 breakdown of Sam LaPorta with the Lions in 2023. Ben Johnson was Detroit‘s offensive coordinator and then-Lions quarterback David Blough was on the practice squad that year.
There is nothing too flashy about LaPorta’s deployment; Johnson essentially uses his size and agility in 11 personnel formations to create mismatches against cornerbacks and linebackers. Okonkwo has already been utilized as a receiving threat by the Titans last year, with 56 receptions on 79 targets for 560 receiving yards. However, according to Next Gen Stats, Okonkwo functioned primarily in the short area of the passing game, with 62 targets coming in the first 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Blough will likely get him more work in different areas of the field as detailed by Quinn. After being named Chicago‘s head coach, Johnson continued to use 12 personnel with the Bears in a decidedly run-heavy scheme. The Commanders offense is expected to do the same.
13 Personnel
We start our look at 13 personnel with a detailed breakdown of a play by The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen. Nguyen analyzes the Los Angeles Rams in 13 personnel on second down with four yards to go. Receiving tight end Terrance Ferguson is split out wide, and Davis Allen is the H-back, with Davante Adams on the opposite side. The defense loads up to stop the run, but Sean McVay calls a passing play out of the look. Allen goes into inside motion and when the ball is snapped, he runs a vertical sail route. Ferguson runs a deep fade, and Adams a deep dig. Nguyen explains how the coverage dictated by the defense playing the run allows Allen to clear the safety and provides space for the completion to Adams.
For the Commanders, Okonkwo would be split outside with Sinnott in the H-back role and Bates in-line. The goal would be to create an opportunity for Terry McLaurin, but Okonkwo is a viable threat on the outside and Sinnott operates well in the seam and would also be one. A multidimensional running back in the backfield keeps the defense honest and adds additional ways to attack the defense.
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Here is another look at 13 personnel used by Ben Johnson and the Bears for a 2-point conversion in the NFC wild-card game last season. Chicago lines up in a 13 personnel look with Colston Loveland in-line on the left, Cole Kmet in-line on the right next to a third offensive tackle, and Durham Smythe at fullback. Before the snap, all three tight ends motion out, creating a spread formation as described here by Chicago Bears analyst Coach Usayd Koshul.
The end result is Loveland one-on-one with a linebacker on the outside and an easy conversion. Again, you can see how Washington’s current personnel could fit the same play call, with Chigoziem in Loveland’s role, Bates in Kmet’s, and Sinnott shifting out from the fullback position. Blough might also opt to keep the formation the same and run the play as presented with a power back like Kaytron Allen running behind the heavy look.
In order to run these personnel groupings, the team needs players that are versatile and effective in multiple roles. Currently, the Commanders have three such players in Okonkwo, Sinnott, and Bates and while they may be more specialized in one aspect or another, each can function in multiple roles. Roster depth will also be key, and with blocking specialist John Bates on the shelf with an injury, the team will give Colson Yankoff and Lawrence Cager extended looks. Yankoff saw additional time last year when Ertz went out for the season and ended up playing 12% of the team’s total offensive snaps last season, both in-line and at fullback. The converted quarterback had the catch of the day during Thursday’s session training camp session. Undrafted free agent Quentin Moore will also get a longer look while Bates is recovering. Their continued development will be something to monitor as training camp ramps up this week.
