Washington Commanders fans have spent the offseason hearing about defensive upgrades, but Jay Gruden is not letting the offense slide by without scrutiny.
The former head coach said he has real concerns about what Washington can do on that side of the ball next season, and he did not soften the message when talking with Kevin Sheehan of 106.7 The Fan. Gruden said he does not see enough explosiveness in the current group and questioned where the big plays will come from beyond Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin.
"I'm very concerned about it. I'm concerned about the tight end room, to be honest with you.
I'm not overly impressed with the kid from Tennessee, and where's the juice coming from the running backs? Where's the big hitters going to come from besides Jayden (Daniels) and maybe Terry (McLaurin) if he's 100 percent healthy?
"You've gotta have some splash plays, and I don't know where the splash plays are gonna come from other than Jayden on a scramble or a zone read or Terry on a post over the top."
That kind of skepticism may sting, but it also lines up with the broader unease around the unit. The Commanders believe the players already in place can fit into a new system and grow into bigger roles, yet there is still plenty of uncertainty attached to that hope.
General manager Adam Peters has kept his options open, even after an aggressive offseason. He has continued to evaluate where the roster stands and what else might be needed, and he still has financial flexibility if another move becomes necessary.
For now, Washington wants to see what it has before making any drastic decisions. Training camp and the preseason will matter a lot, especially if the offense does not show the kind of production the team needs. If the young players do not take a step, and if the top names do not stay healthy, Gruden’s concerns could become a bigger issue.
The Commanders also had an up-and-down minicamp, with the wide receivers drawing particular attention. On top of that, the possibility of Brandon Aiyuk - and even Stefon Diggs - joining the team before Week 1 still hangs over the roster.
That kind of outside possibility can only do so much. The real answer has to come from the players already there.
And with Dan Quinn having already moved on from both coordinators, the pressure to improve is obvious. The Commanders need progress, and they need it to show up fast.
Gruden’s warning may end up looking overly harsh. Washington is counting on that being the case.
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