What to watch for at Washington Football Team training camp

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Nov 26, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson (24) in action during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Football Team at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The development of Antonio Gibson

In his first year during his transition from college wide receiver to NFL running back, Antonio Gibson logged a solid rookie campaign. Totaling over 1,000 all-purpose yards, he showed steady improvements as the year progressed.

As he enters his second year in the nation’s capital, many expect him to take a massive step forward. They expect a more confident runner that will also be used as more of a weapon in the passing game.

Michael Jordan once famously said, “the ceiling is the roof.” The same can be said for Antonio Gibson’s potential as a running back. Gibson can be as good as he wants to be. He has all the physical tools of a modern NFL running back. He looks like a running back.

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And for the cherry on top, he has familiarity as a receiver, making him even more of an asset as a do-it-all back.

That is why the continued development of Antonio Gibson is a very under-the-radar storyline in the 2021 training camp for the Washington Football Team. Most will focus on the new wide receivers, and rightfully so, but do not forget about Antonio Gibson. Gibson can be an elite weapon for the Washington Football Team.

Watching his development to see how close he is to his limitless ceiling will be something fans will want to keep tabs on. Some things to eye in his development are his overall feel as a runner, like when to cut back and hit the hole at full speed. Or when to reject the cutback, hit the B-gap, and take the yards he is given.

The biggest thing for Gibson is to understand that every play does not need to make SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays. A 4-yard rush is okay. Seeing how his route tree from the backfield expands will be key.

Does the offensive coaching trust him to open up his route tree? Does the coaching staff use the positional flexibility of Gibson to line him up as a traditional wide receiver in some packages? These are all questions that will need to be answered in the training camp.

Watching the chemistry between the wide receivers and the new quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, will be the main development most will eye. But keep an eye out for how Gibson develops in Year 2, he could prove to be a lethal weapon if he continues his upward trajectory.

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