3 simple changes Commanders must make after humbling Week 2 loss
By Jerry Trotta
2. Make Antonio Gibson the kick returner
In fairness, the Commanders’ entire special teams was a disaster Sunday. From allowing a 52-yard return by Kalif Raymond following the strip-sack-safety, Christian Holmes failing to down a punt inside the five and getting next to nothing from their own return game, Nate Kazcor’s group didn’t come ready to play.
Dax Milne was at the center of Washington’s return troubles.
The 2021 seventh-round pick inexplicably took multiple kicks out of the end zone that fell significantly short of the 25-yard line. Two of Milne’s returns didn’t go beyond the 16-yard line and he maddeningly fair caught a punt at Washington’s six-yard line. These are avoidable mistakes. And yet, here we are.
While Milne should maintain punt return duties — he’s clearly more comfortable there relative to kickoffs — Antonio Gibson should without question get some run in Week 3 against Philadelphia, if not take over KR duties on a full-time basis.
If the coaching staff is reluctant to make the change, they better drill it in Milne’s mind that he cannot continue taking kicks out of the end zone.