5 emerging building blocks from Commanders' electrifying 4-1 start in 2024

Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB

Brian Robinson Jr. entered a crucial Year 3 of his professional career looking to emerge into a genuine focal point. The running back felt he was underused by previous offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy despite going over 1,000 all-purpose yards. That was not a mistake Kliff Kingsbury was going to make as part of his enhanced schematic concepts.

Robnson's been exceptional to begin the campaign. He's setting the tone through a unique blend of speed and power. His contact balance is much improved and the former third-round pick can keep defenses honest through physicality between the tackles. That's a dangerous concoction to put next to rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels in the backfield.

It's not hard to see why veteran free-agent signing Austin Ekelker wanted to link up with Robinson this offseason. He saw the player's promise and felt his skill set could complement this effectively. The balance in the ground game quickly turned Washington into one of the league's most dominant rushing attacks as a result.

Robinson hasn't entered his prime yet - he'll be 26 years old later in the season. The shelf-life of a running back can take seismic shifts if used too much or if injury strikes. But the Alabama product looks like a key cog in whatever success comes Washington's way in the coming years.

Brandon Coleman - Commanders OT

The Commanders had plenty of concerns about their left tackle options heading into the season. Many fans wondered if general manager Adam Peters had done enough to rectify this ongoing conundrum - one that Washington hasn't solved effectively since inexplicably mismanaging Trent Williams' situation before he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers.

There is a lot of football left, but these fears have been quashed so far. The Commanders are opting to split snaps almost evenly between veteran Cornelius Lucas and rookie third-rounder Brandon Coleman. It's been a recipe for success and a big reason why Washington's offensive line is performing so functionally after years of inept production.

Lucas has been outstanding. However, he's a short-term option rather than a building block for the future. The opposite is true of Coleman, who looks like a draft gem that's only going to get better with more experience.

Some technical flaws remain where Coleman is concerned, but these are correctable the more comfortable he becomes under improved coaching. He's more than holding his own - even against some of the league's elite edge rushers. His output against Myles Garrett in Week 5 was another indication of his potential to become a long-term option on Jayden Daniels' blindside.