The Washington Commanders' running back dynamic is still working itself out. Head coach Dan Quinn and running backs coach Anthony Lynn didn't think it was anywhere close to being settled, but there are growing signs that offensive coordinator David Blough may utilize a committee approach.
That hasn't stopped people from making their predictions.
Nick Jhabvala of The Athletic thought Jacory Croskey-Merritt was still the frontrunner to start before training camp. However, the team insider also thought his usage would be split pretty significantly with free-agent signing Rachaad White.
Commanders could have a 1-2 backfield punch in Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White
White, who was a former teammate of quarterback Jayden Daniels from their time together at Arizona State, has made a significant impact since joining the club on a one-year, $2 million deal this offseason. His explosiveness and pass-catching ability out of the backfield have caught the eye. If the same trend continues over training camp and into the preseason, he could be a focal point for Blough to depend upon.
Croskey-Merritt will still have a big part to play. He took the Commanders by storm as a rookie last year. Nobody gave him much chance of staking a claim, but the No. 245 pick in the seventh round far exceeded expectations and became a real fan favorite along the way.
He's not satisfied, either. Croskey-Merritt worked hard to bulk up this offseason, which should help him become a well-rounded backfield threat. The Commanders have other options if they choose, but they expect the second-year pro to continue his rapid emergence.
Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen is a more physical presence seeking immediate involvement. Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. are also vying to make the team, so it'll be interesting to see which players come to the fore when opportunities present themselves before final cuts.
Nothing is set in stone. However, it seems highly likely that Croskey-Merritt and White will lead the charge.
Both have explosiveness, sound vision, and the speed to exploit small seams for big gains. If the Commanders need someone to carve yards in between the tackles, it's Allen. But he's slotted at RB3 until further notice.
Things should become clearer in the coming weeks. The Commanders got a good look at everyone over their early offseason program, but those expected to play key roles will take center stage at training camp. Croskey-Merritt and White are in the driver's seat, and this could be a potentially prolific tandem alongside Daniels in the backfield.
It's a great problem for the Commanders to have. Establishing the run will change everything for this offense, and it's starting to look like the personnel is in place to achieve this objective.
Let's hope this encouraging trend continues across the summer and way beyond.
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