What pleasant surprises emerged from an otherwise underwhelming 2023 season for the Washington Commanders?
It was a season to forget for the Washington Commanders. They are in the midst of great change as a result. Something Josh Harris and his brain trust have been planning for a considerable period based on their rapid-fire intent since the 2023 campaign concluded.
Ron Rivera is out as expected. The Commanders are putting a new front office infrastructure in place headed by either Adam Peters or Ian Cunningham - the two finalists for Washington's new head of football operations post. The times are changing and every fan should be thrilled at the prospect after so much misery over the last two decades.
Nobody will remember what transpired over the last few months with any great fondness. There were more failures than positives, but there were a few bright spots to emerge amid the chaos.
With this in mind, here are three pleasant surprises from the Commanders' 2023 season.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin's milestone
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin gained more than 1,000 receiving yards for a fourth-consecutive season. This is something fans have come to expect from the team alpha. But considering how stagnant things became offensively - especially over the second half of the campaign - it didn't look feasible once upon a time.
Eric Bieniemy was accused of not targeting McLaurin enough during Sam Howell's early development. It was tough going where the former Ohio State star was concerned more often than not. He went over 100 receiving yards just once but remained a professional leader within the locker room despite results and performances spiraling out of control.
McLaurin dug deep down the stretch when most downed tools. He was rewarded by attaining four figures in the second half of their Week 18 loss against the Dallas Cowboys. While this was almost the minimum requirement before the season began, the fact he reached 1,000 yards in these circumstances was a pleasant surprise.
After all, there wasn't much else to go off.
Commanders OL Sam Cosmi's transition
Ron Rivera didn't get much right on the offensive line. After inheriting a highly productive unit, a series of personnel flaws saw the protection regress into one of the league's worst. This failure to prioritize a critical area of the field ended up being his undoing.
There was one positive. One that became increasingly glaring as the campaign wore on. That, of course, was Sam Cosmi's transition from the right tackle spot to the interior.
The Washington Commanders spent a second-round selection on Cosmi in the hope he could become a prolific edge presence. That didn't go according to plan. As is the case with most tackles drafted by Rivera, the head coach decided to take his chances with the former Texas star at the right guard position instead.
This proved to be a rare masterstroke from Rivera. While almost every other offensive line position crumbled, Cosmi thrived. He played 1,103 offensive snaps in 2023, giving up just one sack and conceding four penalties en route to an outstanding 80.6 grade from Pro Football Focus. More importantly, this came across often on film.
Cosmi is the one building block on the offensive line. The Commanders could have four new starters at the other spots, but they can relax safe in the knowledge the former tackle can continue to progress entering the final year of his deal.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr.'s growth
Much has been made about assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy's lack of focus on running the football during his first - and perhaps last - season as the Washington Commanders' play-caller. The team was often chasing games, which didn't help. While this was a mitigating factor, not establishing the run became an ongoing frustration for an offense in freefall.
This was more bemusing when one considers the progress made by Brian Robinson Jr. in Year 2 of his professional career. It wasn't the easiest start to his NFL journey for well-documented reasons, but the former third-round pick's evolution into a legitimate three-down presence at the position was a big step in the right direction.
Robinson looked explosive and a threat to break off big yardage when afforded enough seams from Washington's woeful offensive line. The Alabama product's on-field vision improved. He was more aware of his blocking assignments. Perhaps the most encouraging element was from a pass-catching standpoint, where the second-year-pro became a dependable asset.
With 1,101 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns, Robinson's future is bright. If the Commanders can find a progressive offensive-minded head coach such as Ben Johnson, there is nothing to suggest he cannot become one of the league's best dual-threat backfield weapons when the 2024 campaign arrives.