Fans were clamoring for the Washington Commanders to add more explosiveness to their backfield this offseason. They were concerned about the ground game's over-reliance on star quarterback Jayden Daniels down the stretch and into the playoffs. They wanted a fresh injection of energy and explosiveness.
Adam Peters had other ideas. This led a team analyst to blast fans for their lack of faith in Brian Robinson Jr.
Peters gave the running back options around last season a huge vote of confidence. The Commanders spent their seventh-round selection on Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but how much he'll be able to contribute is undetermined.
Aside from that, the Commanders stood pat.
The Commanders opted to allocate their primary resources to the offensive line instead. Peters believes improved options in the trenches can carve up the holes needed for the running backs to exploit more effectively. This should also enhance the time Daniels gets in the pocket to go through his progressions.
Commanders fans labeled 'idiots' for writing off Brian Robinson Jr. this offseason
Robinson will lead the backfield charge once again. He showed immense promise early in the campaign before tailing off dramatically. Peters thinks there is still some untapped potential left, but the stakes are high entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Lynelle Willingham from 106.7 The Fan didn't hold back when examining the criticism thrown in Robinson's direction this offseason. He launched a scathing attack on fans for their desire to draft the next big thing. The analyst thought Peters did the right thing by fortifying the offensive line, something he believes will see the former Alabama standout become Washington's leading rusher once again in 2025.
"Everybody has written Brian Robinson off. Pre-draft, you all wanted to take a running back in round one. This fan base has 110 percent written off Brian Robinson Jr. You know what I say to that? You're a bunch of idiots. You know what we needed to do? We needed to do what the hell we did, and that's improve this offensive line. That's why the running game fell off a damn cliff last year. Before writing off Brian Robinson, think about some of the ancillary factors that contributed to his statistical drop-off. I think he will be the leading rusher next year for the Washington Commanders."
Lynne Willingham via The Team 980
He didn't stop there. Willingham went off about Robinson's treatment further, calling it his biggest gripe of the offseason. He also questioned the validity of the intrigue surrounding Croskey-Merritt, considering he missed all but one game of his final college campaign after having his eligibility harshly revoked by the NCAA.
Willingham missed the point during his three-minute rant. Commanders fans weren't writing Robinson off, they were just searching for better. Isn't that their right every offseason?
The Commanders are on the cusp of something special. Settling is not an option where any position group is concerned. Peters didn't think there was enough value to unseat Robinson from his No. 1 spot on the running back depth chart. But if he cannot raise performance levels next season, that won't be the case in 2026.
It's a high-stakes situation for Robinson. Repaying the faith shown by the Commanders is crucial.
More Commanders news and analysis