The Commanders’ passing attack has exploded this season and still has room to grow. The offense can reach new heights if coordinator Eric Bienemy continues to find creative ways to utilize versatile weapon Antonio Gibson. Throughout his career, Gibson has consistently struggled with ball security and has lost the trust of his coaching staff. After two consecutive strong performances, however, he’s offered a glimpse of his tantalizing skill set.
Antonio Gibson Unlocks Commanders Passing Attack
Fumbling the Bag
Antonio Gibson‘s well-documented fumbling woes have single-handedly held him back from securing a workhorse role. As an explosive wide receiver convert out of Memphis, Gibson was unprepared to handle the beating that comes as a three-down back. Gibson coughed the ball up eight times in his first two NFL seasons. He found the most efficient way into Ron Rivera’s (and the fanbase’s) doghouse and has been clawing his way back since.
After a rookie season in 2020 with only two fumbles on 206 touches, a respectable rate, things went downhill quickly. Gibson took over the full-time job in 2021 and fumbled the ball six times overall, including five as a rusher. He totaled 1,331 yards and 10 touchdowns on 300 touches, but the ball security issues grossly overshadowed the production. The team then proceeded to draft a primary ball carrier in the third round of the 2022 draft.
Six fumbles are inexcusable, and several of them led to costly momentum shifts. That being said, Gibson probably wasn’t suited to receive 300 touches in a season in the first place. He followed up with only one fumble as a change-of-pace back alongside Brian Robinson Jr. in 2022 and hasn’t fumbled in six straight games in 2023. He offers a much higher risk-to-reward ratio as an outside-the-numbers back in the running game and a versatile chess piece in the Commanders’ passing attack.
Versatile Offensive Weapon
Antonio Gibson’s physical talent is undeniable. At 6’0″, 228 lbs, Gibson is a freight train with a 4.39 forty-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. He’s an explosive athlete in the open field and brings a different dynamic than any other member of Sam Howell’s supporting cast. Miscast as a volume hog in his previous three seasons, Eric Bienemy is using Gibson’s skill set better than Scott Turner ever did. And there is still room for increased production.
Gibson is currently on pace to set a career-high in receptions and a career-low in carries. With 26 carries and 25 receptions in 2023, his usage is more balanced and sustainable for him, and more unpredictable for defenses. Brian Robinson Jr. shoulders the load between the tackles, allowing Gibson to run the NFL’s third-most routes per game for a running back (21.9). His efficiency has been phenomenal, ranking second among all running backs in yards per touch (6.9). Few linebackers can keep up with him in space and few safeties can tackle him on their own.
In each of the last two games, Gibson has turned five targets into five receptions. It’s no surprise that this trend has coincided perfectly with Sam Howell’s two lowest sack totals of the season. The Eagles sacked Howell only once in Week 8 and the Patriots brought him down three times in Week 9. Howell averaged 5.71 sacks over the previous seven games. Bienemy is now designing plays to get the ball out of Howell’s hands more quickly, and Gibson is a focal point. If Bienemy continues to utilize his versatile offensive weapon, he can take an already-potent Commanders’ passing attack to the next level.
Main Photo: [Paul Rutherford] – USA Today Sports
