Commanders’ Kliff Kingsbury admires RB Bill McCroskey-Merritt but wants more, ‘It’s just…’

Kliff Kingsbury wants ‘Bill’ McCroskey-Merritt to improve his off-ball game

The Commanders face the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, who are currently struggling to bed in sixth overall pick RB Ashton Jeanty.

The rookie out of Boise State was taken so high in the draft for a reason, but the offensive line is struggling to effectively block for Jeanty, which has seen him struggle.

He is not the only rookie running back struggling, with there being a significant leap up to the NFL when it comes to off-ball duties like pass protection. Kliff Kingsbury wants to see that improvement from Bill McCroskey-Merritt, too.

Speaking with the media, Kingsbury said, “Yeah, just continue to progress in playing without the ball. I think every time he’s touched it, good things happen.

“It’s just, as a young player, there are a lot of things you haven’t seen, whether it’s pass pro, leading for somebody else, running the proper route, route technique, things of that nature.

“So he’s just got to keep coming. But I’ve been really impressed by his work ethic and staying on top of it. And he’s definitely improved each week.” He now has Chase Edmonds to lean on to help him develop, too.

Chase Edmonds will help the Washington Commanders’ rookie RB develop

While he is not the only veteran running back on the squad and it is not as if Ekeler will disappear completely, Kliff Kingsbury is really excited about what Chase Edmonds will bring to help McCroskey-Merritt.

According to the media, one of the first things Edmonds did on arrival was go and speak to the young rookie running back and tell him he’s there for whatever he needs. Kingsbury was a big fan of this.

He said: “Chase is one of the most dialed-in players I’ve been around in Arizona. A couple of really good years with him playing at a high level, with him and James Conner kind of alternating.

“So to get a guy like that who knows the system, who’s been in it, can still play at a high level and can continue to help mentor a player like Bill. I think it was a huge addition for us.”

After the Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the 49ers, their seventh-round pick is their most exciting prospect in the backfield. He might even have been before they traded Robinson Jr.!

It’ll be interesting to see how Kingsbury uses the young rookie in the passing game this weekend, especially if Jayden Daniels is ruled out.