Kingsbury Finding Right 'Balance' With Commanders' Offense

We've made lots of noise about the "new" Washington Commanders. From owner to general manager to head coach to rookie quarterback to even the stadium name, everything feels fresh.

Kind of lost in the changes has been offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who is taking over for Eric Bieniemy on Dan Quinn's new staff. Sunday against the New York Giants, we got a strong reminder.

Austin Ekeler was Washington's big free-agent signing, and the former Los Angeles Chargers' running back was supposed to be the team's featured back ... if not star. But along the way somebody forgot Brian Robinson Jr. And how Kingsbury could use him.

In the pulsating 21-18 win over the Giants in which the Commanders won without scoring a touchdown, Robinson carried 17 times for 133 yards. It might have been his best game as a pro. And, to him, it's no coincidence that is comes with one of the games with the highest number of carries.

"It’s been a while since I got 17 (carries) in one game," Robinson said, taking a veiled swipe at Bieniemy's approach. "I appreciate all that love from my coaches, and I expect to keep building off of that."

Bieniemy was a one-and-done in Washington, and is now running the offense in college at UCLA. He essentially abandoned the running game (and Robinson), putting an undermanned offensive line and quarterback Sam Howell in jeopardy every game.

Related: Commanders' Offensive Woes Loom Despite Victory Over Giants

Ironic thing is that at Texas Tech and during a brief stint as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Kingsbury was known as the pass-happy offensive mind. But he gave Robinson 17 carries Sunday, his most since Week 11 last year.

The Commanders ran the ball 35 times Sunday, and threw it only 29.

With a rookie quarterback in Jayden Daniels, Kingsbury realizes Washington needs balance instead of throwing 40 times per game. Against the Giants it worked, as the Commanders rushed for 215 yards and improved to 1-1.