Chig Okonkwo was standing by himself with the closest Eagle nearly 15 yards upfield.
Had the Commanders’ tight end been seen and targeted, he likely would have created one of the explosive plays that he’s most known for and that offensive coordinator David Blough has emphasized this season. Instead, Philadelphia’s pass rush got to Jayden Daniels, and the quarterback had to run for his life around the pocket before tossing the ball out of bounds in what would be a Week 1 loss.
Washington’s tight ends — John Bates, Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff and Okonkwo — have combined to produce just 10 receptions, 65 yards and zero touchdowns through the first four weeks of the season, the least-productive group in the NFL.
Multiple factors have contributed to the unit’s lack of success, but none as simple as “they don’t get open.” And for a passing offense that ranks 24th in the league, the 1-3 Commanders need this group to get going if they’re going to salvage a season that is quickly spiraling.
Trending
Sign up for The Washington Sun Metro newsletter for essential coverage of the D.C. region.
“For our entire unit, it’s consistency and execution,” Blough said recently. “Wanting to see the play style continue to improve, and as we build on this thing as we go throughout the entire season, just continue to see the consistent improvement in [the tight ends] room and the opportunities will certainly come, and we’re working on that.”
But some opportunities have already passed. Okonkwo, who ranked sixth among tight ends in yards after catch last season, has been wide open on more than a handful of the 48 routes he’s run this season. (He missed two games due to a hamstring injury.) Pressure on the quarterback has prevented the ball from getting to him.
On the aforementioned Eagles play from Week 1, a flea-flicker play call was almost immediately blown up by defensive tackle Moro Ojomo.
Later in the game on a third-and-10, Okonkwo had space on a quick slant, but the Eagles were again barreling down on Daniels, forcing him to bomb it down the field to receiver Dyami Brown before getting popped.
In Week 4 against the Colts, Okonkwo had one play where he was running free on a deep corner route. But just as third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis spotted him, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner put his helmet in the quarterback’s chest, forcing the ball to sail over Okonkwo’s head and nearly into the hands of safety A.J. Haulcy.
But that’s not to say the tight ends, and Blough, aren’t culpable. While Okonkwo and Yankoff have found openings in the defense, Bates and Sinnott have struggled to create separation.
“We’re just doing what we’re asked to do and owning that,” Sinnott said. “And when those opportunities come, we’re just looking to take advantage of it.”
Blough has shown the ability to scheme open his tight ends, but the results haven’t yet played out on the field. Against the Colts, receiver Stefon Diggs ran a rub route, with the intention of throwing off Okonkwo’s defender. In theory, it would have freed Okonkwo up the left side of the field for a sizable gain.
The only problem was the defender, linebacker Jaylon Carlies, ran around Diggs without breaking his stride. Instead of Okonkwo finding daylight, Carlies was able to bring him down for just a 2-yard gain.
There have been times Blough has found a way to use the tight ends even if they’re not getting the ball, using them to drag linebackers and defensive backs away from other pass-catchers. Okonkwo ran a go route against the Colts that took Carlies and corner Sauce Gardner out of the flat, where running back Bill Croskey-Merritt was able to take a dump-off for a 35-yard gain.
“It’s a bunch of ‘if, ands,’” Yankoff said. “If you tie him down and he bites on you, that means this guy’s open. That’s a win in our book.”
Righting the ship in Week 5 may prove difficult, as the Giants defense hasn’t been forgiving to tight ends. New York uses safeties in man coverage to force tight ends to beat one-on-one matchups, which has led to just two tight ends (the Rams’ Terrance Ferguson and Cardinals’ Trey McBride) gaining 20 or more yards on them in a game. Ferguson is the lone tight end to score a touchdown against New York.
But the difference on Sunday will be the presence of Daniels, who missed the last two games with a dislocated left elbow. Right guard Sam Cosmi, out for a concussion, will also return from a two-game absence, helping to shore up some of the pressure problems Washington has faced. Okonkwo and Daniels spent a lot of time working together over the summer, but injuries to both have prevented them from gelling on the field.
While Daniels said his focus is “to get the ball to the open guy,” Okonkwo is more bullish on the results he and the other tight ends can produce going forward.
“I know how it goes. Some games you might not get the rock, and some games the ball keeps finding you,” Okonkwo said. “I don’t panic … I know what I can do. I know what Jayden can do. When we get on the field and do it together, everybody will see it, and then everything will be put to bed at that point.”
Author
