In 2020, the Washington Football Team had an offensive cast that was schemed in multiple positions to create mismatches and keep defenses honest. If defenses wanted to be aggressive with the blitz, then you had Running Backs, Tight Ends, and Wide Receivers being left uncovered. J.D McKissic was a major part in being used to outmatch the defensive schemes, which he did by lining up as a Wide Receiver or running routes out of the backfield; in addition, there was the threat of him running in the shotgun as well. Antonio Gibson would be lined up in the Y while J.D McKissic was in the backfield; by doing so, defenses had to respect Gibson’s receiving ability. Terry McLaurin would be lined up at the Z, with his advanced route running ability and speed demanding double teams or zone coverage to slow down the 2,000+ yard receiver (in a combined two seasons).
Enter Curtis Samuel in 2021 free agency, and now the Washington Football Team has a versatile, fast offensive core of players with their following 40 times: Terry McLaurin (4.35 s), Curtis Samuel (4.31 s), Antonio Gibson (4.39 s), and J.D McKissic (4.59 s). All 4 players can line up at Wide Receiver and Running Back, as well as being used in jet sweep situations out of the backfield. They all have the ability to line up in multiple areas in formation packages. Curtis Samuel and Antonio Gibson had 1,000 all purpose yards in 2020, with McKissic recording 80 receptions out the backfield and McLaurin recording a 1,000 yards receiving. As if that weren’t enough, Logan Thomas put up Pro Bowl numbers as a Tight End as well, recording 72 receptions for 670 yards and 6 touchdowns.
In Scott Turner’s offense, McLaurin, Samuel, Gibson, and McKissic will all have assignments of being shifty in formations in order to confuse the defense or to simply outmatch the opponent. Ryan Fitzpatrick’s ability to push the ball downfield will open up more packages to make the defense have to either focus on the passing game or getting gashed by Samuel, McKissic, and Gibson in the run game.
