Many fans of the Washington Redskins have looked at the team’s post-draft roster and wondered something along these lines: ‘With so many running backs, how are you going to find enough carries and snaps for everyone?’
It was likely the addition of RB Antonio Gibson — who Washington drafted with their pick at No. 66 in the 2020 NFL Draft — that caused this reaction. With Gibson now added to the Redskins RB depth chart, there are 7 players battling for reps (Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson, Gibson, Bryce Love*, Peyton Barber, J.D. McKissick, and Josh Ferguson.) Quite a competition brewing.
However, the addition of Gibson will be treated a bit differently in Washington. While he is primarily designated as an RB, OC Scott Turner and the Redskins don’t plan to treat him as such, and having him on the field likely won’t stop a formation from having 1-2 other backs in the backfield as well.
“It’s not like with a normal running back,” said Kyle Smith, the Redskins VP of Player Personnel, via The Athletic. “You can put (Antonio) on the field with Adrian Peterson, with Derrius Guice, J.D. McKissic, Bryce (Love)… it opens up a lot of different options for our offense.”
This is mainly due to Gibson’s positionless nature. During his time at Memphis, he often split out wide as a receiver, and showed a great ability to operate out of the slot as well. When talking to teams at the Senior Bowl during the pre-draft process, he told everyone that he wanted to be thought of as “an offensive weapon.”
“He was brought to our attention because they moved him around at the Senior Bowl,” coach Ron Rivera said. “Kyle and his guys kept pointing him out.”
So are there times when Gibson will be lined up in a single-back behind QB Dwayne Haskins? Sure. But there are also several formations that figure to split him out wide alongside Terry McLaurin and Steven Sims, with Guice and AP lined up alongside Haskins. The possibilities are endless, and that’s what Gibson brings to this offense. While you and I may be wondering what Washington is going to do on each and every snap, the defense will be guessing as well.
