The mandatory workout concluded, and Commanders coach Dan Quinn signaled out a few players.
Second-year receiver Luke McCaffrey played in all 17 games his rookie season. However, Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota targeted him only 24 times. He held on for 168 receiving yards, eight first downs, and an average of 9.3 yards per reception 18 times.
What about McCaffrey moving toward the training camp of season #2 for the Commanders? Quinn initially likened McCaffrey to a tireless dog.
“Yeah, I think going into year one with Luke, there was never a question how hard he was going, it’s like a golden retriever and a tennis ball, you throw it, he went and pick it up and he’s running back and he tail’s wagging and you’d throw it again and he goes. And he couldn’t go hard enough, he was so committed to being a competitor that his limit of how he can go physically, it’s way out there. He is very tough-minded.”
But McCaffrey had only been a receiver his last two years in college at Rice, having played quarterback his first two years (at Nebraska) and in high school. Quinn likes what he is seeing from McCaffrey heading toward his second NFL season.
“What I saw this year was the detail and footwork of route running and it was so evident of the work that he put in during his time away from here. So, to see that come to life, I didn’t really need to see what the competitor was. I already knew this guy is an absolute dog. So, then to see the technique and the footwork to go with it, yeah, that made me really smile. Because if the competitor’s right and you can match the skill part to it, man, you really have something. And if you’ve got good skill, but the competitor’s not right, it’s really hard to be exceptional because when it gets really hard, that’s when you need the absolute dog the most.”
There are some drills that help increase the load on the receiver in how he works.
And some plays in the NFL are really hard, seven on seven and throwing against zone and routes on air. . It gets hard and somebody’s pressing you man-to-man and you break them off and win, and after a catch, those are the things that I’ve seen from him this offseason as a really polished receiver.”
Quinn insisted he was not surprised to find McCaffrey improved in his route running. “I knew he’s a person if I go back to the competitor, he’s going to find a way or make a way.”
GM Adam Peters was first sold on McCaffrey, telling Quinn about Christian McCaffrey’s little brother, who has the physical ability to play in the league. Peters has been vocal about looking for types of players Quinn would want on his team. So it is great that Peters and Quinn are working so well together.
“So, Adam’s vision was there, earlier that he saw the Senior Bowl, the competitor. Then I got to see that to say, ‘Okay, I see it too.’
The Commanders also hope to see it in McCaffrey’s second season in burgundy and gold.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders HC Dan Quinn says WR Luke McCaffrey ‘is very tough-minded’