Rookie WR Jahan Dotson impressive and impactful in NFL debut
Breaking down the first game of first-round pick Jahan Dotson's NFL career.
When an NFL team spends a first-round pick on a wide receiver, they’re expecting to get an immediate and significant impact from that player. That’s precisely what the Washington Commanders got from rookie receiver Jahan Dotson in the season opener against the Jaguars. Dotson only had three catches for 40 yards in the game, but two of those catches were touchdown passes, including the game winner late in the fourth quarter on a critical third down. For his immediate impact, Dotson was awarded NFL rookie of the week.
Dotson has been heavily praised and hyped up by media, coaches and fans throughout the offseason for his maturity as a receiver and he looked comfortable right from the first play.
This was the Commanders’ first offensive play of the game. It’s a play-action pass that is a variation of the sail concept. Instead of a receiver running a deep post as the vertical clear out, that receiver works inside and runs a deep corner instead. Dotson still runs the deep out as the intermediate option on the concept. The detail with which he runs the route shows maturity beyond his years. As he releases off the line, he angles his path wider towards the numbers, forcing his defender wider. After a few steps, he adjusts his angle to work vertically, challenging the defender for speed. The defender opens his hips inside, preparing to either run deep with Dotson or follow him inside on an in-breaking route. This gives Dotson great leverage to suddenly break off his route to the outside. Dotson is wide open, but Wentz is slightly late and quite high with his throw. Dotson still shows off his hands by going up to make the catch, but unfortunately it arrived too late for him to be able to keep his feet in bounds.
Dotson had to wait until the next drive to receive another target, but the wait was certainly worth it.
On second and goal from the six yard line, Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner gets creative. He appears to pair a zone run from the shotgun with a short post route from Dotson as part of a run-pass-option (RPO). To further add to the creativity, Curtis Samuel is sent on a jet sweep fake and tight end John Bates sifts back across the line to block the defensive end on the back side. With all of this run action happening in the backfield, the safety to Dotson’s side of the field bites up to try and help support the run. That vacates the middle of the field, leaving Dotson one-on-one against the outside corner. Dotson again runs a nice route, angling to the outside and selling a jab step to the outside to get the defender to worry about a break outside. Dotson then sharply cuts inside towards the post. Wentz pulls the ball from the running back as the safety drives up and throws a floaty pass over the top which Dotson brings in for the touchdown.
For the first catch of his career to be a touchdown reception has to feel special for Dotson, as it would for any young receiver playing in their first NFL game. But that happened early in the second quarter, there was still plenty of time left for Dotson to do more. Dotson’s next catch came much later in the game.
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