Dan Quinn thrilled with the progress of young Commanders running back

Chris Rodriguez is a player who is growing in trust from his Washington Commanders teammates.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was asked about how he has seen the third-year running back evolve over the last two seasons. Listening to Quinn, it sounded like he is finding that he can depend on Rodriguez.

“Consistent for one, I would say when somebody can demonstrate over and over again that they're willing to put the work in, find the right read, not just the physical skill, but mentally on the special teams," Quinn said Thursday.

Indeed, Rodriguez was a valuable member of the punt coverage and kickoff coverage teams in 2024.

"He's a player that this team really trusts. If you ask [Special Teams Coordinator] Larry [Izzo], yesterday he was giving the look on punt to another player who's playing the wing. That's the same spot Chris often plays. So, that move that he hit, he knows what stresses him. And so, I thought what a great example of [S] Jeremy [Reaves] and him providing the look of things that can be troublesome to some of the other players."

It does speak highly of Rodriguez that he is willing to point out to others what he sees and what he has learned from his three years of experience in the NFL and on special teams. A team needs players who are not simply worried about their own place on the roster, but who will then look after other players and be ready to correct them for their own good.

In practice and meeting rooms, a team needs players who firmly believe that "iron sharpens iron," as the old proverb says. It's quite true. You want players who will be vocal in encouraging and pushing other players. You want players who will see their job is to help develop players as well as develop you own game.

"And if you can get your team to a spot like that where they're testing one another and pushing one another, that's a really big deal. And I think Chris is a great example of that."

Quinn then pointed to a preseason game where Rodriguez was spotted encouraging a teammate. Rodriguez is therefore maturing as a teammate; he is becoming an extension of the coaching staff. He is 'buying in.'

"I saw it in the preseason games, whether he was just excited when Bill [RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt] had a big run against Cincinnati, as he was for himself," Quinn continued. "And so, that doesn't happen all the time, but I like his fight. I like that he really worked hard to change his body, and those are things that when can people continue to show you that and then you pay attention.”

Chris Rodriguez Jr's long run in the RZ. Love the vision from the big man. Zone read/Jayden held Burns in no man's land #zonescheme#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/CXHdn0VDRw— Anthony Armstrong (@ratedarmstrong) November 4, 2024

Rodriguez, a sixth-round (193 overall) draft pick during the 2023 draft, has seen limited action in his first two NFL seasons. Carrying the ball only 51 times and then even less (35) in the 2024 season, Rodriguez was often limited to special teams. However, last season, when he did run the ball, he achieved a 74.3 success rate, whereas his former starter, Brian Robinson Jr., was below 50 percent. With Robinson traded last week, the Commanders will be relying on Rodriguez much more in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Dan Quinn pleased with Chris Rodriguez's continued growth