Kliff Kingsbury knew that Laremy Tunsil was a standout pass protector. Hell, everyone did.

It was one of the main reasons the Washington Commanders traded picks to acquire the 10-year veteran. They needed to keep the pocket clean for quarterback Jayden Daniels, and Tunsil was one of the best. In the previous three seasons, Tunsil allowed a 3.1% pressure rate -- third best among offensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus. He had an impressive track record against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL; Myles Garrett, for example, has just one pressure in 40 matchups with Tunsil since 2018 -- the lowest pressure rate allowed to Garrett over that time frame.

What Kingsbury didn't expect as much was how good Tunsil has become at clearing lanes for running backs.

"That, I think, jumped off to me more than anything else this season," Kingsbury said. "Just how he can move bodies in the run game."

Tunsil is aware of what he called a "stigma" surrounding him. Sure, he's great at protecting quarterbacks, but what about everything else? He set out with a goal to "prove the people wrong" and show that he can be a complete player. Through 14 games, he's validated his belief that he's got more to offer than just being an elite pass blocker.

"I always want to be the best," Tunsil said. "And the way for me to do that is work my ass off."

There aren't many tackles who have played better than Tunsil in the run game. He has only been defeated on 7.9% of run plays, which ranks second best among NFC offensive tackles with at least 250 run block snaps behind only Trent Williams. His run block grade from PFF is the highest of his career, while his overall grade of 87.5 is fourth best for NFC OTs with at least 250 total snaps.

And the Commanders have benefited from Tunsil's improvements as a run blocker. They average 4.9 yards per carry -- tied for the third best number in the league -- and rank fourth in yards per game (136.5). They rank eighth in rushing EPA, according to FTN, and fifth in yards per carry on outside zone runs.

Those stats are a result of how the offensive line as a whole has performed this season, but Tunsil's teammates know just how big of a role he's had in elevating the position.

"I feel like the biggest thing is his ability just to grab hold of somebody in the run game and just completely run them off the ball," rookie Josh Conerly said of Tunsil.

There's nothing special about what Tunsil did to improve as a run blocker. "It's really just a mentality," he said, and attention to detail. That started during his years with the Houston Texans, when then offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik and current Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans taught him the proper way to practice. Slowik had a run scheme that revolved around outside zone runs, so Tunsil had to emphasize running off the ball. That work was put on display in 2023, he said, but the results were noticeable for him in 2024, when the Texans jumped in rushing offense from 22nd to 15th.

Although Tunsil views the success the Commanders have had at running the ball is credited to the entire offense, his own improvements have been more prevalent. The first two steps, he said, are the most important thing about being a run blocker. Getting that right allows him to effectively react to defensive linemen and put his hands in the right spot to "drive them off the ball."

But footwork and technique are just the start. Tunsil has worked hard to develop a good working relationship with left guard Chris Paul and Washington's tight ends to make sure they have a strong plan for double teams. The duo has been one of the offense's most effective this season. Tunsil said Paul has made "a lot of s--- easy for me" because of the way the 2022 seventh-rounder, who took over as the starter in Week 3, can stand up defenders and communicate with him.

"I feel like me and CP [Paul] developed a good relationship, a strong relationship when we just communicate and bounce ideas off each other and watch film," Tunsil said. "He's gonna tell me how he's gonna play this double team. It's just a lot of things."

As a result, the Commanders know that they can turn to Tunsil and Paul when they need yards on the ground.

"We've really leaned on him [Tunsil] and Chris Paul at times in critical situations, and they have been really good inside there," Kingsbury said. "So, I think that's where I didn't expect as much. I knew he was a dominant pass protector, but the run game of stuff has been phenomenal. He's taking a lot of pride in it since he's been here and showing us he can do that."

Tunsil's improvements as a run blocker haven't come at a detriment to his abilities as a pass protector. In that regard, Tunsil remains the player the Commanders thought they were getting when they traded for him. He has the fourth best pressure rate allowed out of NFC offensive tackles with at least 250 pass protection snaps. His pass protection grade of 87 is the second highest among NFC OTs with at least 250 pass pro snaps behind only Andrew Thomas.

"When he lands his punch," Conerly said, "People just stop ... I feel like there's like this narrative when you get older, you kinda lose juice. But he can literally run with anybody."

And in terms of being a complete player -- Tunsil's primary goal this season -- he's one of just two NFC offensive tackles who rank in the top five of pressure percentage allowed and percentage of run blocks defeated.

"He's been phenomenal, more than I could have ever expected," Kingsbury said. "I'd say just the type of person, the type of character, the way he works, the way he leads the young guys, it's been phenomenal."

Tunsil doesn't like the idea of being one-dimensional. The greatest players in any sport have a complete skill set, he said, and that's what he wants people to see when they look back on his career. He's always felt like he was a good run blocker, but the opportunities to show that during his time with the Texans were limited because of how often they had to throw the ball to stay competitive in games. That, he believes, resulted in people developing an opinion that pass protection was the only trick in his bag.

And there might still be some out there who have that opinion. The Commanders, however, know there's more to him than that.

"The play speaks for itself," Kingsbury said.