The Washington Commanders are about to ramp up their preparations for the new campaign. Organized team activities are imminent, which is the first chance for everyone to practice in a typical setting since their dismal 2025 season mercifully concluded.
Things look different now.
General manager Adam Peters has been busy throughout the offseason, as expected. He gutted the roster, signing a plethora of free agents and securing some high-value selections during the 2026 NFL Draft. There was an emphasis on increasing competition and attracting younger players across the board. It's not quite the finished article just yet, but there is much more dynamism and vibrancy.
And there is one storyline that could potentially become a summer obsession.
Commanders' offense will be important to watch after Dan Quinn's bold gamble
Much has been made about the Commanders' decision to remove offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury from the equation. His play-calling came in for criticism last season, and after a meeting with head coach Dan Quinn, their visions were no longer aligned. A parting of the ways seemed inevitable, but replacing the experienced figure with David Blough was an eyebrow-raiser in no uncertain terms.
Blough has a fast-rising reputation in league circles. He's never called plays at the NFL level and was only a quarterbacks coach for a few weeks after Tavita Pritchard left for Stanford. However, he's set to bring more pro-style concepts that should greatly benefit quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Just what that'll look like remains to be seen.
There will be more Daniels under center, with an emphasis on explosive plays. Aside from that, there are many unknowns, so fans will be watching developments closely over the summer before Washington takes on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.
It's a massive leap of faith from Quinn. He waited too long to make the changes needed during his time with the Atlanta Falcons. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again, and going out of his comfort zone could be a potential masterstroke if everything comes together.
The wrinkles will be subtle throughout Washington's preparations. Blough has the element of surprise working in his favor, and he'll want to keep it that way. Preseason strategy should be pretty vanilla, so fans may not get clarity on how the Commanders' offense will look until their regular-season opener.
That only makes it more fascinating. Quinn is betting his job on Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones coming through. And if it doesn't work out, at least the coach can walk away with no regrets whatsoever.
But don't be surprised if Blough's creativity and ambition take the Commanders where they want to go.
Add us as a preferred source on Google