The Washington Commanders are taking a big risk with new offensive coordinator David Blough. But it could be the best thing that's happened to this offense in some time.
Kliff Kingsbury's shelf life has always been short. His scheme is accused of being predictable, and there was a real stubbornness to his approach in Washington last season. When he met with head coach Dan Quinn to discuss the vision for the future, they were no longer aligned.
Quinn shook things up. Instead of moving forward with a more experienced presence, he went against the grain. Blough was promoted, providing the spark that had been desperately lacking during the previous campaign.
And potentially even beyond that.
David Blough has brought instant life to stagnant Commanders offense
Blough is introducing more pro-style concepts. He's a collaborative coach. Quarterback Jayden Daniels has been heavily involved in the schematic designs, which will be much better suited to his skill set. He'll be under center more consistently than at any stage over Kingsbury's tenure, and there should be a lot more play-action opposing defenses must take seriously due to the signal-caller's rushing threat.
That's not all.
There will be a much better balance to the offense. Kingsbury was too reliant on coming out of the shotgun. He abandoned the run often when things didn't click early in games. Blough wants to keep defenses guessing by using different formations, attacking the seams, and giving his playmakers opportunities with the football in their hands.
.@LoganPaulsenNFL on Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury: "Why is Kliff no longer in Washington? It’s because Kliff has a very specific way he wants to do things. It goes against historic offense convention. He wants to build out the pass game first to supplement the run game." #Ravens
— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) January 15, 2026
Blough is also expected to use the tight end position more effectively. Zach Ertz was a dependable pass-catcher, but he was not a home run threat at a late stage of his playing career. The Commanders now have one in Chig Okonkwo, with John Bates and 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott also set to shine with more responsibilities on their shoulders.
It could all go horribly wrong, but there is a growing sense that Quinn might have been onto something with Blough.
Countless players praised his up-tempo attitude over Washington's offseason program. The scheme has also been a big hit so far, bringing a positive response from everybody. The atmosphere has completely shifted, and the process seems more cohesive. This has to carry over into the real action, even when things get more intense in the summer. But for now, everything is proceeding as expected.
Quinn is laying it all on the line with Blough. He believes the Commanders are getting ahead of the game, giving him the play-calling role to hold off interest from the Detroit Lions. His innovation and player-centric approach have been a breath of fresh air. And if the same trend continues in the regular season, Washington's offense should be a real force.
There are still some concerns about the wide receiver options behind Terry McLaurin and the interior of the offensive line, aside from Sam Cosmi, but there is also a long time to address these issues. And in all honesty, if the players around cannot thrive in Blough's system, maybe they're not cut out for life in Washington.
Blough could put himself on the fast track to a head-coaching gig with a strong first season as offensive coordinator. And he's off to a good start.
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