Commanders’ Blough touts collaboration for new offense
by Liam Griffin · The Washington TimesNew Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough isn’t too proud to take suggestions from his players. The process didn’t change when an offensive lineman sent an old-school “Wing-T” playbook from his high school days ahead of Wednesday’s voluntary workouts.
The open policy is the latest in Blough’s evolution as the 30-year-old has soared through the coaching ranks. He ended his playing career in 2024, joining Washington as an assistant quarterbacks coach just as franchise signal-caller Jayden Daniels began his career.
When the former play-caller Kliff Kingsbury “parted ways” with the Commanders in January, Blough jumped to the front of his line as a successor.
“Even before he stepped into this role, he was somebody constantly giving presentations in our team meetings about how to take care of the ball, the plan to win,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said Tuesday. “He’s super detail-oriented, and he’s a very smart person. So, day one, he pretty much had everything ready to go.”
It’s the latest step for a coach who spent the last two seasons dueling Daniels during practice passing drills and serving as a fill-in receiver, drawing joking ire and praise from the passers as he built a tight relationship with Washington’s franchise signal-caller.
Daniels has been heavily involved in the process as Blough builds out an offense as a first-time coordinator. That means he’s chimed in with thoughts on the revamped verbiage, under-center focus and mixed tempo.
Their already-close connection has only tightened.
“I have had a lot of time with him,” Blough said. “The collaboration aspect is probably higher now than it was in the previous role. At the end of the day, [Daniels] is an extension of our coaching staff. It’s vital for he and I to be on the same page with what we’re trying to execute.”
Advertisement Advertisement
What Blough has brought to the offensive meeting room is a completely revamped scheme. Kingsbury’s shotgun-centric, air-raid-style system is gone. In its place is a playbook designed to make players’ lives easier with motion, dynamic personnel groupings and varied alignments.
“Newness brings a breath of fresh air,” McLaurin said. “It’s going to give all of us flexibility to move around the formation, keep defenses on their toes. … It’s just been really fun and refreshing. Blaugh’s really creative. It’s just about us now trying to execute that make it start to come to life.”
Blaugh was always a competitor. When he served as Washington’s assistant quarterbacks coach, he would duel Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota in accuracy drills as they competed to drop passes into trash cans in the corner of the end zone. Blough, to Daniels’ dismay, would win the occasional competition — and the subsequent bragging rights.
“He’s a competitive guy,” coach Dan Quinn said. “I would say that’s no different than him as an assistant to now.”
Being a former player — Blough bounced around the league for five years as a backup quarterback — has only helped Washington’s new offensive mastermind set expectations.
Advertisement Advertisement
“I don’t think you have to play the game to know ball or to be able to coach at a high level, but that’s an added benefit when you’ve played that position,” McLaurin said. “He’s played in multiple systems, so he’s been around different philosophies and he’s ran offenses himself.”
Still, Washington’s wunderkind play-caller isn’t too proud to accept outside advice. So when center Nick Allegretti sent him a “Wing T” playbook from 2003, he took it into consideration.
“From the quarterbacks to all the rooms to all the coaching staff, this has been collaborative. We’re building it together,” Blough said. “At the end of the day, man, you get 65 snaps on a Sunday to put your guys in the position to be successful. That’s what we’re building towards.”
Blough has leaned on an experienced coaching staff that features former NFL wide receivers Wes Welker and Bobby Engram and former Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn.
Advertisement Advertisement
“What’s stimulating for me is every day, you know, there’s something new with the role. Whether it’s leading the coaches or our group, it’s been really cool to see it in different areas, new experiences,” Blugh said. “I’ve really appreciated everybody just kind of being the wind at my back to keep going forward.”
The process has only affirmed Quinn, who, along with general manager Adam Peters, decided to promote Blough despite his lack of playcalling experience.
“The thing I liked about what I’ve seen throughout the offseason is his collaboration,” Quinn said. “There’s a lot of experience on the staff, and using all that wisdom in different ways.”
The Commanders continue their voluntary workouts through next week before transitioning to a three-day mandatory minicamp that begins on June 16.
Advertisement Advertisement
Contact the author
Liam Griffin
Follow author updates Follow Click to follow. Manage followed authors