Commanders Install 80% of New Offense for Jayden Daniels After 12 Spring Practices
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
Commanders Install 80% of New Offense for Jayden Daniels After 12 Spring Practices
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 19
Summary
Twelve offseason practices gave Washington a clear new offensive identity: more huddles, more under-center snaps for Jayden Daniels and more pre-snap motion than during last season’s stop-and-start attack.
Dan Quinn said the scheme is about 80% installed, with coordinator David Blough building it to expand play-action, stretch defenses horizontally and vertically, and reduce the heavy shotgun and RPO reliance that defined 2025.
86.9% shotgun usage and a 60.8% no-huddle rate led the NFL last season under Kliff Kingsbury; Blough’s version instead moves Terry McLaurin and other receivers across formations to disguise runs and passes from similar looks.
Zone blocking is set to become the run-game foundation, with linemen blocking areas rather than men and center Nick Allegretti saying under-center wide-zone concepts will be a much bigger part of the offense.
David Blough, 30, is taking his first shot as play caller, and Washington’s early confidence in him is reinforced by McLaurin’s full participation after a 2025 season in which injuries limited him to 38 catches, 582 yards and 3 touchdowns.