Commanders Hit Reset with Fresh Leadership and New Systems Under Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn is wasting no time putting his stamp on the Washington Commanders. The newly hired head coach is ushering in a fresh era in the nation’s capital, and that starts with two new playcallers: offensive coordinator David Blough and defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. For Quinn, this isn’t just about changing faces-it's about redefining the identity of the team from the ground up.
“I thought it was time for change, a new vision of how we’d want to go about it,” Quinn said. That vision includes more than just X’s and O’s-it’s about culture, communication, and accountability.
He emphasized the importance of hearing players speak highly of their position coaches, especially when it comes to development and clarity. “Those are the types of things from a leadership standpoint that you want to hear,” he added.
“High standards and accountability.” That’s the foundation Quinn is looking to build on.
Blough, stepping into the OC role, brings a unique perspective. He’s not just drawing from his own experience-he’s tapping into a collective coaching brain trust that includes influences from some of the NFL’s most iconic quarterbacks and respected offensive minds.
“We get to kind of build it up from the studs around what Jayden and Terry and Laremy and all these guys do really well,” Blough said, referencing key offensive pieces. “Pulling from all these different experiences… coaches who have backed up Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, and coaches who have been around Drew Brees and developed young quarterbacks.”
That kind of collaborative, experience-rich approach is exactly what Washington needs as they look to develop a new offensive identity. Blough isn’t just installing a scheme-he’s building a system tailored to the strengths of his personnel, and he’s doing it with input from coaches who’ve been around greatness.
Quinn made it clear: this isn’t about recycling old systems or forcing square pegs into round holes. “Ultimately, we’re putting in a new system,” he said.
“It’s going to start with his vision, with his terminology, the wording that we use, the communication. And that’s how it has to be.”
For Quinn, this is about more than just scheme-it’s about recapturing a certain energy and attitude. “I want to recapture that energy of that swagger of how we want to play, the style, the attitude of it,” he said. “I’m taking the lessons, I’m moving them forward, but I’m not carrying over the things that sucked and weren’t part of how we want to do business.”
On the defensive side, Daronte Jones brings a flexible mindset and a wealth of experience from multiple systems. That versatility is going to be key as he builds a defense that can adapt and evolve.
“You naturally want to be moldable,” Jones said. “I’ve been around so many different schemes… whether it’s the Zimmer scheme-‘Hey, I like this on third down, I like the mug looks there’-or if it’s Flores and the versatility, and how we can use one person in multiple ways based off of their strengths.
That’s what you want to pull from.”
Jones isn’t interested in copying and pasting a playbook-he’s curating a defense that blends the best of what he’s seen with the unique strengths of his players. That kind of adaptability is going to be crucial for a Commanders defense that’s looking to bounce back and re-establish itself as a force in the NFC.
What we’re seeing in Washington is a full-scale reboot. Quinn, Blough, and Jones aren’t just tweaking the margins-they’re building something new, with a clear vision, a collaborative mindset, and a focus on player development and accountability.
It’s early, but the tone is set. The Commanders are aiming higher, and they’re doing it with a fresh voice and a unified direction.
Cowboys: Malik Hooker’s Future in Dallas Uncertain
Over in Dallas, the Cowboys are heading into the offseason with an eye on the cap sheet. While there’s no indication of a surprise cut coming, safety Malik Hooker’s name is one to watch. He’s entering the final year of his deal, and releasing him would free up $6.8 million in cap space.
It’s a classic offseason balancing act-production versus price tag. Hooker has been a steady presence in the secondary, but with Dallas looking to retool and reload in key areas, every dollar counts. His situation will be one to monitor as the Cowboys map out their financial strategy for 2026.
Eagles
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