Washington Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough is making an early case that the team’s gamble was the right one, and the alternative looks rough enough to make that decision feel even sharper.
Blough came in as a risky hire. He didn’t bring the kind of experience teams usually lean on when they want the “safe” option, even with Dan Quinn backing him from the start.
That belief mattered, because Quinn wasn’t the only one who saw something there. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell also had Blough in the mix for his own opening.
That matters now because another candidate who was discussed for Washington’s job has stumbled badly in his new spot.
Mike McDaniel, who was connected to Quinn from their time together with the Atlanta Falcons and once worked in Washington as the team’s wide receivers coach under the Mike Shanahan coaching tree, was seen by many as the more established choice. He later became head coach of the Miami Dolphins for four seasons, and his background made him an appealing name when the Commanders were searching.
But Washington went with Blough instead, even as plenty of fans wanted the kind of experienced hire that felt safer for the 2026 season. Quinn put his faith in the 31-year-old, and that choice has already started to pay off. Blough has the Commanders looking anxious about how they’ll keep him around after his masterclass against the Seattle Seahawks, with some already viewing him as a future head-coaching candidate.
McDaniel, on the other hand, is tied to a Chargers start that has gone off the rails.
Los Angeles is 0-3 after losing two home games to teams it was expected to beat. The schedule doesn’t get kinder from here, either, and the Chargers could realistically be staring at 0-6 by the time they reach their bye week.
The offense has been the biggest problem. The Chargers haven’t scored more than 16 points in any game so far, and Justin Herbert has more interceptions than touchdown passes. The roster has its limits, but the job of an offensive coordinator is to make those pieces work, and that hasn’t happened.
For McDaniel, the early returns are ugly enough to raise a bigger question: how much of his reputation was built on having Tyreek Hill at full speed in Miami? His system leaned heavily on speed, and the Chargers don’t have that kind of juice. Based on this start, it’s hard to imagine he would have done much better in Washington if Quinn had taken that path.
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Commanders Still Sent A Frustrating Backfield Message After Jacory Croskey-Merritts Breakout
Jacory Croskey-Merritt gave the Commanders a much-needed spark in Week 5 against the Giants, turning his touches into a productive afternoon and giving Washington another reminder that its backfield has some life in it. The rookie has been working to carve out a real role in the offense, and his performance only added to the case that he deserves a longer look as the season goes on.
Even so, the usage pattern told a more frustrating story for Washington. The coaching staff leaned on veteran Rachaad White in the moments that mattered most, even with White dealing with a shoulder injury, and the preference for experience over the younger runner still showed through. Croskey-Merritt is forcing the issue, but the Commanders have not yet given him the kind of opening his play may warrant. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rough Start Could Force A Tough Call On Key Veteran
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Paynes situation gives the front office real options, and not all of them point in the same direction. Washington can explore an extension and try to keep one of its most important veterans in place, but if the season keeps slipping away, moving a proven starter before the trade deadline would bring back draft capital and help reshape the roster for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Coaching Decision Could Split Fans For One Big Reason
The Commanders are already being pulled into an early coaching conversation, with Dan Quinns future looking uncertain enough to send the search cycle into motion. The speculation has centered on a range of offensive and defensive coordinators around the league, which is the sort of list that can quickly divide a fan base between those who want a proven leader and those who prefer an up-and-coming play caller with a fresh approach.
Adam Peters hand in the process only adds to the intrigue, because the final direction may say as much about the front offices vision as it does about Quinns season. For now, it remains a waiting game, with no official decision in place and plenty of room for the kind of late push that could alter the conversation, even if the path to changing it looks steep. [Read more 🡒]