The Washington Commanders already made one move to support their staff by bringing in Steve Wilks to help defensive coordinator Daronte Jones. Now head coach Dan Quinn ought to be looking for the same kind of assistance on the other side of the ball for offensive coordinator David Blough.
The Carolina Panthers offer the clearest model.
This offseason, Panthers head coach Dave Canales made a significant choice by giving offensive coordinator Brad Idzik the play-calling duties. Idzik has been in Carolina for two years, but he had never called plays before, so the transition was a leap for everyone involved.
Carolina made sure Idzik wasn’t left to figure it out alone. Rather than leaning only on Canales as he shifted into more of a CEO role, the Panthers added Darrell Bevell as an offensive assistant. Bevell’s background - plenty of experience as an offensive coordinator and even an interim head coach - has made a real difference.
The results have shown up quickly. Carolina’s offense looks connected and aggressive, and the payoff has been obvious. Bryce Young is leading the league in passing yards per game, and Idzik appears to have found the right formula to keep the unit moving forward.
Idzik is getting plenty of attention, and he could emerge as a head coaching candidate in the 2027 cycle. Still, the source of that success includes Bevell working behind the scenes.
That is the kind of support Washington should be considering for Blough.
The Commanders have a promising young coach, but the early issues are hard to ignore. Too much of the offense has leaned on quarterback Jayden Daniels trying to create something out of nothing. The communication problems and the lack of pre-snap readiness have been well documented, and they leave the offense with more questions than answers.
Right now, Washington does have some help in the room. Running backs coach Anthony Lynn is available as a sounding board, and Wes Welker is another voice in the mix. Beyond that, there isn’t much else that stands out.
Adding someone with a track record similar to Bevell’s would be extremely valuable.
And the timing still works.
The Commanders are 1-4-1, but they sit only two games out in the NFC East. They’ve already gone through what may have been the toughest stretch of their schedule, and if they use the bye week wisely, Quinn’s team still has a narrow path to a division title run.
It feels like a long shot, but the rest of the division has been shaky enough that it can’t be dismissed outright.
The Wilks move was said to have been part of Washington’s plans all along, even if the timing looked unusual. The bigger question is why the same kind of outside help hasn’t been added for Blough. That may be worth revisiting.
Washington has given Blough the freedom to shape the offense the way he wants. Quinn comes from the defensive side, so he doesn’t bring a deep well of offensive expertise to that process. That is exactly why Carolina brought in Bevell, and why the Commanders should be thinking about doing something similar if they want their offense to start functioning the right way.
That wouldn’t be a knock on Blough. Carolina trusted Idzik enough to hand him the offense while also recognizing he could use help.
And so can Washington.
In Other News...
K'Lavon Chaisson Is Giving Commanders A Defensive Spark They Needed
K'Lavon Chaisson has been one of the more noticeable defensive additions in Washington lately, and the edge rushers recent run of play is starting to show up on the stat sheet. Over the last two games, he forced two fumbles, matching his career high and giving the Commanders a timely jolt from a position group that needs disruption off the edge. Both loose balls turned into recoveries by teammates Tim Settle and Frankie Luvu, the kind of hidden-impact plays that can swing a game even when they do not dominate the highlight reel.
For Washington, the bigger takeaway is that Chaissons production has come in a relatively short sample, with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles through six games. The Commanders have been looking for more consistent splash from their pass rush, and Chaissons recent stretch at least gives them a player who is finding ways to affect the ball as well as the quarterback. Whether he can keep that pressure coming is the next question, especially with the defense still trying to establish a steadier identity. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinns Bye Week Reset Could Hit One Commanders Starter Hard
The bye week has given Dan Quinn a chance to take a hard look at a defense that has not been close to the standard Washington expected, and the reset could extend beyond game-planning. Quinn has brought in Steve Wilks to help with defensive planning, a sign the Commanders are not treating this as a routine midseason tune-up but as an opportunity to rethink how the front is deployed after a rough stretch.
One of the clearest questions centers on the interior of the defensive line, where Tim Settle Jr. has not delivered the kind of start Washington needed. The Commanders have already been searching for better answers at nose tackle, and the next step may involve a more fluid rotation there as the staff looks for more impact and steadiness in the middle. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Still Has One Costly Issue Commanders Can't Ignore
Jayden Daniels has given the Commanders plenty to like early in his NFL career, but the last two games also offered a reminder that even the most promising young quarterbacks get tested by the details. Against the Giants, Washington had a late-game mistake that left points on the field, and against the 49ers there was a play call that drew plenty of second-guessing. Dan Quinn has been open about those moments, treating them as part of the learning curve while making it clear the conversation with his quarterback has already started.
For Washington, the bigger concern is not Daniels talent but how quickly the operation around him cleans up the situational stuff that can swing tight games. Quinn has stressed development and communication, and Daniels overall play still points to a franchise quarterback in the making. Even so, the Commanders are watching closely because the margin for error shrinks fast when a team is trying to turn promise into wins. [Read more 🡒]