2025 Washington Commanders- All Things Offense

[Riggo44]

People aren't paying attention. If Kingsbury leaves, it'll be Brian Johnson. He's the only offensive coach with assistant HC in his title. He will move into the OC role, with Blough and/or Pritchard moving up the chain.

 

[Boone]

Quinn and McDaniel have ties. Were he to suddenly be available, I think it would be very likely he would get strong consideration, and I don't care who is 'next up' in the succession plan. According to the Dolphins insider Al Galdi had on before the Miami game, McDaniel probably gets another season, but that's just one guys opinion.

 

[DWinzit]

People aren't paying attention. If Kingsbury leaves, it'll be Brian Johnson. He's the only offensive coach with assistant HC in his title. He will move into the OC role, with Blough and/or Pritchard moving up the chain.

Yeah wasn't Brian Johnson brought in with the Kingsbury backup in mind? I guess things could change in the off-season but that could leave things as an easy transition for Jayden

 

[Riggo44]

Yeah wasn't Brian Johnson brought in with the Kingsbury backup in mind? I guess things could change in the off-season but that could leave things as an easy transition for Jayden

He was. One of Quinn's lessons learned in Atlanta--he let Shanahan abscond with all his offensive staff. So he set up a plan. I don't see him abandoning that for a whole new staff. Seems impulsive and could have negative repercussions in the locker room and overall coaching community.

 

[Primus Porcus]

He was. One of Quinn's lessons learned in Atlanta--he let Shanahan abscond with all his offensive staff. So he set up a plan. I don't see him abandoning that for a whole new staff. Seems impulsive and could have negative repercussions in the locker room and overall coaching community.

I don't think it was specifically saying "after Kingsbury leaves, it's Johnson's job" and more along the lines of "If Kingsbury leaves, i need to make sure i've got some options in house that can be viable successors". It doesn't guarantee anything one way or the other.

I think any coach would be wrong to not consider all options to address a need, and if McDaniel comes available.. he has to be considered. He's cut from that same mold of forward thinking, offensive minds. This is still a business, and things change, so I think it would be a bad idea to be rigid and not consider all options to find out what's best for the team long term.

 

[Boone]

He was. One of Quinn's lessons learned in Atlanta--he let Shanahan abscond with all his offensive staff. So he set up a plan. I don't see him abandoning that for a whole new staff. Seems impulsive and could have negative repercussions in the locker room and overall coaching community.

If it were 2022-2023, when McDaniel had Miami's offense leading the league in many categories, I don't think there would be any question he would be our new OC if he became available. Then again, if he were still having that kind of success, he wouldn't be rumored to be on the hot seat

The downside of being the defacto OC (despite Frank Smith's title), and calling all of the offense yourself, you can't shift blame to someone and fire them when the train goes off the rails (as it has with Miami's offense). Whether Tua has topped out as an NFL talent, DCs have figured out McDaniel's offense, or they just don't have the talent to field a top offense, the 'blush is off the rose' as they say.

So you may be 100% correct even if McDaniels becomes available.

 

[Chris]

Mike McDaniel scares me. He strikes me as too much of a ‘different type of dude’.

 

[DWinzit]

Mike McDaniel scares me. He strikes me as too much of a ‘different type of dude’.

Not that there's anything wrong with that

 

[Riggo44]

Not that there's anything wrong with that

Of course not!

 

[Riggo44]

So you may be 100% correct

🤣🤣

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

Lots of discussion on the future OC, and whether McDaniel or Kingsbury are moving from their roles this year. This fresh article discusses it quite a bit:

NFL Week 12 latest buzz, questions, news and fantasy tips

Will Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels play again this season? Are the Vikings worried about J.J. McCarthy? And which coaches are on the hot seat? Here's what we're hearing.

www.espn.com

Basically agrees with the idea that Kingsbury will not be as hot a name this cycle, and with McDaniel it is unclear on whether he'd be out. So agrees with a lot of what we've been saying but has some deeper dives that were interesting.

 

[Conn]

People aren't paying attention. If Kingsbury leaves, it'll be Brian Johnson. He's the only offensive coach with assistant HC in his title. He will move into the OC role, with Blough and/or Pritchard moving up the chain.

And that’ll be a disaster. I also think it’s likely that’s what would happen, because they’ll want to avoid Daniels starting over with a new scheme and new language, and Brian Johnson/Anthony Lynn have been here for two years learning Kliff’s system (which no one else in the NFL runs).

And that’ll be a huge disaster and was why I didn’t want Kliff in the first place, personally

I hope Boone is right and McDaniel would jump to the front of the line for OC given his relationship to Quinn. But it would involve Jayden starting over which I hope they don’t overweight as a concern in the decision-making process. Better to correct it now than later imo.

 

[Riggo44]

And that’ll be a disaster. I also think it’s likely that’s what would happen, because they’ll want to avoid Daniels starting over with a new scheme and new language, and Brian Johnson/Anthony Lynn have been here for two years learning Kliff’s system (which no one else in the NFL runs).

I honestly don't get the disdain for Johnson. The Eagles, with Deandre Swift at RB, against a more difficult schedule, put up as many points, and had the same offensive rankings as Moore did in 2024.

Hurts was an MVP candidate under him, that he hasn't come close to repeating. What am I missing?

 

[Conn]

I honestly don't get the disdain for Johnson. The Eagles, with Deandre Swift at RB, against a more difficult schedule, put up as many points, and had the same offensive rankings as Moore did in 2024.

Hurts was an MVP candidate under him, that he hasn't come close to repeating. What am I missing?

Offensive minds that aren’t good enough for our more proven, pedigreed, and competitive division rivals aren’t good enough for us. I’m fine developing him as an assistant, it’s possible he got his shot too soon in Philly and took the bullet for things that weren’t his fault. But Howie is famous for being proactive and he cut bait quickly on this dude. No thanks on handing him the keys to arguably the most important position on our coaching staff. If he’s handed the OC job just because he’s been here learning from Kliff, it reeks of settling and being afraid to bring in the best for Jayden.

I’m not interested in a reclamation project who has spent two years learning Kliff’s offense being the next caretaker of our young QB, just because he was the best we could do as an assistant when this staff was being built originally. No reason to think this guy would be good except that we’d want it to be true if promoted. And hopefully he would be! I’m sure he’s got potential. But when you’ve got a guy like Jayden Daniels who needs to carry this franchise on his back for a career, I’d like to shop around and see what innovative offensive minds would be excited to work with him to pad their own future HC resume. Not just select the next man up because he’s here. Highly doubt we just so happen to have the best option in-house already. If we make that choice it’s clearly because we’re over-weighting the importance of Daniels not having to learn a new scheme with new language.

 

[Riggo44]

Offensive minds that aren’t good enough for our more proven, pedigreed, and competitive division rivals aren’t good enough for us. I’m fine developing him as an assistant, it’s possible he got his shot too soon in Philly and took the bullet for things that weren’t his fault. But Howie is famous for being proactive and he cut bait quickly on this dude. No thanks on handing him the keys to arguably the most important position on our coaching staff. If he’s handed the OC job just because he’s been here learning from Kliff, it reeks of settling and being afraid to bring in the best for Jayden.

One can also look at it like their offense, especially their passing game, has regressed terribly the last few years. They had similar number against a softer schedule--arguably with more talent (ie, Barkley) under Moore. Also, wouldn't firing Johnson be a Sirianni call? Unless he's just a Roseman puppet? He comes across as a giant douchebag, so I can see him being wildly impatient with coaches. They also make some poor coaching decisions--Patullo and Desai primarily.

People (in general) seem to be acting like he's Scott Turner/Eric Bieniemy.

We'll see what happens, but it seems like he's had success. I get the trepidation though. But then again people were very worried about sending Dotson there too.

 

[Bulldog]

There is no rule Quinn has to limit himself to the current staff for OC candidates.

In fact I would look to a broader group to interview for both coordinator jobs.

Daniels injuries are not career limiting and this thing can be turned around in good time but this team is going to have to be more patient and start building from the ground up and avoid the quick fixes.

Trading draft picks is not the way to build this.

Your draft picks hopefully start to form a core and then you supplement with key free agents.

For 2026 we only have 6 picks. We need more.

Trading down. Dealing anyone on roster outside of Amos or Conerly or a couple of other younger picks before or during draft.

I have a sneaking suspicion we have some younger players the current coordinators were not interested in developing.

That has to change. Teaching and leading need to be the qualities of the new coaching hires, not the press for immediate results and short term accolades.

 

[SkinsLife]

If Kliff leaves, its far from a guarantee that the OC jobs will be handed to one of the coaches on the roster. Assuming he(Quinn) is back(not a choice i would make) Quinn is on the hot seat already... another bad season and he is headed out the door door along with most of the staff. So its in his best interest to find the hottest available OC (and DC for that matter) to save his own ass.

 

[Boone]

If Kliff leaves, its far from a guarantee that the OC jobs will be handed to one of the coaches on the roster. Assuming he(Quinn) is back(not a choice i would make) Quinn is on the hot seat already... another bad season and he is headed out the door door along with most of the staff. So its in his best interest to find the hottest available OC (and DC for that matter) to save his own ass.

I don't think there's any evidence Quinn is 'on the hot seat'. Of course, if we rattle off 2 or 3 seasons of below .500 football, ANY coaching staff is at risk. But a bad season, with near record-breaking injuries to nearly every key player? Harris and Peters are smart enough to be able to put this season into context.

 

[burgold]

I agree with that. I also think that Harris has shown himself to be a patient owner. If he actually pulled the trigger on Peters or Quinn after this season it'd be disturbing. I won't say it would be a Snyder-like overreaction, but it would come close.

One year ago, everyone thought we had the wunderkind GM and was praising him. They followed it up by saying that the advantage of getting Quinn was that he assembled a hell of a coaching staff. As much as this year has disappointed, The only coaches really questioned were Johnson (OL) and maybe Kliff though getting him was viewed as a coup by some. So, I think we need to keep a hand on the rudder instead of the guilotine.

That said, two years of awful defense does warrant a new first mate.

 

[SkinsLife]

I don't think there's any evidence Quinn is 'on the hot seat'. Of course, if we rattle off 2 or 3 seasons of below .500 football, ANY coaching staff is at risk. But a bad season, with near record-breaking injuries to nearly every key player? Harris and Peters are smart enough to be able to put this season into context.

Not sure what kind of evidence you're expecting to see. I dont see Harris getting on twitter to bash Quinn
Another sub .500 season will absolutely put him on the hot seat. Peters will get 1-2 more years.
I always find it comical when posters site that Quinn is so amazing that he put together this staff. ANY HC candidate in the NFL has connections and ability to put together a great staff. This team was a destination with a top rookie qb, new owner and lots of cap space, thats what drives hot OCs and DCs to take jobs.
Sure you can give Quinn credit for getting Kingsbury.. but then take that away for hiring Whitt and whoever the DB coach is. Not so amazing after all.