David Blough and the Offensive Staffing Thread

[Boone]

Yep. Quite possible that was a factor clskinsfan

 

[RWJ]

We also dont know how many people he asked to speak with that said no thanks. Quinn could be on the chopping block next season. And people dont want to stake their futures on that.

I think we can almost guarantee that DQ's job is on the line for next year. No doubt. He made his decision and I hope it pays off big time.

 

[Primus Porcus]

We don't know about JD. Maybe. It only speaks volumes if we trust Quinn as some sort of hiring guru. And I'd be lying if I said I did trust him to that level. I don't distrust him either. I am Switzerland right now as to Dan Quinn.

I am shocked at some of these moves -- and in one sense I like being shocked, I hate complacency, but firing Kliff for Blough is a bit wild -- not an exciting wild for me, but I'll give Quinn credit for being bold.

Impossible to know if this is a home run hire or not. It's like watching a trailer and rating the movie purely on that.

at this point it's not even watching the trailer.... .it's like judging a movie based on the title.

 

[Burgundy Sweatshirt]

I understand you here, KDawg. Id say im surprised, but Im really not. MM was, like many here, my first choice. Blough seems like a bright, young coach that clearly had interest from other teams without a doubt.

But damn do I feel like this was forced. And why? Cause Detroit was sniffing around? Feels like Campbell pulled wool over DQs eyes.

Alas, I'll hope Blough proved us wrong and works well with JD5. But simply feel like this was a settlement and not a win.

HTTR!

This is exactly how I feel.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

Some more food for thought. Quinn just bypassed several other in-house guys with significant play-calling experience, with higher titles and much higher salaries. All of these coaching moves have been anything but comfortable. I respect the hell out of that. I hope it works.

 

[Izzy]

How is his name pronounced really, Bluff, Blue, or blow. I can hear the jokes already.

 

[Boone]

I think it's Blough (as in plough, now, cow, etc...)

 

[Burgundy Sweatshirt]

at this point it's not even watching the trailer.... .it's like judging a movie based on the title.

Maybe, but it’s also seeing a movie with nothing but unknown actors.

 

[clskinsfan]

How is his name pronounced really, Bluff, Blue, or blow. I can hear the jokes already.

Rymes with cow

 

[Primus Porcus]

Maybe, but it’s also seeing a movie with nothing but unknown actors.

the point being we have absolutely no idea what to truly expect

 

[Conn]

If I'm reading the tea leaves, the guys they interviewed are probably serious candidates for position coach roles. They need to surround Blough with ex OCs, one or two who have the title "senior offensive assistant." Brin in Darell Bevell, Slowik, Frank Smith or someone else in that role

But they can’t steal those guys to lateral roles without permission, and I don’t know why it would be granted. I’m sure they feel that Anthony Lynn and Brian Johnson are enough mentorship, right or wrong. Other than a new OL coach idk that we see any new offensive staff. This is a “continuity but without Kliff” plan, they clearly think Blough can keep the same terminology for Daniels but spice it up with some Ben Johnson/KOC stuff and run the ball more, use motion more, etc.

We’ll see if they’re right. They’re going to look like clowns if they’re wrong.

 

[Faithful Fan]

Commanders promote David Blough to offensive coordinator

The Commanders have promoted David Blough to offensive coordinator after only two years as an assistant quarterbacks coach.

www.espn.com

“He's very bright, there's no doubt," Kingsbury said last month. "He's been around some great offensive minds ... so his biggest strengths are he sees it from the lens of the player and yet he can kind of separate and still be the coach."

Blough developed a strong relationship with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels -- the two would play a football version of H-O-R-S-E before practice each Friday.

 

[skinsinparadise]

And you prefer the Blough hire over a retread coordinator like Daboll NOW. Let's talk a year from now...

As I've been saying this is purely from a theoritical point of view.

Everything discussed on this is theoritical, no one knows of course if Blough kills it or sucks.

But speaking in theory:

A. My favorite type of O coordinator is an up comer with some play calling experience or a proven stud play caller.

B. My least favorite are those who are OK at their job by reputation with mosty mediocre to worse rankings in recent years or been demoted after those mediocre rankings.

This team has had its share of B especially on defense.

C. A young hyped inventive assistant coordinator but who has never called plays so they have their Maiden voyage with our team.

Blough would be C. lol, better than B for MY taste. I prefer A. But all in theory.

 

[CuredFromBatteredFanSyndrome]

They’re going to look like clowns if they’re wrong.

I’m okay with this though. I would prefer season 3 be boom or bust. Either impress me or be gone.

 

[Burgundy Sweatshirt]

the point being we have absolutely no idea what to truly expect

Exactly.

 

[Boone]

But they can’t steal those guys to lateral roles without permission, and I don’t know why it would be granted. I’m sure they feel that Anthony Lynn and Brian Johnson are enough mentorship, right or wrong. Other than a new OL coach idk that we see any new offensive staff. This is a “continuity but without Kliff” plan, they clearly think Blough can keep the same terminology for Daniels but spice it up with some Ben Johnson/KOC stuff and run the ball more, use motion more, etc.

We’ll see if they’re right. They’re going to look like clowns if they’re wrong.

This is also about power dynamics imho. Quinn is standing there with egg on his face to a certain degree because he had to let an accomplished coordinator go reportedly because said coordinator didn't want to be told what to do with his offense by a defensive head coach.

His next move is to hire a guy with no juice whatsoever other than a rep as being a smart up-and-comer. But he's an OC who is going to do exactly what Dan Quinn tells him to do.

Am I the only one thinking this is a big factor in the hire?

 

[Discobob]

Get ready for a season of....this Bloughs and Blough me

 

[Primus Porcus]

This is also about power dynamics imho. Quinn is standing there with egg on his face to a certain degree because he had to let an accomplished coordinator go reportedly because said coordinator didn't want to be told what to do with his offense by a defensive head coach.

His next move is to hire a guy with no juice whatsoever other than a rep as being a smart up-and-comer. But he's an OC who is going to do exactly what Dan Quinn tells him to do.

Am I the only one thinking this is a big factor in the hire?

You may not be wrong

 

[skinsinparadise]

Some more food for thought. Quinn just bypassed several other in-house guys with significant play-calling experience, with higher titles and much higher salaries. All of these coaching moves have been anything but comfortable. I respect the hell out of that. I hope it works.

If I had to sum up the move. Quinn thinks Blough is the next McDaniel-LaFleur who he had in house in Atlanta.

And didn't want to in his mind be embarrassed round 2 with letting the young offensive mind go elsewhere and succeed.

Whether he's right or wrong it remains of course to be seen. But its not a crazy assumption considering he's gotten plenty national hype already for a dude who hasn't called a play. Ben Johnson was only as assistant for 3 years until he was given the reigns.

But yeah at the same time, it feels risky to be the first team to take the chance on the young play caller. But it has worked at times -- McVay, O'Connell.

And good point its not a conservative move from the perspective of hey just keep it in house if so they'd have hired Lynn, or Brian Johnson who have actually called plays

 

[Boone]

For those relying on the Sean McVay analogies, here's a nugget for you.

Blough's only coaching experience AT ANY LEVEL is less than 2 years - his coaching career started in February of 2024 and his biggest responsibility to date was as an Assistant QBs coach.

Sean McVay had 6 years of coaching experience prior to getting his first chance as Offensive Coordinator including 3 seasons as Washington's Tight Ends coach. Tavita Pritchard, who Blough replaced in early December, has in contrast been coaching since 2010.

I don't think the comparisons stand up to scrutiny. Doesn't mean he can't be successful. But it's nothing like the McVay promotion. And I do think elevating an assistant coach with less than 2 years coaching experience - EVER - is pretty unprecedented.