David Blough and the Offensive Staffing Thread

[KDawg]

I think a Blough thread almost by default turns into an offensive discussion thread. There is so much we don’t know about Blough, including his staff. The conversation is going to naturally evolve into the offense as a totality.

As far as OL coach - absolutely go get Ledford. He should be our guy. I have a feeling he won’t be. But we need to throw a bag of cash at him and see if he catches it.

Blough NEEDS support from every direction he can get it.

 

[Conn]

Part of the conversation around hiring such a young, low-experience OC is the type of assistants you can get to work under him, given he doesn’t have much of a network yet himself. The future OL coach is definitely a relevant topic of discussion here imo but can’t hurt to have a thread focused on the topic, I imagine some interview requests will leak eventually

 

[Dlts20]

Blough with Jayden. Looks like they already have a great relationship.

 

[method man]

I think a Blough thread almost by default turns into an offensive discussion thread. There is so much we don’t know about Blough, including his staff. The conversation is going to naturally evolve into the offense as a totality.

As far as OL coach - absolutely go get Ledford. He should be our guy. I have a feeling he won’t be. But we need to throw a bag of cash at him and see if he catches it.

Blough NEEDS support from every direction he can get it.

I believe a fit is there too given the Falcons ran a Shanny tree scheme, which Blough is expected to run. With Ledford, it's interesting he didn't even break into the NFL as a coach until 2021 and didn't even really get to Power 5 football until 2016 (with a couple minor roles at UNC and ECU along the way).

Looking at his coaching career, it seems like he is a true North Carolina guy. Born there, grew up there and nearly all of his career stints are within a reasonable drive of the Carolinas. Of OL coach openings that fit this, it's us and the Titans and we obviously have more talent and a better situation.

 

[burgold]

I dunno. Of all the coaching positions, I think our o line talent provides a pretty tempting position group to a coach. We not only have the starters, we have pretty good depth.

 

[method man]

Part of the conversation around hiring such a young, low-experience OC is the type of assistants you can get to work under him, given he doesn’t have much of a network yet himself. The future OL coach is definitely a relevant topic of discussion here imo but can’t hurt to have a thread focused on the topic, I imagine some interview requests will leak eventually

Interesting thing is there are a handful of senior guys he played under who could be fits here. Lynn was an OC of his in Detroit and Bevell makes so much sense as a PGC or senior offensive assistant. To your point, the cupboard of position coaches he can pull from seems to be bare.

 

[method man]

I dunno. Of all the coaching positions, I think our o line talent provides a pretty tempting position group to a coach. We not only have the starters, we have pretty good depth.

Sure but this staff could all be canned by this time next season. It's less of a risk if you are joining the staff of a new HC who just got hired

 

[KDawg]

I dunno. Of all the coaching positions, I think our o line talent provides a pretty tempting position group to a coach. We not only have the starters, we have pretty good depth.

Okay, now… you’re Ledford. Let’s assume you have a few options. You look at everything: roster, stability, management…

Does relocating, with a real chance to be there for a year, and your boss being a 30 year old who has a couple months of experience as a position coach sound great to you?

It wouldn’t to me.

Doesn’t mean I couldn’t be sold. Money, conversations about the plans and path forward, conversations with Blough on his philosophy and getting to know him a bit…

I could be sold for sure. But from the outset this job would not be really high on my destinations.

The OL talent would be one of the last reasons I would make a decision to come here.

Oh, and Tunsil wants to be extended and has publicly posted about it and we haven’t gotten that done yet.

Ledford is test 1 for Blough.

 

[Boone]

There is always going to be 'overlap' with discussions guys. We get that and we don't ever want to discourage good conversations. It's primarily when a thread on a specific topic exists and folks derail a thread on a completely different topic that we are trying to reign in.

 

[burgold]

I think the assumption is that everything will go wrong, that Quinn is on the hot seat, and is certain to be fired next year. I don’t know that that’s the case.

Let’s examine this through the lens of the 49ers. A year ago, they suffered a rash of injuries and fell apart. In 2025, they pulled i together and had a heck of a year. Likewise, the Eagles had a bad year replaced both of their coordinators and came back stronger.

So, it doesn’t all have to go to shit. That’s the sell job that Quinn and Peters need to present. With better coaching and a little more talent there’s no reason to disbelieve that 2024 was the try face of the team.

So sure, if you are a coach only interested in the sure thing and the safe bet maybe your first choice isn’t a team that had a bad year. OTOh, what team that didn’t have a bad year is looking for new coaches. At least here, we are one year removed from greatness and the source of that greatness is still there.

All I’m saying is don’t look at the half empty glass of water, flip it upside down, and cry that you can’t see any water.

I think there is an argument to be made that outside of Baltimore and Pittsburgh this is the team with the most potential for a turnaround.

 

[KDawg]

I think the assumption is that everything will go wrong, that Quinn is on the hot seat, and is certain to be fired next year. I don’t know that that’s the case.

Let’s examine this through the lens of the 49ers. A year ago, they suffered a rash of injuries and fell apart. In 2025, they pulled i together and had a heck of a year. Likewise, the Eagles had a bad year replaced both of their coordinators and came back stronger.

So, it doesn’t all have to go to shit. That’s the sell job that Quinn and Peters need to present. With better coaching and a little more talent there’s no reason to disbelieve that 2024 was the try face of the team.

So sure, if you are a coach only interested in the sure thing and the safe bet maybe your first choice isn’t a team that had a bad year. OTOh, what team that didn’t have a bad year is looking for new coaches. At least here, we are one year removed from greatness and the source of that greatness is still there.

All I’m saying is don’t look at the half empty glass of water, flip it upside down, and cry that you can’t see any water.

I think there is an argument to be made that outside of Baltimore and Pittsburgh this is the team with the most potential for a turnaround.

You’re looking at it like a fan.

Not a professional looking for employment.

 

[burgold]

Maybe, but is a coach seeing long term stability when considering a job offer with Cleveland or the Raiders?

 

[KDawg]

Maybe, but is a coach seeing long term stability when considering a job offer with Cleveland or the Raiders?

With a new staff that they are brought on with? Yes. Moreso than a staff with a 30 year old that would be your boss and a HC / GM that just fired their two coordinators a year off of the NFCCG.

Again, I'm sure there are some sells that could happen to get Ledford here. But it's not as easy as, "Hey, we like you. Sign here."

The guy will likely have options (including collegiate, which can pay good money as well... Whether he wants to go there or not I have no idea). He has to relocate his family... there is a lot that can go into these decisions.

If I were looking at the jobs currently available Washington wouldn't be high on my initial list.

So it's all in the sell job.

So to tie this back to our guy Blough, he has been put in a position that he has to turn chicken shit into chicken salad - and it starts by somehow convincing Ledford to come to DC.

 

[Riggo44]

This idea of "no one want to come work for a 30 year old for a year" is so pessimistic. Many in the league hold him in very high regard--I have to say it again "The Detroit interest was real." Many teams wanted him the last two years for various positions. There is the assumption here that we are going to win 5 games again and every one will be gone. People are still suffering from PTSD here. Dan Snyder no longer owns this team. This is not hiring Jim Zorn as OC before a HC. The idea that no one wants to come here is rather apocalyptic. I find it head scratching that no one wants to come here--but are ready to sprint to demonstrably worse situations because our OC is young? Make it make sense.

 

[KDawg]

This idea of "no one want to come work for a 30 year old for a year" is so pessimistic. Many in the league hold him in very high regard--I have to say it again "The Detroit interest was real." Many teams wanted him the last two years for various positions. There is the assumption here that we are going to win 5 games again and every one will be gone. People are still suffering from PTSD here. Dan Snyder no longer owns this team. This is not hiring Jim Zorn as OC before a HC. The idea that no one wants to come here is rather apocalyptic. I find it head scratching that no one wants to come here--but are ready to sprint to demonstrably worse situations because our OC is young? Make it make sense.

I didn't say "no one wants to work for a 30 year old".

I said it was a hurdle and something that a potential candidate will look at.

As I also said, I think there are ways to convince someone to come here. But they are going to be reliant on the FO, Quinn and Blough convincing them to do so.

My point is, as I've repeated a few times: It's not an easy sell. The initial assessment of this job by a candidate will not necessarily be roses.

That doesn't make it impossible.

It makes plenty of sense, you're just looking at this through rose colored glasses.

 

[Riggo44]

I didn't say "no one wants to work for a 30 year old".

It's not just you, it's a common refrain.

It makes plenty of sense, you're just looking at this through rose colored glasses.

And it seems you're, and several others, are looking at it through whatever the opposite of rose colored glasses are, black? charcoal grey? It's also in the DC thread as well--several are saying how hard Dallas is going after Flores, Gannon, etc. in the same breath saying that no one wants to come here. I think people are underselling how attractive this destination is.

 

[KDawg]

It's not just you, it's a common refrain.

And it seems you're, and several others, are looking at it through whatever the opposite of rose colored glasses are, black? charcoal grey? It's also in the DC thread as well--several are saying how hard Dallas is going after Flores, Gannon, etc. in the same breath saying that no one wants to come here. I think people are underselling how attractive this destination is.

The truth lies in between, most likely. Defensively I don’t think we’re getting Flores, but I haven’t ruled it out. I also think Scott is intriguing.

To get this back to Blough - he is going to have to step into this role and immediately do something that isn’t easy to do… convince highly qualified individuals that this is the right place for them.

Hopefully AP and Quinn are ready and have a plan to help him.

 

[Riggo44]

The truth lies in between, most likely. Defensively I don’t think we’re getting Flores, but I haven’t ruled it out. I also think Scott is intriguing.

To get this back to Blough - he is going to have to step into this role and immediately do something that isn’t easy to do… convince highly qualified individuals that this is the right place for them.

Hopefully AP and Quinn are ready and have a plan to help him.

I don't doubt Quinn is involved and has a plan. People love playing and coaching for Quinn too. So we will see--this is all entirely speculation at this point too, because I have heard one whisper about anyone we even like.

 

[leonard_washington]

You’re looking at it like a fan.

Not a professional looking for employment.

This is a profound comment. While I'm sure coordinators and assistants want to make a name for themselves, walking into a stable, up and coming situation is always preferred. The shine of new ownership has worn off. We have no obvious building blocks on defense, and our promising offensive building block wasn't available enough to confirm he is still on an upward trajectory.

 

[Riggo44]

Interesting OC hire for the Lions, also McDaniel was favored to go there.