For the first time in his brief coaching career, new Washington Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough will call plays in an NFL game. Blough’s first test is a tough one. Blough and the Commanders head north to the City of Brotherly Love on Sunday to face the two-time defending NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles have a loaded roster. They have an imposing defensive line, led by tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. They have a deep crop of edge rushers, an All-Pro at linebacker, and arguably the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL. Oh, did we mention that the legendary Vic Fangio coaches Philadelphia’s defense?
Washington head coach Dan Quinn isn’t worried about Blough. He spent the past two seasons — Blough’s first two years
as a coach — preparing him for this very moment.
“David’s having a fantastic offseason,” Quinn said. “The collaboration with the staff is the thing that keeps jumping out to me. So it’s not just, like, chess matchup, just these two. We’ve got some really supportive guys that he can lean on, but he’s got his own thoughts, his own way, and he’s demonstrated that through this time now.”
It helps that Blough and quarterback Jayden Daniels are close and have worked closely together since Daniels entered the NFL in 2024. Blough has designed an offense around Daniels’ skill set, with input from the quarterback.
Quinn, a longtime NFL defensive coordinator, understands that calling plays in the NFL can be difficult.
“Matchups in the NFL and calling plays is hard. And Vic, from a system standpoint, has been consistent. Their teams are tough, and they’re smart, and they play well, but it’s also the players, too, and how they can execute. So, I think it’s a little bit of everything that goes into that mix.”
Quinn believes Blough will be a top playcaller in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to get off to a fast start in his first game.
“He’s gonna be fantastic, David is,” Quinn continued. “He’s aggressive, he’s thoughtful, he’s quick on his feet, he’s decisive. Does all that mean your first game goes fantastic? No, hell no, it doesn’t. It means that this guy’s gonna be an excellent play caller in the NFL.”
Quinn isn’t the only one who sees big things for Blough. Dan Campbell did. So did Ben Johnson and Kliff Kingsbury. And Kevin O’Connell.
David Blough knows what’s ahead of him on Sunday. Is he worried? Not a chance.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Dan Quinn confident in David Blough ahead of Week 1 vs. Eagles
