David Blough has been waiting for the opportunity to call an offense, and now that he's been named the Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator, he's faced with the challenge of rebuilding the unit from the ground up.
Only Blough doesn't view it as a challenge. To him, it's more like putting together a big puzzle.
"It just kind of builds [to] something really special," Blough said. "That's how I've been looking at it every day. I've been trying to pull the best out of our entire staff, and they've done an excellent job of sharing their input from what they've been around."
Blough has seen, and participated in, several of the league's top offenses over the last five years -- it's one of the main reasons why he got promoted in the first place -- but this will be his first crack at trying to blend them all into something unique. While he doesn't need to start completely from scratch, he's tasked with improving a group that dropped in production from 2024 to 2025. His solution: be collaborative and take all insight into account to craft something that will maximize the talent on the roster.
"This guy's absolutely ready to go attack," head coach Dan Quinn said of Blough. "And so, it was evident to see that."
Much of Blough's NFL experience as a player was split between stints with Kevin O'Connell, who runs a version of the West Coast scheme with the Minnesota Vikings, and Ben Johnson's Erhardt-Perkins style with the Detroit Lions. While West Coast schemes emphasize creating yards after the catch using complex, scripted plays, the Erhardt-Perkins is a more adaptable, quarterback-centric scheme that uses simpler terminology to encourage quicker play calls.
Over the last two seasons, Blough has been helping quarterback Jayden Daniels adapt to Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid system, which operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun or pistol formation with no huddles. It was highly effective in 2024, when the Commanders had one of the best and most high-scoring offenses in the league. Last year was a different story, however, as Daniels and other players suffered injuries throughout the season. Teams also took advantage of the Commanders' no-huddle style with late substitutions to slow the unit down.
A potential blend of all three schemes could be potent if executed correctly, but Blough hasn't revealed much about how that marriage could work. Instead, he has shifted focus to the player and making sure they are put in the best spots to succeed, no matter what the philosophy might be.
"We get to kind of build it up from the studs around what Jayden and Terry [McLaurin] and Laremy [Tunsil] and all these guys do really well to put them in the best position to be successful," Blough said. "Being able to pull the collective so that we can all collaborate together and make this the best possible thing is what's really stimulating right now."
Check out some of the top photos from Washington Commanders offensive coordinator David Blough's playing career.
Purdue quarterback David Blough, rear center, looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Cleveland Browns quarterback David Blough, right, hands off to A.J Ouellette during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Detroit Lions, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough hands off to running back Godwin Igwebuike during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) goes through reads during a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough (17) rolls out of the pocket during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan.8, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Purdue quarterback David Blough stands on the sideline after being pulled from the game in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in College Park, Md., Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Purdue quarterback David Blough scrambles against Michigan State during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Purdue quarterback David Blough speaks during a funeral for Tyler Trent at College Park Church, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Indianapolis. Trent, an avid Purdue fan, died on New Year's Day, following a bout with bone cancer. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) rushes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Purdue quarterback David Blough lays on the ground after being injured during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, November 21, 2015, in Iowa City, Iowa. Blough didn't return to the game after the injury. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) throws in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough throws against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) in action against Indianapolis Colts during an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) celebrates with wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Wisconsin defeated Purdue 47-44 in overtime. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Fred Vuich)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough (17) throws a pass during an NFL football football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) throws against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue quarterback David Blough throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) warms up prior to an NFL football game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) throws against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough makes a throw during NFL football training camp practice at State Farm Stadium Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough warms up prior to an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) passes against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback David Blough (17) throws a pass past Cardinals linebacker Kyle Soelle (58) during NFL football training camp practice at State Farm Stadium, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 24-7. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
Cleveland Browns quarterback David Blough (9) throws a pass during practice at the NFL football team's training facility Monday, July 29, 2019, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough rolls out to pass against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough plays during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Purdue quarterback David Blough, right, gets tackled by Iowa defensive back Geno Stone (9) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) during an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Cleveland Browns quarterback David Blough (9) plays against the Washington Redskins during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Purdue quarterback David Blough in the second half of a college NCAA football game between Illinois and Purdue, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) during an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) throws against Louisville during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) cuts in front of Missouri defensive lineman Franklin Agbasimere (45) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) during an NCAA college football game between Iowa and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Sunday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
East quarterback David Blough (11), of Purdue, during the first half of the East West Shrine football game Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough warms up before an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Cleveland Browns' David Blough throws a pass during an NFL football organized team activity session at the team's training facility Wednesday, May 22, 2019, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cleveland Browns quarterback David Blough (9) scrambles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 23, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) passes against the Chicago Bears during an NFL football game in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) passes against Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. (AP Images/Rick Osentoski)
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Colt McCoy, middle, smiles as he talks with Cardinals quarterbacks Jeff Driskel, left, and David Blough, right, during NFL football training camp practice at State Farm Stadium Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Purdue quarterback David Blough (11) looks downfield during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Purdue guard Jason King (72) and quarterback David Blough (11) celebrate a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
Purdue quarterback David Blough against Minnesota in the first half of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) flips over Green Bay Packers defensive back Chandon Sullivan (39) at the 1-yard line during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2015, file photo, Purdue's Austin Appleby (12) tosses the football to Markell Jones during an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech in West Lafayette, Ind. Appleby is likely to reclaim the starting job he lost earlier this season if redshirt freshman David Blough can't play against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 28 after leaving last weekend's game with a concussion. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Detroit Lions quarterback David Blough (10) talks with wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) after connecting with Golladay on a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Here's what we do know: Daniels will be under center more often in 2026. Regardless of how much it is, it will be a stark contrast to how Daniels has operated over the last two seasons. The Commanders had a firm hold on last place in terms of snaps under center and led the league in no-huddle plays. Along with Blough and Quinn believing Daniels will still be able to utilize his dynamic playmaking ability, Blough thinks having him under center will add new dimensions to the offense as a whole.
"It opens up some different schemes in the run game, some things that I believe in," Blough said. "It opens up different play actions and keepers and getting him on the perimeter in different ways. I think there's a level of communication that happens under center. I think there's different ways to go about things, and it's something that I'm convicted about that with his skillset, his fundamentals, the things that we absolutely loved about him when he first got here still ring true."
Daniels and his development remains at the forefront of Blough's thought process when it comes to designing the Commanders' new offense. He wants to build a scheme that Daniels will run "for a long time" and allows him to do what he does best. Daniels, who has developed a close bond with Blough over the last two seasons, said in the days leading up to the Super Bowl that he has been vocal about what he wants to do in the system.
That bond has continued with Blough's promotion, and while Daniels is not the deciding voice in Washington's offense, Blough wants to make sure he listens to his quarterback.
"We've had the previous continuity in place already," Blough said. "I understand, hey, this is how he likes it. We get to go in depth more than maybe we have in the past. I think the biggest thing is kind of as we go forward, we communicate clearly about what's best for the entire group."
That means creating a much more balanced approach compared to previous years.
"He's [Daniels] incredibly accurate; his mobility is a superpower," Blough said. "And as we continue to use his brain to our offense's benefit, I think you'll see -- as much as anything -- all of these skill guys that we've talked about a little bit get unlocked and it's going to be really special to see."
It will be a while before the Commanders' new offense under Blough is fully fleshed out. There will be glimpses of the plan during OTAs and minicamp, but there won't be anything concrete until training camp in August. Even then, the offense likely won't take full shape until the team has had a few games to test itself in live scenarios.
However, Blough does know what kind of play caller he wants to be.
"Aggressive," Blough said with a smile. "When opponents turn on our tape. I want them to know there's gonna be constant stress."
