The Washington Commanders' intrasquad scrimmage earlier this week was another unique opportunity for players to compete, but it wasn't the only thing happening on the team's practice field.
Head coach Dan Quinn went a step further in splitting up the roster by throwing the coaching, equipment and strength and conditioning staffs into the mix. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. served as the head coaches for the Burgundy and Gold teams, respectively, while the assistant coaches were assigned to roles they don't normally have in the traditional setup.
And there was a distinct reason for that: Quinn wanted the staff to view the scrimmage as a chance to compete and grow as well.
"I think at the core, if you're a developmental coach, then you also want to develop the staff and give them chances to level up and to do things," Quinn said ahead of the scrimmage.
The Commanders have prioritized player development as one of their culture's most important pillars. They want players to know that if they are drafted or sign with the team, they will be put on a path that leads to improvement and given the tools to reach their career goals. It's also a promise they have lived up to, as several players on last year's roster, such as Frankie Luvu, Dorance Armstrong and Brian Robinson Jr., had some of their best seasons with the Burgundy & Gold.
To Quinn, that process starts with the coaching staff, as he wants to give them chances to advance their careers as well. "I think of us as a developmental team," he said, and believes that is true for everyone on the team.
"I think if we raise the tide of the coaches and get them better, then of course that's going to filter down to the players," Quinn said.
Take the Gold team, which won Tuesday's scrimmage 14-0, as an example. With Whitt as the head coach, assistant head coach/offensive pass game coordinator Brian Johnson was the team's offensive coordinator. Defensive backs coach Tom Donatell was the defensive coordinator, while assistant quarterbacks coach David Blough was the position coach. For some coaches who had never been in those roles, it meant having to organize walkthroughs and making sure the play call cards were correct for the first time.
For coaches like Whitt, whose next job could be as a team's head coach, it was a chance to feel what it's like to lead an entire roster. Quinn believes Whitt is uniquely qualified for that role.
"He's very organized, very detailed," Quinn said. "Those are big parts of the job when you're putting a whole group together and identity and standards and no gray about how you want to do things. And so, for Joe growing up as a coach's kid, dad [was a] linebacker coach for years, is tough as hell. And so, he's very clear on standards and expectations and I think that carries over to your team because all of the players, their roles may be different, [but] the standards and the expectations of how you do things are the same."
The scrimmage also allowed the Commanders to get a look at their succession plan for the coaching staff. Quinn said the team feels good about their ideas for promoting coaches when other higher positions leave for other jobs, but putting coaches in potential future roles helps them prepare by presenting new challenges.
"The adaptation, the seeing what's different, how to feature players differently, like it's all fun to do that," Quinn said. "I think I appreciate recognizing it, but I think [of] the coaches as developmental too to say, 'can we get better at this spot?'"
It's an example of the Commanders practicing what they preach, and it sends a clear message to staff members.
"We're going to develop you here, while you're here," Quinn said.
