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.”